huge help needed
- Thread starter agra113
- Start date
So, if my math is correct on your L shape, I believe your total tank volume is 1,750 gallons. With that you have a few options.
First, you could run a bunch of canister filters, or build your own canister filters, for the tank. This is really not very practical and so I'm not really going to spend much time discussing it, but it's an option.
Next option would be a sump. This would need to be a pretty large tank in itself, probably around 350 gallons. You can design it and install the baffles how you want and then get some pumps that will achieve your desired flow rate.
Last option I will mention is a sand or glass bead filter, such as what is used with pools. For a tank this large these are probably about your best option so that you can run a high enough flow rate and get excellent filtration. One very nice thing about this option is that these filters can be backwashed, which cleans them very quickly. You will probably still need multiple units with this option.
You will also need to decide on a flow rate for the tank. A lot of people on the forum recommend about a 5-6X turnover rate per hour for the tank water volume. This would put you in the range of 8,750gph to about 10,500gph. You can do less as well, but I think about a 3X turnover rate is a minimum. Then, a flow rate of about 10X is usually the maximum. This extends the acceptable range to anywhere from 5,250gph to 17,500gph. You will need to find a pump, or series of pumps that can pump the flow you want to go with at the head height you will be at.
Looking forward to seeing how this build turns out. I'm sure others will chime in with some other options. Do you have any pictures you can post yet?
First, you could run a bunch of canister filters, or build your own canister filters, for the tank. This is really not very practical and so I'm not really going to spend much time discussing it, but it's an option.
Next option would be a sump. This would need to be a pretty large tank in itself, probably around 350 gallons. You can design it and install the baffles how you want and then get some pumps that will achieve your desired flow rate.
Last option I will mention is a sand or glass bead filter, such as what is used with pools. For a tank this large these are probably about your best option so that you can run a high enough flow rate and get excellent filtration. One very nice thing about this option is that these filters can be backwashed, which cleans them very quickly. You will probably still need multiple units with this option.
You will also need to decide on a flow rate for the tank. A lot of people on the forum recommend about a 5-6X turnover rate per hour for the tank water volume. This would put you in the range of 8,750gph to about 10,500gph. You can do less as well, but I think about a 3X turnover rate is a minimum. Then, a flow rate of about 10X is usually the maximum. This extends the acceptable range to anywhere from 5,250gph to 17,500gph. You will need to find a pump, or series of pumps that can pump the flow you want to go with at the head height you will be at.
Looking forward to seeing how this build turns out. I'm sure others will chime in with some other options. Do you have any pictures you can post yet?
Congratulations on your big build. If you don't want to go the sump route, you still have a few options. Consider a Bio Glass Filter. This thread is a great read on filtration
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...iltration-and-evolving-with-your-fish.499111/
Other MFK members with large tanks have chosen to go with Ultima II filters.
spiff44 went with two Ultima II 4000s with a sock filter on his 1700 gallon tank.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/pict-of-my-diy-build-now-recycling.259560/page-4
I believe Bigrich545 went with an Ultima II 10000 on his 4000 gallon tank.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...000-gallon-tank-many-others-and-ponds.470877/
VLdesign also went with an big Ultima II on his 2600 gallon tank
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...wood-tank-project.416005/page-57#post-5391391
Had Hulon done his thread before I bought my Ultimas, I probably would have gone with Biowave glass bead filters. However, I will be using the Ultimas for biological filtration and have a separate mechanical system. Nothing wrong with mixing and matching. Since my tank has 8' of overflow boxes, and I have a sump tank, I will have a holding sump with some redundant filtration.,,they say there's no such thing as too much filtration...
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...iltration-and-evolving-with-your-fish.499111/
Other MFK members with large tanks have chosen to go with Ultima II filters.
spiff44 went with two Ultima II 4000s with a sock filter on his 1700 gallon tank.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/pict-of-my-diy-build-now-recycling.259560/page-4
I believe Bigrich545 went with an Ultima II 10000 on his 4000 gallon tank.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...000-gallon-tank-many-others-and-ponds.470877/
VLdesign also went with an big Ultima II on his 2600 gallon tank
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...wood-tank-project.416005/page-57#post-5391391
Had Hulon done his thread before I bought my Ultimas, I probably would have gone with Biowave glass bead filters. However, I will be using the Ultimas for biological filtration and have a separate mechanical system. Nothing wrong with mixing and matching. Since my tank has 8' of overflow boxes, and I have a sump tank, I will have a holding sump with some redundant filtration.,,they say there's no such thing as too much filtration...
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