Thinking of building a bio tower. Need some help.

[koop171]

How tall is your tank? Most of mine have 5 foot of head. You're allready that high what's another foot? Most decent pumps will pump over 10.

Still curious as to what you plan on stocking.

If I do this Large scale on my big tnak first. It's almost 600 gallon w/out sump volume. and the top of the tank is about 6' high. I can only go 7' b/c of the celieng. And stocking is right now.

1-32" niger cat
1-26"+ silver aro
1-22"+ RTCxTSN
1-13" fei feng
1-12" marble cat

and future stocking sill be hopefully....

3 more 26"+ silvers. (going to be hard to find)
1 more big cat. Undecided
and maye a Large black wolf or two.

koop171, I forgot to mention the pipe. Look for a commercial plumber and wastewater contractor in your area, they may have the odd piece of PVC you can pick up cheap for cash. I've picked up scrap 4' & 6' 6"-16" pieces from new subdivision and mall construction free.

Dr Joe

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I have seen this stuff laying around town last year b/c they did alot of waterline work. And my parent live next door to a plumber so I should try him. Thanks for that Joe.

CL for pipe and barrels. You might want to try usplastics, tankdepot and plasticmart for tanks. They might have what you want.

I'll check them out.

Ok, a single cell Bakki shower then .

LOL if that limits confusion. lol

 

[johnptc]

the point of the bio tower is to maximize the amount of oxygen the BB get. I would run higher gph rather than lower.

another approach is to use a container full of bio media.....run a pump to it 24/7, set it up so every time it fills it starts its own siphon which empties it. this flush the media with air and water every cycle.


see http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/934/Transparent-Tanks for tower ideas


or less $$$ from the manufacturer http://www.solar-components.com/AQUA.HTM

 

[johnptc]

pics of the two bio towers and the four 55 gallon drums which fill and empty with self starting siphons

 

[koop171]

John how exatly does a self starting syphon work? I'm unfamiliar with this. sounds like a sloid idea. but how to do it I have no idea. I am going to head to the hardware store to see if they can get large PVC. I do not need clear. however it would look cool.

 

[johnptc]

John how exatly does a self starting syphon work? I'm unfamiliar with this. sounds like a sloid idea. but how to do it I have no idea. I am going to head to the hardware store to see if they can get large PVC. I do not need clear. however it would look cool.

you may find the clear fiberglass cheaper in these sizes

will post a drawing of the barrels.....basic idea

 

[Dr Joe]

John...even cave dwellers had a few colors! (tho there is a resemblance).

 

[johnptc]

John...even cave dwellers had a few colors! (tho there is a resemblance).

happy now

 

[koop171]

lol I think I get the general idea. seems simple enough. I think I want to do a 12" tube now I did a really rough estimant of a 16"x7' and the gallonage is to high. if something fails at that size it would overflow my sump but at 12" I should have plenty of extra room to cover any failures.

 

[johnptc]

lol I think I get the general idea. seems simple enough. I think I want to do a 12" tube now I did a really rough estimant of a 16"x7' and the gallonage is to high. if something fails at that size it would overflow my sump but at 12" I should have plenty of extra room to cover any failures.

bio tower ??? no failure mood

 

[Dr Joe]

lol I think I get the general idea. seems simple enough. I think I want to do a 12" tube now I did a really rough estimant of a 16"x7' and the gallonage is to high. if something fails at that size it would overflow my sump but at 12" I should have plenty of extra room to cover any failures.

I don't think you have a total grasp on the Bio tower. You don't fill a bio-tower, it's just a flow thru, bottom end is open into the sump (80% ~ air) (so a failure of the sump return would result in the tower recirculating the sump). 7' x 16" maybe 20g of water suspended, depending on pump gph (didn't do the math).

Dr Joe

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