Freshwater Reef

jonhenderson10401 · Jul 25, 2025

Hello, my name is Jonathon. I can’t say I’ll ever have a reef tank, but I can say I prefer a reef tank’s setup for freshwater. That’s what has brought me here because I don’t want a freshwater tank for simplicity, I just like freshwater environments and fish. Plus bristleworms scare me, but I prefer 150gal+ aquariums filled with nano fish. I don’t like big fish at all, and they need more space than most aquariums offer. The only time I’d keep a big fish is if I somehow caught a largemouth bass fry to raise.
Well, somehow I did. With my bare hands too! but I didn’t have any aquarium supplies because I fell out of the hobby. After the past couple months the 1” fry is now 3” and a guppy killing machine.
That’s where reefs come into play because of one major point of interest; gargantuan sumps. Also wave makers/power heads because I hate air stones, but I want a sump so I can hide all my equipment in it and have more dilution for water quality.
On that note, tell me everything you can about sumps, designing/plumbing sumps, and any experiences of value. Also any alternatives to air stones. I have submersible pumps with duckbills-outlets, but I don’t know much in the field of wave makers/powerheads beyond that.

Thanks!
I’ll add pictures later tonight.

revhtree · Jul 25, 2025

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D

Peace River · Jul 25, 2025

Welcome to Reef2Reef! Please check your local regulations for keeping largemouth bass. I kept full-size brown bullhead catfish in a 150 gallon tank with a sump. Very doable, but you will need a lot of food and a lot of feeder fish.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 25, 2025

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Jul 25, 2025

jonhenderson10401 said:
Hello, my name is Jonathon. I can’t say I’ll ever have a reef tank, but I can say I prefer a reef tank’s setup for freshwater. That’s what has brought me here because I don’t want a freshwater tank for simplicity, I just like freshwater environments and fish. Plus bristleworms scare me, but I prefer 150gal+ aquariums filled with nano fish. I don’t like big fish at all, and they need more space than most aquariums offer. The only time I’d keep a big fish is if I somehow caught a largemouth bass fry to raise.
Well, somehow I did. With my bare hands too! but I didn’t have any aquarium supplies because I fell out of the hobby. After the past couple months the 1” fry is now 3” and a guppy killing machine.
That’s where reefs come into play because of one major point of interest; gargantuan sumps. Also wave makers/power heads because I hate air stones, but I want a sump so I can hide all my equipment in it and have more dilution for water quality.
On that note, tell me everything you can about sumps, designing/plumbing sumps, and any experiences of value. Also any alternatives to air stones. I have submersible pumps with duckbills-outlets, but I don’t know much in the field of wave makers/powerheads beyond that.

Thanks!
I’ll add pictures later tonight.

Here ya go

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

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Fish Fan · Jul 25, 2025

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

You can absolutely use a sump for freshwater, I've done it!

Good luck with your project!

zbrusko · Jul 25, 2025

I’ve got a sump on my 150 Malawi tank. I have a 3D rock background & my goal was to have no visible equipment in the tank. The problem is that with only an overflow, I don’t have the clearest water. The color is clear, but there is some visible sediment in the water column at all times. The only way for me to achieve perfect clarity is with extra filtration pulling water from lower in the tank. Wavemakers may kick up some gunk to the overflows, but at 27” tall, that’s wishful thinking. Just something to keep in mind. I do love the sump, though.

fishface NJ · Jul 25, 2025

Welcome to R2R!

UncommonSense · Jul 26, 2025

Welcome to R2R!

It sounds like you’re unfamiliar with sump design, and like big freshwater tanks!

Here’s a 5ft long 75gal acrylic sump I’m modifying for my local fish store’s 180g freshwater planted tank, actually! — it may give you some design inspiration to build your own! (I also have a thread documenting the project here on R2R over in the DIY forum)