Help! wanting to upgrade filtration

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
murray8698

murray8698

Piranha
MFK Member
Feb 2, 2013
293
202
76
cincinnati, oh
Im currently running 2 fx5's and a Eshopps 300 wet/dry filter on my 500 gal. ray tank, I have 2 overflows which both run to my wet/dry filter. So my ? is should I run a wet/dry or sump to each overflow, maybe go with one very large wet/dry or sump, or go with a large pressurized pond filter. I have young rays at the moment but want to go with something that is going to plenty for when they mature, i dont want to have to upgrade again in the future. Eventually I will Only have 2-3 adults in the 500, thanks for the help.
 
I would go with one large sump/system ... I found when you start getting to many lines ect you start running into issues when a filter clogs or this or that... go with the largest sump you can fit.. you can always add more bio-media then to your existing set-up down the line if you need to.. heaters, UV ect... they are entirely to easy to "tweek" w/out wasting money. you can always add to them and take away if need be. You can never have to big a filter imho. Scotts build is pretty sweet... and if you want a preassurized/bead set-up zoodivers set-up on the 5k shark tank shows some nice ways. I will never get an "out of the box" set-up again.. if it's not customizable.. i'm going to end up wasting money down the line because i'm always trying to make my filtration better.
 
100_4657.jpg

This is what runs my 1k atm.. I have 3 small rays, and 8 gar, 2 cats, and n eel.. It handles the bio-load np.. the top is filter floss.. the bottom 2 are pot scrubbies.. w/out the pump... it cost us 50$ to build... and the water is 0-0-10ish. we plan on adding another tower and either splitting a bigger pump and using the current one for water movement or just getting a second pump.. my heating ect is all in it ( ran the heaters at the time in the pool to get it up to temp faster) and I can easily and cheaply modify it to our needs. doesn't look the nicest and obviously abit different set-up then a tank.. but it shows what abit of research on DIY and using what you know of filtration ect can do for you.... I was looking at lifeguard systems, Ultimas, and other "out of the box" systems that would have cost us around the 1k mark to get what that filter does.

I think the nicest thing about a diy build is.. you put it together so you know how to replace/fix anything that might go wrong. no expensive replacement parts ( unless its your pump)

100_4657.jpg
 
What kind of pump or pumps do you currently run?

Whats the flow rate and are they external or submersible?
 
I've thought about DYI filter and one almost similar to yours with the storage bins, mainly because of the $$$ it would b saving me.

scott s I couldn't find the thread you were talking about, went and looked at all your threads couldn't see the one you were talking about. I have a 12x12 laundry room right behind the wall my tank is up against hope thats plenty lol

I have a mag 1800 split going to each return running my wet dry then what ever the fx5's put out think its like 900gph
 
murray8698 said:
I've thought about DYI filter and one almost similar to yours with the storage bins, mainly because of the $$$ it would b saving me.

scott s I couldn't find the thread you were talking about, went and looked at all your threads couldn't see the one you were talking about. I have a 12x12 laundry room right behind the wall my tank is up against hope thats plenty lol

I have a mag 1800 split going to each return running my wet dry then what ever the fx5's put out think its like 900gph
Click to expand...

if you have room like that you need to start looking at energy's threads and video's of his filter room. very nice.
 
So I decided to go with a DYI filter, will post some pics of my build tomorrow. Hopefully my idea will work and please guys give me some input on if im heading in the right direction
 
Looking forward to seeing the build. One thing I would focus on is to ensure that you have a sufficient amount of mechanical filtration and design it so that maintenance is easy so you will change it out/clean it as frequently as possible.

Removing the waste before it can convert is a much easier method to maintain a heavy bio load than trying to load up on the biological filtration to compensate for insufficient mechanical.
 
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