240 gallon filtration
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To be totally honest a new properly sized sump beats hands down an FX5 and is actually cheaper and you only need one sump and a good pump. I wouldn't waste my money on canisters or hobs. I would try to find the largest tank to turn into a sump tho, I prefer to have 1/3 the volume of the main tank for the sump, as a minimum. The more volume, and bio filtration the more stable the tank can be. Also lends itself better to over stocking. I am setting up my 220 with a 180 refuge and a 50 gallon sump. Should be extremely stable.
I find it interesting when people size sumps to their tank. I have been noticing that people reccomend a size of sump that holds 3 times as much bio media as a canister which can do the same job with less media..... Never understood that.
2 fx5s can handle a 240 gallon with ease. 11 liters of media at 1200 GPH for 110 watts with good mechanical filtration? In the long run I think that beats a sump. Find a pump that pumps 1200 GPH at 3-5' head at 110 watts. If you modify the Fx5 thats over 20 liters of bio media and better mechanical filtration. Take up much less space than an 80 gallon sump (1/3 of tank volume).
If you build a sump, you could build one with a bio media comparment of 10"x10"x10". That will equal 16 liters. With that said, you coul use a 20 gallon up to a 30 gallon sump. Expand the bio capacity slightly to may be 20 liters for more contact time but why have over 50-100 liters of media when you don't need it?
Considering wet/dry can handle large bio loads strickly because they have a lot more available oxygen to the media, why build one so damn large? Everyone talks about how cheap they are to build and thats another perk, what about your electric bill down the road that last for all the years you are using the sump?
2 fx5s can handle a 240 gallon with ease. 11 liters of media at 1200 GPH for 110 watts with good mechanical filtration? In the long run I think that beats a sump. Find a pump that pumps 1200 GPH at 3-5' head at 110 watts. If you modify the Fx5 thats over 20 liters of bio media and better mechanical filtration. Take up much less space than an 80 gallon sump (1/3 of tank volume).
If you build a sump, you could build one with a bio media comparment of 10"x10"x10". That will equal 16 liters. With that said, you coul use a 20 gallon up to a 30 gallon sump. Expand the bio capacity slightly to may be 20 liters for more contact time but why have over 50-100 liters of media when you don't need it?
Considering wet/dry can handle large bio loads strickly because they have a lot more available oxygen to the media, why build one so damn large? Everyone talks about how cheap they are to build and thats another perk, what about your electric bill down the road that last for all the years you are using the sump?
One 55 gallon sump is over kill. Two 55 gallon sumps is just rediculous. Most don't utilize the space very efficiently in the sump.
One 55 Gallon sump can house from 80 - 110 literes of biological media..... Why do you wan't more? 80 liters is with about 30 liters of mechanical media for superior filtration, 110 liters is with just one or two single filter pads.
Thanks for all the help. While at a LFS i saw a pond filter and was thinking of planning my filter after it. I will have a 5 gallon bucket that will sit on a shelf above the tank. A pump will pump water up into the bucket, and there will be a spray in the top of the bucket. In the bucket i will pack it with filter media, and was thinking about scrubbies (because of how cheap they are). Water would flow through the bucket and media. At the bottom of the bucket there will be a sealed PVC pipe that will flow back down into the tank. The filter that i planned this after was good for 700 gallons, just need to make sure i get a good pump.
Let me know what you guys think
Let me know what you guys think
808;2490485; said:
Howdy,
I am always amazed to see people willing to spend money on new tanks and new fish but not on best filtration possible
After all, a filter is the aquarium's heart, lungs, and liver. Does it make sense to go cheap on this life-support system? Not that cheapest is bad, I am just curious about the emphasis. Especially without mentioning the stocking level, which is crucial information...A couple Hydro V sponge filters and an airpump will be cheapest ...
HarleyK
That is really well written and said I have been wondering the same thing lately. One thing I always like about your posts is whether I agree or not they keep me thinking. My favorite was the one about people using way too much bio media and all they achieved was BB spread out alot moreJgray152;2686969; said:
Thanks tcarswell!
You will accumulate enough bacteria to feed off of the amount of ammonia and nitrite being developed by the stock in your tank. So you can have 1000 liters of bio media, but you may only utilize 10% of the media.
I hope, to one day, calculate how much media is needed at a given flow rate for a certain amount of ammonia given per day. That can't come soon enough. I may also add a velocity test. You can have 20 seconds of contact time, but depending on the diameter/width of the structure, the velocity could be higher or lower. I think there will be a happy medium where velocity needs to be within "this range". Any higher or lower will not be effective.
If you really want to start thinking and scratching your head. I just made a chart which tells you the contact times for bio media from 5 liters to 100 liters and 100 gph to 4000 gph. I will make another thread and upload the pictures, its pretty interesting to see. I have calculated the figures about 4 different ways and come up with the same answers that are within 1-3 seconds of each other.
You will accumulate enough bacteria to feed off of the amount of ammonia and nitrite being developed by the stock in your tank. So you can have 1000 liters of bio media, but you may only utilize 10% of the media.
I hope, to one day, calculate how much media is needed at a given flow rate for a certain amount of ammonia given per day. That can't come soon enough. I may also add a velocity test. You can have 20 seconds of contact time, but depending on the diameter/width of the structure, the velocity could be higher or lower. I think there will be a happy medium where velocity needs to be within "this range". Any higher or lower will not be effective.
If you really want to start thinking and scratching your head. I just made a chart which tells you the contact times for bio media from 5 liters to 100 liters and 100 gph to 4000 gph. I will make another thread and upload the pictures, its pretty interesting to see. I have calculated the figures about 4 different ways and come up with the same answers that are within 1-3 seconds of each other.
