starting to plan my 2500 gal.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
why not just use the 8100 gph pump they have if I will only be runing one? My idea for two pumps is because I thought that two large filters instead of one giant one would work better, and I would ultimately save on room for where I am putting it in my garage. So the rates of flow that you qouted are for just the siphoning action of the water comming out of the pond into the filter?, or is that all the 2" pipe will push comming out of a pump?
 
I am planning my filters. Not sure how to calculate the bioload. I will be using 2 55 gal garbage cans for now. My plan is to run 2 4000-6000 gph pumps, one to each 55 gal can. The pipe will run to the top of the cans to the center, and I will spread the water out to the dia of the can. The water will pass through filter floss or sponges to a large drip tray that will drip onto about 35 gals of pot scrubbers in each filter. My question is how much biomass will that support? Does this seam like adequate filtration for 2100-2500 gals? I will have limited space for filtration so my idea is to hang them above the pond, and have the water drip straight down into the water of the pond. Anyone see any problems with this? There will be a total of about 70 gals of pot scrubbers. Now if I can just find enough of them to fill those cans. I can go larger than that if need be, but for now that's what I am going with. Are there any calculators on how to figure out the biomass of a tank, or biocapacity of filters? Tnx guys.
 
ok time for an update. I decided to put this project off for now. I bought a 1100 gal pool for now. If everything goes as planned I will start building the big tank next year sometime. The new plan will be for a tank that is 8-12,000gals. Shoot ideas at me, and I will keep you updated.
 
Ok so the pool has been up and running for a while. Everything cycled ok, but the filtration is crap for now, but not for long. The filtration is a 15 gal rubbermaid container inside the pond for now, but I am going to make an external filter out of 2 55 gal drums. I have purchased 2 55 gal drums, and wish to convert them into filters. I want to make a settling chamber in the bottom of them for debris to settle as it enters the bottom of the filter and flows up. Put a valve on the bottom for backwashing the settling chamber. I also wish to put aireation in the barrels to go up through the pot scrubbers for added bio filtration. There are several things I need to figure out first though. First the barrels have tops that are formed, and I need to cut them off and make them fit so that I can take them off again if I ever need to. Second does this type of filter need to be pressurized at all? Third how would I keep air from building up inside of the barrels? Fourth, has anyone ever made a settling chamber and can tell me anything about how exactly to make it and if I will need any additional particle filtration or can I just use a prefilter for that? Sorry for so many questions I just want to make this filtration right! Tnx guys
 
Neocranis,
I have just found your thread and was going to suggest you use a circular above ground pool with a clear viewing panel for what you want. Circular is best for larger active fish and the view panel is really easy and cheap. Alternatively, if you want a removable monster tank, you can buy a second hand metal transport shipping container, waterproof it with rubber paint and add some view panels. I have done both but the pool is the way to go.

Filtration wise, your design will depend on whether you want upflow filtration or downflow filtration. I suggest you look at some KOI pond setups (Google). KOI filtration principles are the ultimate and easily adaptable.
 
I'm liking the 55 gallon filtration setup but I'm needing pics of how your running it so I can quite possibly do the same :) I still don't have anything else on mine and it needs it badly. PM with some of the specifics if you have time ~Trent
 
Like I said I am still in the planning stages of the filters. I use to have a link somewhere that told all the specifics of how to do what I am talking about so that you have a relatively maintenance free filter that only needs backwashed once per week. Just having problems locating it. It will be an up flow filter. Thinking of upflowing through one filter and down flowing through the other. THey will be connected. This is still all preliminary for now till I can try it out or find someone who has done something similar. I have seen this design somewhere just don't know where. I'll try to use the crappy paint program out here at work to show what I am talking about lol. Trent I got three of the 55 gal barrels total at a local carwash for $10 a piece. He said he would give me a discount if I bought 10 or more, but $10 is fine for me. I just hate that the lids are formed onto the barrel and not the nice removable ones. That's the main issue for me is how to make the tops removable, and weather or not it needs to be pressurized aka sealed top! That would be a major problem in my design if it did need to be pressurized, but if they are truely maintenance free then I can seal the tops back on no problem and no worries lol.
 
Here's a rough sketch of the filter. Let me know what you guys think!

filter.JPG
 
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