setting up a 520 gallon fresh water cichlid tank sa/ca/ Filtration help

robert511

Exodon
MFK Member
Dec 14, 2013
115
2
23
orange county ca
hi I am a new member and I love this site you guys rock with your help so I am setting up a 520 gallon and looking for any help on I would like to keep my water real clear I have a 125 sump the tank has 2 1.5 inch drain's with a 1 inch return how strong should my pump be ?? like gallons per hour or gallons per min ?? any help would great I will post some photos I the coming weeks as soon as I get the stand painted and tank on It thanks
 

RequiemTCE

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 15, 2011
81
0
36
Portland, OR
I'd get a Reeflow Super Dart/Snapper Hybrid Gold for the pump and run it's output through a gate valve before the return and it's check valve so you can (quietly) adjust the return flowrate if you need to.

My guess is that you'll either have to limit the Super Dart with the gate valve or drop down to the Snapper impeller. Your drains and overflows will likely be able to handle a large amount of flow, and your sump will be what you want to watch to see if you're running too much.
 

boogeyman

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Dec 31, 2012
198
5
33
Wilmington nc
Are you planning on doing a drip system or just regular water changes and any uv sterilizer that can delend on what you want your turnover rate to be I have a 600 gal on with three pumps one 3400 one 2700 and one 2200 with a drip system of 90 gal a day fresh water plus a 25 watt uv and the water stays crystal clear and the tank is heavily stocked with rays aros and other monsters

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robert511

Exodon
MFK Member
Dec 14, 2013
115
2
23
orange county ca
thanks for your guys help it will be up this weekend and I will be posting photos I am running a drip system with 2 1.5 inch drains with a 1 inch return with 3 outlets running along the top my friend is getting me the pump when it gets here I will let you know I believe the flow rate is 2800 gph sorry it took me a few days to get back I travel for work and I was gone for 6 days but I am looking forward to posting photos ad getting so good advice from you guys again thanks
 

robert511

Exodon
MFK Member
Dec 14, 2013
115
2
23
orange county ca
Hello everyone, it's been a long time since I posted last. Here are the pictures of my 518 Gallons Tank. Dimensions are 110" long, 28" wide and 36" tall. Custom flat back with curved left side. It was a shark tank prior to my set up. It has 2 x 2" drain, 3 x 1" returns along the top with a 110 gal acrylic sump with a sedra ksp-20000 submersible pump. Also in the overflow box I have a rio hyperflow 17 HF with a dorsal pipe with 2 x 1" returns to keep constant circulation in the overflow box. This is a south American cichlid tank.
I want to give a shout out to Chris with Acrylic Pros, whom I bought the tank from chris@acrylicpros.com. 562-328-6112 for his professionalism and perseverance. He made sure my tank was properly set up staying at my house from 3pm till 5am. He also hooked up a rubbermade sump tower and he calls it the FX-5000. Chris is a professional in acrylic repair and fabrication.
My buddy Val https://www.facebook.com/aqua.furniture.9?fref=ts
did a great job restoring the stand and canopy. He also did all the work necessary under my house, reinforcing the floor. He makes custom stands and canopies. Also critter stands. I have a bunny and bearded dragon which both cages sit n a stand made by Val. Nice and space saving!!

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robert511

Exodon
MFK Member
Dec 14, 2013
115
2
23
orange county ca
here is a few more photos my 2 daughters wanted to get inside and help clean lol they had fun and the other photos is the tank as of march 16th with all the driftwood in place with the fish

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robert511

Exodon
MFK Member
Dec 14, 2013
115
2
23
orange county ca
a few more pixs... the tank is stocked with 3 dovii females 7 red terrors 1 freadrickstally l I cant spell it lol 4 exotic pleco's 2 clown lochs 5 to 6 niches 1 very green texas 1 delze bichir 1 yoyo loach and 1 ebjd about 3 inches 2 Raphael catfish 4 to 5 inches 1 6 inch's thaiwanese African and acubllos19 male and female red tiger mota pair could not pass upon them

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robert511

Exodon
MFK Member
Dec 14, 2013
115
2
23
orange county ca
a few more pixs... the tank is stocked with 3 dovii females 7 red terrors 1 freadrickstally l I cant spell it lol 4 exotic pleco's 2 clown lochs 5 to 6 niches 1 very green texas 1 delze bichir 1 yoyo loach and 1 ebjd about 3 inches 2 Raphael catfish 4 to 5 inches 1 6 inch's thaiwanese African and acubllos19 male and female red tiger mota pair could not pass upon them
again thanks chris at acrylic pros and val at val aquarium stands and canopy or all there help also to that to that animal guy for the 2 red terrors
 

Pharaoh

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
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Feb 18, 2008
17,566
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Indianapolis
Fantastic setup. I don't have any plans to upgrade my tank at the moment, but I would if I found one of those. Looks sweet!
 
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