Took the plunge on the bigger tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
C

Chasintail

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 16, 2011
243
8
48
south central Pennsylvania
Ordered my 300 gallon deep dimension today with the red oak stand and glass canopy tops. I'm planning on actually running the piping through the floor into the basement directly underneath. I'll have a 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank up on a stand using two sterilite drawer systems filled with mechanical filtration in the top shallow drawer, then scrubbies in the 2nd and 3rd drawers. Each elevated off the bottom probably 6-8". The pump will be a Little Giant dual discharge at 3400 GPH(@ 0 head) pumping back up to the tank. From what I've read the overflows are only rated at 700gpm each? Anyone know if that really is the max flow rate capable? I've also got two 400 watt marineland visi-therm heaters coming to keep in the sump. I'll be putting about an inch of PFS in the tank for substrate as discussed in my other thread about cycling. Not sure what I'm doing for lighting yet, but that isn't going to be difficult. Also, once set up, I'm going to hopefully put some plants in the sump.

what have I missed? What should I know? Any thoughts?
 
I like Jager heaters myself but those should work. They are usually pretty accurate when giving you the max gph. You can always split the return line and put a ball valve and return the excess gph back to the sump if that makes sense. I would go with filter socks for mechanical. Here is a pic of my 100 gallon rubbermaid sump in case it may give you any ideas. I use a 500 GPH pump to supply water to the drip plate

001lp.jpg



On a side note I have marineland double bright leds on my 300 and like them a lot
 
they are around 1/2 submerged. In the event of a power outage you are going to want to have some of your bio submerged so it doesn't all dry up
 
I'm thinking with a power outage, I'll overflow water back into the sump. Either way, I like the design and may try to follow that. Do you have another thread with more pics?

What do you mean the 500gph pump for the drip plate, is that what you are using for the return pump to the tank?

Did you seal around the edges of the plexi with silicone? and..what kind. is anything at lowes fish safe?
 
Will the pumps be able to handle pushing the return flow back up from the basement? Seems like it would be over 10 feet back to the tank... don't some pumps have a max head height?

How are you handling water changes on a tank that size? I put a constant auto drip on my 300 and it's great.

I'm sure your rays will love the room!


oh yea, filter socks are great too. Somebody else pointed out this company on another thread, cheap, quality socks. I ordered the 100 micron which are working out nicely:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#liquid-filters/=fbykcy
 
As far as the water changes, I'm not 100% sure yet. I have been doing the changes out the window for the 120 and filling with a hose from the faucet. I can do that here as well barring no other options. The sump will be set up right near my water heater so I may plumb a refill system there, but I have no good way to drain in the basement. I'll think through it. The pump usually sells for about $150. I got it new off ebay for around $85 shipped.

Here are the pump specs..


[TABLE="class: desctable, width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR="class: highcells"]
[TD="colspan: 2, align: center"] Pump Specifications[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: lowcells"]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]Max Head[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]29'[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: lowcells"]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]Outlet[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]1¼" FPT Discharge
1¼" MPT Discharge Cap[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: lowcells"]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]Watts[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]673[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: lowcells"]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]Amps[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: lowcells"]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]Includes[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]1¼" Barb[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: lowcells"]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]Cord Length[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]16'[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: lowcells"]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]Dimensions[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: center"]7" x 9" x 14¼"[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: desctable, width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR="class: highcells"]
[TD="colspan: 6, align: center"]GPH per foot of Head[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: highcells"]
[TD="align: center"]O'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]5'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]20'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25'[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: lowcells"]
[TD="align: center"]3500[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3240[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]2700[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]2100[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1320[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]480[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Sounds like it is going to be a nice setup. How many overflows do you have? If you tank has 2 overflows say at 700 gph and your return pump is pushing +/- 2100 gph @ 15', you might have to divert some water elswhere or add another overflow.
 
I get all of my filter socks through that company! They are awesome and high quality I can get 3 from them for what I can buy 1 from anywhere else they run me about $4 a piece and are washable a few times. There shipping is really reasonable and they ship really fast.
 
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