New sump, plumbing, and pumps. New silence

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
B

bleublaze55

Gambusia
MFK Member
Oct 15, 2009
340
1
16
Orange County
Hey guys,

so after much reading and whinning about my sump and how much it sucked, leaked, broke, i decided to get a new one :nilly:. Found this marineland one that was perfect for my setup. I picked it up for $250 from a fish store that was renovating, Model #4 (up to 240 gal tanks).

good quality for the brand, i'd have to say.

Then the plumbing was changed from the durso setup to a Herbie setup. I would have to say that this change made a significant difference in flow and under the tank cleanlyness. Also the quiteness of the tank is INCREDIBLE, so much better than i ever imagined and im so happy with having a back up drain!!!

I also changed the pumps from two odyessa to two 580gph QUITEONE pumps ($100 total). (much stronger).

The pictures below are of the sump, the plumbing, and my herbie pipes. Enjoy :)

PS. thanks to everyone for putting up with my posts and listen to my complaints and questions, i really have appreciated all the input over the last coupe years!! :headbang2

2011-05-01 15.47.04.jpg

2011-05-01 15.48.21.jpg

2011-05-28 12.42.36.jpg

2011-05-28 12.42.06.jpg

2011-05-28 12.43.05.jpg

2011-05-28 12.42.23.jpg

2011-05-28 12.42.57.jpg
 
Another satisfied full-siphon customer :) Glad to hear it's working out well!
 
Pictures, have been posted, sorry i was messing around with the "new" file manger uploaded thingy, anyone else having problems getting it to work well? maybe its just me and my retardedness ha
 
Pictures show up fine for me.
 
Hmmm..... I thought the preferred way to run bio balls was in a wet/dry state?

I think the sump design is meant to have the bio balls in the first compartment that you have filled with filter floss/pad so the bio balls are exposed to both air and water at the same time? Then move the filter floss/pad down stream.

Is the second to last picture your Herbie pipe setup?

Edit: Never mind, I see the Herbie pipe setup in the third pic now. Very nice.

P.S. If you decide to move the bio balls you might consider tossing an air stone under them. Even though they will be in a dry state it will give you an extra bit of air circulation around the bio balls. I also like putting air stones under my ceramic biomedia to give the bacteria an extra bit of O2 boost.
 
I am aware that the setup is backwards. I was trying to avoid a larger amount of CO2. the padding is almost right up to the drip plate so there is a lesser amount of CO2 loss then if it was splashing around the bioballs. I know the bioballs are a little less effective in that area at the bottom. However, i do have about 3x the amount that that little drip area would have allowed. My turnover, guessing, is about 5x. Its a 120 gal tank, with 2x 580 gph pumps, with 3 (90deg) Ls, and <5' of head length, and as far as i understand the valve partially closed still equals the output that im getting from the pumps. Im hoping all that flow will allow for adaquate flow into the bio-media.

Edit: the amount of Bio balls in the picture of the sump out of the stand, is about 1/4 of how much was added from my old setup and new additions.
 
Thank you. Im glad it makes sense!! i was hoping for least amount of loss, im even thinking about having a double CO2 reactor setup.... not sure if it would be too overkill though.
 
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