alternative to sump?

[ozzydan]

hi all
I'm setting up a standard 5ft tank, fish only and am looking for an alternative to a sump filter. I have had a 4ft tank (rock, fish, corals) in the past and don't want to go back to that water gurgling down a drain sound. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
dan

 

[Guest]

You don't need a sump. A hang on fuge is the only other thing I can think of...

 

[ozzydan]

can i get away with a cannister filter? also what is a fuge?
thanks
dan

 

[indy]

Cannisters are bad, unless you clean them real often. A 'fuge is a sump with life in it. Sandbed, macro algae, rock, and lots of bugs. Durso standpipes cut down on the gurgling sound, or so I'm told.

 

[ozzydan]

thanks indy
but that sounds like i'm getting back to a sump again, what i am looking for is an alternative. the hob fuge sounded ok. does anyone know about these. also i have seen a few mentions of biowheels any advice on these? my tank is somewhere around 110 gallons
thanks
dan

 

[Bearfan]

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The main purpose of a sump is to add water volume, hide equipment, and allow for water addition/changes to be done outside of the main tank to reduce stress on the animals in the tank.

I will defer filtration for a FO SW tank to someone else, since my only experience/research has been with a sump. But if you went with a HOB type filter, you would need more than one on a 110.

 

[ellisz]

For a fish only tank, a HOB filter or canister should be fine. Nitrates will be an issue in the long run but as long as you change your filters and have a clean bottom, it should be fine.

I ran a whisper and a Emperor 280 on the back of a 38 gal for 6+ years. I had a CC substrate that was 7+ years old and an under gravel filter. My fish were still kicking when I tore the tank down last year. I had a clown and a dog puffer that lived together for most of the time the tank was up. The clown is now in my reef tank.

I think HOB filters and canisters might be old school but they can work. I have a 29 gal using the emperor 280 right now. Just get something that will provide enough filtration.

just my .02

 

[ozzydan]

thanks ellisz
i'll give it a go, i guess trial an error can get expensive, but it is a good way to learn.
thanks
dan

 

[ellisz]

As mentioned above, a fuge would help too. I would not consider it trial and error though. HOB filters used to be all we had.

Down side to the HOB filter is when the water evaporates, you get a running water sound.... listening to one right now

Good luck

 

[indy]

I've got the constant flushing sound, haven't built the durso yet. A hob 'fuge won't do much of anything filtration wise, especially for a tank that size. They're more for just having a place for bugs to live. Bio-wheels will have the same 'trate issues as any mechanical filtration. Again, not bad but you have to do the maintenance. Go with a dsb with live rock and you won't need any exterior filtration.

 

[ellisz]

Go with a dsb with live rock and you won't need any exterior filtration

Then it would be a FOWLR instead of FO

 

[indy]

Wise A$$