canister vs sump

navy guy · 12/20/2006, 08:13 AM

I am looking for a new filtration method for my 72 gallon bowfront. Looking at either a sump or a canister. Plus for a sump is the ability to get rid of skimmer, filter, heater and maybe some powerheads. but my concern (my wife's) is the noise and needing to drill the tank. The filter would be quieter and possibly easier, but I would still have the stuff in the tank. I am looking at possibly a fluval filter or maybe a rena, but I have not really seen any reviews on the rena. Any suggestions out there?

mistermikev · 12/20/2006, 08:40 AM

I see you aren't getting replys so let me help you out...
sumps blow go with the canister! You will have leaks and it will destroy your life! it is a scientific fact that sumps absolutely cannot work! (you oughta have 200 replys by the time anyone reads this). (keep in mind you flamin flame baggin flame hearts - i am kidding)
I personally would like a sump and will have one when I am not in an apt above my landlord, for now... I have a fluval. You have to keep em really clean wich really means you can't use it as much of a bio filter. I recommend staggering the removal of filter pads (and do so religously). I also recommend the skimmer attachment as w/o one you won't get any air in the filter area and this can be more problematic afa nitrate buildup. With one you will get micro bubbles so put some floss at the last stage and perhaps even get some sort of baffle set up on the outtake. Then section off an area in your tank with plexi - this should be fish proof as you want stuff growin in there with no predators. You can put your heater/skimmer/powerheads/whatever in this area... there... now the fluval is just as much work if not less than the sump. Now add a hang on refuge and you can have all the threat of a crack and leak leeding to your landlord kicking your hiney. PROBLEM SOLVED!

mfinn · 12/20/2006, 08:43 AM

Canister filters are not really a very good method of filtation for saltwater. They just end up traping detitus and turning into a nitrate maker.
You should be using live rock for you main means of filtration.
Using a sump makes hiding things like your skimmer and heaters easier. It is a perfect place to setup a refugium.

mistermikev · 12/20/2006, 09:04 AM

I disagree, cannister filters are great for chemical filtration, ie carbon... they just aren't ordinarily good for bio filtration as the filter media doesn't come into contact with much air. Most would tell you to remove it alltogether and go with carbon and nitrate sponge... but you still have to clean it regularily anyway.

ralphie16 · 12/20/2006, 09:15 AM

regardless of what you may read, think now, or anyone else says, get a sump. it is one of the best things you can do for your tank (besides a skimmer). don't try to talk yourself out of sump. just get one or build one yourself. you will thank me later.

there are no negative effects of a sump, but many of a canister. There is a reason that (almost) everyone of this board has a sump.

mfinn · 12/20/2006, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mistermikev
I disagree, cannister filters are great for chemical filtration, ie carbon... they just aren't ordinarily good for bio filtration as the filter media doesn't come into contact with much air. Most would tell you to remove it alltogether and go with carbon and nitrate sponge... but you still have to clean it regularily anyway.

I will agree with you on that point. You can force alot of water though what ever chemical media you want.
I do say it is a poor choice for main filtration and that is what I thought the guy was looking for.

siding88 · 12/20/2006, 09:26 AM

if your looking for a canister filter i have a eheim pro 3 the biggest one there is i paid like 430 shipped to me i'll let it go for 260 shipped i used it for like 4 months

yeldarbj · 12/20/2006, 09:59 AM

I've got a Filstar XP2 running on a 65g tank. In my opinion the Filstar cannisters are great, especially being half the price of a comparable Eheim. The Eheim is probably better if money is not factored. The Filstar is extremely quiet and very easy to remove for cleaning. I run carbon and Purigen along with the foam filters which I clean and exchange monthly. My nitrate level stays under 10.

I chose the cannister over the sump mostly because I have small children in the house and an open sump tank at ground level with small children is a recipe for disaster. Otherwise I would probably go with the sump.

Another option instead of drilling is to go with a hang-on overflow to a sump. I may go this route in the future especially if I can find a way to childproof a sump.

mistermikev · 12/20/2006, 10:02 AM

yes, most people here would have the sump... but they are all stoopid. and they aren't good spellerers either.
I completely agree. sumps are the way to go... but there are some ill effects - if there is a plumbing leak or your fish gets sucked out... they aren't shangrila. they do have faults... but agreeably they are the most popular way to go.

12/20/2006, 08:13 AM	#1
navy guy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 18	canister vs sump I am looking for a new filtration method for my 72 gallon bowfront. Looking at either a sump or a canister. Plus for a sump is the ability to get rid of skimmer, filter, heater and maybe some powerheads. but my concern (my wife's) is the noise and needing to drill the tank. The filter would be quieter and possibly easier, but I would still have the stuff in the tank. I am looking at possibly a fluval filter or maybe a rena, but I have not really seen any reviews on the rena. Any suggestions out there?

