Sump for a 300g...Need Guidence

[SeverumSeeker]

I have been trying to close the deal on how I am going to filter my new 300g. Either some Emperor 400's and a FX5 or a Sump and a canister of some sort.

Well, today I was at my LFS and got talked in to a HOB overflow. Almost got talked into a Sump too, but I know I can build one. With your help of course.

Sooooo, This Overflow does not have a name on it, but I picked it up for $50.00 It's rated at 1200 gph.

Now, if this is a good overflow and worth the time of setting up, where do I go from here?

Tank size is 8x2x2.5
Height from the floor to rim of the tank is 4 feet 9 inches.

What size sump tank? What size return pump? Which return pump?
What size and kind of piping for the overflow and return?

Sorry for all the questions, but years of fish keepeing has been limited to HOB filters and this is my largest aquarium to date.

Thanks.

 

[pacu mom]

My tank has the same dimensions. We are using only one of the two built-in overflow boxes in the tank. For biological filtration, we have a ProClear Aquatics Model 400 wet/dry filter. Sump capacity 36 gallons. Has 12 gallons of bioballs. We have a CA 6000 Aquarium pump (1600 gph) to return the water back to the tank. This is the pump that Global Pets had recommended for this wet/dry filter. I just checked online, and other dealers are recommending the MagDrive 24 2400 gph at 0'. The biological filtration has been flawless with this system.

I would say, depending on your stocking level, and if you're going to use the sump strictly for biological filtration, you might be ok with that one HOB overflow box. Probably, ideally, you might want a second one on the other end of the tank, especially if the tank is going to be heavily stocked.

Since our wet/dry is strictly for biological filtration, our current setup is working great for us. We have a separate mechanical filtration system that provides extreme mechanical filtration. While we had excellent water parameters, we added an FX-5 which was backordered and came 2 months after the tank was set up and running. We use it for redundant back up filtration and later added a 40 Watt UV sterilizer to the FX-5 return line.

Like you, we went from a 55 gallon yard sale tank to a 300 gallon tank and didn't know where to start. Fortunately for us, the tank builder pointed us in the direction of the wet/dry filter, and I found a man (in another state) who sets up and maintains tanks who provided us with a mechanical filtration system (two spa filters run with a large Hammerhead pump 5800 gph)

 

[SeverumSeeker]

Thanks for the reply.
I guess I will just buy a 55 gallon aquarium and convert it to a wet/dry.
Not much responce on this one. So I guess I will go at it alone.

 

[iwiied]

yeah that sounds like a good plan just buy a 55 galllon and some glass from lowes cut to size and some silicone (silicone I is what you want) to make a supm

 

[rallysman]

If you can, go with an external pump. IME they're much more reliable and easier to work on. They also don't seem to get as dirty for some reason. Since the overflow is only 1200gph, I would aim for a return rate of about 1000gph to be safe. It'll still work fine and you'll be able to stock moderately. Focus on directing flow to eliminate dead spots.

A 55g tank like what was made in the DIY section will work perfectly, but try to get a lot of bio since you'll have relatively low flow. Also, don't be afraid of the "low" flow. I have moderately stocked tanks in the 250+ range that I only turn over about 2.5x per hour. If it's set up correctly you won't have any issues.