What kind of filter should I setup for a 125 Oscar tank?

[HowUDoin]

With all the money you're looking at spending for HOBs and/or canister filters, why not drill and use a sump? You could get a fancy low profile kit for like $150, or just go bulkhead into a solid lift, which would be much cheaper. Toss an intake sponge on the bottom of the pvc pipe, now you have a sponge filter. Grab a 40 breeder and either pick up a sump kit, or go diy. You can buy glass/plastic dividers, or just do the walmart multi drawer thing. With that you can do wet/dry, or fully submerge the media. And you'll have a lot more room for media.

Also, if you are uncomfortable with the idea of drilling the tank, you can go overhead sump. Just not normally as aesthetically pleasing.

 

[lp85253]

i actually disagree with the "hob won't be enough" theory.. and that's what it is (a theory.. b/c that person doesn't take care of your tank).. i've seen absolute proof that's not entirely accurate, an hob can filter as effectively , even in a heavily stocked tank .. now filter maintenance may be a *bit* more (not really a bunch more) ... over filtering is OVER rated... the filters do 2 things on a regular basis(and 2 things only .. that's the truth).. they allow the nitrogen cycle to occur in a glass box , and they pick up detritus ..2 ac110's will cover a 125 for the cycle .. as far as mech. filtration... water changes are the best mech . filtration there is, and NO filter will replace that... i could go on all day about wasted resources($$$) going into filtration, but i'll refrain...for now...

 

[lp85253]

With all the money you're looking at spending for HOBs and/or canister filters, why not drill and use a sump? You could get a fancy low profile kit for like $150, or just go bulkhead into a solid lift, which would be much cheaper. Toss an intake sponge on the bottom of the pvc pipe, now you have a sponge filter. Grab a 40 breeder and either pick up a sump kit, or go diy. You can buy glass/plastic dividers, or just do the walmart multi drawer thing. With that you can do wet/dry, or fully submerge the media. And you'll have a lot more room for media.

Also, if you are uncomfortable with the idea of drilling the tank, you can go overhead sump. Just not normally as aesthetically pleasing.

not to be a smart alec , but that sounds to me like " spend the same amount of money , do a lot of specialized work and end up with the same amount of filtration as 2 ac110's" .. now i will concede the water volume argument.. but that's only applicable on overstocked tanks...

 

[jjohnwm]

...spend the same amount of money , do a lot of specialized work and end up with the same amount of filtration as 2 ac110's ...

You also get a location other than in the tank itself for hardware like heaters, etc...

...and plenty of extra space for the placement of extra biofiltration media which can be matured for instant effectiveness in new tanks later...

...and room for the use of additional temporary chemical filtration media, or for a UV sterilizer or whatever...

...and a possible emergency refugium for temporary isolation of specimens...

...and a significant increase in total water volume of the system...

...and the potential to plumb in another tank or tanks at a later date, to add even more to the overall volume of the system...

...and a filter that is almost entirely hidden beneath the stand rather than stuck on the side or back of the tank like some weird ornament...

...and quite likely other positives I can't think of at the moment.

Comparing a well-designed and decently-sized sump to a couple of relatively tiny HOB filters is like stating that the money spent on a full-size pickup would be better-spent on a pair of sub-compact hatchbacks. Two little cars let two people drive simultaneously. Two little filters let you easily filter two tanks at the same time. For filtering one big tank, or for one big hauling job...no contest.

 

[lp85253]

You also get a location other than in the tank itself for hardware like heaters, etc...

...and plenty of extra space for the placement of extra biofiltration media which can be matured for instant effectiveness in new tanks later...

...and room for the use of additional temporary chemical filtration media, or for a UV sterilizer or whatever...

...and a possible emergency refugium for temporary isolation of specimens...

...and a significant increase in total water volume of the system...

...and the potential to plumb in another tank or tanks at a later date, to add even more to the overall volume of the system...

...and a filter that is almost entirely hidden beneath the stand rather than stuck on the side or back of the tank like some weird ornament...

...and quite likely other positives I can't think of at the moment.

