Boom

Looks good so far. Are the Garf plans tried and tested? I do custom woodworking and I'm not sure I like some of the methods so far... especially putting 3" screws into the edge of plywood. Is this gonna sit on it's own or against a wall?

Thanks Jason. The bits you got from Princess Auto, what size are they?

Thanks 2manytanks. I will be definitely getting all my plumbing before drilling. If I go with a 1 1/2" bulkhead, what size of return should I go with? Would 1" suffice?

Like I said... as long as you like it....

Holy crap dude! Where are the fish gonna go? There's no room in there. It might be a 120 gallon, but with it that full of rocks, you probably only have about 50 gallons of water in there! Not real nice rocks either. Sorry. Don't like it at all. But if you do, that's all that matters!

Jason, do you have 2 pumps or just one and the output is split? Also, the I have to log on to the canreef website just to view the posts. Don't really want to sign up there. Can you send me any info on the herbie system?

Thanks guys. It really seems like the way to go for substrate. Any more pics? grandpoobah, in your Salousi tank the sand seems very orange / redish. Is that just the lighting?, the pic? Does PFS come in different colors? The place I called said they just carry the one "natural" sand.

But I'll be using a durso standpipe, won't that prevent the tank from draining if the pump is shut off? Cause it'll only drain down to the level of the bend at the top of the durso, right?

Hey all, I thought I would post this here even though my application is a freshwater setup, but you guys are definitely the go to guys when it comes to this stuff. So your help would be appreciated. I hope my questions make sense and that I have the correct vocabulary talking about this stuff. It's all new to me and what I do know so far I've learned in the past 2 days. I'll be setting up a 180 gallon (72"x24"x24") tank. It isn't drilled yet, but I made sure the bottom isn't tempered. I want to set up a sump system for the filtration. What I know so far is that I need to drill 2 holes in the bottom of the tank. This will be done at the back middle (due to how my stand and under cabinet setup) and an overflow needs to be built around this. Bulkheads need to go through the 2 holes, one of which is for the drain from the tank into the sump, the other is the return line from the sump back to the tank. I intend to use a Durso standpipe, so that will be attached to the one bulkhead. The actual sump will likely be a homemade acrylic tank (about 30 gallons) with acrylic baffles offset so the water flows under one, over the next, under the next and to the "pump chamber" where the pump will return the now filtered water back to the tank. The return line will be 1" flex tubing (to reduce elbows and limiting factors as such.) Now my questions: 1. What size bulkheads should I be using? My goal is for about 1000 to 1500 gph filtering thru the sump. What size pipes and return line, will 1" be good for the return (flex tubing)? 2. Does the rating of the return pump have to match the flow capacity of the bulkhead? i.e. If I buy a pump capable of 3000 gph to pump the water out of the sump and back into the tank, and the bulkhead is 1" which can only do 600 gph (I'm told), will I be emptying the sump and overflowing the tank before the drain can keep up? Or will the flow (gph) of the pump be limited by the size of the flex tubing used in the return line anyway (1" tubing)? 3. I don't like the idea of only filtering the water at the top of the tank. With a normal overflow, that seems to be the case as the only water going over the ovrflow is the top water. Is there any reason I can't make the overflow out of acrylic and drill holes or cut slots in it near the bottom of the tank (say 2" off the substrate)? This seems to me like it would then also pull water from near the bottom off the tank, and more effectively collect fish poo that settles on the bottom? Is this possible? Will it work the way I theorize? Acrylic can be siliconed to glass right? 4. I would like to have 2 outputs into the tank (returning from the sump) each with a spraybar on it. I intend on a single line from the pump and once it hits the top of the overflow box, a y connector will split it into 2 where a spraybar will be attached to each line. I would like the spray bars pointed from the middle of the tank and down and to the outsides of the tank. This will give me flow in a circular motion from the middle top of the tank, out towards both sides, down and around, hopefully pushing debris (poo) towards the bottom of the overflow box (where I've drilled holes or slots). Does this sound o.k? Will 1 pump (3000gph) give me enough flow coming out of each spraybar? 5. How crucial is it for me to have a larger sump. I'm fairly restricted as it has to be less than 36" long (probably closer to 32")? 6. What am I missing, forgetting, not understanding? Thanks. Ryan

O.k. I think I've figured it out. Obviously I was missing the fact that, the same as the flow out of the tank and into the sump is limited by the size of the bulkhead, the flow out of the sump back into the tank would be limited to the size of the return tubing. Right? So even though the pump CAN do 3000 gph, it won't because it's limited by the size of the return tubing. (in my case it will likely be 1") So then is there any point to going with a larger bulkhead / drain pipe? If it isn't clear, I'm new to the whole overflow, sump, durso standpipe thing. So any / all help is appreciated.

I called Aqua Pool and Spa Ltd today and they ordered some in for me. Said it would be here next week and they would call me. 9803 63 ave. 780-448-3878 I need to call 'em again tomorrow and add another bag. Don't think 2 will be enough.

I would like to use pool filter sand for my 180 gallon african tank. Anybody have pics in their tank? Any problems with it? I can get a 50 lb bag for $14. Good deal I thought.

Thanks. I will check that site out. Any idea about my question on the pump? It seems to me that if my pump does 3000 gph and the bulkhead were only 1" (inside diameter) which can only handle 600 gph flow thru, then my pump would pump the sump dry and overflow the tank before the standpipe (bulkhead) could keep up. Right? So do I not need to try to match the flow rate leaving my tank (i.e. size of the bulkhead) with the pump pulling it out of the sump and back into the tank??? Or am I mis-understanding this?

I intend to drill two holes and have a durso standpipe. One whole sized for a 1 1/2" bulkhead and 2" piping for the durso. The second hole will be for the return. Any idea how to figure out what size pump I would need to power the return? I was looking at a 3000 gph pump. Is that too much? Jason, do you have any diagrams of how the Herbie system works?

Thanks. It will be my new 150 or 180 gallon tank. I will make sure it's not tempered. I want to drill it to have the overflow in the center back of the tank. Do many people use a Durso standpipe in their overflow? I was thinking that's the way to go???

As the new title states. It now worked for me too, thanks Nick.

Still can't figure out how to change it. Nick i could send you the post, but the point is I want to know (and seems others do to) if I can change it myself.

Wow. That looks really easy to do myself. I wold assume any warranty is out the window if you drill the tank yourself? I'll be getting either a 150 or 180 gallon and may drill it myself then. Anybody else drill their own tank, at the bottom?

drilling and adding overflows. How hard is it to do? Who in edmonton will do it? and is it risky to ruin the tank? I'll be getting a 150 or 180 gallon tank and I want to have a sump. If the tank I get isn't already drilled from factory, it will need to be done. Just wanna know the risks and where to get it done.?

Ya that doesn't help at all. Need a little more info. I go to full edit, then what, still can't seem to change the title.???

Maybe I'm missing something, but how do I change the title of a post?? In the edit mode I can only seem to change the content. Thanks Boom

pimpdocta, do you have plans for the sump you built?

Looks like it will be a 150, don't have a tank yet tho. Still looking for one. To use a sump does the tank HAVE to be drilled and have overflows? What other options do I have for enough DIY filtration, Can I build my own large cannister filter?

It'll not be salt water FOR SURE. 1/3 the tank size??? That's nuts.

I hope your being sarcastic about a larger sump??? Actuallty I estimated wrong and it's about 36 gallons. 44"x12"x16". My dad had planned to use that for his 485 gallon, wouldn't it be enough for a 150 or 180?