580 Gallon Tank Filters

[viper0397]

Hello all!! I am looking for some help please. I am going to build a 580 gallon tank out of plywood and was wondering for a tank that large what would you out there recommend for a filtration system for something that large. I am thinking maybe a 75 gallon sump, but just want to know what some of you have done out there for large tanks. Also if I do a sump would it be beneficial to have maybe one return in the center of the tank and two supplies at each end of the tank? Also from what I have read about filtration in general is that I should have about 5800 gallons per hour traveling through my filter. But then I have read about drip systems. I will be keeping dirty fish in there like stingrays and arowana. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. I have some ideas but I don't know if they are the right idea's.

 

[Elbling0]

Go a 6x2x2 sump or bigger, 75 gal will not cut it for a 500

 

[DIDYSIS]

I use a 125 on my setup and its fine. I now have 1000 gallons attached to the 125 sump and still made it work. 125 would be a great sump.

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[jsodwi]

Definatly 125 or bigger if your gonna run a sump

 

[rodger]

The size of the sump is meaningless. It's how the sump is setup that matters. I have a 100 gal stock tank with 100 liters of K1. Hooked to 2 tanks totalling 940 gal. It is plenty sufficient. It can process the fish waste from 40 lbs of fish.

 

[Inglorious]

The size of the sump isn't as important as the amount of BB that your media can hold. A smaller sump fully utilizing K1 will work better than a larger one using a lower grade media. It also makes a difference if you're running a drip system or are going to rely on manual water changes.

 

[yogurt_21]

larger sumps can add more water to the system reducing the frequency of top offs. Otherwise what the above posters said is correct better media beats bigger sumps. Of course if you're more of an "AND" type of person you can go larger sump AND better media.

 

[David R]

Of for an alternative to sumps check out hte WLim glass filters, or perhaps an Ultima bead filter.

 

[jsodwi]

So if size of sump is meaningless and you have a 500 gallon tank with the overflow sitting 2" below water line roughly and you keep about 1/3 to 1/2 of a 75 gallon sump full of water and bio, it will not overflow during a power outage. I wouldn't want to try.

 

[viper0397]

Thank you for all the feedback. One more question. I might try the drip system because from what I am hearing that sounds like the best route. But what kind of flow rate am I going to have with that. Also I assume you drip over a sponge type media at first to filter out large particles and then k1. And ps I am not sure what k1 is. Sorry just never heard of it. Only used to the canister filters. I have primarily used fluvals in the past.


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