OH NOES! Not Another Sump/Pump Size Question...

[pwmin]

So, I acquired a 300W acrylic tank and I'm trying to figure out what I want to do exactly for filtration. Right now, I have an FX5, which is going to stay on there (I think, unless I have enough sump) and a 75 gallon tank w/ 4 Penguin 350's on it w/ an XP3 inlet in the 75 and the outlet in the 300 and the in-tank overflows dumping into the 75

I want to build a sump or two for it to replace the 75 and I'm trying to decide what to do. It is going to be heavily stocked with a motoro, L. pictus cat, jardini and probably 10 Cichla. I will list what I'm thinking and my other criteria.


- two pumps in case one goes out
- probably 2 different sumps
- I have to remove a leg on the stand to get the 75 in and I don't want to have to do that, which is why I was thinking of using 2 x 40 gallon breeder tanks.


Do you think the two 40 gallon tanks will be enough if I use an underwater pump? I doubt it would be sufficient without the FX5. If you think that will work, what pumps would you recommend? Or what would your recommend instead? If the problem is the internal pump, should I get two acrylic tanks and use external pumps? I would like to use something that is 18" tall to give me more room to work. Another reason I was thinking an external pump on a 40 breeder is because I have one that I won't be using once I free up the 75.


Thanks for your time, consideration and input in advance

 

[Dr Joe]

If that's the space you have available, two 40's, 100 micron filter sock inside a 10 micron filter sock on the input of each one (yes there will be cleaning, can't get away from it with that bio-load and and your space constrictions. Only one divider (between the socks and the bio-material), water spills over wall onto drip plate then thru it to the Bio-material. Mix your media, ie scrubbies with bio-balls and ceramics in-between them. Put your pump in and put media around it too (if external pump, even more room for media ).

Iwaki pumps.

Do a fishless cycle and after it is cycled, add the fish one a week (two max.) to let the filters catch up with the load.

It's also manditory to take pix of the set up and post them or the filters will not cycle.

Dr Joe

.

 

[pwmin]

If that's the space you have available, two 40's, 100 micron filter sock inside a 10 micron filter sock on the input of each one (yes there will be cleaning, can't get away from it with that bio-load and and your space constrictions. Only one divider (between the socks and the bio-material), water spills over wall onto drip plate then thru it to the Bio-material. Mix your media, ie scrubbies with bio-balls and ceramics in-between them. Put your pump in and put media around it too (if external pump, even more room for media ).

Iwaki pumps.

Do a fishless cycle and after it is cycled, add the fish one a week (two max.) to let the filters catch up with the load.

It's also manditory to take pix of the set up and post them or the filters will not cycle.

Dr Joe

.

Thanks a lot, Dr. Joe. I'll do what I can to use external pumps. 40 breeders should be tempered, right? Hopefully I can find some acrylic tanks a little bigger on craigslist if I can't drill the 40 I have now. I don't mind cleaning them . You gotta pay to play. You said Iwaki, but what size/model?

There are already fish in the tank, but only 4 p-bass from 4-7" and one 6" marbled goby. I used Seachem Stability and it acually seemed to work . I have seen no ammonia or nitrites (at least not that I detected). I did have established filters on it, though. I won't add anything until it goes through its mini-cycle after removing the 75 and adding the sump, but I'm going to use Stability again.

LOL. I do have pix of the current setup (well, not the filtration), but I'll be taking lots once it's all done.

 

[pwmin]

Any other input? What size pumps should I run? As I did some more measuring and all that, I'm thinking that 2 50 long (48x12x18 size) acrylics would be the best way to go for the space I have available, but I can't seem to find any. I know where I can get glass ones locally for like $75 each, but I would probably just run internal pumps. I guess I could just run one 50 long w/ ~1000GPH pump and build another one later.

 

[pwmin]

I got a 50 long glass that I'm going to set up like Dr. Joe said and run an internal pump. When I need more or anticipate needing more, I'll build another.

Where would I find 10 micron socks? I found some, but they're 17" long. Is there something else I could do like make a chamber to hold AC filter sponges?