The Cleair Aquatics Caspian 250L is a complete 250 litre aquarium, cabinet and sump set designed for aquarists who want the benefits of sump filtration without the considerable front-to-back depth of many traditional sumped aquariums.
With an 80cm width but a depth of just 40cm, the Caspian 250 has a particularly useful slimline footprint for homes where space is at a premium. The impressive 90cm aquarium height creates a very different display from a conventional aquarium, providing plenty of vertical swimming space and making the Caspian an imposing feature despite occupying relatively little floor space.
The system consists of a 215 litre display aquarium and 35 litre sump, giving a combined volume of 250 litres. A circulation pump, digitally controlled titanium heater and LED lighting are all included as standard, alongside the matching factory-built cabinet and sump pipework.
Suitable for tropical freshwater, coldwater and marine aquariums, the Caspian 250 is a versatile complete system that can be adapted to a wide range of different displays.
Slimline 80 x 40cm Footprint
One of the defining features of the Caspian 250 is its unusual combination of a relatively narrow footprint and tall aquarium.
At only 40cm front-to-back, it protrudes considerably less into the room than many aquariums of a similar overall capacity. This makes it particularly interesting where you want a substantial aquarium but don’t necessarily have the space for a much deeper cabinet and tank.
The 80cm width still provides useful horizontal swimming room, while the 90cm aquarium height gives the Caspian its distinctive proportions.
This taller format can be particularly effective when creating aquascapes using upright pieces of wood, tall plants or vertical rock formations.
Integrated 35 Litre Sump
Rather than relying on an internal or external canister filter, the Caspian 250 incorporates a 35 litre sump within the cabinet.
Water continuously circulates between the aquarium and sump, allowing filtration media and other equipment to be positioned underneath the display rather than cluttering the aquarium itself.
The sump gives you considerably more flexibility when choosing and arranging your filtration media while keeping much of the equipment out of sight. For freshwater aquariums, the sump provides plenty of space for mechanical and biological filtration. Marine keepers have the additional flexibility to incorporate equipment appropriate to their individual system.
This is particularly useful with an aquarium such as the Caspian, where the clean appearance of the tall display is one of its main attractions.
The sump is clearly marked for optimal fill level and comes with drip tray and filter floss included. Additional filter media can be purchased separately.
Circulation Pump Included
A controllable circulation pump is supplied as standard to return filtered water from the sump to the main aquarium and maintain continuous circulation through the system.
Because the aquarium, sump, pipework and circulation pump have been designed as a complete system, you don’t need to select a separate return pump before getting the aquarium running.
Digitally Controlled Titanium Heater
The Caspian 250 includes a digitally controlled titanium heater for accurate temperature control.
Titanium heaters are particularly useful in sumped systems because they can be installed away from the main aquarium, leaving the display free from conventional glass heaters and associated cables.
Titanium is also highly resistant to corrosion, making it particularly well suited to marine systems as well as tropical freshwater aquariums.
LED Lighting Included
Unlike many premium aquarium systems where lighting must be purchased separately, LED lighting is included with the Caspian 250.
The supplied low-running-cost LED lighting offers variable colour outputs, allowing the appearance of the aquarium to be adjusted according to the display.
For heavily planted aquascapes or reef aquariums containing light-demanding corals, additional or specialist lighting may be required according to the needs of the plants or livestock being kept.
Factory-Built Matching Cabinet
The matching cabinet isn’t supplied as a flat-pack unit. It arrives factory built, providing a strong and substantial base for the aquarium without requiring you to assemble the cabinet yourself. Unlike other manufacturers there is no MDF used in the construction of the Caspian cabinet. MDF can swell over time, whereas, the reefscape cabinet frame is built using solid wood, metal and treated, laminated wood. The frame is then clad in acrylic (this offers a superb finish, with the added benefit that scratches can be buffed out using T-Cut). Each cabinet is expertly assembled in the cleair factory using strong and durable components that are unaffected by water.
The tall cabinet complements the proportions of the aquarium while providing the space required to conceal the sump, filtration and associated equipment underneath. Adjustable feet allow for easy levelling of the aquarium.
This leaves the aquarium itself as the focus of the display rather than having external filters, heaters and equipment visible around it.
Available Finishes
The Caspian 250 is available in three distinctive finishes:
White with Rose Gold Trim
Red Wine with Rose Gold Trim
Black with Black Trim
The contrasting trim gives the Caspian quite a different appearance from the more minimalist Reefscape range and makes it particularly well suited to customers who want the aquarium to function as a piece of furniture within the room as well as a home for their fish.
