Pump Suggestions 5-10 kpgh

[whodey]

Hey all, Long time reader first time poster.

I've kept fish for over a decade now and have had 2 gallonitis for all that time. I'm finally going to try and cre it.

My plan is to build a FW plywood and glass/acrlyic tank tank on the order of 10' by 6' by 6'.

I know it ambitious but i've always wanted the big guys. My silver dollars aren't cutting it any more.

Anyway my question is: "What brands/sizes of pumps have you used and would recommend?'

Secondly is there any other advice out there that i should know about before getting started.

I've already begun compiling a budget and i have more than the required wood working and plumbing skills to pull something like this off. I initially planed on using two 3" drain lines but after looking at $50 bucks for each bulkhead i scaled them back to 2". Is that enough to handle the filter flow?

My filter setup now is looking like
2" drain line feeding into a 55gal tank filled with filter floss of mulitple densities and either a FSB filer or circulating K1, the return pump will be in a second 55 gal tank which is plumbed in line with pvc. Imagine them side by side with the second one slightly lower. This allows more water for the pump to pull on and extra water volume should things go haywire. I'm still a little worried about 60 ft^2 of tnak filling 16 ft^2 of sump.

Then double that side since i have 2 drain lines. I may hook both of the 2nd tanks together and run one pump for both sides of the filter. (this is confusing i know but i'll post a picture soon.

Are there any easier/cheaper ways to do it and have it still look nice. I dont want wires and pipes everywhere.

I plan on ading internal flow as well.

then there's the all important question, Who should live there?
I already have some ideas but who knows. If yours are better than mine ill use them!

Thanks in advance
WHODEY!

 

[john73738]

I would go much larger with the sump. You are looking at apx 1300 gallons. I would think that 300 gallons of sump would be appropriate.

Having said this My suggestion would be to look at small pool filters or some other inline filter rather than a sump.

If sump is the way you want to go then look at building it from wood also.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck, this would be another epic build.

 

[whodey]

You are looking at apx 1300 gallons.

I think your math is off

6*6*10 = 360 cuft of water * 7.4805 gal/cuft == over 2600 gal

Which means the pool filter may be a much more realistic option. Thanks i'll look at some.

 

[greengiant]

I would agree that a larger sump is needed. 6' high will look sweet but the glass/acrylic will be very costly. post up your design and progress there is alot of great knowledge on here that most are willing to share their experience. some tank when they shouldn't but as long as you dont get into it to much they do tend to quit pretty quickly. have you figured out your rough budget for this yet? what all you thinking of stocking it with?

 

[whodey]

I think i can do it for less than 10k. Most of that being the glass/acrylic. I found a company that can do large underwater pool viewing windows and priced it near 5K. A lot of the rest is wood and waterproofing and plumbing.

I would prefer large south american cichlids, maybe sand sifters. But i havent decided yet. As always arows, oscars, rays, rtc, gar come to mind but we'll have to see about that.

It could be the the new molly grow out tank. My GFs mollys wont stop breeding!!!