I am just curious of everyone's equipment preferences and their pros/cons for using those.

I am very happy since switching all of my tanks to canister filters. Getting my first experience with a sump soon. Trying to get my head wrapped around that. That's the reason for the thread. I'm currently weighing options for pumping water back up to the tank. There is a tube and fitting on the end of the sump to hook up a pump. I'm considering taking that off, plugging the hole somehow and using submersible pumps and drop em right in the filter. May have to run 2 so I can have a hose going to 2 different spray bars. Still working that one out.

As for aeration, I like undergravel filters with the understanding that they're not actually filtering anything. Just creating a flow of bubbles without having annoying tubes all over the inside of the tank (guess I'd rather see one big tube as opposed to little hoses). I have powerheads in my 90 gallon and air pumps in my 125.

Heaters are pretty basic. I have 2 - 200 watt heaters in my 90 and 2 - 300 watt heaters in my 125.

I like gravel. Haven't used any sand in any of my tanks as of yet.

I wound up getting a cheap 2 bulb 4' shop light mounted in my canopy on the 125. cost me $25 after I bought the cord to plug it into the wall. It's compact and has a cover to protect the bulbs from any possible splashing. The 90 gallon I am actually using an 1 bulb aquarium light.

Mostly looking for advice on the sump. Any input of feedback is always appreciated.

I can't reply on sumps; but my equipment is:

Filtration:
Eheim Pro3 - I love it. nothing bad to say about it
Submariner 13W UV filter.

Water movement/airation:
Powerhead (Aquaclear 30) with filter - it really does a great job of polishing the water and adding additional water movement
Tetra air pump w/ two undergravel bubble "walls"

Heating: ETH inline 300W. I really like the inline heating - no additional equipment in the tank and no risk of the fish burning themselves or moving it

Lighting: Powerbright LED - 4 strips plus 2 lunar lights. I'm very happy with the effect LED lighting provides.
substrate: gravel

I also really like my gravel vacuum/water changer - it hooks up to the faucet (similar to a Python, different brand). I can't imagine going back to buckets.

brichter04 wrote:

Could you be more specific in what you'd like to know.
I think i explained a bit in one of your other threads, am i right?

are you asking what makes I prefer or type of equipment I prefer?

I use canisters. I have a 150g(uk)tank and my canister can handle twice that. so no need for a sump. I like to back all my kit up with a 2nd just in case one goes wrong. so i used 2 canisters along with 2 heaters(300w). it just so happens that the heaters are made by the same company as the filter, this happened by chance. Fluval. thats not to say they are better than the rest, but they do the job for a good price.Etheim are another top brand and i wouldn't think twice about buying there equipment.

I prefer cannister filters in particluar fluvals

As for using a under gravel filter (UGF) for aeration you dont need a UGF for that. Just an air pump with air line and air stone

Just curious about everybodies preferences. Needing more advice on sumps. It came the 300 gallon tank I bought and was just curious of pros/cons of sumps.

for large tanks sumps are ok. but you could still get away with 1 or 2 FX5. sumps have an advantage of access to the media. you can use wool or other sponge as a first layer to catch the crap. this would be easy to get to and clean. thats the only reason I can see to have a sump myself.

I like the idea of the sump in the 300 gallon tank. Just trying to get my head wrapped around the whole thing. Looking to get my stand banged out next Tuesday. Took a "sick" day from work. I do have a dentist appt. but that's early in the morning and could make it to work if I wanted to. Looking to have it knocked out in a day hopefully. So, if all things go as planned, I'll have water in the tank Tuesday night. Just want to make sure I have all my bases covered.

The new set up I got second hand has 3 holes approx 1.5" with bulkhead fittings in the tank 2 use gravity feed to a 3ft tank bellow the main tank this goes through filter wool and charcoal then through a baffle plate to the second chamber filled with spiky bio balls then another to the last chamber where the filtered water gets pumped up back to the tank (intake to the pump is wool filtered too ) I plan to do the same set up when I get my bigger tank only will mod mt 4 ft tank as a filter works a treat I had a u bute canister filter before and this set up kicks it's bum
very happy with it
Gazza

double post

well i run a fluval 305 and its amazing this is my first canister filter and dispite the high cost of a fluval canister filter i have no complaints any tank i buy when im older i am definently getting a fluval i love it oh and regarding equitment im going to say i love hikari everything and top but hikari is amazing they have a veriety of foods so i can entertain my o with different types of foods

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