External filter or sump?

[leecasey82]

Hi
I've been keeping marine fish for around 18months now and am still very much a noob! The Mrs is buying me a 6ft tank for my birthday in couple month, but what my boggle is whether to to use external filters or a sump. I have been told by my Lfs that it is miles easier with externals and can pretty much have twice the fish as with a sump but everyone I know who's had a tank are saying get a sump but I'm really at a loss and don't know whether to go down the sump route. I'm running a sump at the min but don't know whether to make the change? Any input will be much appreciated as Its all I'm thinking about all day everyday.

 

[melypr1985]

Personally I would do a sump, but I would have a full blown reef, so there's that. Are you going to have corals and such or just fish?

 

[leecasey82]

I will be keeping corals too. I have a bubbletip anemone, some green
Star polyps, hammerhead few mushrooms and green finger corals so will be keeping them plus adding more

 

[Waters]

Hi
I've been keeping marine fish for around 18months now and am still very much a noob! The Mrs is buying me a 6ft tank for my birthday in couple month, but what my boggle is whether to to use external filters or a sump. I have been told by my Lfs that it is miles easier with externals and can pretty much have twice the fish as with a sump but everyone I know who's had a tank are saying get a sump but I'm really at a loss and don't know whether to go down the sump route. I'm running a sump at the min but don't know whether to make the change? Any input will be much appreciated as Its all I'm thinking about all day everyday.

I am unclear as to why the LFS would say you can have twice the fish as if you had a sump? Doesn't really make any sense. If you are looking for a heavily stocked tank, you can customize the sump to biologically support that anyway you want. On top of that, you have a place to hide all of your equipment, do water changes, etc.

 

[Mike in CT]

Definitely go with the sump if you have any desire to have one at all! You will be disappointed for as long as you have your tank if you don't.
On a second note..... Congrats on having a wife who is buying you a tank! Lol definitely a keeper!

 

[PatW]

For a 6 foot aquarium, use a sump. You can buy an acrylic sump or even make it yourself. You could also get a four foot aquarium like a 55 gallon or a 70 gallon for the sump.

 

[leecasey82]

Definitely go with the sump if you have any desire to have one at all! You will be disappointed for as long as you have your tank if you don't.
On a second note..... Congrats on having a wife who is buying you a tank! Lol definitely a keeper!

Haha thanks she's alright I suppose she's still on trial yet though! Think I am going to stick with the sump,too many people advising me to and not heard great reports on the filter side to be honest

 

[leecasey82]

It's not the fact I want a heavily stocked tank just a bonus I suppose but they said it was down to the media in filters I was planning on using 3 big eheims but looks like I'm sticking with the sump, I kinda liked the idea of just shutting pipes off then quick clean n pop back in, was just being lazy I suppose. It's not helped that I've been constantly been having problems like high phosphate,sorted that then nitrates were high,now I've got that under control I've got frigid WS which I've pulled the culprit put him in qt now just monitoring the other fish as they have it but not a severe and seem fine not lost weight and eating fine. It's just been getting on my nerves all the constant messing/ cleaning changing Media I've been doing