AquaClear Sump?

[davidgottlieb]

I am not a mechanical kind of guy. Every time I try to do something DIY on my tank, I get water every where. So now that I am getting a sump, I decided to do this.

After crowding my tank enough, I decided to get rid of my 55 and get a 55 drilled tank with an overflow. It was recommended by the LFS that I get the AquaClear Pro 150 sump for my 55 with a Mag Drive 9.5 which pumps 950 GPH. Is this good equipment? Can I get some feedback on this?

What I want to know more than anything, will there be room in the sump for me to keep media. i.e. stuff for my qt tank, maybe a little bit or LR?

Thanks guys,

David

[know-it-all]

I use the 150 on my 72 bow.
And IMO, mag 9.5 would be too much.
I use a mag 5 to run it and it would have trouble keeping up with
anything much bigger (pump size).
I liked it as a starter sump, for the same reason you are looking at it.
The skimmer is pretty good, and simple, but I've had to replace
the pump that came with it after 1.5 years.
I've done some modifications to it
like, taking out the fiber fileter over the bio-balls, and
adding a piece of plastic to raise the water level in the first
chamber (to make the skimmer work better)
I wish I had drilled a hole so I can use a external pump.
but another day.

overall, with cost vs function, it's a great deal