12/20/2006, 08:40 AM	#2
mistermikev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 790	I see you aren't getting replys so let me help you out... sumps blow go with the canister! You will have leaks and it will destroy your life! it is a scientific fact that sumps absolutely cannot work! (you oughta have 200 replys by the time anyone reads this). (keep in mind you flamin flame baggin flame hearts - i am kidding) I personally would like a sump and will have one when I am not in an apt above my landlord, for now... I have a fluval. You have to keep em really clean wich really means you can't use it as much of a bio filter. I recommend staggering the removal of filter pads (and do so religously). I also recommend the skimmer attachment as w/o one you won't get any air in the filter area and this can be more problematic afa nitrate buildup. With one you will get micro bubbles so put some floss at the last stage and perhaps even get some sort of baffle set up on the outtake. Then section off an area in your tank with plexi - this should be fish proof as you want stuff growin in there with no predators. You can put your heater/skimmer/powerheads/whatever in this area... there... now the fluval is just as much work if not less than the sump. Now add a hang on refuge and you can have all the threat of a crack and leak leeding to your landlord kicking your hiney. PROBLEM SOLVED! __________________ "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production... Too weird to live, and too rare to die." "A drink... for all my friends!" Current Tank Info: 75gal mixed reef + 20gal sump w/ 2 * 175w halides, 2 * 95w vhos, 1* 50w no, led moonlighting, cs220, maxijet 1200s/sureflos, hang on refuge, deep sand bed...

12/20/2006, 08:43 AM	#3
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Canister filters are not really a very good method of filtation for saltwater. They just end up traping detitus and turning into a nitrate maker. You should be using live rock for you main means of filtration. Using a sump makes hiding things like your skimmer and heaters easier. It is a perfect place to setup a refugium. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

12/20/2006, 09:04 AM	#4
mistermikev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 790	I disagree, cannister filters are great for chemical filtration, ie carbon... they just aren't ordinarily good for bio filtration as the filter media doesn't come into contact with much air. Most would tell you to remove it alltogether and go with carbon and nitrate sponge... but you still have to clean it regularily anyway. __________________ "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production... Too weird to live, and too rare to die." "A drink... for all my friends!" Current Tank Info: 75gal mixed reef + 20gal sump w/ 2 * 175w halides, 2 * 95w vhos, 1* 50w no, led moonlighting, cs220, maxijet 1200s/sureflos, hang on refuge, deep sand bed...

12/20/2006, 10:02 AM	#9
mistermikev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 790	yes, most people here would have the sump... but they are all stoopid. and they aren't good spellerers either. I completely agree. sumps are the way to go... but there are some ill effects - if there is a plumbing leak or your fish gets sucked out... they aren't shangrila. they do have faults... but agreeably they are the most popular way to go. __________________ "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production... Too weird to live, and too rare to die." "A drink... for all my friends!" Current Tank Info: 75gal mixed reef + 20gal sump w/ 2 * 175w halides, 2 * 95w vhos, 1* 50w no, led moonlighting, cs220, maxijet 1200s/sureflos, hang on refuge, deep sand bed...

12/20/2006, 09:15 AM	#5
ralphie16 Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,550	regardless of what you may read, think now, or anyone else says, get a sump. it is one of the best things you can do for your tank (besides a skimmer). don't try to talk yourself out of sump. just get one or build one yourself. you will thank me later. there are no negative effects of a sump, but many of a canister. There is a reason that (almost) everyone of this board has a sump.

12/20/2006, 09:26 AM	#7
siding88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: looking out my window at the river Posts: 194	if your looking for a canister filter i have a eheim pro 3 the biggest one there is i paid like 430 shipped to me i'll let it go for 260 shipped i used it for like 4 months

12/20/2006, 09:59 AM	#8
yeldarbj Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,295	I've got a Filstar XP2 running on a 65g tank. In my opinion the Filstar cannisters are great, especially being half the price of a comparable Eheim. The Eheim is probably better if money is not factored. The Filstar is extremely quiet and very easy to remove for cleaning. I run carbon and Purigen along with the foam filters which I clean and exchange monthly. My nitrate level stays under 10. I chose the cannister over the sump mostly because I have small children in the house and an open sump tank at ground level with small children is a recipe for disaster. Otherwise I would probably go with the sump. Another option instead of drilling is to go with a hang-on overflow to a sump. I may go this route in the future especially if I can find a way to childproof a sump.