Upside down trickle?

[shelbybmc]

Trying to save some money here so I was thinking has anyone ever built a trickle system above their tank so it just drains back into the tank? I was thinking about placing a big water pump in my tank and doing it kind of backwards. Also gonna have plants & a bunch of rocks and whatnot above the tank to hide the media bin. Im new at this so will those water pumps filter the fish waste well or should I build it inline with a DIY intake head and add a compartment to catch the particles before it reaches the pump. Im kinda going for the waterfall look like a pond but with a glass tank . Suggestions welcome I want this to look nice.

 

[dragonfish]

What kind of filter? How much higher will it have to pump? If you're going with a submerged pump you will want some type of solid waste collector. Keep in mind that means an open top at least in part. Jumping fish, higher humidity, faster evaporation and splash now become concerns as well.

 

[shelbybmc]

What kind of filter? How much higher will it have to pump? If you're going with a submerged pump you will want some type of solid waste collector. Keep in mind that means an open top at least in part. Jumping fish, higher humidity, faster evaporation and splash now become concerns as well.

PLexiglass top and I will make the necessary cuts for drainage & plumbing. Gonna go with a pump thats got a big GPH this tank is gonna be 180 or bigger for Peacock bass so the lid shall be secure. You basically answered my question about the waste being passed through the pump which is a No No I guess. So I will plumb the pump inline above water and possible add a container filled with filter floss to collect waste rather then just have the pump in the tank.

 

[dragonfish]

If you're using a bigger submerged pump it will pass most waste through no problem, you just need to stop it somewhere from cycling back into the tank. You're still going to need open space if you want a waterfall effect so all the above still applies.

 

[shelbybmc]

Or now that I think about it If I just submerse the pump and put a screen around it the poop will break down into smaller particles and get sucked up in probably not creating an issue as the solid stuff that may cause a problem will just be stuck on the screen right? Im new at this but you would think these POND waterfall pumps should be able to handle a little debris right?

 

[shelbybmc]

If you're using a bigger submerged pump it will pass most waste through no problem, you just need to stop it somewhere from cycling back into the tank. You're still going to need open space if you want a waterfall effect so all the above still applies.

Yeah thats what I was kind of figuring. If I get say a 2100GPH pump its only gonna be pulling about a 4 ft height max that should be enough for a 180 or a 240 gallon. What Im using for a filter is going to be a WIDE stackable thing you see at walmart top shelf is stuffed with pillow stuffing and the other 2 drawers are plasic pot scrubbies. then two holes cut in the bottom of another toat that it will be sitting in to drain right back down in the tank. Maybe for the heck of it I add some filter socks on those as well.

 

[dragonfish]

That's doable, just need to hide it. When I did my pond I built my filter out of a rubbermaid trash can. Worked perfectly.

 

[shelbybmc]

That's doable, just need to hide it. When I did my pond I built my filter out of a rubbermaid trash can. Worked perfectly.

Hmmmm lol I like the stackable though for easy maintence also its gonna stand up in a toat where the outputs will be as well as a heater and some pothos! I can very well use some indoor plants in front of the stackable for eye pleasure. Gonna paint it black any way so might be alright.

 

[shelbybmc]

 

[Owens]

I wouldnt see why it wouldnt work, but I dont understand the benifits of this over a traditional DIY sump system that would be easier to hide and nicer to look at.