Another Sump question

[syntaxx]

I have an upcoming project a 137g custom tank 72" x 24" x 18" (LxHxW) this is the maximum size i can get to fit With a stand of same dimension except for the height of 3ft. I am planning to put a sump of atleast 4ft in length 18 inches in height and 18 inches in width the tank will act as a divider though.. However my problem is i am not sure how can i make my sump pipe not visible to the outside. Is it possible to drill 2 holes on the bottom glass? The left end would be the overflow hole and the right end would be the hole for the return. I am also adding my eheim 2217 as a backup filtration so i think this will be another case for the pipes seeing outside of the tank (arghh..) By the way what pipe diameter should be used for the overflow? is 2" inch pipe would suffice? I also do not have any idea what pump and pipe size for the return though..

I am also thinking to make 5 chambers in my sump. Can someone give me an advise?

Thanks in advance.. Also the project will commence in guesstimate of 3 weeks though..

I am also into dilemma what fish to put.. i have aro, bass, tiger and a flagtail, i have a geo comm though thinking it would be good to put it in there.. please enlighten me hehe

 

[Toby_H]

I am planning to put a sump of atleast 4ft in length 18 inches in height and 18 inches in width

55 gal tanks are cheap and easy to come by. This is what I suggest you use...

the tank will act as a divider though.. However my problem is i am not sure how can i make my sump pipe not visible to the outside.

Will the tank have a short side up against a wall, making both long sides and one end 'open'... or will it be like an island in the room with 360* full visibility...

If one short end is against a wall that is where you will want to hide your pipes...

You can bring both the return and drain pipes up the same end, then send your return line to the other side in the canopy... consider a spraybar if doing this...

I am also adding my eheim 2217 as a backup filtration so i think this will be another case for the pipes seeing outside of the tank (arghh..)

If the sump is well designed then there will eb no need for a canister filter.

While I like the idea of redundancy or a back up system, most things in life do not use this approach. how many engines does your car have? How many wives do you have? Redundancy isn't always a the way to go...

By the way what pipe diameter should be used for the overflow? is 2" inch pipe would suffice? I also do not have any idea what pump and pipe size for the return though..

2" is pretty darn big. Most people go with 1~1.5"

You will need to choose the pump after you decide on the pipe size. You will want a pump that is able to match the max flow rate of your drain pipes (keep head loss in mind when selecting a pump).

If you want this thing to look really nice I suggest doing some research and making a "DIY background" to help disguise the intake and return lines coming up... as well as to allow you to expand the design of the intake to not only pull water off the surface but to also pick water up off the bottom fo the tank where the waste collects...

I am also thinking to make 5 chambers in my sump. Can someone give me an advise?

Don't decide how many chambers you want then add media to fill them...

Decide what media stages you want and then design the chambers to best support them...

I suggest you go mechanical/sponges... then plants... bio if desired... then pump...

 

[syntaxx]

55 gal tanks are cheap and easy to come by. This is what I suggest you use...

Actually the sump is a custom made. The main tank size is the maximum size i can get. So underneath the stand will be the location of the sump.

Will the tank have a short side up against a wall, making both long sides and one end 'open'... or will it be like an island in the room with 360* full visibility...

If one short end is against a wall that is where you will want to hide your pipes...

You can bring both the return and drain pipes up the same end, then send your return line to the other side in the canopy... consider a spraybar if doing this...

Actually the other end is against the wall but there is no space in it.

If the sump is well designed then there will be no need for a canister filter.

While I like the idea of redundancy or a back up system, most things in life do not use this approach. how many engines does your car have? How many wives do you have? Redundancy isn't always a the way to go...

Ok sounds good.. But the sump design is my biggest problem though

2" is pretty darn big. Most people go with 1~1.5"

You will need to choose the pump after you decide on the pipe size. You will want a pump that is able to match the max flow rate of your drain pipes (keep head loss in mind when selecting a pump).

If you want this thing to look really nice I suggest doing some research and making a "DIY background" to help disguise the intake and return lines coming up... as well as to allow you to expand the design of the intake to not only pull water off the surface but to also pick water up off the bottom of the tank where the waste collects...

Since 2" is too much then i think i will go for 1.5" so whats the pump gph should i use? From the bottom of the sump the height of the main tank top level is 32"

Don't decide how many chambers you want then add media to fill them...

Decide what media stages you want and then design the chambers to best support them...

I suggest you go mechanical/sponges... then plants... bio if desired... then pump...

I am thinking of yes mechanical then W/D bio balls then bio (ceramics) then bed filters at the last chamber with aeration so it will move.

Since i have read regarding headloss etc. it gives me a hard time to understand the flow rate. and all..

And lastly.. Thanks for the assistance..

 

[syntaxx]

Also i would like to know if there is any bearing with the GPH in every in-between baffles? This is what im planning for.. Will this work?

 

[Burko]

"Also i would like to know if there is any bearing with the GPH in every in-between baffles?"

Yes...but they would have to be pretty close together to come near to being less than the opening of the pipe system.

 

[syntaxx]

Ok Burko so 1" space between each baffles would be enough?

 

[Burko]

As long as your sump is more than 3 inches wide...

 

[syntaxx]

Thanks.. the sump is 5ft lenght 18 inches width and height.. Do you think my sump design will work just fine using 1.5" overflow and return?