Philpig

Hello

I have had smaller tropical tanks (up to 2') before, but now want to set up a "proper" size, planted tank - i.e 6' x 2' x 2' approx 600L. Know many of the basics, but am getting conflicting info re: filtration. The guy I am looking at buying the tank and cabinet from is a manufacturer who sells direct. He really promotes all his set ups with a mini-reef system with a glass weir inside the display tank and mini-reef/sump tank below. And says its the best filtration system. On the other hand, a pretty well respected aquarium shop near me said you dont want a weir and sump systenm in a planted tank because any CO2 you pump into the tank gets dissipated as the water flows down into the sump, and the best way is to go external canister system. Is a weir/sump/mini-reef set up only necessary for saltwater or is it really the best system for tropical freshwater, especially in a large tank? Cheers!

Blub

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore I'm not sure about sumps since we've not used that kind of system in our tanks but that is one nice tank there!

Philpig

Thanks! Any ideas on the best way to go re: filtration, if not with a sump setup, would be appreciated. My next option is naturally a good external canister...maybe will need two? Also if anyone has any other experience with a sump....good or bad!
Well, you have to have a nice big tank sometime.

Blub

Philpig

Hi again. I'm going for a community tank - probably starting with a few Harlequin Rasboras, then gradually adding some barbs after a couple of weeks. Over about 12 weeks, I hope to add in a school of neons, a few platys eg red wagtails, some clown loaches for the bottom section of the tank, and perhaps a few Black Mollies. Basically to buy the tank with the mini-reef/sump setup is about the same cost as buying basically the tank plus buying a good external canister filter, so I'm in two minds and would love to know the technical reasons in making the decision. One consideration for going with the mini-reef/sump setup is that it may give me the flexibility to converted this setup into my first saltwater (some way down the track), when I have more experience.

Thanks for everything so far!!!!

SereneReyn

the conversion possibility would be tempting to me. i've used canisters, and personally found them a little cumbersome, though it's likely the brand that i used didn't have proper valves to shut off water flow, etc... just seemed messier to me than it should've been. i've never used a sump, tho i suspect there will be one in my near future. either way, i always, always prefer to go a bit overboard with filtration and get something well above recommended specs... heck, for that size thank i might even do both.