Ok so I think I’ve finalized my plans on my new trickle tower/sump system my first one works fine, but is ugly and a bit small for the bio load I’ll eventually have so I want to install the new one before getting any more fish so that it can cycle before the bio load gets any worse.
IT’s a DYI system, over flow dumps into first stage which will be simple a U down through a course foam, and back up through finer foam, before spilling over into the reserve which drains out the bottom drip plate and into the trickle tower, planned something like this
Trickle tower hold 20 gallons 16x 10” X 30” (LxWxH), and drain into a wide 50 gallon sump, measurements of sump are 40”x25”x 12” (LxWxH).
For the sump I plan to divide it something like this
The Pump’s will be two 1200 GPH pump’s, the pump will have to go up roughly 4’ to return to the tank, so I’m expecting them to have actual flow rate of roughly 800GPH each because of the head , and one of the returns will connect a 36 Watt UV sterilizer.
Moving the tanks total volume through the system ~6 times an hour, and at the same time UV sterilizer would be providing roughly 20-25gph per watt, and covers the full tank volume 3 times an hour.
The main Sump will have a grow light above it, and I’ve decided to go with water lettuce in the planted area. Then a chamber for heating and an up and down to the return pumps/UV to make sure root’s don’t end up in my pumps.
So this is the plan, I wanted to share it before I start buying everything and putting it together. I’m interested in any comments or suggestions that would improve the system. If I’m going to build a new sump and tower setup I might as well make it as efficient as possible! Should have mentioned earlier it's for a 240 gallon monster tank.
-DC-
IT’s a DYI system, over flow dumps into first stage which will be simple a U down through a course foam, and back up through finer foam, before spilling over into the reserve which drains out the bottom drip plate and into the trickle tower, planned something like this
Trickle tower hold 20 gallons 16x 10” X 30” (LxWxH), and drain into a wide 50 gallon sump, measurements of sump are 40”x25”x 12” (LxWxH).
For the sump I plan to divide it something like this
The Pump’s will be two 1200 GPH pump’s, the pump will have to go up roughly 4’ to return to the tank, so I’m expecting them to have actual flow rate of roughly 800GPH each because of the head , and one of the returns will connect a 36 Watt UV sterilizer.
Moving the tanks total volume through the system ~6 times an hour, and at the same time UV sterilizer would be providing roughly 20-25gph per watt, and covers the full tank volume 3 times an hour.
The main Sump will have a grow light above it, and I’ve decided to go with water lettuce in the planted area. Then a chamber for heating and an up and down to the return pumps/UV to make sure root’s don’t end up in my pumps.
So this is the plan, I wanted to share it before I start buying everything and putting it together. I’m interested in any comments or suggestions that would improve the system. If I’m going to build a new sump and tower setup I might as well make it as efficient as possible! Should have mentioned earlier it's for a 240 gallon monster tank.
-DC-
