Upside down trickle?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Heres my thoughts I would NEVER have to worry about a flood this way also I only really have to purchase one big ole pump that I plan on hiding with a rock pile in the corner. I do think once the canopy is completed its gonna look pretty nice loaded with plants up there ya know. This is going in my man cave so some speakers hidden within the plants for some tunes. I just picture it in my head looking really nice. I have access to major walmart discounts and free PVC piping so basically I have to buy a tank and a pump & thats about it. Hell even my lighting is gonna be free. The more money I have for the tank is my goal here.
 
With the right size sump and properly placed overflow flooding is not an issue either. Trying to picture this, you're planning a filter with waterfall on top of a canopy. Won't that make the waterfall a little difficult to see?
 
You also need to consider the room taken up inside by a large pump and the suction power of it.
 
In Asian countries (Singapore, at least) the OHF (OverHead Filter) is very common, but not so much here for whatever reasons. Your plan looks solid, it should be very doable.
 
You also need to consider the room taken up inside by a large pump and the suction power of it.

I realize I wouldnt see much of it and after thinking more about it I still kinda like the idea of two streams of water falling straight down in the tank seeing it or not. The size of the pump though should be too much of an issue I mean 12" long for a 5000 gph pump. I mean how much bigger is that than some peoples overflow boxes? one in each corner even. Im only gonna have one corner taken up and cover the visible area with big rocks and leave the intake open. Power heads pointing right at it. IDK just trying something different thats all :) thanks for your input though!! Another thing I thought of was I go away on week trips sometimes even a bit longer so with evaporation I might risk loosing my siphon with a pump on bottom it can never be an issue ya know.
 
In Asian countries (Singapore, at least) the OHF (OverHead Filter) is very common, but not so much here for whatever reasons. Your plan looks solid, it should be very doable.

Good to know! I actually picture it looking really cool with some greenery up there.
 
I never worry about floods with my traditional sumps, but anyway...

It looks like a good system and there's no reason it won't work. You probably won't be able to get your heaters out of the main tank as you would with a traditional sump, but other than that it looks ok. I'd recommend something like a Laguna MaxFlo pump that is designed for "solids handling", as a lot of pond pumps are.
 
I have "dump" filters on my larger tanks. Basically they're a sump on top of the tank.

I use clear rubbermaid bins filled with bio materials (bioballs and Poret foam)...water is pumped to the bin via a pump in the tank (or a canister filter outflow)...and returns via holes in the bottom of the bin (i.e. gravity).

The dump filter is as attractive as the container in which it's housed. There are some nice looking window planters and containers available at Home Depot and other stores...

The main benefits of this approach are not having to drill the tank (or use an overflow), the max use of the pump (vs. losing several feet of "head" from the pump) and the flexibility of use...

Matt
 
I never worry about floods with my traditional sumps, but anyway...

It looks like a good system and there's no reason it won't work. You probably won't be able to get your heaters out of the main tank as you would with a traditional sump, but other than that it looks ok. I'd recommend something like a Laguna MaxFlo pump that is designed for "solids handling", as a lot of pond pumps are.

The heater thing might work if my Output hoses stick up a 6-7 inches ya know. IDK if not I really dont mind them in the tank. Also good call on that water pump it even looks nice TBH wont be an eye sore in the tank.
 
I have "dump" filters on my larger tanks. Basically they're a sump on top of the tank.

I use clear rubbermaid bins filled with bio materials (bioballs and Poret foam)...water is pumped to the bin via a pump in the tank (or a canister filter outflow)...and returns via holes in the bottom of the bin (i.e. gravity).

The dump filter is as attractive as the container in which it's housed. There are some nice looking window planters and containers available at Home Depot and other stores...

The main benefits of this approach are not having to drill the tank (or use an overflow), the max use of the pump (vs. losing several feet of "head" from the pump) and the flexibility of use...

Matt

Well said! You basically said everything that was going through my mind that I was having a hard time explaining lol.
 
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