Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: four_by_ken on January 15, 2013, 03:36:36 PM
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Why is all the talk about canister filters now... what happened to using a wet/dry sump system?
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Why is all the talk about canister filters now... what happened to using a wet/dry sump system?
Canister filters have come a long way in quality and numerous sizes. Combine that with many people not wanting to do the drilled tanks. It's just another option hobbyists have at their disposal.
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I actually don't like canisters way to messy and if a o- ring goes bad or impellor you will be sol until you can find a replacment. the only problems with wetdrys are they can overfill if your not careful when you plan it out. Like for example my 180 with a wet dry on it that holds 30 gallons of water and 8 gallons of bio balls doesn't need a water change for like 3 weks before the nitrates go up. On top of that it gives me a place to throw fish if I'm having problems with aggression. But back to canisters people think they are really great again but will soon be over it. It seems like its a trend. And everyone keeps going back and forth between the 2. Both have issues don't get me wrong.
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The hell with both.... go sponges :P
I cannot stand canisters either
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Yup sponges. Ordering some 5s through work for 5 bucks a piece
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Yeah, I'm trying what to do about filtration on this 100 gallon. It came with a really big filter of some sort. I'm not sure what it is or how to hook it up. It's about the size of a 10 gallon tank, but it's metal. I'll try and take a picture of it and post it. It looks impressive but I've never seen one. It might be too strong of a current for the fish that are going in there.
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Send me a pic and I can tell you what it is and maybe how to hook it up. What kind of fish are you keeping mine don't seem to mind a lot of flow
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The ones I'd be concerned about are the Goldfish. Orandas, Lionheads, Pearscales, American fantails. Everything else I think would be okay.
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Why is all the talk about canister filters now... what happened to using a wet/dry sump system?
Canister filters have come a long way in quality and numerous sizes. Combine that with many people not wanting to do the drilled tanks. It's just another option hobbyists have at their disposal.
You dont have to drill a tank to use a wet/dry.
Overflow boxes work just fine.
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I am just seeing a wet/dry as a completely customizable canister filter that allows many more options and the possibility of a lot more bio media to be used.
I took a break from the fish thing for 10 years or so. Back then wet/dry filters were the thing and canister filters were not really even heard of.
If I dont get something worked out with a canister filter shortly, I will be building a wet/dry in the near future for my 140.
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Personally speaking as someone fairly new to actually owning an aquarium, I went with a canister because when I search for filter products, there are no wet/dry ones generally available. Is this something that used to be bought, or does everyone just make their own? I have a 65 gallon and can't find info anywhere about what size I would need and really don't know where to begin. I remember my dad made his own when I was a kid out of plexiglass in his machine shop, but I don't really have those sort of tools to work with, unfortunately. :( Do they make more noise than a canister? my Fluval 305 canister seems amazingly quiet...
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA00Y08Y0866&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-_-pla-_-Fish+-+Air+Pumps+%26+Accessories-_-9SIA00Y08Y0866
You can build them yourself they are fairly simple for your tank if you have access to a used 30 long or maybe even a 20 long will work for you all you really need is some glass cut a local glass shop can do that for you and some egg create. We build them at my work here and there. It is some what time consuming but fairly simple if all the acrylic is cut right. There are some really simple ideas out there on how to build them. If I had more time I would post some more links on how some people build them.
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Do they make more noise than a canister? my Fluval 305 canister seems amazingly quiet...
Yes, there are manufactured options, but they are typically much more expensive than something you can DIY. As for noise, it really depends on how well you design it. It could be nearly quiet or always sound like a rushing river depending on construction choices.
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You can easily build a sump system wet/dry filter.
I guess I just dont see the downside to them and why more people dont use them?
You can get 10x the bio media in them as most canister filters. It allows you to increase the water volume in the system. You can hide your heater in them. Maintenance is usually much easier. The water level in your main tank never drops. You dont have to worry about those canister filter leaks that everyone seems to come upon one time or another. Media is about limitless.
I guess I am trying to talk myself into one or the other and it looks like the wet/dry setup is winning in my book.
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Personally speaking as someone fairly new to actually owning an aquarium, I went with a canister because when I search for filter products, there are no wet/dry ones generally available. Is this something that used to be bought, or does everyone just make their own? I have a 65 gallon and can't find info anywhere about what size I would need and really don't know where to begin. I remember my dad made his own when I was a kid out of plexiglass in his machine shop, but I don't really have those sort of tools to work with, unfortunately. :( Do they make more noise than a canister? my Fluval 305 canister seems amazingly quiet...
Just Google DIY wet/dry. There are hours up hours of links to spend time on looking at.
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I prefer canisters myself, but it's all personal choice more than anything. On one of my tanks I have a XP3 and XP4 canister, then on the other I have an xp3, and on the new 265g tank I will be getting shortly I plan to have probably two FX5's.
For me canisters are just simply much easier. I have never built a sump, and with the canisters now a days they hold a huge amount of media. I have around 2-3liters of media in each of my canisters and could probably pack even more in if I wanted, and in an FX5 you can get even more media in those than my Renas have. So I don't see a need to have more media than you really need. My heaters are all Hydor inline heater so they mount on the canister and are out of the tank. And I like the fact that the canisters take up less room under the tank than a big bulky sump does.
