Filtration for a 450g

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
cigars said:
I do have a K1 set up on my 600 gallon but I run a separate pump at 900 gph through it (55 gallon Rubbermaid trash can 50L of knockoff K1) from my sump I run 2 jebao 12000lph pumps, and I have a poor mans ultima set up (21" Hayward pool sand filter stuffed full of ultimate 2 media) with 3k gph pumped through it so close to 10x turnover. If you are going to have stingrays I would recommend using K1 in your setup it can handle very large bio loads stingrays produce approximately 10x more waste than fish from what I've learned in the stingray section. If your like me I started with one ray and now on my way to owning 5 rays they are very addictive.
Click to expand...

Here you go, Thomas. This is what I was hinting at, and Carlos is telling us a bag of Matrix won't keep up with Stingrays. I don't keep Rays, but I know that they eat a couple times a day, ALOT, and they put out LOTS of Ammonia after they eat.

So, in these Ray tanks, these guys get Ammonia spikes and it takes the bacteria bed a little while to metabolize the Ammonia. Like they can actually measure big ammonia spikes after feeding Rays in these tanks.

So, you'll need LOTS of surface area for bacteria to grow. I had thought that matrix would be enough, but Carlos says go with K1.

Another question here .... you DO understand that Rays take a LOT more care and feeding than fish, right? Big reason why I don't have any--I go out of town for a week on business, I can't feed Rays twice a day. but, my fish can go 3-5 days without eating no problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tcav88, cigars and Drstrangelove
tcav88 said:
great points and ideas I'll get two pumps, and I don't think k1 is necessary just wanted to give it a try lol. Are bio balls a better choice or pot scrubbies, I know pot scrubbies have more surface area. IDK what to go with there's also ceramic media
Click to expand...

What I use is matrix in laundry bags for fish.

ragin_cajun said:
Or can you get away with Rays and Arowana with just bags of Matrix in the sump.
Click to expand...

Filter socks are the way to go for sure. You'll want at LEAST 4 of the 7 inch by 16 inch filter socks. If you go with the longer socks, you can go longer between changes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tcav88
ragin_cajun said:
What I use is matrix in laundry bags for fish.



Filter socks are the way to go for sure. You'll want at LEAST 4 of the 7 inch by 16 inch filter socks. If you go with the longer socks, you can go longer between changes.
Click to expand...
thanks for the helpful tips! If you have anymore keep them coming !
 
tcav88 said:
What media would work with that pump, ive read if your pushing over 6x the flow rate it doesnt give beneficial bacterua enough time to be effective
Click to expand...

ragin_cajun said:
Here you go, Thomas. This is what I was hinting at, and Carlos is telling us a bag of Matrix won't keep up with Stingrays. I don't keep Rays, but I know that they eat a couple times a day, ALOT, and they put out LOTS of Ammonia after they eat.

So, in these Ray tanks, these guys get Ammonia spikes and it takes the bacteria bed a little while to metabolize the Ammonia. Like they can actually measure big ammonia spikes after feeding Rays in these tanks.

So, you'll need LOTS of surface area for bacteria to grow. I had thought that matrix would be enough, but Carlos says go with K1.

Another question here .... you DO understand that Rays take a LOT more care and feeding than fish, right? Big reason why I don't have any--I go out of town for a week on business, I can't feed Rays twice a day. but, my fish can go 3-5 days without eating no problem.
Click to expand...

Yes sir I have had ammonia spikes twice with smaller filtration systems, you hit it right on the head. So to be honest not sure if pond matrix wouldn't do it or even lava rock I haven't used either, my experience has been with canisters and a diy sump with stuffed full of bio rings both smaller systems (grow out tanks) It did ok with one ray and 3 bass and water changes 3 times a week but when I added the second pup and obviously the fish grew that's when I started to encounter issues. I had some ammonia (.25-.50ppm at first then it hit 1.0ppm) skipped a day of feeding and boom ammonia gone filtration definitely couldn't keep up. So I plumbed the grow out tank to the larger system all issues gone I have been wanting to do this anyways. Also just to reiterate I never have had any issues with either setup with only fish just when I added rays. This is my experience with my set up everyone's is different and every tanks needs are different it wouldn't hurt to try pond matrix or lava rock or what ever you think would work just always be ready to upgrade, change, add, and grow with your set up as your tanks needs change.
 
You really need to ask the guys in the stingrays forum. I THINK there are guys there that do great with matrix in a laundry bag, but it's got a lot to do with how many Rays in what size tank. I saw a build where a guy did a HUGE river system for his Rays, and he had massive bio filtration and still saw ammonia spikes.

I think those guys just expect ammonia spikes and don't worry too much about it the ammonia goes down in a reasonable amount of time.

And keep in mind, I'm talking about guys over there keeping several rays in a tank, having babies, LOTS of stingrays. I would feel totally confident keeping 1 or 2 Stingrays in my tank with Pond Matrix, but if they had babies.....I'd have to do something--more matrix and a HUGE drip.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cigars
tcav88 said:
great points and ideas I'll get two pumps, and I don't think k1 is necessary just wanted to give it a try lol. Are bio balls a better choice or pot scrubbies, I know pot scrubbies have more surface area. IDK what to go with there's also ceramic media
Click to expand...
I don't know squat about keeping rays but the general consensus is that when using pot scrubbies or bio balls they should be in a trickle tower set up with the water raining down over them vs being submerged. You get maximum benificial bacteria colony growth due to extreme oxygenation from the water raining down over the media.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tcav88
JK47 JK47 should be able to chime in with some useful info.

One question tho you mentioned the drains are 1.5 inch but are there other drains drilled ? Does the setup have emergency drains ? If so then you should size everything to match what the e drains can handle.

Drains under full siphon pull much more water than gravity fed drains, are u using any valves ?
 
I havent drilled the sump yet.
jaws7777 said:
JK47 JK47 should be able to chime in with some useful info.

One question tho you mentioned the drains are 1.5 inch but are there other drains drilled ? Does the setup have emergency drains ? If so then you should size everything to match what the e drains can handle.

Drains under full siphon pull much more water than gravity fed drains, are u using any valves ?
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom