Trickle Filter / Sump project

[mandalawi]

 I know you haven't done anything else to this but i'm curious, what size tank are you doing this for? What are you thinking of using for an overflow? I'm doing a somewhat similar project but i'm stuck at what to do for the overflow. As i'm concerned about making it move enough water to be practical on my 180g. Also it seems everything i've read say that while they are good for bio filtering they are lacking on mechanical. Just can't seem to wrap my head around this as with the addition of floss i would think the mechanical aspect would be pretty well handled.

[Ron]

Also it seems everything i've read say that while they are good for bio filtering they are lacking on mechanical. Just can't seem to wrap my head around this as with the addition of floss i would think the mechanical aspect would be pretty well handled.

FWIW, the mechanical limit is due to flow rate rather than the amount or type of media held. 

That's not to say that you can't setup a system with a 10x flowrate, but typically HOB flow rates > canister flow rates > sump/wetDry flow rates.

[JeffroM]

I know you haven't done anything else to this but i'm curious, what size tank are you doing this for? What are you thinking of using for an overflow? I'm doing a somewhat similar project but i'm stuck at what to do for the overflow. As i'm concerned about making it move enough water to be practical on my 180g. Also it seems everything i've read say that while they are good for bio filtering they are lacking on mechanical. Just can't seem to wrap my head around this as with the addition of floss i would think the mechanical aspect would be pretty well handled.

I was planning on using it on a 120 but 2 bucket filters would be more than enough for a 180 as well - IMO.  Overflows are built in my tank already, but if you don't have any buy some rather than trying to build them.

[mandalawi]

Thanks Ron, i was looking at the Mechanical aspect from a completely different meaning. Now it makes sense. And thanks JeffroM, I was already thinking i was going to have to go that route and buy the overflows. I've looked at the DYI ones and nothing really impressed me as far as asthetic looks.
 Also, this brings me to the next question, and again, i'm not trying to hijack a thread but if you were going to do this i figured you had addressed this already. How do you choose the overflow based on gph?

[JeffroM]

I would want a flow rate of MINIMUM 5 times the size of the tank.  So if you have a 180 tank you need an overflow(s) designed for a MINIMUM of 900 gph.  But I would get it the overflows rated to up to 1800 gph and then get a pump rated for 1500 gph at a head height of the height between sump and where it comes into the tank.

Hope this helps.

[mandalawi]

It does make sense. But are you suggesting (being that i think it would be best to go with Dual over flows, one at each end of the tank) that they be 1800gph each? or two 900 gph overflows to total the 1800gph that we are seeking?

[54zamboni]

i  believe a 1" overflow is rated at about 600 gph.    i have a 1" overflow on one 180g with a quiet one pump, rated at approx. 700 gph, and along with a big aqua clear  hob it kept my water great in a heavily stocked tank (petro's and tropheus).  my other 180g i'm running two 1" overflows into one sump, with a magpump rated at around 1200 gph.  using lots of pot scrubbers as media in both tanks, and  i can't imagine that higher flow would add anything other than more  current.  wet/dry filters are very efficient.   

[Ron]

FWIW, you should always have overflows rated comfortably higher than the pump can possibly deliver. No sense in trying to nearly match them and then have a dead floater/up-rooted plant/etc partially block the overflow and let the pump fill the tank up and then some until it finds the floor!

[four_by_ken]

Going to use this for the 500 gallon?

[Regalblue]

Going to use this for the 500 gallon?

This was originally planned for his 120gal