Ok last question about filtration from me.

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VLDesign

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I am starting to get a headache from all the changes, additions, computations, etc. etc. etc. of designing this filtration system.

Re-cap: Freshwater system, Fish only, 800 gallons of display tank, 20 pounds of fish, main return pump Reeflo Hammer head (About 4000 GPH). Water flows back into sump area that contains another 200 gallons of water.

Proposed filtration: Will have mechanical filtration in the return area of the sump (Pads most likely), then it will go through 5 liters of Eheim pro media (Submerged) then to a secondary sump where another pump will be installed to push 2000 GPH into a 12 cubit foot container (14.5" diameter x 35" tall cylinder) full of bio media in a wet/dry type setup and will return back into the same sump that it was pulled from. Also attached to this last sump is the retun pump. Sand is the substrate in all the tanks 2" deep, some rocks not much more.

Thoughts? Opinions? Expert Advise?
Saltwater was so much easier on the filtration level. Skimmer and Live rock.

:confused:
 
I thought that is what I did in my original message...

I will expand on it.

Proposed filtration:
Water in sump will be pumped into display tanks via a 4000 GPH pump
Water will circulate around in the tank until it overflows into the drains
Water will will travel downwards to the main sump area
Water will then drop into the main sump and pass through the mechanical filtration
Water will next go through 5 liters of Eheim pro media (Submerged)
After that water will flow into an attached a secondary sump

In this secondary sump part of the water will be sent back into the display tanks via the 4000 GPH pump and the rest of the water will be pumped (via a 2000 GPH pump) into a 12 cubit foot container (14.5" diameter x 35" tall cylinder) full of bio media in a wet/dry type setup and will return back into the same sump that it was pulled from.

Repeat and rinse. :)
 
so your bio tower is "passive?" The eheim stuff isn't though. what media are you using as mechanical? how is the water exposed to the eheim media? via canister? is it just used like a gravel bed? is there any chance that it can limit water flow to the next sump, thus overflowing the first sump and running pumps dry in the second sump?
 
No chance at all of flood.. They will be filter pads (18"'x18"') and they sit inside the sump on a shelf made of eggcrate on acrylic supports. If the pads get clogged water will spill over the 2" high risers (Also below the sumps top) into the chamber under the filterpads where it will travel down a divider and back up through the eheim media. Plan on making a cage type holder for the media that will have big enough holes to not let the media fall through and enough holes to allow the water to flow through. Was looking into a smaller egg crate type material.

If the eheim media gets clogged water will fill up and flow over and past it into the next chamber which is connected to the next sump via a 2" pipe, 1.5" pipe and a 1" pipe (Don't ask lol)
 
Get a little drill happy? lol


So water will come from tank and hit the pads (18 x 18)? if so, you will be changing those pads daily. I personally used forced mechanical in tanks with big fish (big mess). I use Lifegard M-2's and M-4's with a high head pump. The pleats are washable. I have many that have easily been through 50+ washes/bleaches and are still fine. I would do this off of sump 1, passively, meaning some water would avoid it and go straight through the eheim stuff, but most would get sucked up and pushed through the filters.
 
It will work fine, if the bio-load isn't too heavy. Keep the bio-tower far enough off the bottom for good x mixing.

Why the Eheim material, do you already have it?

Freshwater was so much easier on the filtration level, fine filter and scrubbies.

Dr Joe

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Don't have the eheim media yet I figured it was designed to be submerged and would be a better choice than scrubbies or 2" bio balls. I could be way off but that is my logic.

Also the media tower will be on top of the sump which will drop about 18" into the water level below.

Now when you say if the bio load isn't too heavy, does that translate into my design might be a little light on media? I am trying to design it to handle a fairly large bio load. And I think that is where I am getting stuck.
 
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