Can anyone tell me more about this type of filter????

So I bought this tank set up (120 gal) that has 3/4 inch glass and weights a ton!!!
It came with this filter box that sits on top of the tank. It seems like a sump but on top of the tank but I'm not sure what they are called or if they are good etc.

CAN ANYONE TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS TYPE OF FILTRATION SET UP (what it is called, is it good etc)?
It has space for bio balls, foam and other media but I've never seen this before. The guy I bought the tank from said it was originally a "commercial" tank set up (whatever that means)?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

THANKS

 

Could you take some more pics - some profile shots and maybe a shot with the filter in place on the tank.

I really can't tell what I'm looking at....

 

Could you take some more pics - some profile shots and maybe a shot with the filter in place on the tank.

I really can't tell what I'm looking at....

This big box sits on top of the tank at the back and there is a pvc pipe that runs from the tank to the box. From there it goes out of spray bars (not in picture) and filters through back into the tank.

 

If it is what I think then it is kinda like a cross between a sump and a canister filter, it works by a power head drawing water up then through the first chamber then over a small weir into a second chamber before going back into the tank, the ones I have seen like that don't seem to have much flow but they still do a decent job if you have both chamers set with sponge and bio max, also if the top is open to the tank light you get a lot of algae growth on the sponges rather than in the tank

 

Thanks for the info so far......does anyone know what they call this type of system?

 

Does anyone know what they call these set ups?
I need to get some parts for it and everyone asks what type of filter it is for and I don't know what to tell them.
Anyone.........

 

I still think it would be very helpful to post some more pics.

 

I wish I knew what they are called but I can't help there, but having delt with this kind of filter before (it came as part of a tank set up in a place I worked) my best advice would be save your money and go get a canister filter if you can afford it, I had to for the one at work after a few months, a canister will give better filtration, better flow and less maintenance, the filter you have if I am right in what type it is is good but only with a lightly stocked tank and in a low flow tank, part of the problem being rather than gravity fed it has to pull water up against gravity, secondly rather than pushing water through the media it just flows over so it really isn't very efficient mix that with a low turn over and you soon have problems unless your bio load is very low

 

I wish I knew what they are called but I can't help there, but having delt with this kind of filter before (it came as part of a tank set up in a place I worked) my best advice would be save your money and go get a canister filter if you can afford it, I had to for the one at work after a few months, a canister will give better filtration, better flow and less maintenance, the filter you have if I am right in what type it is is good but only with a lightly stocked tank and in a low flow tank, part of the problem being rather than gravity fed it has to pull water up against gravity, secondly rather than pushing water through the media it just flows over so it really isn't very efficient mix that with a low turn over and you soon have problems unless your bio load is very low

Very good points....thanks for the info.