Filter Question

[J1mbo]

Right ive currently got a 6ft x 2ft x 1.5ft LxHxW. the filtration im running is 2 external filters Fx5 and a 405.

Im looking at upgrading my tank for christmas and was looking at tanks that come with a sump setup for marine.

Can i use a sump setup with tropical? if so how would i go about doing it?.

The tank at the moment is currently home to 3 tiger oscars, 2 green sevs, 2 parrot fish, 1 ornate birchir, 1 senagal birchir and a comman plec.

Regards Jimbo

 

[Wills]

Wow most people consider a 6fter an upgrade!! As for the sumps I would say as long as everything is "de salted" it will be fine. I have just got an upgrade to a 4ft that was used as marine but a lot of people (reliable people) have said it will work out okay. You just need to make it like new basically or if it were a computer set it back to factory settings.

Wills

 

[OldMan47]

Sumps can be used with a freshwater setup and are among the best filtration systems that you can have. I have never used one only because the cost of doing so put me off. If I already had one it would be hard to stop me using it. The essence of using a sump is that you gravity drain from the main tank into the sump where you use whatever media suit your filter needs, You also place your tank heater into the sump and out of sight in the main display tank. Once the water has been filtered and heated, you pump the water back up to the main tank which, of course, makes more water overflow back to the sump thus closing the water cycle. The water level in the main tank never changes, all of the level losses and gains happen in the sump area. This means that you always need to keep the sump level low enough that a power failure will not overflow it before the water flow from the main tank stops. It would be best to fill the main tank and the sump before starting any pumps so that you will know it is safe, then start up the return pump and mark the stable level where you know that a power outage will not overflow anything. After the first fill, you do water changes and refills knowing exactly how full it is safe to make the sump.