Listen to jcardona. Definanlty do a sump, herbie or beananimal depend on how or if the tank is drilled. Another thing everyone is a fan of on here is overfiltration (as said earlier, a bunch of fx5's). Anything 4+ times per hr turnover rate with decent in tank flow. As far as w/d or sump? I have the exact same footprint tank, just shorter (mine is 300g not 400g) and I use a sump with filter socks and just diy pvc plumbing using the herbie method with about a 4x turnover rate w extra in tank flow and my water is crystal clear. I only use submerged media with one bubble trap, but more or less I built it to keep the ceramic out of my pump. Not too big on plants and I'm sure being a sw guy, you know your lights, and I also can't help much on the native part either. Hope if you have more questions you'll be back. There are a few ppl with knowledge beyond owning a standard 125g with 2 fx5's.
New 400 gallon Freshwater setup
- Thread starter williamrandel
- Start date
Thanks for the advise thus far. The tank design is starting to come together. The current thought is a commercial glass tank from Glasscages.com with two overflows, probably corner but may decide to use their divider overflow instead. I can get away with only two sides viewalbe behind the wall.
Creepyoldguy, Do you have any pics of your sump?
Creepyoldguy, Do you have any pics of your sump?
NOt off hand, but all it is is a 55g tank, with a 3 pieces of glass siliconed in to make a bubble trap. I left enough room from the side to put my pumps and the rest is jsut open for my rings. I'll try to get one tonight
Also, I had a glasscages tank and I don't beleive the do corner overflows. I could be wrong but you might want to check that out
I did check with them and they do offer a corner box overflow but they are recommending against it. Their suggestion is the divider overflow on one end or a horizontal internal overflow with bulkheads. The did indicate that they would drill the setup for a Beananimal setup if that is what I wanted.
I'm not real familiar w the bean, jcardona knows better than me by it's very quiet. For some reason, I would advise against glasscages. Are you dead set on the height? Marineland makes the deep dimension series and the one I have is 6x3x27", just a little shorter than the tank mentioned.
Wow what are you guys talking about!? That tank is boss! I would keep it exactly like that. And if you're going to do a monster tank you gotta go bigger than 400 gallons...
I agree with them. Tall vertical overflows are a huge waste of space, and look ugly. Horizontal overflows are much better. They give you more area for surface skimming and take up less room in the tank. Reefers have been using horizontal overflows for some time now. They call it the Calfo or coast-to-coast overflow box. I made my own overflow box using 3 small sheets of glass, then drilled the holes myself. Here's a few pics (more pics in my sig, it's my 190g discus tank).
I am familiar with the coast to coast type of overflow, use it myself on one of my reef's, the only problem I have is that both 72" sides are viewable. The only option that I have been able to get the clients blessing on is to put a horizontal overflow on one end and build the cabinet to enclose one of the 36" ends to hide the plumbing. I am just afraid that without adding a bunch of powerheads. Thought about a closed loop but the only place to drill the holes would be in the bottom and hiding the outlets in the aquascape.
I am not married to the size or the brand at this point, but the designers for the project and the architect are insisting on a 72" thru-wall with a 36" vertical. This is why the 400 gallon comes into play. Most tank manufacturers when using those two dims, set the width at 36" giving close to 400 gallons in volume. My biggest concern with a tank that size is cleaning. As you can see, I am between a rock and a hard place.
