DIY - Projects & Ideas • opinions on hob overflows

[Smileyjoe]

im setting up a 75 gallon tank and have an old 30 or 40 gallon sump in the shed w/ a catalina 2200 pump for return and was wondering if a HOB overflow would be worth it or to just go with a canister? would like to hear yalls opinions..... greatly appreciated

[rp-photo]

cannister would be alot less likely to fail.. and easier to conceal imho ...

[13razorbackfan]

It depends....usually I like sumps on larger tanks but you can still do one on your 75g. Go with eshopps or lifereef both are very good.

You can also do a canister...I have always preferred sumps to canisters but since I only have a 75g now I just use canister filters. Just received my new fx5 today and already have a aquatop cf500uv. Taking off my AC110 and maxijet power head.

If you do go with a sump I would get a HOB overflow capable of handling a lot of flow around 900gph and just use a spray bar. Then there is no need for additional circulation. Just my $.02

[Smileyjoe]

appreciate the opinions..... how do you like your aquatop/

[13razorbackfan]

appreciate the opinions..... how do you like your aquatop/

Awesome....simply awesome. The mechanical filtration is amazing. The baskets are HUGE. The flow is very good. I had some doubts but I thought what the heck for the $$$ I would give it a shot. I am glad I did. It also runs silent.

After a water change before I installed it the tank would slowly start to become a bit hazy(not really cloudy just not as crystal clear as the day of a water change) and then by day 5 after the water change it would be even more hazy. Would do a water change and it would clear up. Since installing the aquatop after 5 days the water is still crystal clear. Even after feeding it clears up within an hour if even that. Before it took several hours.

I am just very happy.

I also just received a FX5 but waiting on the media. If the aquatop had a filter that did 900gph(or 550gph with media) then I would have went that route. Going to take off my maxi jet 1200 and my AC110 and put the fx5 in its place. I am actually gluing together the spray bar right now...waiting to dry. Hopefully will have it all up and going by thursday night.

[Smileyjoe]

awesome, I've read alot of reviews and was really interested in them!!!! what filter media do you like to use in the aqua top

[13razorbackfan]

awesome, I've read alot of reviews and was really interested in them!!!! what filter media do you like to use in the aqua top

I use the pads that came with it plus ceramic rings....I bought 2000g of rings and I could easily fit another 1000g.