I've had a 8' x 3' x 2' acrylic tank sitting in my garage since June and its killing me! The reason its not set up yet, is I have to do some construction on the house to get it all set up for the in-wall build. The timing just hasn't been right. I've found some time to work on finalizing my plans to hopefully start working on the filtration room. I wanted to get it on paper and available for critiquing so I can dial it in the best I can the first time around. A large part of this build is based on my trials and tribulations from a 420 gallon build I did about 6 years ago. I learned alot through that process and am hoping to carry over my successes and avoid the failures best I can.
Starting with the tank, here is the flow of the design
- I plan to drill the main tank on the end closest to the filtration room. I'm not 100% sure yet on the method I want to use, but either an overflow box with a weir or maybe the bean animal style. Not sure yet, but I welcome suggestions. My last tank I used durso standing pipes which worked flawlessly and may be the way I go if another better option doesn't present itself.
- Water goes from the overflow into a 55 gallon sump that begins with a filter floss tray. Any suggestion here? My plan is to just create a tray and shove it full of filter floss. I've used socks in the past and I just loath washing those things.
- Second compartment in the sump is a grow out / refugium. This is also where the heaters will be.
- Next the water drains via gravity into a 55 gallon drum running a fluidized bed. I am going to attempt to fluidize using the pressure from the water entering the tank, but I may be adding air stones in order to get the proper movement.
- Do you think this is enough sump? With both 55 gallon tanks, the actual water volume will most likely be closer to 80 gallons. I used a similar set up on my other tank and it seemed to work fine, but I would rather over do than under do if you know what I mean. I've thought hard about replacing the 55 with a 75, but I already have the 55.
- I have a reeflo dart that will then pump the water back to the opposite side of the tank. Do I need to go all the way to the other side of the tank or can I pump it back in from the same side as the overflow with wavemakers placed strategically around the tank to keep things from getting stagnant.
- You will also see in the picture that I have a RO Water Holding tank. My plan here is to do an automatic water changing system using RO water. RO water will fill the holding tank where I will have an autodoser set up to remineralize. The water will either continuously drip into the sump where I have an overflow drain set up, or I will use a timer to do regular changes daily. Has anyone set something up like this? I would be very interested to pick your brain or read another post about how it was done.
The second picture is a rough layout of what this will look like from above. The tank will sit in the "back room" with a viewing panel through the wall into the living room. The right side of the tank will rest up against the wall where the filtration room is located. I designed this house around this setup so all the necessary headers and such are already installed.
Please feel free to critique/give advice in any of the areas you see I might could use it. I've been keeping tanks successfully for over 15 years, but I'm always looking to find a better way and always welcome constructive feedback.
Happy New Year!
Starting with the tank, here is the flow of the design
- I plan to drill the main tank on the end closest to the filtration room. I'm not 100% sure yet on the method I want to use, but either an overflow box with a weir or maybe the bean animal style. Not sure yet, but I welcome suggestions. My last tank I used durso standing pipes which worked flawlessly and may be the way I go if another better option doesn't present itself.
- Water goes from the overflow into a 55 gallon sump that begins with a filter floss tray. Any suggestion here? My plan is to just create a tray and shove it full of filter floss. I've used socks in the past and I just loath washing those things.
- Second compartment in the sump is a grow out / refugium. This is also where the heaters will be.
- Next the water drains via gravity into a 55 gallon drum running a fluidized bed. I am going to attempt to fluidize using the pressure from the water entering the tank, but I may be adding air stones in order to get the proper movement.
- Do you think this is enough sump? With both 55 gallon tanks, the actual water volume will most likely be closer to 80 gallons. I used a similar set up on my other tank and it seemed to work fine, but I would rather over do than under do if you know what I mean. I've thought hard about replacing the 55 with a 75, but I already have the 55.
- I have a reeflo dart that will then pump the water back to the opposite side of the tank. Do I need to go all the way to the other side of the tank or can I pump it back in from the same side as the overflow with wavemakers placed strategically around the tank to keep things from getting stagnant.
- You will also see in the picture that I have a RO Water Holding tank. My plan here is to do an automatic water changing system using RO water. RO water will fill the holding tank where I will have an autodoser set up to remineralize. The water will either continuously drip into the sump where I have an overflow drain set up, or I will use a timer to do regular changes daily. Has anyone set something up like this? I would be very interested to pick your brain or read another post about how it was done.
The second picture is a rough layout of what this will look like from above. The tank will sit in the "back room" with a viewing panel through the wall into the living room. The right side of the tank will rest up against the wall where the filtration room is located. I designed this house around this setup so all the necessary headers and such are already installed.
Please feel free to critique/give advice in any of the areas you see I might could use it. I've been keeping tanks successfully for over 15 years, but I'm always looking to find a better way and always welcome constructive feedback.
Happy New Year!
