@Tinnerito As others have already mentioned, a canister filter (or a hang on back!) will absolutely work, no question. But it sounds to me like you've already made a decision to try a sump, and I encourage you to do so with good reason, as others have already commented on.
A sump can be almost as simple or complex as you'd like to imagine it, so there's lots of options from DIY to custom made. In the past, I have done DIY sumps using standard tanks and glass baffles I'd cut or have cut and silicon them into the tank. More recently, I purchased, but decided I don't want to use, a FijiCube 20" sump. I love it, it's bright, shiny acrylic and oh so "fancy" with its probe holders and such, but at the end of the day all the compartments are very small, in my opinion. I'm looking to sell it lol!
For my next build, I think I've decided that I like using standard tanks like a 40 breeder, and using a DIY acrylic sump baffle kit. If you don't mind a little DIY (and I'd be happy to try to help you), compared to the FijiCube and others, I think this sump baffle kit is the best one going. I had of their 20L kits, and I'm going to order a 40B kit for my next build, which would likely be a good size for your 60 gallon tank:
And if you're not going to drill your tank for an overflow, make sure to get a well reviewed HOB overflow, some of those can be a real problem. Best practice, I believe, is to drill (which is easier than you may be thinking) and go with the three drain hole "Bean Animal" style overflow.
Good luck!
Oh you want one of those cool techie looking sumps with cool gear and colored plumbing lol. This is one of mine. The only cool thing about mine is all the live rock makes for an almost instant cycle and zero ugly stage after starting in March even tho the tank was started barebottom with dry rock.
EDIT : What I really like about a sump is being to have a fuge. I'm a big fan of them for the benificial life forms that thrive there. Hiding heaters along with ato is nice also.
My sump is a near zero maintenance filtration center for my tank
The first compartment is where the water enters and houses a skimmer, that I don’t use. It’s there “in case” I need to remove something from the water - medication, a spill, etc. it also holds my heater and some probes
The second compartment holds my algae scrubber, live sand, and tons of live rock with live sponge. The rock and sponge are a cryptic zone with no light. This is also where dosing equipment draws water from.
Between compartment 2 and 3 are media trays with matrix, and chemi pure bags.
Compartment 3 is the return pump, more live rock, and a phosphate reactor, that I only use if I have a spike I need to take care of.
I have zero mechanical filtration to clean, no socks, filter pads, no fleece rollers, nothing.
The setup is hands off maintenance free, aside from emptying the algae scrubber every 7-10 days. Open lid, remove handful of algae, close lid. Done
Great looking setups! But are you guys not worried about having THAT MUCH rock packed into your sumps? In my experience, those kind of setups tend to collect detritus, but obviously you guys are not having a problem?
I'm currently just starting a 150 build, I'm going with a DIY 40B sump, and I very much want to embrace the large 'fuge methodology. I have so many questions lol! I don't mean to post over the OP's posts, but I'd love to know more about how you setup your sumps.
I like sumps so much I have them on my planted freshwater tanks in addition to my reef lol. Hides all equipment, adds extra water volume, extra space for media, space to float new fish or temporarily house fish, etc.
LOL! I have absolutely done this! I have gone in and out of saltwater over the years, so I have run systems with sumps as freshwater, and I have to say, I like it, lol! For all the reasons we like our saltwater sumps. I think the complexity involved with setting up and running a sump just doesn't appeal to a "typical" freshwater keeper, but I'm not sure why more advanced freshwater aquarists didn't get into sumps.
