Freshwater tank sumps

[dwarfgourami7]

Does anyone here use a sump on their feshwater tank? I was thinking of having one on mine but i wanted to know if they are really useful. Is just having a decent canister filter on just as good? Is a freshwater sump really needed? I dont know. so thats why im asking you.

 

[Sploke]

I have a sump on my 150, with a big wet/dry tower in it. I love the way it works, and it keeps almost all the equipment out of the tank A properly sized canister would probably work just as well, its just a matter of preference really. Many different ways to accomplish the same end.

 

[red devil]

From the articles that I have read the sump is likely to be less expensive (diy) than the cannister, especially if you need big. You can also make the trays that hold the filtering media so that there are 3 or 4 trays for each media, making media changes very easy - just change 1 section at a time to avoid shocking the fish with completely new media.

 

[Rbishop]

For all the large tanks....a definite must....

 

[TEL]

I have one on my 250L and I love it and it dose a great job.

 

[red devil]

I always want my tanks to be as natural looking as possible, so if there is enough room around the aquarium I will use that form of filtration.

 

[loaches r cool]

Dont forget there are many features of a sump not found in canisters. Like maintaining water level in the aquarium, and providing access without having to get into your tank for things like water changes, adding chems, taking water samples, etc.

Cost depends. If your DIY'ing it you might have to figure in the cost of re-doing your plumbing 3 times and eating the cost of shipping for 3 pumps you sent back because you didnt research it enough:irked: .... lol
Even though my sump is extremely simplistic I've probably spent the cost of an Eheim Pro3 plus another canister on top of that. Dont forget the cost of the overflows too, for my tank that already put the cost at over $200. Add 4 bulkheads and misc parts for the durso standpipes and that another $60+ and we still havent got below the tank yet. Ended up not being nearly as cheap as I thought, actually ridiculously expensive. next time I'll be trying the diy pvc overflows.