1 main filter for 8 feet tank?

[terror]

i'm preaparing for my 8x2.5x2.5 tank filtration will be 6x2 sump would having only 1 powerhead work? planning to save on electricity planning to setup the return pipe from sump to pass thru an overhrlead filter first and just add an airpump with airstone or sponge filter.

so the sump will be my main filter and i will only have some sponge filters connected to acdc pump for backup and additional aeration?

 

[Nolapete]

You can run the tank with just sponge filters and air. A powerhead is not sufficient to run a sump. They are not designed to have head pressure and will not work for very long pumping water back to the tank; if at all to begin with.

 

[Chrisk-K]

You would definitely need a good pump.

 

[WeedCali]

Rio HyperFlow pumps use less wattage per GPH and are reletively cheap too.

 

[terror]

thanks. i'm choosing between Rio HF 20 and Rio HF 12.

 

[Turbosaurus]

That's a huge tank and a huge sump and you're going to need to move A LOT of water. It doesn't matter how BIG your sump filter is- it matters how much water is moving through the media. Get a big pump.

Look for pond pumps- when you get up to that size tank where you want to move over 1,000 gallons an hour and you have to overcome 4-5 feet of head (weight of the water column in the return line, you want a powerful pump. Anything labeled "aquarium" can tend to be more expensive than the exact same type of equipment marketed for ponds.

 

[terror]

That's a huge tank and a huge sump and you're going to need to move A LOT of water. It doesn't matter how BIG your sump filter is- it matters how much water is moving through the media. Get a big pump.

Look for pond pumps- when you get up to that size tank where you want to move over 1,000 gallons an hour and you have to overcome 4-5 feet of head (weight of the water column in the return line, you want a powerful pump. Anything labeled "aquarium" can tend to be more expensive than the exact same type of equipment marketed for ponds.

thanks will also check pond pumps

 

[BadOleRoss]

I have a tank of a very similar size tha I am building right now. My tank is 315G and the sump measures 7'Lx16"Hx18D, I am going to use a Quiet One 9000 that will pump about 2300gph.

 

[SubRosa]

Before you buy a pump there's something that matters at least as much as the size of the aquarium that noone has mentioned. What exactly is the overflow capacity of the tank? If your overflows can handle 1500 gph and you try to pump in 2000 gph you'll be pumping 500 gph out onto your floor. At least until the sump is drained and the pump burns out! I think you see the point. How many and what diameter are the overflows?

 

[xsdbs]

I ran into a heat issue with a pond pump. The reason was because the pump itself was in the same housing as the motor and there was a heat transfer. I removed it and replaced it with a Reeflo Hamerhead pump. The pump drive is separate from the motor and is shaft driven so there is no heat transfer.

That's a huge tank and a huge sump and you're going to need to move A LOT of water. It doesn't matter how BIG your sump filter is- it matters how much water is moving through the media. Get a big pump.

Look for pond pumps- when you get up to that size tank where you want to move over 1,000 gallons an hour and you have to overcome 4-5 feet of head (weight of the water column in the return line, you want a powerful pump. Anything labeled "aquarium" can tend to be more expensive than the exact same type of equipment marketed for ponds.