8x4x2 and 7x3x18" tall sump set up

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jim barry

jim barry

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Jun 21, 2006
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U.K
Hi
So i am setting up a 8x4wide by 2tall tank with a 7x3wide by 18" tall sump. In one end i plan o a wet/dry trickle and somewhere in the sump i want to add K1 media. Where is best to add the media and do you need to put airstones under it to keep it moving? If so how do you keep it in just one of the chambers?
Also how do i know what size pumps to use? I am going for two 9000ltr pumps on a 1600 ltr tank to give me a little over ten times a hour turn over as it will be for rays. But how can i be sure the set up will be ok and the pumps dont empty the sump quicker than the tank drains into it? I am going for two weirs in the main tank with durso stand pipes. I have done all this before on a 6x2x2 and all worked fine but for some reason i am getting paranoid on the idea of doing it on a larger scale and don't want to screw it up! Any help would be appriciated. Especially on the K1 media as i have not used this before.
Thanks
 
Why do you need such a large sump? You are going to have allot of extra space not used.
What pump all depends on how many drains in the tank and what size? What size bulk heads are you installing or have installed?
 
I have never built a sump this big.... but isn't the K1 media and wet/dry bio ball media redundant?

The K1 setups I have seen use a lot of air to keep the K1 suspended in the water column. While this would be great for gas exchange it seems like it would be a little noisy.

If you want to use both, the K1 is going to have to come before the wet/dry (bio balls). The K1 is a fully submersed media hence the K1 compartment is going to have to be full of water hence before the wet/dry bio balls.

I would use 1.5" bulkheads. They should give you plenty of flow and you can always reduce them to a smaller diameter pipe.
 
Advice 2" drains for needed flow and not to drain the sump
 
That's a huge sump! I guess it would be good for the extra volume of water and more room for sump design options. Also u can check the stickies in the "How to size my pump" thread on PVC size and flow calculations. Post pics please:)


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The bigger the sump the more media.
BIgger the better on mfk....right?
Especially if its gonna house monsters. You cant go too overkill imo.
It would be a large enough sump to have a big pothos chamber as well.
 
DIDYSIS said:
Why do you need such a large sump? You are going to have allot of extra space not used.
What pump all depends on how many drains in the tank and what size? What size bulk heads are you installing or have installed?
Click to expand...

Firstly it gives more overall volume and secondly i want a section to keep stingray pups in should i be lucky enough to breed. I can't have a seperate tank plus like the idea of having a pup holding section that is on the same sytsem as the main tank.
 
Oughtsix said:
I have never built a sump this big.... but isn't the K1 media and wet/dry bio ball media redundant?

The K1 setups I have seen use a lot of air to keep the K1 suspended in the water column. While this would be great for gas exchange it seems like it would be a little noisy.

If you want to use both, the K1 is going to have to come before the wet/dry (bio balls). The K1 is a fully submersed media hence the K1 compartment is going to have to be full of water hence before the wet/dry bio balls.

I would use 1.5" bulkheads. They should give you plenty of flow and you can always reduce them to a smaller diameter pipe.
Click to expand...

I thought K1 was the in thing to use. I gonna have a big sump so thought make the most of it and have a wet/dry section as well. Tank is for rays so more filtration the better. Want a seperate section in the sump for keeping pups as well.
 
DIDYSIS said:
Advice 2" drains for needed flow and not to drain the sump
Click to expand...

That's great thanks, just the sort of advice i am after. Do you have any experience of the K1 media and where should i place it in the sump my freind?
You have a great tank and must be doing something right so i would appreciate your comments.
 
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