Need some opinions....filtration stuff

D

danorth

In Memoriam
So I have a 135 in my house with a bunch of cheap filtration. The fish do great though but I want to get rid of the nutrients and other junk to get a cleaner tank and perhaps that crazy purple stuff on the rocks (yes I know it is coralline). Tank has been going for almost 3 years. Some sand, about 120 lbs of rock. Lots of fish.


Here is the rub. The stand is not the best, it is very standard 24" tall, with 4 small 11" wide doors that open up. I have to either work with the existing stand, or build a new stand, move the fish out.......you can figure it out...and put the tank back onto the new stand. Not an easy task.

I can cut out the side of the stand since it isn't a load bearing side panel and slide in a 13" wide and about 16" tall tank of about 48" long but there aren't any really good skimmers out there that about 20" tall since that is the real heigth inside plus tank/sump.

So any suggestions? I want a cleaner tank, less algae and a way to skim better and have a fuge underneath.

Any pros that would like to take a look and assist for $$$?

Here is an old shot when it was cleaner looking, not all the same fish inside.

tank2.jpg
 
I have been thinking about that, I have seen in one picture which I can't find now where a person had the fuge in a tank next to the display at a bit lower heigth and the sump below it for the skimmer. I would love to do that so that the ugly is hidden, and the cool chaeto and LR/Sand is able to be seen. That may be the route I go, it is just that the tank is literally 2 feet from our kitchen table and having it look nice and not smelly/loud is a must.

I just don't know how to set something like that up. I guess the water would overflow into the lower sump from the display, then have a pump sent it up from the skimmer to the fuge above, then overflow back down below where it gets pumped back to the display. Would that sound about right?
 
That looks like a nice skimmer, and yes it is expensive. I wonder if it has the same 0 clearance needed to remove the collection cup like a euro reef? I can't tell if there is a drain tube, or is the little tube for the air. Something to search on.....thanks for the suggestion.
 
my vote goes to a new stand. I live in Rocklin and would be happy to help in any way I can. At the same time you can drill the tank if it has not yet been done.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10958307#post10958307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danorth
I have been thinking about that, I have seen in one picture which I can't find now where a person had the fuge in a tank next to the display at a bit lower heigth and the sump below it for the skimmer. I would love to do that so that the ugly is hidden, and the cool chaeto and LR/Sand is able to be seen. That may be the route I go, it is just that the tank is literally 2 feet from our kitchen table and having it look nice and not smelly/loud is a must.

I just don't know how to set something like that up. I guess the water would overflow into the lower sump from the display, then have a pump sent it up from the skimmer to the fuge above, then overflow back down below where it gets pumped back to the display. Would that sound about right?
Click to expand...

You would have to get and overflow attach on their and that will allow water to drain into your sump next to your tank and then have the appropriate size pump to pump it back to the tank using pvc pipe. Something along the lines of mag 12 should work. With the skimmer being outside the stand you could get a bad smell and with the pumps down there could be loud.

Having two seprate tanks could be a disaster waiting to happen with trying to find the right amount flow with out one of the tanks flooding. Maybe with someone with experience with this kind of setup could chime in, but i would just do one whole separate tank setup with skimmer section/return section and fuge section.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10958337#post10958337 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bored4long
my vote goes to a new stand. I live in Rocklin and would be happy to help in any way I can. At the same time you can drill the tank if it has not yet been done.
Click to expand...

The tank isn't drilled, and would be afraid to since I know nothing about that, or how to do it other than the fact that the bits are like $80 if I remember right. I am not closing out any option at this point though either. If you're in Roseville someday give a call, I'm Dan @ 774-1425, and that goes for anyone else for that matter.


yoboyjdizz, I know what you're saying, and that whole flow thing is what kept me from doing this before, but did finally get it right for my garage tank (but that one is coming down).

I will really have to think about how to set up the side x side, but I think it would be sweet. The skimmer would be in a closed door stand that could be insulated as well. As is, the tank is pretty loud with the 2 skimmers going and the 2 emp 400s going.
 
Yeah, I saw that link when it was mentioned to another person and I looked at their pictures of it in action and those pictures didn't show it pulling out mud like I'd like for the price. Does anyone on here have one I wonder with better results than those pictures? I know I can't judge it alone on those pics, but I don't want to gamble either. My buddy has the ASM G-3 and it pulls out junk with ease, and lots of it. That is what I need in regards to ability.

Here is a pic of what I was thinking with the side x side tanks and would like an opinion regarding the flooding concern. I figure if the return is not sending more flow than can be returned by either tank, there shouldn't be a concern of too much water in movement, it just needs to pass the power cutoff test for flooding I would think.

Again, opinions please:

setup-1.jpg
 
yeah, I would put a sump under the stand like you suggested. sounds like a 55 gallon tank would fit great. you can get a used one cheap like i did and measure and go to lowes and have baffles cut and silicone them in.

I made a section for fuge/return/ skimmer

Picture001-2.jpg



Get a good reliable hook on back overflow. I would only use lifereef, you will not have aflood with this overflow.

I would get a Oceanrunner 3500 return pump as well

super quiet, runs very cool and uses little energy and the price is great!
 
Just some ideas

Just some ideas

http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa207/johnpebley/Fishy things/?start=100
Take alook at some of the pics for ideas, everybody does it a little different depending on their needs, I built the stand on a weekend for 100 bucks and the sump is a 55gl , the plates in the sump cost 12 to have em cut at glass shop. I started with the sump and tank then built the stand to work for both. Nothing fancy but it works, Hope it helps, I've done all this on a very tight budget.
 
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