What turnover rate?

[lungfishlover]

okay guys helps me a lot. i thought about using the fx5's but i opted for a sump instead - picked up a very cheap 5ft tank so am building the sump myself. i figure fx5 x 3 = 18litre capacity vs 365litres for sump. surely that has gotta be better? not to mentio 3 Fx% = £450 vs sump £100 plus cost of pump!!!! if the 5x turnover rate isnt working that well, can i add a second pump? would i have to have the tank drilled again? i mean 2 holes each for in/out?
Sorry if this isnt the right forum but i asked in the setup/filtration forum with minimal responses so i figured i'd ask the ray keepers themselves!
i havent ordered the tank yet because i wanted to find the right pump size and from that be able to have the tank drilled the correct size for the pump.

once again thanks for your help!

 

[DB junkie]

How turbulent the tank ends up being depends on your return methods. I have almost 5K gph on a 300 and it's fairly calm (tank intended for rays) I have a 150 thats at like 3.6K and it's fairly turbulent (intended for Payara).... Use spray bars for calmer conditions, and jets if you want it "windy"

Turnover I'm starting to think is irrelevant..... I think the quality of filtration may have more to do with it.

I used to think 20X was a great idea. Till I got the electricity bill. I think there's more efficient ways then rediculous amounts of flow. Lower turnover for the filtration and maybe some Korilias could provide similar results as rediculous flow, but for a fraction of the $....

One thing you quickly learn with large flow rates is without proper means of mechanical filtration you can quickly end up in a world of poo, like your bio filtration.

I know after 3 years of trial and error my next filtration overhaul is going to involve some very different ideas then what I've been using..... Electricity is only going to get more and more expensive. Just something to keep in mind when you design your system.

 

[joey02]

Turn over rate, when it comes to a sump, depends on the sumps design. Too fast and there is not enough contact time with the media... too slow, and its not converting the ammonia in the main tank fast enough.

For a sump with a trickle tower, i like to shoot for 4-6X's an hour to allow for good contact time.... i then add a pair of canisters for better mechanical, which generally bumps the overall turnover to 8-10Xs an hour.

 

[Just Toby]

I am not a great turnover believer, mine is around 4X - 5X per hour.

I use a Koralia 4 on a timer to create different flow patterns which helps mop up the pooh.

My biggest problem is Nitrate which proves the filtration is adequate, as long as Ammonia is quickly turned in to the Nitrate end result then turnover is not a problem. I did try a 6500 lph pump but it was very noisey and caused flow issues in the sump.

I do not think Rays live in very fast running water most of the time.

My advice is to use loads of mechanical filtration as they produce more waste than any other fish I have kept.