tank plans look ok?

[GrossGraphix]

I have on plan a 1300gph pump that should turn tank over almost 4 times. That good enough? I read that i should be between 3-10. Goin to be a freshwater tank. Oscars,cats, cichlids. I think 1.5" pvc should be good correct me if im wrong. Let me know if anyone sees any problems.
Sorry for the crappy drawing but it will get the job done. Getting most of my suppliers found for acrylic and stuff so getting my fishies in a row and getting closer.

 

[Toby_H]

1.5" (ID) PVC will siphon at about 1350 gph... your 1300 gph Pump will function a good bit below that with the reduction of flow due to head pressure... I would use a larger pump...


I LOVE the idea of doing a refugium. Relying on bacteria alone turns all of our ammonia into nitrates. Relying on plants and bacteria turns our ammonia into carbon dioxide which vapors off into the air. Simply put, this is a more efficient form of filtration...

Although I do not understand why you would want bio media (scrubbies) as well as a refugium.


Also, with allll that space in your sump, you are only going to be using one little tiny layer of pads for mechanical filtration? Your scrubbies are going to get filthy and they are going to be quite difficult to clean, which means that waste will stay in your system for a very long time.

Simple answer, use more mechanical filtration...


Are you building or buying the tank?

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

4x turn over rate will be more than enough to control the boi load. BUT will do very little to nothing for keeping the tank clean.

You will have to add some power heads to keep the debris suspended longer in hopes that its removed and filtered. OR you will need to remove the debris manually with water changes and vacumming.

I have tanks set up both ways. My 125g tank with 14-15x turn over rates never have debris on the bottom and never need vacumming. And my low turn over 125g tank around 6x are very dirty by the end of the week.

So yea for bio and no for mechanical filtering at 4x turn over. It all depends on what you are OK with.

 

[GrossGraphix]

Ok great so looks like i need bigger pump maybe like 6 -7 turn arounds. Or do the pumps not use that much electricty that i can go for 9-10? Then go 2" pvc, or do i need more than that? I tried looking at the Sticky on pvc but did not quit understand it.
I Can put more mechanical filtration that no problem i thought of the refugium with the scrubbies beacause i figure i cant have to much amonia filtration.
HybridTheory I was kinda figuring on making the return like a power head thats possible right? Would it be better to put it at top bottom? Seems like it would be hard for debree to get into filter if all the top anyways for the drain. Ive been used to cannister filters where the pick up goes almost to bottom to help suck debree from gravel area.

Oh and yea i plan on building the tank. Cheapest place i found for acrylic so far is Dayton about a hour and half away will sell me all the 3/4 for little over $1300 getting a quote from one more guy closer wainting to see what he says. 3/4 will be plenty thick enough to right from what my research has shown me so far i think?

 

[Pharaoh]

Looks good. I would definitely increase the overflow to 2" and get a bigger pump. 363 gallons is a lot to turn over and keep clean.

 

[GrossGraphix]

Where is the better place to put the return for the water for better circulation of debree to sump?

 

[Pharaoh]

You would want in pointed towards/across the bottom in order to kick up the debris.

 

[Toby_H]

Ok great so looks like i need bigger pump maybe like 6 -7 turn arounds. Or do the pumps not use that much electricty that i can go for 9-10? Then go 2" pvc, or do i need more than that? I tried looking at the Sticky on pvc but did not quit understand it.

　
I like having 10 times (or more) turnover in my tanks to ensure good mechanical filtration as well as biological. But do keep in mind that you have the option of using power heads to create some of this movement.
　
　

I Can put more mechanical filtration that no problem i thought of the refugium with the scrubbies beacause i figure i cant have to much amonia filtration.

　
While on one hand, you are right, you cannot have “too much” meaning having excessively more than necessary has no ill effects…
　
There is a point where you have “enough”, and having more than “enough” is intelligent, but having excessively more than “enough” is (in my opinion) a poor utilization of space…
　
Also keep in mind that if you do not have ample mechanical filtration before the “bio media”, then the “bio media” will need to be cleaned much much more frequently… Mechanical media is not something you can easily cut corners on without having ill results.
　
　

Seems like it would be hard for debree to get into filter if all the top anyways for the drain.

　
I agree 100%! And I think using surface sucking overflows is an inefficient usage of a filter. I’ll include a diagram at the bottom of an intake system I came up with that can suck water in from the bottom. Keep in mind this diagram is simply to get the point across. You will need to tweak it to make it work for your particular application / flow rate / etc.

 

[GrossGraphix]

　
I agree 100%! And I think using surface sucking overflows is an inefficient usage of a filter. I’ll include a diagram at the bottom of an intake system I came up with that can suck water in from the bottom. Keep in mind this diagram is simply to get the point across. You will need to tweak it to make it work for your particular application / flow rate / etc.

Great i would love to see it!! I would like it to suck from bottom better seems more logical to me then i can run the return head to make a fan across the bottom to push debree towards intake. I also figure i will use some sort of a courser filter material along with a finer mesh to filter before bio-media.

Just got the quote on basement soon as a couple of water leaks are fixed will be ordering my acrylic 3/4" thick 96x30x30

 

[GrossGraphix]

Ok heres a redraw. I believe the bottom dump into tank should push debree across to intake siphone. The thing is figuring how many/big the shipong should be to keep up with the pump. That should be enough to turn over 5X or lil more. Also have a water level hole to keep from siphoning in case power outage. Just have to make sure water stays above it or pump will run dry. May also be a water drip and overflow drain not for sure yet on that. Depends on how plumbing will be in basement.

Anything bad about this one.