Canister vs sump

[fl3xlinton]

Hey all. I am starting my second reef tank (first was aio) and I was wondering if it would be okay to use a canister filter instead of a sump since I am going to be a little strapped for money on the making of this build. I might get a sump down the road but would it be okay to start out? Plan on doing a soft reef with a few fish in a 65 tall. It’s an old cichlid tank

 

[Phildago]

This is a very unpopular opinion, but I successfully use a canister filter along with an hob refugium, so it can be done...

With that said, a sump is probably cheaper and definitely better. A 20 gallon tank at petco goes for 20 bucks

 

[fl3xlinton]

This is a very unpopular opinion, but I successfully use a canister filter along with an hob refugium, so it can be done...

With that said, a sump is probably cheaper and definitely better. A 20 gallon tank at petco goes for 20 bucks

Then you got your 300 dollar pump and fuge drilling holes in the tank and all that right? I really didn’t want to drill holes into the tank

 

[Redneck19261]

This is a very unpopular opinion, but I successfully use a canister filter along with an hob refugium, so it can be done...

With that said, a sump is probably cheaper and definitely better. A 20 gallon tank at petco goes for 20 bucks

I kinda like the idea of a canister filter. I'm thinking of using one on the 45 bow front I'm starting next month

 

[Redneck19261]

Then you got your 300 dollar pump and fuge drilling holes in the tank and all that right? I really didn’t want to drill holes into the tank

I think he means getting a 20g from petco and turning it into a sump

 

[Redneck19261]

Then you got your 300 dollar pump and fuge drilling holes in the tank and all that right? I really didn’t want to drill holes into the tank

But yes you will have to make a overflow for it. But sumps can be noisy to from what ive been told

 

[lavoisier]

Certainly you can make canisters work successfully but a 20g tank is easier to set up and use for the purposes you need.

 

[fl3xlinton]

I think he means getting a 20g from petco and turning it into a sump

Yes but you still have to buy the stuff to put inside the sump

 

[Redneck19261]

Certainly you can make canisters work successfully but a 20g tank is easier to set up and use for the purposes you need.

You mean purposes like refugiums and protien skimmers?

 

[mcdrichj]

eshopps overflow box for 70-90 if you dont want to drill the tank. I have had one for a few years now and I have never had an issue (knocking on wood). You could also get a pump for under 100. You could setup a budget sump for around 200. It would be cheaper if you decided to drill the tank.

 

[Mical]

Canisters are cheaper initially BUT a sump will provide a more stable environment faster. A canister will require monthly cleanings which will cause fluctuations in params. Canisters can be a headache, they sometime leak, clog etc... A sump you'll be able to visually monitor and the added water capacity will help keep params stable and a sump needs little maintenance.

 

[Phildago]

Then you got your 300 dollar pump and fuge drilling holes in the tank and all that right? I really didn’t want to drill holes into the tank

Eh, my pump was 30, then 15 for a pack of drill bits and 10 for the bulk head fittings. Still less than my $100 canister. Better yet, if you already had the canister filter you could do a sump/refugium and use the canister filter as the return pump and diy reactor. Cutting the cost of a sump and improving efficiency at the same time

The drilling went easy peasy. Just got slow and keep the area wet.

 

[sfin52]

I run a 75g reef with a fluval fx4. It can be done. I don't have a hob refugium. The biggest draw back is all the equipment in the dt.

Sumps still have to be cleaned. It's easier to clean a sump. But what I do for a canister is to have extra media bags foam inserts and such. I open the canister clean it out swap out guts and put back together. Than I clean all the guts and hold for next month. It's really easy.

 

[jeffchapok]

I bought a $30 pump and made my own overflow with a few bucks worth of PVC. Added a clip on filter sock holder to a small used acrylic tank and it all works fine. A sump doesn't have to be expensive, in fact mine cost far less than the Fluval canister I was considering.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

I run a 75g reef with a fluval fx4. It can be done. I don't have a hob refugium. The biggest draw back is all the equipment in the dt.

Sumps still have to be cleaned. It's easier to clean a sump. But what I do for a canister is to have extra media bags foam inserts and such. I open the canister clean it out swap out guts and put back together. Than I clean all the guts and hold for next month. It's really easy.

In a year, I haven't cleaned my sump/fuge. Not sure why I would clean it ??

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Then you got your 300 dollar pump and fuge drilling holes in the tank and all that right? I really didn’t want to drill holes into the tank

You can get a nice DC return pump with controller for less than half that price.

 

[sfin52]

In a year, I haven't cleaned my sump/fuge. Not sure why I would clean it ??

Fuge no but just like a canister detritus will build up in the rest of the sump.

 

[fl3xlinton]

Are sumps louder than canisters and bobs? My aio is almost silent

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Fuge no but just like a canister detritus will build up in the rest of the sump.

Likely I'm just lazy, but my rationale is, "I have detritivores (bristleworms, starfish, pods) to handle the detritus." I wouldn't want to remove their food source

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Are sumps louder than canisters and bobs? My aio is almost silent

My sump is silent except for the barely perceptible skimmer air intake. The DC return pumps are extremely quiet.