setting up my new tank

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kcrandall758

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 30, 2011
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Brandon, FL
hey all - I'm looking for some input into setting up my new tank. I just purchased a 125 gal long tank (6 ft x 23.5 in x 18.25 in), and it came with 2 overflows installed in each of the back corners. my goal this weekend is to build a stand for the tank, but I'm also interested in utilizing the overflows on the tank. I'll try to describe whats there, and what my thoughts, and any input from yous guys would be amazing.

in each of the back corners, theres piping, one is about half the size of the tank, the other comes over the top with a nozzle on the end. my thought, and tell me your ideas/suggestions/experiences here, is to plumb the two lines that are half-height (with openings at the time) under the stand, into a 30 gallon tank, and put a submersible pump into the 30, and plumb that up to the pipes with nozzles. my thought is this will replace any HOB filters, but I know I need some sort of filter media in the 30.... and thats where I'm lost.

anyone have any input/experience with this type of setup/advice, am I just plain crazy and this won't work the way that I'm thinking it will...?
 
I'm at work, and don't have any on my phone...and won't be home until after 9pm EST
 
Sounds to me like you're wanting to use the 30 underneath as a sump. Personally that's my favorite filtration method but it also depends on what you decide to stock? Bonded filter pad you can buy online works great for Bio-filtration IMO. I've also used blue swamp cooler pads with great results. Right now we have green AC filter pads in ours because the cooler pads were out of season but they don't seem to work all that great. You can also have a refugium as part of your sump if you want. Here's what I have on my 120 with a pacu, large pleco, and 4 silver dollars just to give an idea.

uploadfromtaptalk1327613520093.jpg

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Congrats on the tank, I to have a pre drilled tank. You are correct in the plumbing design. I however would say get a bigger sump, the bigger the better for when you have power disruption. Media in the sump is up for debate, but whatever you get be sure you can replace it when needed. Make sure you have room to get your arm into sump without having to pull tank out.
 
turningitred said:
Sounds to me like you're wanting to use the 30 underneath as a sump. Personally that's my favorite filtration method but it also depends on what you decide to stock? Bonded filter pad you can buy online works great for Bio-filtration IMO. I've also used blue swamp cooler pads with great results. Right now we have green AC filter pads in ours because the cooler pads were out of season but they don't seem to work all that great. You can also have a refugium as part of your sump if you want. Here's what I have on my 120 with a pacu, large pleco, and 4 silver dollars just to give an idea.

View attachment 740130

Sent from my ADR6350 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

that 'sounds' like what I wanna do, but not quite sure how the filtration portion will work. I wanna use a submersible pump, pumping the water back into the tank, not necessarily a canister. with that idea, would I just stuff filter media into the 30, all around the pump? or would I need something the pipes coming down the tank (bioballs, etc) to filter before it hits the 30?

as far as stock, there will be 1 channel cat (12in), 1 RTC (5in), 1 oscar (6in), 1 sun cat (6in), 4 pacu (8-10in), 1 Chinese algae eater, and 6 angel fish. my columbian sharks will remain in the 75 which will be converted to a brackish, and the angels will end up in a 120 tall that I'm in the process of resealing.
 
Meyjeffery said:
Congrats on the tank, I to have a pre drilled tank. You are correct in the plumbing design. I however would say get a bigger sump, the bigger the better for when you have power disruption. Media in the sump is up for debate, but whatever you get be sure you can replace it when needed. Make sure you have room to get your arm into sump without having to pull tank out.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

As far as a bigger sump, 30 gal in the only extra tank I've got laying around right now. maybe one day I'll upgrade it, but for now, its got to do.
 
There are lots of ways you can design your sump. Ours does have a pump in the sump. The canister is just extra filtration because we needed it.

Just so you know, you can definitely try the 30 gallon to get by but with that stock list I would imagine you'll be doing large water changer every other day to keep up. It would probably be I'm your best interest to have your overflows come empty on one side of the sump, put your pump on the other and keep it simple because I'm betting you'll need to replace or add to it before long. We have on 12 inch pacu and we still have to do water changer every few days. Going to be working on an quasi-undergravel with a drilled tank soon to move him to.

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thanks for all the input guys. I think I've got a good idea on what to do. I will post pics of the tank/overflows tonight when I get home (was too tired last night), and once its all plumbed, I'll post some pics too.

I'll also be doing a stand thread on the stand that I'm building this weekend.
 
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