Diy Trickle Filter (+ New Set Up Advise)

[Boomsling]

Hello!

Ive finally decided to make the switch from Malawi cichlids to a reef tank.

Ive got a spare 4ft tank too which I intend to knock-up into a trickle filter, I want you guys to look at its basic layout and advise me of problems etc with the design.

I could realy do with knowing the proportions that I seperate the sump into, what designs have worked for you, more importantly what didn't!

e.g

20% Bio Balls
15% Skimmer section
20 % Secondary Filteration & Buble trap
35% Eco system (miracle mud)
10 % Pump house

This is only my first draft of the design (be gentle) , I'll knock up more detailed drawing in CAD once the basics has been scratched out.

Also what kind of flow rate (gallons per hour) would I need for a 50gal tank (both the sump and the display tank are 48 x 15 x 18inches)

I also have a couple of FluVal 4 ( the older type without clogging indicator) can these be used in a marine/reef tank?

Any advise from you old-hands would be gratefully recieved.


Thanks in advance!

Regards



Boomer

 

[crazyelece]

First I would ditch the bio balls for live rock rubble. Bio balls work and work well, but in a reef setup the rubble will give much better end results. Other than that it looks good. You may want to add the bubble trap at the end, just before the return pump section. Bubbles don't hurt anything except visual appearance so you just want to keep them out of the display. Also plan to add a light above the refugium section. It is best to plan what type of lighting you are going to do now so that you can add supports if they are needed. Basic setup looks pretty good and you will want about 600gph flow through the sump.

 

[Boomsling]

Thanks for the info.

Ive recently purchased a FluVal 204 external Filter and a SeaClone 100 Skimmer, Im hoping that the skimmer is man enough for the job (50Gal Tank + 25 ish in sump) and that I can rig the FluVal in line with the sump somehow.

Ive checked on the manufacturers web page and it says it only shifts 149 Gal or 690 Ltrs per hour. Will it be ok or do I definetly need something larger? (600 gals per hour seems a massive flow rate as it would empty my tank and sump 8 times in a hour)

I also got a couple of power heads and FLuVal 4 internal filters to help with water movement within the tank.

Im hoping that I wont need the fluVal 4's as it all adds to the maintenance.

Suggestions?

 

[crazyelece]

Don't use a fluval inline with the sump, its not a good recipe. Many have had problems with this. I use a floval on my system in and of itself to use chemical filtration like phosban and carbon it seems to work well. It is also a backup to the sump if my overflow fails for any reason. As far as the 600 gph goes, you want this much flow so that the overflow will flow enough to not let anything like airbubbles and algea build up in the drain. For every 1" drain line you need 600gph to support it.

 

[Boomsling]

Thanks for the advice about the live rock.

I've book marked this page so I will post up pic of the build in the near future.

Wish me luck!