Comparing a well-designed and decently-sized sump to a couple of relatively tiny HOB filters is like stating that the money spent on a full-size pickup would be better-spent on a pair of sub-compact hatchbacks. Two little cars let two people drive simultaneously. Two little filters let you easily filter two tanks at the same time. For filtering one big tank, or for one big hauling job...no contest.

i can counter everything there.. do you really want me to?.. that last paragraph in particular is a false equivalency .. once again.. a filter does *2* things only .. allows a cycle..and picks up detritus..comparing them to trucks isn't even close .. at this point you are a hard core hobbyist who likes spending money on his hobby ..wait a few years .. i've been doing this for 2+ decades..

 

[Rocksor]

You're both starting to talk about apples to oranges without establishing a baseline for the aquarium, its stocking, how long the stock will stay in there, cost, amount of work required for certain parameters, and for some, cost of electricity.

 

[lp85253]

ah , somebody is catching on.. well stated...i just try to give a person that *might* not think "turbo charging " their filtration system to be like every other mfk "stud" is a smart allocation of resources... and might be an outright waste of money (and time) based on how deep he / she is into the hobby.. the funny (not really)part is :I GET FLAMED every time by some hardcore guy that doesn't respect minimalist thought ...

 

[jjohnwm]

i can counter everything there.. do you really want me to?.. that last paragraph in particular is a false equivalency .. once again.. a filter does *2* things only .. allows a cycle..and picks up detritus..comparing them to trucks isn't even close .. at this point you are a hard core hobbyist who likes spending money on his hobby ..wait a few years .. i've been doing this for 2+ decades..

Counter away!

I don't consider myself a hard-core hobbyist...although I have been doing this for a bit over 5 decades. I am also a cheapskate who hates spending money on things I can make myself, although I also enjoy DIY for its own sake. I had to chuckle out loud when I read you likening me to the "gearhead" type of aquarists who have colour-coded plumbing linking up their store-bought high-zoot filters. The two most common names on my gear are "Rubbermaid" and "Home Depot".

Thanks for the 20-year perspective, though...I love nostalgia.

The comparison I made is admittedly a tenuous one, but the comment stands. I consider a sump a perfect DIY project; if you have the space, and the ability and willingness to make stuff yourself, it does everything as well...and most things better...than a HOB-style filter. And a homemade sump can easily surpass a store-bought one in every way that matters, with the possible exception of the "high-tech cool factor" that is important to many.

I still have Aquaclears that are 25+ years old, but only use them as temporary solutions to short-term filtration needs. For almost any long-term project, sumps satisfy my inner DIY-er perfectly, and of course having a lifetime accumulation of assorted hardware bits'n'pieces helps ease the path a bit as well.

 

[lp85253]

You also get a location other than in the tank itself for hardware like heaters, etc...

...and plenty of extra space for the placement of extra biofiltration media which can be matured for instant effectiveness in new tanks later................................a filter's function isn't equipment storage , though it's a nice bonus*

...and room for the use of additional temporary chemical filtration media, or for a UV sterilizer or whatever...........this can be done in an hob equally well unless your talking about adding way more than the system should ever need*

...and a possible emergency refugium for temporary isolation of specimens...a $20 used 20 long does the same thing...*

...and a significant increase in total water volume of the system...i discussed that i would concede this *

...and the potential to plumb in another tank or tanks at a later date, to add even more to the overall volume of the system...and what happens when the whole system comes down with columnaris?.. not east to isolate and save fish...*

...and a filter that is almost entirely hidden beneath the stand rather than stuck on the side or back of the tank like some weird ornament...given.. not my issue*

...and quite likely other positives I can't think of at the moment.

Comparing a well-designed and decently-sized sump to a couple of relatively tiny HOB filters is like stating that the money spent on a full-size pickup would be better-spent on a pair of sub-compact hatchbacks. Two little cars let two people drive simultaneously. Two little filters let you easily filter two tanks at the same time. For filtering one big tank, or for one big hauling job...no contest.

there you go.. in the above quotes ...

 

[jjohnwm]

there you go.. in the above quotes ...

Okay, we've both presented our cases to the OP, who can now determine at his leisure that I am correct.

Seriously, I hope you don't think I was "flaming" you. I'm pretty much a technophobe...some of my friends have referred to my staggering lack of computer finesse and ability as "technoplegia"...and I had to look that term up. I do consider myself an admirer of minimalism as you would know if I ever manage to figure out how to post pictures of my set-ups. I just like arguing...er, I mean, debating.

Enough thread de-railing. Let the OP make up his own mind...*cough* SUMP *cough*