Equipment Review and Discussion :: Sump vs Canister

[SkiTrent]

So I have a 120 gallon tank with 2 RES. I am running a single fluval 404, but I am tired of dealing with it. I have heard that a sump system is not recommended.

Can someone please tell me why a wet dry sump filter is not as good as a canister? I would like to include bioballs/ammo chips, sponge, carbon, and a heater with a return.

What I would like to do is have a over flow to bring the water to the filer, but also have several returns in different sections of the tank to keep all waste from settling. Please help explain why I should keep dealing with the canisters before I go down this route.

[sull324]

Who said sump was a bad idea?,imo with the good media its all good.

[rsour24]

wet/dry trickle filters r great. only bad part is sometimes they produce an annoying noise but it can be managed. just most ppl dont get them for their turtles

[SkiTrent]

Cons:
1. Makes splashing noise

Pros:
1. No canister that is hard to clean
2. Very easy to start/stop or continue to run while changing media

Anyone else have pros and cons?

[RussD]

I built my own sump under my 75 gallon system. I really need to get some pictures of it on here. It can be rather labor intensive at first. I had to build an entire new stand and plumb it all in. However I have never had a cleaner tank. The media is super easy to change. Noise is def. a Con. Have to close the door at night. I don't like dreaming about waterfalls...

I got a lot of ideas from this guys youtube videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/grifloki

[SkiTrent]

I built my own sump under my 75 gallon system. I really need to get some pictures of it on here. It can be rather labor intensive at first. I had to build an entire new stand and plumb it all in. However I have never had a cleaner tank. The media is super easy to change. Noise is def. a Con. Have to close the door at night. I don't like dreaming about waterfalls...

I got a lot of ideas from this guys youtube videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/grifloki

I have watched some of his videos and he did an amazing job. I know the setup will be tough, but once its done I just fell like it will make the labor that much easier. I am thinkgin of creating an ATBA as well which means I will have even more water in the tank and thus need more filtration. I guess most people do not use sumps is because they are heard to setup? It just seems like such a easy idea.

[rbrk]

I have posted in the indoor habitat about a wet dry filtration system that I want to do. I have a 55 gallon tank and I'm going to use a 30 gallon tank as my sump. I'm going to make a ATBA so I can raise me water level for a overflow box. My tank is glass so ill use a siphon hose to get the water from my tank to the sump, what I really want to know if anyone knew how to make a full proof plan with a siphon setup that won't be prone to flood due to siphon break. I've heard of drilling a hole in the U tube and using airline from the tube to my fluval U4 venturi valve so there wouldn't be any chance of a siphon break. My return line ill have a sprayer at the top and bottom with a one way valve at the top to prevent my return line from siphoning my tank to the sump. Anyone with any advise would help a lot and I'd appreciated

[SkiTrent]

RBRK - Drilling a hole in the top and using a rubber tube to remove the air seems to be the only way. One suggestion my buddy had was attaching a power head to siphon tube, but I have not tried any of this myself. I am in the same exact process as you, but I am going to build an ATBA, SUMP, and new stand for my 120 gallon tank! Let me know if you try and tackle it and give me feedback.

[SkiTrent]

BTW - Here are all the links I have found to be good sources of information:

# Sump Pump

* Overflow
o http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=219465
o http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22117
* Filter Media
o http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... hp?t=88677
* Sump Setup
o Sweet [---] filter system - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlluUNlK ... re=channel
o Sump Diagram - http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=316516
o Cheap Sump - http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=145370
o Cheap Sump - http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=282373
o Informational article - http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.php
o Pipe Flow Rates: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=205645
* PH and What not
o http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... alkalinity

# ATBA

*
Coolest ATBA I could find http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25205
*
A walkthrough of ATBA build out
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... ht=#243128
* http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1021/952 ... 3d61e4.jpg
* http://www.happyturtlespub.org/smf/inde ... ic=18367.0