Suitable for Freshwater and Marine Aquariums
The Caspian 250 can be configured for tropical freshwater, coldwater or marine use.
As a tropical aquarium, the combination of hidden sump filtration and tall display lends itself particularly well to planted community setups and displays using taller species of aquatic plants.
Marine keepers benefit from having the sump available for filtration and equipment, while the open filtration format provides considerably more flexibility than a conventional internal filter.
The aquarium can also be used for reef or more demanding planted displays, although additional lighting will be required where the livestock or plants have greater lighting requirements.
What’s Included?
The Cleair Caspian 250 is supplied as a complete aquarium system with:
215 litre display aquarium 35 litre sump Matching factory-built cabinet Sump and pipework Controllable circulation pump Digitally controlled titanium heater LED lighting controlled by the digital display on the aquarium
Light timers are available separately.
Why We Recommend the Caspian 250L Aquarium, Sump and Cabinet Set
The Caspian 250 fills quite an unusual gap in the aquarium market.
Most aquarists who want a reasonably substantial sumped aquarium are also expected to accommodate a fairly deep cabinet. At only 40cm front-to-back, the Caspian gives you 250 litres of total system volume without dominating the room in quite the same way.
The 90cm aquarium height is also something you don’t encounter very often. It creates a striking display and gives you opportunities for tall aquascaping that simply aren’t possible in a conventional 40 or 50cm high aquarium.
We also like how complete the system is. The sump, pipework, circulation pump, titanium heater, cabinet and LED lighting are already included, removing many of the additional purchases normally involved when putting together a sumped aquarium.
For someone who wants a substantial feature aquarium but is restricted by front-to-back space, we think the Caspian 250 is a particularly interesting option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose a sumped aquarium?
A sump provides additional space for filtration while allowing much of the equipment to be removed from the main aquarium.
It also gives you considerably more flexibility over filtration media than many conventional filters. Mechanical and biological filtration can be arranged and changed according to the particular needs of the aquarium.
For the Caspian 250, it also means the clean lines of the tall display aren’t interrupted by a large internal filter.
Is the Caspian 250 suitable for marine fish?
Yes. The Caspian 250 can be configured as a marine aquarium, with the sump providing useful space for filtration and equipment away from the main display.
As with any marine system, additional equipment may be required depending on the type of livestock you intend to keep. If you’re keeping a reef, the lighting will need to be changed as the LEDs supplied are simply not fit for corals.
Is the Caspian 250L Aquarium, Sump and Cabinet Set suitable for a reef aquarium?
It can be used as the basis of a reef aquarium, but additional lighting will be required for reef setups containing corals with greater lighting requirements.
The sump is particularly useful for marine filtration because additional equipment can be housed underneath the aquarium rather than in the display.
Is a 90cm tall aquarium difficult to maintain?
The additional height is worth considering before purchasing.
A 90cm tall aquarium creates an impressive display, but reaching the substrate and lower areas of the aquarium will naturally be more difficult than with a conventional shallow tank. Long aquascaping tools and suitable aquarium maintenance equipment can make routine work considerably easier.
This is something we’d particularly consider if you’re planning a heavily planted aquascape that requires regular pruning close to the substrate.
What are the advantages of a 40cm deep aquarium?
The relatively shallow front-to-back measurement means the Caspian occupies less floor space than many 250 litre aquarium systems.
This can make it much easier to accommodate against a wall or in rooms where a 50–60cm deep aquarium and cabinet would protrude too far into the available space.
Caspian 250L Aquarium, Sump and Cabinet Set Specifications
Total System Volume: 250 litres Aquarium Volume: 215 litres Sump Volume: 35 litres Aquarium Width: 80cm Aquarium Depth: 40cm Aquarium Height: 90cm Total Height: 161cm Filtration: Integrated sump Circulation Pump: Included Heating: Digitally controlled titanium heater included Lighting: LED lighting included Cabinet: Factory built Available Finishes: White with Rose Gold Trim, Red Wine with Rose Gold Trim or Black with Black Trim Suitable For: Tropical, Coldwater and Marine aquariums
Each Caspian Aquarium, Sump and Cabinet Set is available in various colours as well as lengths ranging from 80cm to 200cm. Custom sizes are available, just get in touch!
Why not check out our Youtube channel for videos on some of our Cleair range and a closer look at the features!