But like I said I really think it is just a matter of what each person likes. They both have good and bad to them just depending on what you consider good/bad.
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I guess I just dont see the downside to them and why more people dont use them?
For a single tank on a nice cabinet stand I don't see a good reason to not use them if you want to put in the work of getting it setup.
I personally only have one tank setup that I'll run a sump on. The other tanks site on racks and I'd rather a tank on each level rather than use additional space with sumps. As a result I use an air-driven system with large sponge filters.
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A couple good pro canister points brought up.
Both my tanks are on wood stands that will not allow another tank below. But, if I had a metal stand or any other stand that is open space... I would probably want to use that space for another tank. ;D
And speaking of space... a canister does generally take up much less space.
Good points.
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Would this Berliner WD-125 Wet/Dry filter work better on my 65 gallon than an FX5 Canister filter? I found someone selling one for about half price.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18997
What other products would I need to purchase to get everything going? I assume it would need a pump, media and hoses but have no idea what size it would take or where everything would go. I suppose my main reason for not getting a wet/dry right now is that I am confused by them since everything I need doesn't come in one package.
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In my experience with this kind of wet/dry is that it is more aimed for saltwater than fresh since it has so many little things added on like the water socks and the fluidized bed reactors. What you would need for this wet/dry would be bioballs, a return pump and a filter pad for the drip tray.
The other problem you may run into with your thank is seeing as it is already drilled you will have to replace the bulkheads in your tank to 1" and re plumb the entire system with 1" pvc pipe or pool filter hose. The next step will be to hook up a return pump and run flex line up to the tank for a return.
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If I do a wet/dry... I will either buy the most basic one... or build one myself.
Salt systems have changed direction a lot on their sump set ups. A salt wet/dry sump of 15 years ago is what a freshwater would use today. Todays salt water is all about rocks, etc. set up in the sump.
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In my experience with this kind of wet/dry is that it is more aimed for saltwater than fresh since it has so many little things added on like the water socks and the fluidized bed reactors. What you would need for this wet/dry would be bioballs, a return pump and a filter pad for the drip tray.
The other problem you may run into with your thank is seeing as it is already drilled you will have to replace the bulkheads in your tank to 1" and re plumb the entire system with 1" pvc pipe or pool filter hose. The next step will be to hook up a return pump and run flex line up to the tank for a return.
I have a cold right now and am camped on my couch with blanket and kleenex box - that sounds absolutely exhausting when I don't even want to stand, haha. I will just stick to a canister filter. Even if I could get this for $150, it would probably end up costing more than the FX5 after all the other things. Thanks!
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In my experience with this kind of wet/dry is that it is more aimed for saltwater than fresh since it has so many little things added on like the water socks and the fluidized bed reactors. What you would need for this wet/dry would be bioballs, a return pump and a filter pad for the drip tray.
The other problem you may run into with your thank is seeing as it is already drilled you will have to replace the bulkheads in your tank to 1" and re plumb the entire system with 1" pvc pipe or pool filter hose. The next step will be to hook up a return pump and run flex line up to the tank for a return.
I have a cold right now and am camped on my couch with blanket and kleenex box - that sounds absolutely exhausting when I don't even want to stand, haha. I will just stick to a canister filter. Even if I could get this for $150, it would probably end up costing more than the FX5 after all the other things. Thanks!
Wet/dry you can customize to your needs, completely... the above just isnt the best starting point for a freshwater tank.
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If I do a wet/dry... I will either buy the most basic one... or build one myself.
Salt systems have changed direction a lot on their sump set ups. A salt wet/dry sump of 15 years ago is what a freshwater would use today. Todays salt water is all about rocks, etc. set up in the sump.
When you see a setup like that you are in a whole new mess. People call them fuges but they are more of a mess than anything else. most of the time after someone makes one like this they regret it and want it back to how it was because it gets so messy.
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If I do a wet/dry... I will either buy the most basic one... or build one myself.
Salt systems have changed direction a lot on their sump set ups. A salt wet/dry sump of 15 years ago is what a freshwater would use today. Todays salt water is all about rocks, etc. set up in the sump.
When you see a setup like that you are in a whole new mess. People call them fuges but they are more of a mess than anything else. most of the time after someone makes one like this they regret it and want it back to how it was because it gets so messy.
What is so messy about them?
I would think the opposite. All the bio stays put and never gets touched. The mechanical filter pad and floss is all that gets touched and you dont even have to turn the pump off to work on it.
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What is so messy about them?
I would think the opposite. All the bio stays put and never gets touched. The mechanical filter pad and floss is all that gets touched and you dont even have to turn the pump off to work on it.
I think Daniel was referencing adding a refugium to a sump, parlayed from your earlier comments about rocks in the sump.
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What is so messy about them?
I would think the opposite. All the bio stays put and never gets touched. The mechanical filter pad and floss is all that gets touched and you dont even have to turn the pump off to work on it.
I think Daniel was referencing adding a refugium to a sump, parlayed from your earlier comments about rocks in the sump.
Ah, that would make sense.
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Yeah sorry that's what I was talking about.