Sump and canister filter?

[nick76lebanon]

So I originally set up my tank on a canister filter but now im looking at setting up a sump on it, do y’all think i could run both? Like have a sump and a canister filter running or just go ahead and sell the canister filter?

 

[bevo5]

You can set the system up however you want! It's all personal preference.

The main issues with canister filters is that they trap waste and become nitrate factories. So you'd have to stay up on maintenance. They're always out of sight/out of mind so it's easy to forget to crack them open.

That said - there's plenty of stuff you could put in there that would be beneficial. Stuff it with filter floss to keep water clean. Carbon (flow might be too much). Chemipure. Whatever.

 

[tsouth]

You can most definitely have both, as unconventional as it may be, doesn't mean it's wrong! You'll have to define the purpose of the canister of course. Perhaps use it as a method of carbon filtration or perhaps as an intermediary until you receive more robust items to filter with. It doesn't hurt, but may also not be needed.

The purpose of a sump is to hide equipment from the display. Down the line, you may find yourself not having a purpose of the canister. So long as you have a proper means of keeping your tank balanced and tuned, then your need for the canister is non-essential and you could remove it then.

Edit: Oh Bevo got me by like 10 seconds!!!! Looks like we're on the same page. Cheers all around!

 

[Cwentz758]

I ran a canister with a DIY sump for awhile. Only real reason I did it was because at the time I wanted to add a skimmer. The pain in the butt was 1. Cleaning the canister and 2 at the time my return wasn’t as strong as needed so the canister pushed more water in the sump than the return could pump up so I had to fine tune two pipes.

looking back I shoulda just went sump only, makes it easier to clean things, and requires less plumbing. Good thing was, removing it gave me a whole side of open cabinet.


july 2016