55 gallon drums. Will this work?

[piscavore pisces]

OK so I plan on getting the 720 gallon pentaire fiberglass tank with window later this year (have to finish reading doing front yard first to please the wife). But of course I'm becoming obsessed with how I will filter it now. I'm going for a lower budget diy approach.

Anyway I had the idea to use 2 55 gallon drums and an external pump. The pump will be feed through a bulkhead in one bottom corner. It will pump the water to the top of a 55 gallon barrel. I'll make a tray for filter floss and underneath and use k1 or maybe just ceramic rings and pot scrubbies or something undneath the tray in that barrel. Then there will be a drain pipe near the top say 4" connecting that barrel to one next to it with uniseals. The next barrel will hold my heaters. That 2nd barrel will also have 1 or 2 4" drains on top which will empty back into the main tank opposite of where the drain is pumped to the external pump. I plan on just leaving the fiber glass tank on the ground in my garage and maybe have the 2 drums elevated with cinderblocks or a wood stand or something. Anybody see any flaws in this? How many gph would you use for the pump? I originally thought to pump it into bottom of a barrel and have it drain on top but then how would I clean the floss on the bottom. Seems like a pain. I always but bio after mechanical so I thought to pump it to the top.

Also for the main tank I'll have a constant drip near where the water drains back into the tank. I'll have an over flow in the opposite corner.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Have you looked into the pool style sand filters. They use sand for mechanical and bio filtration, and can be backwashed for easy maintenance. The backwash also lets you remove water really quick for a water change. You could probably make it work with two of those filters and then pumps of your choice. This is the main, easiest way I usually see people filter tanks above the 500 gallon range.

 

[Icthisapian]

I recently just built a 55 gal barrel filter. Based on what you want to do it will work fine. Im on my phone so i cant see your location...but insulate between the tank and ground or youll lose alot of heat.

 

[Icthisapian]

thats my filter

 

[Niners4952]

check out my 600 build thread I used 3 55 gallon drums with a flush valve and water enters the bottom.

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...l-tank-with-filter-room-finished-pics.673346/

 

[piscavore pisces]

Fish Tank Travis Bead filters are way to pricey for me. Im going for budget that's why Im getting the fiberglass tank with viewing window in the first place. Id lave to have an acrylic that size but not in my budget.

@ichthisapian Im in the Bay Area Northern CA. I added insulation to my garage door and it did wonders for temps in there. It does get cold in winter but I'll have the fiberglass tank sitting on a foam sheet not the cold concrete. Thanks for the video.

N Niners4952 thanks for that link I'll check it out for sure. Do you have the flush valve gets rid of most the particle waste? Can you explain how you clean the filters? Oh and all about the RAIDERS tho lol. Nah most my friends are 9er fans n we give each other hell. Im pretty bummed theyre most likely moving to Vegas.

 

[paulW]

Make sure that you can use unions to disconnect your filter for maintenance.
All sump style filters need to be periodically cleaned out.
I would also use bioballs instead of scrubbies.. Bioballs are not that expensive, and much easier to clean, plus they will last forever.

The drip will help keep your water level at the proper level.
Although, I have to say.. if I was you, I would still have a method for easy water changes. Maybe put a T fixture on the pump that goes from the tank to sump, that you can connect a hose to and then just pump water out the garage and into the yard. I say this because when you get a tank this big, the drip system is a lot less effective for keeping nitrates down, just because there is so much water volume. I am not saying drip is bad or useless, just less effective.

Also, it is better to have two smaller pumps instead of one large one. That way if one pump stops working while you are at work, you have the second pump keeping the filter running and oxygenating the tank water.
This has saved me mulitple times, although if I was not so slack at cleaning the impellers, perhaps I would not have the need.. i still think it is a good safety feature.