300 gallon SA/CE community build thread!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
9 months later....

Can you please explain that sump filter you have? Water flows in though the filter bags (fine mechanical filtering), then the current in the tank kind of flows the water through the bio filter bags (what media are you using?)?

you dont "force' the water through the bags right? As would be the case in a canister and wet/dry filter?

What did you use for back ground?

Looks awesome!!

Thanks!
 
Thanks! Background is flat black paint on the outside of the tank.

The sump is deceptively simple. Ive had several in the past with baffles here, drip trays there.....bascially alot of places for crap to accumulate. I wanted to keep this open for maintenance and easy to pull the socks.

Water gravity flows into the sump and immediately into 7x16 socks. After the socks it enters the tank where I have 2 pond boxes attached to a pair of Q1 6000's. The pumps pull the water through the media(Pond matrix) into the Tetra pond boxes and back up through 2 1 1/5" checks back up to the tank. The pond boxes also have sponges in them and really makes sure the water is pulled through the media and not around it.

Each week when I do a water change, I pull the socks, gravel vac around the inside of the sump to get any dirt out, replace the socks and done. Sump stays remarkably clean.
 
Good read and impressive tank. I am planning my 300-350g setup and your filtration system has given me some great ideas. How does a sump compare to a wet/dry setup... I am sure its a lot more quite, but, from a beneficial bacteria/bioload stand point which in your opinion is better for a overly stocked tank.

Again, thanks for taking the time to document this build... it really was a great read. Looking forward to further updates, with pictures of course.
 
Good read and impressive tank. I am planning my 300-350g setup and your filtration system has given me some great ideas. How does a sump compare to a wet/dry setup... I am sure its a lot more quite, but, from a beneficial bacteria/bioload stand point which in your opinion is better for a overly stocked tank.

Again, thanks for taking the time to document this build... it really was a great read. Looking forward to further updates, with pictures of course.

Thanks so much! I run a wet-dry on my 90 and honestly I don't see that much advantage of a wet-dry over a sump. Sump is alot more quiet sand alot easier to keep clean as bioballs can accumulate alot of crap over a period of time. Socks are easily washed in the washing machine with some bleach. Biggest advantage though is the silence. Im moving alot of water silently through the system and my family never complains about it at all. Sometimes they even ask if it's on lol
 
the tank looks amazing great stock inside and loved reading this thread and seeing it all coming together! great job!

Thanks a lot! Been alot of fun watching this system grow. I need to post some updated pics as stock has changed a little over the past few months.
 
So this has been setup for almost a year with no blockage concerns or close call's while you were out of town?

Can I ask the reason you have those dual red valves on your full siphon? Do they aid in any way with dialing in your gate valve?

I have read that one difference between the herbie and the Beananimal is that the herbie gate valve needs to be adjusted from time to time, while the deananimal is self tuning. Are you experiencing any of this and how often would you say you make any adjustments on the gate valve?

How is your dual full siphon valves handling your gph, around 2500 I assume? Do you think your 1.5" siphons could take 3500gph?

Any reason for the ball vales on the end of your emergency lines?

Just wondering how you planned to set this up as a beananimal with your dual overflows? With the results your achieving looks like the herbie overflow setup is the way to go with dual overflows?

I will say it again, very impressive tank and filtration setup. Its really well thought out, simple yet very effective, moves tons of water, is clean looking and that sump makes maintenance a breeze.
 
So this has been setup for almost a year with no blockage concerns or close call's while you were out of town?

Can I ask the reason you have those dual red valves on your full siphon? Do they aid in any way with dialing in your gate valve?

I have read that one difference between the herbie and the Beananimal is that the herbie gate valve needs to be adjusted from time to time, while the deananimal is self tuning. Are you experiencing any of this and how often would you say you make any adjustments on the gate valve?

How is your dual full siphon valves handling your gph, around 2500 I assume? Do you think your 1.5" siphons could take 3500gph?

Any reason for the ball vales on the end of your emergency lines?

Just wondering how you planned to set this up as a beananimal with your dual overflows? With the results your achieving looks like the herbie overflow setup is the way to go with dual overflows?

I will say it again, very impressive tank and filtration setup. Its really well thought out, simple yet very effective, moves tons of water, is clean looking and that sump makes maintenance a breeze.

Thanks so much! yeah I think the 1.5" siphons could easily handle another 1000gph with ease. My 2" gate is about 90% closed at full flow. The gates and balls are just an extra means to shut the system off for periodic cleaning and maintenance. This way I can pull the pipes from my overflow box and NOT have to drain the tank. I would've used 4 balls, but I already bought the gates because I originally was going to run them separately. I decided it would be easier to adjust one, so I threw them on since they were already purchased.

I make 1 adjustment to the gate immediately after I change the socks and that's pretty much it. A simple twist left to raise the overflow level or to the right to lower it and it's done. Alot of debate on how hard it is to run dual Herbies, but with one gate it's pretty simple......and ridiculously quiet. The Beananimal system is great, but this is one better because each emergency can handle the full flow. It's loud as hell when i close the big gate, but no worries of an overflow.

I usually start the pumps about halfway through a water change just to blow out the siphon breaks and that's it. No floods or worries. Lots of overkill in the build, but I can upgrade pumps at pretty much anytime without having to redo my plumbing
 
I read you ran a 50 micron sock before taking some pics... it looked like there was no water in the tank in those photos lol. How long do you have to run the 50 micron sock to achieve that clarity?

How often do you clean out the sponge in those pond boxes... are they just the sponges that came with the unit?
 
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