Milet Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Hey all What external filter do you recomend for me to use on my 6X2X2 that I will be setting up for a Clown Knifefish and some other bigger fish? I dont really have room for a sump. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Fluval FX5 Should do the trick quite nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milet Posted June 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Thanks wok I have been reading a few threads about them on here and seem quite good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewelz Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Yes I agree. A fluval FX5 will not only do the job but make the job easier to do when it comes to water changes. I'd have one on every big tank..if only I could afford it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 I'd suggest a sump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Me too!!!!!!! For a tank that big a sump is the only way to go!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milet Posted June 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 It all seems wayyy too confusing for me i dont really get how they work :oops: and how to set one up...maybe someone can gimme a Sump 101 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Still confused? They're dead easy to set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 its the getting the water from the tank down to the sump without a huge gushing noise which stuffs most people up.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milet Posted June 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Thanks david. Seems kinda simple. I suppose now the main factor would be noise, because the tank will be in my bedroom. How noisy is the pump in a sump and the trickling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Meh, huge gushing noise = airation!!! You guys need to harden up! I used to have a 5'x2'x2' in my bedroom with an open 4x2 stand running a big noisy sump with two large pumps. The sound of watre is supposed to be relaxing isn't it? :lol: It can be done, a big sponge in the overflow and a spraybar that restricts the flow of water to the point where the pipe is full of water helps. So does having the whole thing in an enclosed cabinet. It just takes a big of thinking and playing around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 I have my fx5 0.5m away from my bed and its loud but you get over it. I would go a sump as you could set one up for half the price of a fx5 and make it quieter. They look simple to make. Bet you could even set one up for $100 excluding media if you get trade prices on the pipes and fittings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milet Posted June 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 I Suppose, i can sleep through all my filters, but its the noise of bubbles i cant sleep through lol. So so annoying. Okay, so i will go with a Sump then, What equipment will i need? Main Tank (with Holes drilled?) Bottom Tank (what size?) Custom Stand Heaters Peat Filter Wool Bio Media What else? What sort of pump gets the water through the tank and sump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Bet you could even set one up for $100 excluding media if you get trade prices on the pipes and fittings Not likely, unless you've got pumps and a spare tank at home. Here's my rough costing: Sump $140 Media ~$50? [can't remember, been so long since I bought any bio balls] Plumbing $50-100 depending on how complicated you make it and how many bends you use Pump $100 and up depending on the size of the tank. Still cheaper than a big canister. Potentially has more bio media, more waterflow, increases the total system volume, can keep the heaters etc out of the main tank, and its easy to add/remove things like crushed shell or peat for buffering water. If noise is an issue you could possibly set it up so a second pump on a timer comes on during the day to increase the flow, and turns off at night while you're sleeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Pump http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Ou ... 076486.htm 800L a hour $43 I have seen people use plastic bin's for there sump as they are cheap Say $20 for a nice new bin/or pick up an old tank of trademe Try and use alkathene fittings as they are way cheaper than pvc....dont settle for retail prices....get trade....its at least 60+% cheaper Say $20 for the fittings(you dont need many at all) That leaves $17 for random stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 800L per hour isn't even turning over the volume of a 6'x2'x2' tank twice per hour, and I bet that flow rate isn't with a 1M+ head as you usually would have with a sump set up. The minimum I'd want for that size tank would be two of these, maybe even two of these if you're keeping big messy fish, and/or the sump is much more than 1M below the top of the tank. I'm also interested as to how you make the box for the bio media in the plastic bin? On a tank that size I'd be going for a big sump, ideally around 3-4' to give a good increase in volume and have plenty of space and I guess I'd rather save/spend a bit more to get something purpose-built thats going to do the job well. Ghetto home-built stuff can work well, and is great if you're on a really tight budget (arent we all?), but IMO it's not every day you set up a tank this big, so why not do it once and do it properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Any plastic container can be used for a bio media container (assuming it has appropriate holes in it, of course), at work we use these random containers that are from payless plastics or somewhere similar, the water flows down through them. Another bonus with them is that they're removable, unlike a glass partition in a glass sump would be. As David said 800lph is definitely not enough, the tank will be about 650L and you'll want a 3x turnover per hour minimum. In my 490L tank I've got a 1550lph canister filter and a 500lph internal filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Ou ... 459278.htm -5000l per hour -maximum head height 3.50m Spend the money where you like :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 I'd go with something similar to the pump Hans linked to, or slightly better. I have a laguna PJ5000 which is a little over 6000 liters per hour that gives a good amount of flow from my sump to my 300 L tank. So would be perfect, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Outdoor-garden-conservatory/Statues-garden-ornaments/Water-features/auction-104459278.htm -5000l per hour -maximum head height 3.50m Spend the money where you like :roll: So you're going to build the sump and plumbing for 0.10c?? :roll: Also, with a head of around 1.5M (from the bottom of the sump to the top of the tank) the flow would be around 3000LPH [taking a very rough stab in the dark], which isn't even turning it over 5x per hour. I'd want more for the kind of fish I'd be keeping in a 6'x2'x2' tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 So you're going to build the sump and plumbing for 0.10c?? :roll: If you want to spend more do it. Im leaving this thread as it not about how much money it can be done for. It just stupid and immature firing back at each other over this. Out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milet Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 So whats a good size for the sump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Hans, I agree it's immiture, but I believe it was you who said it could be done for under $100... Millet, bigger = better. More water is always a good thing, and having a large capacity for bio media is what makes sumps great. However, You don't need a 5' sump. The sump should have space to hold at least 30-50L of water when the pump is switched off. I'd say go for something around 3'x15"x15", it also depends on the design of the stand, maybe you'll need something shorter and wider/taller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Heya Guys.. keep it friendly, there are plenty on here with great ideas and personal experience and cost cutting ideas.. so be happy to share and compare without any "red rag to bull" incidents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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