Cleaning Arowana Tank - HELP!

[GoldFinger]

I'm sorry but you are the first person I have ever heard say that a canister is better than a sump so...I'm going to go out on the limb and have to disagree with you. I've had canisters, HOB's and a sump. The sump is by far the easiest to maintain and is definitely the most effective. As I mentioned before, canisters have their place, but for big tanks with expensive fish, I don't think anything will perform better than a sump.

Also, as far as the reliability of a sump, if set up properly, they can be very reliable.

A sump is definitely harder to set up at first. However, it creates a much easier maintenance and a better system.

As far as oxygenation, sumps are much better at that too. So, according to your comments about bio filtration being only as efficient as the oxygen level allows, a sump is better at that too.

I think that the only thing that might be better thank a sump is the ultima filters (which are basically large canisters, I know) if the tanks are too big to make a sump very achievable.

I still say, sump all the way!

Honestly you sound like you know your stuff but I have read tons of articles where people successfully use canisters too. I am running two large, modern and efficient canisters. The FX6's are a different breed of canisters then when you likely experienced them. They will provide a more than adequate turnover coupled with a circ pump to keep the flow moving in a circular current. With proper cleaning of the canisters and vacuuming of the tank plus the obvious monitoring of water quality, I'm hoping they can be just as effective as a sump and definitely easier to maintain and clean.

 

[Bigfishnut]

Fish Tank Travis are you talking about those monster canisters like at stingray biology? Those are definitely baddass! Little more of a unit than a fx6!!

 

[GoldFinger]

I'm surprised more people haven't chimed in on this. Probably due to the initial title of the thread. If everyone really thinks I'm making a huge mistake I need to call my custom aquarium guy and get him to start drilling holes or building chambers lol.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Honestly you sound like you know your stuff but I have read tons of articles where people successfully use canisters too. I am running two large, modern and efficient canisters. The FX6's are a different breed of canisters then when you likely experienced them. They will provide a more than adequate turnover coupled with a circ pump to keep the flow moving in a circular current. With proper cleaning of the canisters and vacuuming of the tank plus the obvious monitoring of water quality, I'm hoping they can be just as effective as a sump and definitely easier to maintain and clean.

I'm definitely not saying canisters don't work. They definitely do. I am just saying that I think sumps work better. As I mentioned before, if you're going to be putting big money into fish, don't you want to give yourself the best possible chance to provide the best care for them?

 

[Bigfishnut]

J jaws7777 hey, we have a canister vs sump coversation over here...need some input from a poly guy!

 

[GoldFinger]

I'm definitely not saying canisters don't work. They definitely do. I am just saying that I think sumps work better. As I mentioned before, if you're going to be putting big money into fish, don't you want to give yourself the best possible chance to provide the best care for them?

Just another quick question in between our canister debate lol. How long do you keep the lights on in your tank and when do they come on/off? I hear Aros are sensitive to that ...

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I'm surprised more people haven't chimed in on this. Probably due to the initial title of the thread. If everyone really thinks I'm making a huge mistake I need to call my custom aquarium guy and get him to start drilling holes or building chambers lol.

The ultimas are basically pool filters that have been put on aquariums. They have a backwash feature though, and that makes water changes and keeping the inside of the filter clean super easy.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Just another quick question in between our canister debate lol. How long do you keep the lights on in your tank and when do they come on/off? I hear Aros are sensitive to that ...

I don't keep arowana. On my large tank, though, I keep the lights off at all times unless I'm feeding or showing the tank to people.

 

[Bigfishnut]

They definitely are...they do get used to it over time. I've found it helps to have ambient light in the room on first, then have the aquarium lights come on. Same with lights out...leave a light on in the room for a while after the lights in the tank goes off. Nightlight helps too. As far as duration, there is no set in stone rule. Mine are on from 10 am to 11 pm

 

[GoldFinger]

They definitely are...they do get used to it over time. I've found it helps to have ambient light in the room on first, then have the aquarium lights come on. Same with lights out...leave a light on in the room for a while after the lights in the tank goes off. Nightlight helps too. As far as duration, there is no set in stone rule. Mine are on from 10 am to 11 pm

Oh ok thanks. So if I do magically go the sump route I still have time to make changes to my aquarium being built I think. Do most people just have chambers put in each corner for the drain and return? I guess they can be hidden by the background