I think with that kind of water volume you run into new areas of concern as far as being able to actually circulate all of that water around properly. I have no experience with a "tank" that big but I've learned a lot since I've got into fish keeping. I know in my experience with in ground pools, moving the water in stagnant areas which is not so much a concern for swimming, (why we have polaris cleaners etc) may be a problem for fish. Wouldn't you need to start fabricating custom components to move all that volume uniformly? I'm interested at the replies from people who have tanks this size.
12000g flow rate?
- Thread starter Emil Wångdahl
- Start date
I would suggest you contact your local public aquarium/ zoo and get info from their curator about filtration and managing that volume of water
I will have several small powerheads in the aquarium too so there will hopeully be no deadspots. our "local" aquarium pumps their water from the bottom of the ocean since they have only salt water in ther large tanks and thats not an option for me =P. i was more thinking about how often the water need to circulate through the bio filter. if i have the total volume times 1 every hour, how much o the water will actually pass through the filter? since i pump the filtered water in with the unfiltered and mix it. is there some sort of calculations to this i guess?
Given the tank volume you may want to consider "high gph" non-submersible pumps where you can plumb closed loop circulation strategically placed outlets throughout.
This way you could spread out at the bottom to create sufficient water movement and increased circulation. I'm sure they exist but I dont know of powerheads alone that would suffice. Just thinking out loud here...
This way you could spread out at the bottom to create sufficient water movement and increased circulation. I'm sure they exist but I dont know of powerheads alone that would suffice. Just thinking out loud here...
If you are running a smallish bioload for the volume and multiple powerheads for circulation, 1 turnover an hour could be sufficient for your needs. Like others have said, it depends more on bioload then tank size. Personally I would pick up a pair of 6000ish gallon pond pumps and put them at either end of the pond so that you have flow throughout
https://www.bphpumps.com/c.2/iwaki/?gclid=CPyv18Cj88kCFQoqHwodnDUKkQ
Look through these.. maybe these can help you. I run iwaki pumps..maybe their big brother version is what you are looking for?
Look through these.. maybe these can help you. I run iwaki pumps..maybe their big brother version is what you are looking for?
A tank nearly 10' deep is going to require serious circulation and the pumps to accomplish the task. 12,000.gallons isn't unheard of on this site, and those with tanks thay large would be best to comment, but as others have said, a commercial setup is in order. From the circulation to the heating. Any particular reason for a 10' depth? I'm not trying to sound skeptical, but someone setting out to build a tank this size should already have a good understanding of circulation and water quality needs in general especially pertaining to a large body of water. This isn't a pond and therefore pond rules don't apply....deep water for tropical fish is a whole new game of heating and oxygen.
the aquarium will be in a temperature controlled room so no heating needed. i already know how i want to build the sump and what pump im going to use, my question is about how many pumps i need. 1 pump is 13208 gallon /h, im just wondering how many i will need for the biological filtration.
Will it be enough with 1 time an hour through the bio filter?
The currents in the tank is someting i will have to test around when i have built it and filled it with water but i have no doubt i will be able to get circulation in the entire tank.
What i dont know is about the bio filter, how much water i will need to run through it an hour to get it properly biologicaly filtered.
It aint that much info out there on the filtration of these big tanks in home enviroment.
Will it be enough with 1 time an hour through the bio filter?
The currents in the tank is someting i will have to test around when i have built it and filled it with water but i have no doubt i will be able to get circulation in the entire tank.
What i dont know is about the bio filter, how much water i will need to run through it an hour to get it properly biologicaly filtered.
It aint that much info out there on the filtration of these big tanks in home enviroment.
And i think i have a pretty good understanding of water circulation needs and water quality in general. just never thought i would build a 12000g aquarium so i have never tried to get info on the requirements when its that big in my 190 i have almost 10 times turnover but in my 160 i only have like 3 times turnover but both are crystal and perfect water parameters. but i dont think i want to aim for 10 times turnover in 12000 gallon, it will probably be a large electric bill but it will certainly be very loud wich i dont want.
And i think that since its such a large mass of water i dont need such a high turnover since its more forgiving and it will be a relativealy "light" bioload in that much water.
Thats why in asking if someone KNOWS so i dont have to guess.
The pump i want is over 30 days ordering time so if i buy one and i may need 3, then i will order one more first wich will take 30 days of alott of hazzle over the bad water quality due to lacking water flow and when i get that i will realise its still not enough and order one more that takes another 30 days...
I thought that someone maybe knew either how to calculate or by experience since i never had a tank this large before i dont.
And i think that since its such a large mass of water i dont need such a high turnover since its more forgiving and it will be a relativealy "light" bioload in that much water.
Thats why in asking if someone KNOWS so i dont have to guess.
The pump i want is over 30 days ordering time so if i buy one and i may need 3, then i will order one more first wich will take 30 days of alott of hazzle over the bad water quality due to lacking water flow and when i get that i will realise its still not enough and order one more that takes another 30 days...
I thought that someone maybe knew either how to calculate or by experience since i never had a tank this large before i dont.
^^Agree^^
As said before and I also agree, bio-load always affects turn-over requirements and "gold standard" turnover rates suggested usually follow an average assumed stock level. Since you will have more tank than fish, it is probably safe to assume a low turnover wont be an issue. The stock you plan is going to look like a goldfish in a 250g tank.
If your future plans are to stock much more heavily, plan more to the "gold standard" of 4-5 times per hour turnover and then some.
That is going to require a pump or a combination of pumps capable of 60,000gph.....at least. Is the sump you are planning capable of such flowthrough? Who knows....possibly, but the standard for sumps is also based on turnover and media capacity. Like I and others have said, 12K gallons is no joke and basic aquarium equipment won't cut it.
