illinois815
New Member
I'm gonna start a 125 gallon tank and I don't wanna use the old sump that came with the tank so I wanna buy new filtration what are good options to use instead of a sump? And what all would I need?
125 gallon filtration no sump
- Thread starter illinois815
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mandy111
Active Member
May I ask why you don't want to run a sump ? I personally would t run a reef tank without one. Not only can you hide all equipment but it significantly increases your water volume , which in turn will help create stability. You can use natural filteration instead of canisters etc. I would definitely reconsider !
illinois815
New Member
I'm just gonna do a fish only with live rock for now I was just curious which filters our canister or protein skimmer combination others have been successful with
mandy111
Active Member
yeah . sorry cant help you with that at all, ive only ever run a sump.
But I am sure someone will be able to help you on this site, they are all very helpful.
jeffk
New Member
You will be fighting a uphill struggle not using a sump. Canisters and hang-on back filters are nitrate storage units. I know there will be a few responses that disagree with my statement and there are always people who have never had a problem. But, for the majority of us in the hobby, we have found a sump is the easiest way to go. It will be much less expensive in the long run to use a sump. A canister for a tank that big will be very expensive, not to mention the price of replacing the media. A sump is healthier for the tank, makes tank maintenance much easier, and makes the presentation of the tank better not having equipment hanging all over the rim.
pegasus
Well-Known Member
If you don't mind the expense of changing media regularly, there are several decent canister filters available for a tank that size. The cost and hassle of maintaining this type of filter is the #1 reason most people avoid them. I'm fairly certain that 95%+ of hobbyists will recommend a sump or refugium. It's just so much easier and virtually maintenance-free. Of course, a skimmer needs regular cleaning, but that's cost-free maintenance. Other than the initial cost of setup, there's really no other expense. It's better to start with a sump or refugium, than to buy a canister filter and decide you don't like it later. That'll be money that could have been applied towards a natural type of filtration. While canister filters will do a good job if maintained properly, the benefits of a sump outweigh the benefits of a canister by a long shot. There are people on this site that have used canisters, but unless I'm mistaken, most have moved away from them. If anyone is still using one (or more), I'm sure they'll chime in shortly...
lmforbis
Well-Known Member
I used to run a canister when I had a 55 (over 10 years). It requires very rigorous maintanance schedule. A hang on the back filter would be easier than a canister but you'd need to make sure it is big enough probably 2 large ones. They still need a God deal of maintainable. I switched in January to a sump. Everything is so much easier. Minimal to no maintainable on the sump. I keep a wad of chaeto in it and that is all. I remove half the chaeto when it grows enough to fill the sump. I upgraded to a 125 in March and built a new sump. I'll never go back.
Many people do do fine without especially with a fish only system.
Many people do do fine without especially with a fish only system.
deejeff0442
Active Member
If you run a canister imo its still a kind of sump right? Still on the floor with pipes going up and down.hob double wheel filter with alot of lr and flow will work just fine.
illinois815
New Member
I have a sump in the tank that came with it I have to replace the protein skimmer and Idk what else I would really need any ideas for that then?
And thanks for all the advice
And thanks for all the advice
deejeff0442
Active Member
I have always just run rock alot of flow and water changes weekly or so.just add fish slow.i have used skimmers and didnt see a big difference in anything in the tank.yea it pulls gunk out but wasnt worth the time for me.
illinois815
New Member
The guy who I bought it from has everything drilled already and the only thing I could think to put there would be a skimmer cuz that's what he used
illinois815
New Member
So external protein skimmer ideas the sump already had holes drilled in so I figured it might as well go there?
deejeff0442
Active Member
Not really sure what you have.can you post a pic? Its an in display tank sump? Or under in the stand? If its an in tank i wouldnt think the skimmer would be big enough for a tank that size.
illinois815
New Member
It's in the stand and it recently had an ext protein skimmer right beside the sump and it's got a broken collection cup and it's been discontinued or i would use it because my dad's friend is w who we got it from and he had it running successfully four years buy didn't have room when he moved and I don't know how to post a picture on this site
deejeff0442
Active Member
Cant you epoxy fix the cup? Not like it has pressure in it.i would definitely use the sump
illinois815
New Member
If I had the top of the collection cup i probably could but it's been lost
deejeff0442
Active Member
Why does it need a top? Usually they have an overflow tube toward the top of the cup
illinois815
New Member
It looks like somebody dropped it and broke it because the collection cup has no top
illinois815
New Member
It basically looks like a bowl now with no cover
deejeff0442
Active Member
The cover really dont do anything you can put tin foil over the top.