Currently I have two main planted tanks - 55 and 33 gallons. I've been thinking for a while of getting a considerably bigger tank since both of mine are quite narrow and they don't allow for much of planting...
I just ended up ordering a 215 gallon tank(72"Lx24"Wx30"H). I'm considering using a sump and putting most of the equipment in the basement below the main tank. The project is still in a planning stage and I'm looking for any input, comments, suggestions about the general design, etc.
My first question is about plumbing, and sump design. I think the tank will have two overflows in the corners. I would use two durso standpipes for overflows to lead water down in the sump. There I would place the filter material, biofilter media, heater, etc. I want to also make it a bit disaster-proof and embed some overflow-protection in both the tank and the sump. I will install the overflow pipes above the normal water level leading directly into the house drain. The drain in the sump will also help me create automatic water change system. A constant (or timed) drip system will add fresh water to the system and excess will drain out automatically.
Here is the general description of the design:
Water from the overflows will go to the sump through the standpipes (2). There it will pass through a series of baffles through the mechanical filter (7), then biofilter ( 8 ). Eventually picked up by the pump returning to the tank through the return pipes (1). Additionally a second (smaller) pump will create a small water loop (4) through a CO2 reactor and return the water back to the sump (a few partitions down the stream). The reason for this is that the main pump will have a much larger flow rate that can be handled by the CO2 reactor I have (which is Aquamedic Reactor 1000). It has just 1/2" hose connector which is not enough for the main loop. I think putting it in the middle of the sump will allow some water to pass through the reactor, while the rest going straight bypassing it. The flow rate will be maintained while the CO2 reactor will still be utilized by 100%.
The sump will have two outlets leading to the drain. One on top to control the water level and drain off excess water supplied by the drip system (5), thus performing continuous water change. The second will be in the bottom of the sump somewhere close to the mechanical filter. This should help in cleaning the system. When removing and washing the filter media, there will be a lot of gunk left in the sump which can be drained by that outlet. Obviously the valve controlling that pipe will be closed in normal operation.
So, what do you think about this set-up? Will it work? Any major issues? Any comments/suggestions?
What kind of a flow rate do you think should be maintained for the tank of this size? The thing is the main pump head will be approx 9'-10'. I was thinking of buying the Sequence ReeFlo Dart pump but at 10' head it can pump out only 1520 GPH. Is this enough?
I just ended up ordering a 215 gallon tank(72"Lx24"Wx30"H). I'm considering using a sump and putting most of the equipment in the basement below the main tank. The project is still in a planning stage and I'm looking for any input, comments, suggestions about the general design, etc.
My first question is about plumbing, and sump design. I think the tank will have two overflows in the corners. I would use two durso standpipes for overflows to lead water down in the sump. There I would place the filter material, biofilter media, heater, etc. I want to also make it a bit disaster-proof and embed some overflow-protection in both the tank and the sump. I will install the overflow pipes above the normal water level leading directly into the house drain. The drain in the sump will also help me create automatic water change system. A constant (or timed) drip system will add fresh water to the system and excess will drain out automatically.
Here is the general description of the design:
Water from the overflows will go to the sump through the standpipes (2). There it will pass through a series of baffles through the mechanical filter (7), then biofilter ( 8 ). Eventually picked up by the pump returning to the tank through the return pipes (1). Additionally a second (smaller) pump will create a small water loop (4) through a CO2 reactor and return the water back to the sump (a few partitions down the stream). The reason for this is that the main pump will have a much larger flow rate that can be handled by the CO2 reactor I have (which is Aquamedic Reactor 1000). It has just 1/2" hose connector which is not enough for the main loop. I think putting it in the middle of the sump will allow some water to pass through the reactor, while the rest going straight bypassing it. The flow rate will be maintained while the CO2 reactor will still be utilized by 100%.
The sump will have two outlets leading to the drain. One on top to control the water level and drain off excess water supplied by the drip system (5), thus performing continuous water change. The second will be in the bottom of the sump somewhere close to the mechanical filter. This should help in cleaning the system. When removing and washing the filter media, there will be a lot of gunk left in the sump which can be drained by that outlet. Obviously the valve controlling that pipe will be closed in normal operation.
So, what do you think about this set-up? Will it work? Any major issues? Any comments/suggestions?
What kind of a flow rate do you think should be maintained for the tank of this size? The thing is the main pump head will be approx 9'-10'. I was thinking of buying the Sequence ReeFlo Dart pump but at 10' head it can pump out only 1520 GPH. Is this enough?
