To Cichlid_Starter: They're in a 55g. Right now they're about 3 inches. I figure I'll end up with one in the tank for good, with a second in another tank. The biggest one is meaner than hell and no one messes with him. His fins have never been nipped. Not even once. The second in command is almost the same size as the boss, but his tail has been bitten off by the tank boss once already. It got bit so severely that it didn't grow back all the way. He is also meaner than hell, but is at a disadvantage. I'll probably have to move him in time. The third one left in the tank is only 2 inches long, and is probably on the menu though he doesn't yet know it.
To AOmonsta and Rayshot1: I have put a screen over the intake. I simply made a "wagon wheel" out of 30lb. test monofilament threaded through holes drilled in a straight coupler section of PVC. It keeps fish size things from going down the 'glory hole' without affecting the flow rate of the pipe.
Attatched are a few photos of the 'super filter' as I call it. My filter is made of a 1/4hp submersible pump, a big rubbermaid tote as a sump, several 4" PVC risers to keep the filter bucket above the water line, and the bucket itself.
It's a 5gal. drywall bucket with around 70 sponges in it to hold the biomass. I put in a cross shaped assembly of 1/2" PVC and a diffuser plate to distribute the falling water over the 'bio balls'. The system is currently filtering a 40g breeder and a 55g tank. The water stays crystal clear with ammonia and nitrite readings at a steady zero.
I only run the pump at 50% capacity. I think I've got enough pump and filter to handle at least 300 gallons. The siphons are self starting and self limiting, in that when the pump shuts off, the siphons do too. When the pump restarts, so do the siphons, without help from me. This keeps my marriage intact, because if my wife came home to tank water all over the place, I'd be in deep poopoo.
Flow rates are fully adjustable with the valves on the return side, and the whole system can be disassembled in less than a minute with the unions I installed. I can also run one tank while shutting off the other, in the case of maintenance or cleaning, even draining for whatever reason.
Water changes are a breeze, just siphon the crap off the bottom of whichever tank you're maintaining, then pour a new bucket of water into the sump box. The pump sends it up to the tanks.
I built the system for about $120 with everything purchased at Menard's (local home improvement nazi).
Now no laughing at the fact that my home built tank stands don't have doors. I've been busy but I'll get them built in due time. The tank stands are made of maple and hackberry. I did them in my basement woodshop/mancave.
Oh, almost forgot to add this: The pump generates enough heat that I do not have heaters in either tank. They both stay at 80 degrees fahrenheit thanks to the heat from the pump motor.
what a supa filter 
