Filtering Tanks 500 - 5000 Gallons

[nolapete]

I've always wondered why a lot of people rely on one or two large filters when filtering tanks 500+ gallons. This applies to smaller tanks as well, but for this thread I'm more interested in filtering 500 - 5000 gallon tanks. This is of particular interest by no surprise because of my current 3600+ gallon tank build.

I plan to use a variety of smaller filter subsystems. One of which is a sock filter water polishing array. In short, it's a collection of various micron size sock filters that do a focused cleaning of part of the water column on timed cycles.


If you have a 500 - 5000 gallon tank,

what filtration do you currently use?

why did you choose it?

how well has it worked for you?

what would you do differently? (if anything)


If you don't have a 500 - 5000 gallon tank,

what filtration would you use if you did have one?

why would you use it?

what do you base your choice(s) on?

 

[xdragonxb0i]

I dont have a 500 gall set up
but i still think a w/d sump is one of the better ways to filter a tank. You would probally need like well over 200 gallon sump for a 3600gallon tank.

If you use a glass tank for a sump, u could make a refugiumin it , for injured fish, or maybe even have another stock of fish in the refugium, Also u could plant the refugium for better quality of water.

 

[nolapete]

I think I've read somewhere that the sump should be bare MINIMUM 1/10 of the tank capacity. I'm more of a 15-20% kind of person, but regardless 200 gallons would be too small for my tank.

Space is at a premium in the fish room with this design, so efficiency and total space utilization are concerns. That's moreso geared toward my build thread though and I would like to keep this rather generic in nature.

I'm not looking for ways to filter my tank per se. Even though I draw from other people's ideas all the time. This is more to get the logic behind having one or two large filters.

 

[akskirmish]

If you have a 500 - 5000 gallon tank,

what filtration do you currently use?
I use a sump on my 500 gal-Sump is 4 ft long by 2.5 ft tall by 2 ft wide

why did you choose it?
Came with tank-Use to be setup for holding King Crab

how well has it worked for you?
It's decent but certainly could use more-I'll be adding another 90 gal sump soon

what would you do differently? (if anything)
Double filtration......

 

[Fuzzy Duck]

I think the guy above has a good idear. But on setups that big is there not other types of filtration for big tanks?
I have 900 Ltr with sump and it works great, I can use it for rearing fry etc.
Only down side is that its noisey but im half deaf but wife is not Ha Ha

 

[Ullopincrate]

What about pond filters coupled with some fx5s?

 

[dogofwar]

You could use one of the Rubbermaid feeding troughs (100-300g) either as a sump...or as a "dump" filter (if you put it on blocks so that it's elevated above the water line).

I'm a fan of dump filters because they maximize the power of your pump (less head loss than with a sump), are easy to clean, and result in lots of water movement. Rubbermaid tubs are even plumbed with a 1 1/4" drain on the bottom.

Either way you'll need a (probably a couple) of good sized pumps.

I (home made or commercial) pond filter would another option.

 

[cassharper]

Differential level canisters for mech (not commercial, but a descending micron size made in a chain, i.e. from old RO setups of PVC), fluidized sand filter for bio, if you want chem you could tag them on at the end of the mech or make a seperate set up that's timed. With any big setup I would want a water polishing system done in canister style as well.

 

[Wheat]

I don't have a 500g tank, but a 2000g central system.

It uses a 6' x 2' x 3' wet/dry sump with 5' x 2' x 2' biotower. Filter bags for mechanical, 160w UV, 2 cartridge/chemical canisters (not used but plumbed in).

The reason I chose this was that it's the easiest to plumb (being in the basement) and can be easily changed or customized if necessary. Overall, the system works well. Never had even a trace of ammonia, even with high fish load.

I'm planning on building another system (about 1000g). This time I'm going to try one of these:
http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/newproducts.htm

I used one on my pond last year and it worked really well. For mechanical filtration I will always use filter bags because they are so easy to maintain.

 

[nolapete]

I think the guy above has a good idear. But on setups that big is there not other types of filtration for big tanks?
I have 900 Ltr with sump and it works great, I can use it for rearing fry etc.
Only down side is that its noisey but im half deaf but wife is not Ha Ha

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