Took the plunge on the bigger tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Looks like you have the height issue sorted out, that pump should handle it just fine.

Do you not have a drain in your basement? I would try to think of something for a constant drip if you can do it.... although it sounds like your system works good without having to haul buckets, it might free up a little more time to sit back and enjoy the tank.

What kind of overflow do you have? Can you enlarge the teeth to increase the flow? I'm thinking of doing that to my acrylic overflow covers to get some more going through them.
 
I'd be looking for a different pump.

That thing uses more juice then all the pumps in my house combined.

IF it's glass and rated at 700 gph then the restriction will likely be the size of the drain in the overflow, NOT the teeth. This is where glass sucks compared to acrylic. Acrylic is easy to modify, it's no biggie to mod a 150 gallon acrylic tank to flow 4K GPH. Might look into different overflow styles that run off a siphon rather then just gravity drain (Herbie, bean animal) you should be able to make one of those designs work assuming there's holes punched in the overflow boxes for return lines, that way you should be able to use one of those for the necessary emergency drain needed for those overflow styles. If you can't make that work you have no choice but to recirculate whatever the drains won't handle back into the sump.

I'm bought socks from Mcmaster when I set up my big tank. Wash the socks every other week and haven't had to replace them yet. I use the 7X15 200/100 micron.
 
I was figuring it had such good output because it is direct drive and not magnetic. It will get me started I guess....
I'll look into the socks for the sump I'm building.
Thanks for all the ideas..keep em coming!

Oh, is there fish safe sealant I can get at lowes instead of paying an arm and a leg at the LFS?
 
I would ditch the Visatherms, they are junk. And would do at least two heaters in case one fails plus they will last longer as with two they work less and get titanium. GE I silicone will work. NOT GE II, it is toxic. As for as to much gph on the return, just T a line back to the sump in the return after the pump having two check valves. One after the T and one in the T line itself.
 
I tried to seal around the plexi but it did not take either because of the expansion of the tub or just because silicone really works better for glass. so I use a 500 gph submersible pump to supply water to the drip plate over the scrubbies. which you could also use for a uv ster etc... I am actually slowly coverting over to using 2 ultima II 1,000 filters for my bio because DB convinced me that cleaning the scrubbies (IF and when I have to) will be a giant pain. I am still using the 2 7" filter socks for mechanical and will probably convert the rest of the rubbermaid into a pothos type plant filter.

I will say this filter has worked great how it is setup but I like the idea of being able to backwash my bio media with one turn of a handle in about 10 minutes.
 
I think I understand. So you're saying you have the water coming from the tank through the socks and into the tub. Then there are two pumps? One pumping return water to the tank and one pumping the prefiltered water over the scrubbies? Very interesting concept and now the wheels are turning in my head on how to utilize the dual discharge capability of my pump... hmmmm..... :)

What micron socks were you using? you may have said, I'll go back and read again.

Thanks
 
I alternate between 100 and 200. The 200s will last a bit longer but the 100s polish the water real well.

Yup two pumps just like your thinking
 
Mcmaster sells socks that are sewn together 200/100, 100/50 etc.
 
johno27 said:
I am actually slowly coverting over to using 2 ultima II 1,000 filters for my bio because DB convinced me that cleaning the scrubbies (IF and when I have to) will be a giant pain. I am still using the 2 7" filter socks for mechanical and will probably convert the rest of the rubbermaid into a pothos type plant filter.

I will say this filter has worked great how it is setup but I like the idea of being able to backwash my bio media with one turn of a handle in about 10 minutes.
Click to expand...

Cleaning scrubbies might suck, but I also think there's better answers out there then bead filters. ;)
 
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