Yet another noob Thread on fish tank setup.

[Crans]

Micro bio...

Running a fresh 30 gal using can filter for simple goldfish.

Ok so would love to get all the parts for next sunday's wet run currently filled to test for leeks untill next sunday.

Want to get set up with a sure fire working system that will keep healthy catfish along with some type of Cichlids.

Tank

75 gal with center overflow and 2 returns with flare nozel used for salt by prior owner now going fresh.

For top light would love to use LED so the wife wont see a huge spike in power bills. Would like to have live plants but not sure what LED will support. ( Also plan on cutting my 24/7 1200W server to 4hrs or less and run all the basic's on 350W system)

Will be using sand mabe black dimond as substrate.

Planed setup diagram as i want to see what im doing Vs going blind and buying any thing.

 

[Crans]

The Guts..

Over flow to Can filter

Can Filter feeding startup refugium.

Flow deflection to center housing , Grave, Heater, Air stone.

Over flow to 2 sub pumps 200 GPH each. feeding returns with inline gate valve.

Plants and small T-5 some time in the future

Fell free to correct any of my thoughts and what lay out might work better .

 

[ruddybop]

This is just my opinion hopefully you will get a few more....

Canister filters are not designed the way you want it to work. They are a closed loop system.
Pumping water into your sump from the canister and having two pumps pumping back to your tank will be hard to keep the flow even. (Again canisters aren't designed for this method.)

I would just hook the canister up normally how it was designed for an aquarium. ( I run one sump and two canisters for my 220G)

I see your running two return pumps at 200gph. One larger pump would work better. I assume your looking to save money on two cheaper smaller pumps or you have these pumps already, but in the long run ONE larger more expensive pump is the way to go and it's easier with one pump to even out the flow of water from the overflow to the sump and back to the tank.

If you know the center chamber overflow pipe size you can figure out how much water will return to your sump and determine what size pump you need for the return.

You also don't mention what filter or media for the water going into the sump, but you were hoping to filter the water through your canister. I tossed in a filter bag with some scrubbies in the first chamber, but you can use other media also.

I played around with your picture and came up with a different design...

You will get some more opinions as there are other options also.....

 

[Crans]

Well you sure did throw a wrench into my gears. And that was just what i need to insure im not wasting funds.

I don't like the look of the canfilter lines on our current one but it sure saves lives and time Vs the HOB.

For this build i wanted to keep it clean but after your input i did another look at how the can works and it will not do what i need it to.

Now moving into DIY wet/dry setup to feed my sump box.

Dual pumps was my thought as a back up if one failed i would still have semi flow and air. Im always over thing things.

 

[ruddybop]

Well you sure did throw a wrench into my gears. And that was just what i need to insure im not wasting funds.

I don't like the look of the canfilter lines on our current one but it sure saves lives and time Vs the HOB.

For this build i wanted to keep it clean but after your input i did another look at how the can works and it will not do what i need it to.

Now moving into DIY wet/dry setup to feed my sump box.

Dual pumps was my thought as a back up if one failed i would still have semi flow and air. Im always over thing things.

This is the reason I have two canister filters and a sump. If one fails the other will take over if I'm not home and then I fix the problem later.

I also have a spare pump. In a box in my cabinet in case pump fails. It's not as powerful as the one I use but it will work for an emergency until I get the new one.

When you clean one filter you have another one doing it's work for the tank so you don't have to hurry and worry about the fish because they have a backup filter.

I clean one filter and then maybe a week or two later do the other.

Having two filters can be to your advantage and yes the hoses aren't the neatest hanging on the back of your tank and the tubes in the tank, but I don't loose any sleep with an extra filter on board.

Not everyone runs two or more filter. It's all in what you want to do and can afford.

 

[Crans]

well im motivated not to have a can but was passing a hydro store today and thought i would go the diy rout and make a filter but now after some light work not sure if the rate of 8-12.5 GPM will over load it.

1. low density fiber mat filter/ distribute
2. 7" deep strainer filled with biobals
4. Wrap pot with med density fiber
5 hi fiber
6 sump flow

 

[ruddybop]

I didn't go crazy with my sump. I found a plexi glass ballot box and turned it upside down. Drilled some holes with a hole saw just smaller than the bio balls for the return out the bottom. I have a 2 inch pvc going in the side onto a drip tray in the back with filters on top so the water evenly flows over the bi balls. When the filter starts to clog it just overflows over the drip tray inside the ballot box and out the bottom. Some gravel in the bottom and some pothos plants. Ran a by pass to the pump so I can keep the bio balls wet with fish water when I have to change filters or clean it. Just turn two valves and the water circulates in the sump only. Plus a 1 1/4 return T ing to two spots in the tank. This is a 25G sump and the bio ball chamber is 1ft square. I don't know how high it is. Just giving you a visual idea on size and room.

 

[Crans]

Was going to go for a 10gal sump but now im looking around for 20-30B tank dont want to go over 14" so i can rely on gravity to feed it. Your setup is nice and neat, I will be trying to get most of my bio in a bucket or mabe 2 depending on the tank i can find and fit.

 

[Tyler2012]

Sounds good.


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