Filter Advice for New Tank

[wikkedj]

Good Morning!

I'm looking for filter advice on a new 75G community tank the wife and I are setting up in spring. This is our first 'big tank' but we have kept several smaller tanks over the years.

We're planning on a moderate to heavily planted tank - a school or two of smaller tetras (still looking at types) a rubbernose pleco, a small group of mollies, some pygmy cories, amano shrimp and/or snails....still messing around on aquarium advisor with exact numbers and load. We're pretty diligent about weekly water changes.

My main question I guess is - will two (or more) large sponge filters suffice or should I be looking at something bigger....hang on back...canister....a combination....something else I don't even know exists? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Mr. Overfilter]

One of the aspects of fish keeping I'm starting to develop a deep appreciation of is filtration. Depending on the conditions you find yourself in, filtration can exist as unbelievably complex to dirt simple, all driven by your temperament. If I were in your place, as you describe it, I'd go for a sump. Why? The sheer flexibility of the platform, which to me means a chance to fine tune easily should I need\want to. Sure, you can use other methods or combinations to end up the same way.

So wik, which method/approach do you lean towards?

[Aiken Drum]

Only thing i would say is for a sump you either need to drill the tank and put in an overflow box or get a hang on back overflow box. Sump will be great, increases your water volume, loads of room for filter media. Needs a little more technical input than more traditional filters. If you dont have a tank already though, getting something sump ready is easily an option for you.

If you wanted a simpler option, i would go with a pair of canisters to give you good flow around the larger tank size and some redundancy.

[Mr. Overfilter]

Originally Posted by Aiken Drum

Only thing i would say is for a sump you either need to drill the tank and put in an overflow box or get a hang on back overflow box. Sump will be great, increases your water volume, loads of room for filter media. Needs a little more technical input than more traditional filters. If you dont have a tank already though, getting something sump ready is easily an option for you.

Of my myriad experiences I ran a 75g saltwater acrylic with a sump loaded by an overflow with an eheim pump. To make the situation sweeter I ran a skimmer driven by an ozone generator, until my dog started to develop eye infections. As complex as this kit was 25-years ago, it's a toy compared to contemporary sump tech. While my needs are met handily by my current kit (125g+FX6+FX4+800W heater+Maxpect XF350 flow pump). My goal in responding to wik the way I have was to illicit more information from a person whos 1st post had hung-out unanswered for so long.