Canister filter/ sump

[Salt Newbee]

Hi All,

I'm still new at this saltwater hobby but I have a question on sumps and large canister filters. I get the idea how the sump works, water comes in one hose gets filtered through different media and gets pumped out another hose, same with a canister filter. can't you just replace the media in a canister filter to match what you would use in a sump minus the floss pads and call it a day? Or is it the flow rate that makes the difference? I'm asking because I have a 220g tank and the space under the tank is not big enough for a large sump. The largest sump I can fit can only be 24" long. I'm going to use a HOB skimmer if that makes any difference. Please advise!

 

[Kearnel]

The biggest benefit to a sump is that it gives you a place to put all your equipment, depending on where your taking it ofcours. Without a sump your limited to what you can have hidden and out of sight. Canister filters are also from what I gather nitrate factories and I would think since it's a sealed unit it would do little in the way of air to water contact for oxygen exchange. That's a big tank to not have a sump. My sump is a little on the old school side of things but it works for me just requires a little more attention than the newer methods and isn't super huge. I would think with even limited space your still better offer with some sort of sump system over a canister filter.

 

[Subsea]

If you service your cannistar on a regularly weekly basis they will work fine with a reef tank. I use them in my planted lagoon tanks but prefer HOB for ease of maintenance & installation. In some cases, I only service the GAC stage of cannistar filters. It acts like a refugium with nitrate fueling bio growth which is foraged on by pods. In my opinion, it is a perfect zooplankton generator to feed a tank nutritious sustainable live food that was recycled from nutrients in the water column.
Patrick

 

[Jeff210]

...and I would think since it's a sealed unit it would do little in the way of air to water contact for oxygen exchange...

Agreed - when using a canister filter it is imperative that you get a powerhead and point it towards the surface so that you get good surface agitation for oxygenation purposes...

 

[woodnaquanut]

Is this a really tall 220? What else are you storing under there that limits you to 24".

Having the sump allows for a much larger skimmer than is possible with a HOB. You can hide all the other stuff too.

The thing canisters excel at, mechanical filtration, is not that important in a reef tank. They are also good media reactors, but that's easy to do in a sump.

The ability to remove dissolved organics is non-existent in a canister. Going big on a skimmer will take care of that.