420 gallon filtration ideas

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
TheBigB

TheBigB

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Nov 1, 2011
503
3
33
North Texas
I’m working on a mostly glass build and am trying to work out all the particulars. Tank will be roughly 420 gallons 84" X 48" X 24" (LXWXH). I will go into the details of the build once I start but want to describe my filtration idea so people can critique and give some input. Please feel free to give me your thoughts, ideas, and please ask any questions you may have.

Please excuse my crude diagram below. I just wanted to put a visual to my idea or should I say a different take on Joey's idea. I’m still working on the details of the overflow and return inside the tank. This is strictly for the filtration portion; we can get into the overflow later on.

The tank will be most likely drilled from the bottom and have two durso style stand pipes. The water will flow (red) into the first 55 gallon barrel. The pipe will go into a filter sock and be below the water’s surface to keep noise levels down. In this first barrel, I plan to place a few heaters and maybe some submerged media. Not sure on this yet, as I want this to be as easy on maintenance as I can get it. Water will then flow into the second barrel which will be a fluidized bed of 50 liters of K1 Kaldness. A few inches off the bottom I will place some type of divider (egg crate or mesh of some sort) to keep the K1 out of the intake pipe. Also, bubble wands will be placed on top of this divider to keep the media fluidized while minimizing any air being sucked into the intake pipe. I am still trying to decide on an air pump so if you have any recommendations for a pump that can handle in the neighborhood of 50 lpm, please let me know.

Water is then taken by the Reeflo pump and pushed back up into the tank (green). The plan is to have around 2500 gallons an hour turnover.

One of the biggest questions I have is do you think the submerged media is necessary in the first barrel? The thing that draws me to the fluidized bed is the ease of maintenance and not having to clean the media EVER. I want to have as much bio media as possible but don’t want to have to clean it as I do in my other tanks.
Filtration Concept.jpg

Filtration Concept.jpg
 
isnt it better to go into the K1 first then go through to your other media?
 
What is your back up plan if the filter sock plugs up, where will the water go? You would want to hang the sock inside the drum so if it overflows the water will just bypass it and fall into the drum.
Are you going to put these under the tank? The tank would be over 6 foot tall.
 
Couple questions:

1) both barrels seem like they'll have a lot of empty space (skipping the water.) Had you considered smaller ones and chosen these and if so why?
2) do you have a separate source of mechanical filtration not shown on the diagram? Additional mechanical filtration in the first barrel could be helpful.
3) do you have 2 pipes between the 2 barrels because you are allowing one may get plugged?
4) if the sock overflows (afaik, its not uncommon), both barrels will accumulate debris. Is that an issued for the second barrel?
5) if you place the inlet for the pipes in the first barrel near the bottom, in case you decide to have BB in the first one, the water will flow through the whole barrel. As is, the water below the inlet seems like it would tend to stagnate.

The 50 liters appears to be adequate for the stock you have once it's full grown based upon the stock (which looks like about 15 lbs tops.) You should not need added BB in the first barrel.
 
KAWAMIKIE said:
What is your back up plan if the filter sock plugs up, where will the water go? You would want to hang the sock inside the drum so if it overflows the water will just bypass it and fall into the drum.
Are you going to put these under the tank? The tank would be over 6 foot tall.
Click to expand...

Yeah, thanks for the tip. I should have mentioned the filter sock will be below the top of the barrel for this reason and so that I can use a lid.
 
Drstrangelove said:
Couple questions:

1) both barrels seem like they'll have a lot of empty space (skipping the water.) Had you considered smaller ones and chosen these and if so why? - I actually have thought about using smaller barrels and I still might. Depends on what I find when I finalize the design. On the other hand IMO the more water volume the better.
2) do you have a separate source of mechanical filtration not shown on the diagram? Additional mechanical filtration in the first barrel could be helpful.- The way it is now in my head no, but thats a good point. Maybe I will work some extra into the first barrel since there will be alot of unused space.
3) do you have 2 pipes between the 2 barrels because you are allowing one may get plugged? - I was actually thinking about using one large pipe (say 3" or so in diameter). Thats another great point though, two might be best.
4) if the sock overflows (afaik, its not uncommon), both barrels will accumulate debris. Is that an issued for the second barrel? - It shouldnt be to much of an issue with the liquidized bed. Thats what so great about them, debri doesnt accumulate because the media is constantly moving. Either way though, its probably best to keep it out if I can. The added mechanical will help this
5) if you place the inlet for the pipes in the first barrel near the bottom, in case you decide to have BB in the first one, the water will flow through the whole barrel. As is, the water below the inlet seems like it would tend to stagnate.The only problem with this is I would worry the water would just push right past the bio media in the next chamber. I could probably just turn the pipe up inside the second chamber though so the water will move to the top first....hmmm :idea:

The 50 liters appears to be adequate for the stock you have once it's full grown based upon the stock (which looks like about 15 lbs tops.) You should not need added BB in the first barrel.
Click to expand...



I really appcriecate the questions and tips. This is the kind of thing I need when engineering things, questions get me thinking.
 
Heres a updated drawing. I few minor changes nothing major.

I switched the filter sock for a couple of trays containing sponges/filter pads and filter floss. This will make the tank louder but will improve the mechanical filtration.

Also, the pipes entering the second chamber of the sump have been lowered and the ends turned up to direct the water through the bio filtration.

Filtration Concept.jpg

Filtration Concept.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom