Sumps or canister filter for freshwater? Questions

[captmicha]

I'm thinking about making a sump filter or a canister filter for my 65 gallon freshwater tank, but I don't want to drill it. So that would leave me to do an overhang over flow box from a fish holder hang on box. But that would leave all the mulm on the bottom of the tank. Wouldn't it? And it wouldn't get into the overflow, would it? It would just sit there.

Also, how do people use sponge filters for messy fish? Wouldn't it also just leave the mulm sitting on the bottom to decay?

Even with impellers to move the water on the bottom, it would just push mulm around.

 

[chriscoli]

The amount of mulm really depends on what's being kept in the tank. I have some tanks that produce almost no mulm, and others that do. Usually if you have plants and wood with wood-eating catfish you'll have more mulm.

Is your tank unusually messy?

For tanks where I like to pull debris off the bottom, I make sure the lift tube is low in the tank. You might also consider the "dump filters" that Matt Q is so fond of promoting. The filter actually sits on top of the tank and flows back down into the tank. The plus side is that they're very DIY-friendly and there's little-to-no risk of overflowing water onto the floor once it's setup.

 

[jonclark96]

If you aren't going to use a drilled tank, I'd go with a canister over a sump every time, as I'm just not willing to live with the risk of overflowing a tank all over the floor when something goes wrong with the overflow.

 

[dogofwar]

Dump filters rank only behind red wigglers and Uruguay among my fish-related passions.

I've found that the velocity of water returning to a tank from a dump filter disturbs the bottom enough to keep the bottom clean. They're easy to clean and can also be used to house pothos and other plants. I also like that I can run a dump filter for a relatively large tank with a relatively small pump or powerhead.

Honestly and especially if you're not going to house especially messy or large fish, an air-driven sponge filter and box filter can be plenty for a 65g. I especially the like the Swiss Tropicals Poret sponges with powerlifters.

I'm not a fan of canister filters, mostly because they're a PITA to clean and they're expensive.

Matt

The amount of mulm really depends on what's being kept in the tank. I have some tanks that produce almost no mulm, and others that do. Usually if you have plants and wood with wood-eating catfish you'll have more mulm.

Is your tank unusually messy?

For tanks where I like to pull debris off the bottom, I make sure the lift tube is low in the tank. You might also consider the "dump filters" that Matt Q is so fond of promoting. The filter actually sits on top of the tank and flows back down into the tank. The plus side is that they're very DIY-friendly and there's little-to-no risk of overflowing water onto the floor once it's setup.

 

[xny89]

I've used HOB and canister filters for my tanks. You don't need to drill for a canister filter - the intake and return tubes fit over the tops of the tanks. I've only had one canister leak on me, and it happened right after I cleaned it out - it's since been replaced. The other two canisters I have haven't leaked. I've found that canisters provide more filtration when sized and set up with filter media that HOB's. I've no experience with the other types of filters, Yes, they can be a challenge to clean, but not that big a deal, as long as the filter tubing has shut off valves.

 

[FishEggs]

I built my own canister filter and added a back wash drain so it's easy to clean.

 

[captmicha]

I can't do a dump, there's no room except in a cabinet overhead, but I don't think it'll be able to support the weight. Also, this is a show tank in my sunroom. But I like the idea.

I'm considering doing this wet/dry trickle:

I have some questions. The holes in the outake would prevent spilling out in a power outage, right? Bc we get a lot of those.

And would I be able to make the intake much lower? He explained why it's at the top, but my brain is too tired to comprehend.

I think it was to prevent spilling over in case of power outage. Is there anything I can do to have it not spill over, and still have the intake much lower?

I'd really like to hide it in the cabinet under the tank (on floor, can bear weight), or on the floor next to it, hidden by plants or something.

Also, has it been proven that it filters more efficiently/better than a canister filter?