Weeeee! My tank finally arrives!

[FlyingChicken]

My very first 4ft tank from DavidSWS finally arrived! Hehe...man, I'am overjoyed. This will be my new "toy" for the next couple of months! My current dilemma is the bio media setup of my sump filter. I dunno what to place in there and in what sequence. Any ideas?


This is the view of my entire setup. A 4x2x2ft main tank with black sillicon and overflow partition with black oyama paper pasted on the back and bottom of tank complete with a 3x1.5x1.5ft sump tank at the bottom tier.


The full view of the sump filter. I've not decided what bio media to place in it yet. I intend to grow hornwort at the middle compartment to absorb the waste material but dunno about its feasibility because of the low light level.


This is the top of the overflow compartment. One disappointing thing I notice is that the overflow is not levelled with the water level. I begin to notice this when the water is about to overflow. The side closer to the back of the tank is slightly higher then the front. Therefore, water tends to flow in more towards the front. As a result, it was not so evenly spread out.


These are all the bioballs I placed in the overflow compartment. There are only 300 of them in there.


The bottom of the overflow. At this area, there are water gurgling noises heard when the water is rushing into the pipe. It can be pretty loud at times. How do I fix that?


The water connecting the sump and main tank. My main concern here is leaking. I wonder if it is solid enough because when I feel the sillicon, it is soft and filmsy. However, after 2 days of operation, it has not leaked though. Whew!


The side of my sump filter. Nothing much in there though, Just a couple of wool and bioballs in there.

[FlyingChicken]

Continue from my previous post...


My Jebao 5000 pump in action! Whoa! To be honest, this is my first experience using a fountain pump to circulate my tank water. Previously, the most powerful pump that I own is just a powerhead that circulate 800L/hr for my miserable 2ft tank. Now, what I'am looking at is a beast that pumps out 3000L/hr and it is operating more quietly than my 800L/hr powerhead. Truly, I'am impressed!



View of the water outlet from the sump back to main tank. The strength of Jebao 5000 is pretty strong. Though it's not too clear in the pictures, the strength of the water can be liken to that of a small water jet!(At least that's what I feel...)


The box of Jebao 5000!


The anti-chlorine I just bought with the price tag still on!

[BFG]

What do you intend to keep for that tank? I will look for a solution for the return pipe noise.

[FlyingChicken]

What do you intend to keep for that tank? I will look for a solution for the return pipe noise.

I'am keeping 20 not-so-big goldfish in there...the tank now is undergoing salt sterilising. Going to flush out the water on monday night...

[BFG]

http://home.nc.rr.com/stockmanreef/interest.htm

Hope this helps!

[FlyingChicken]

http://home.nc.rr.com/stockmanreef/interest.htm

Hope this helps!

Wah! So chim! Got a easier way out?

[catus36]

The easier way out is to find someone in the marine forum or
marine LFS to DIY one.

Cheers.

[aquarius]

Waaaahhh..... The pics of your tank make me wanna get one also!! Cos it has always been a dream of mine to have a 4 or 5ft sump tank.
For the second compartment of your sump, you can add some coral chips to buffer the water and one bag of 2-3mm size sand so that itll further "filter" off any tiny particles/waste b4 it is pumped back to the tank. Put the sand below the white plastic "seperator" cos the glass holding the seperator may not be able to take the weight of the sand if you use alot.
You can put the hornwort at the third compartment though there is danger that the pump might suck the hornwort down and jam up the pump.

[FlyingChicken]

Waaaahhh..... The pics of your tank make me wanna get one also!! Cos it has always been a dream of mine to have a 4 or 5ft sump tank.
For the second compartment of your sump, you can add some coral chips to buffer the water and one bag of 2-3mm size sand so that itll further "filter" off any tiny particles/waste b4 it is pumped back to the tank. Put the sand below the white plastic "seperator" cos the glass holding the seperator may not be able to take the weight of the sand if you use alot.
You can put the hornwort at the third compartment though there is danger that the pump might suck the hornwort down and jam up the pump.

eh? It's actually just a 3ft sump, not a 4ft one. What exactly are coral chips? How are they look like? I only know of ceramic rings and activated carbon.

[BFG]

FlyingChicken would the pump be too strong for the goldfish? Just checking as I have never kept a goldfish before.

[FlyingChicken]

FlyingChicken would the pump be too strong for the goldfish? Just checking as I have never kept a goldfish before.

I thought the current would be too strong from the looks of it but my goldies seems to enjoy it. I saw them gathering at the outlet and trying to swim up against the current! An interesting sight...

[aquarius]

eh? It's actually just a 3ft sump, not a 4ft one. What exactly are coral chips? How are they look like? I only know of ceramic rings and activated carbon.

Coral chips are "crashed" corals, it's white in colour and they come in different sizes. Do check with lfs owners when in doubt when you're there. Don't waste money on activated carbon cos when you change water you'll use anti-chlorine which is sufficient to get rid of whatever contaminents that's in the water.

[stormhawk]

Here's a pic of what coral chips are.



Image from www.wetwebmedia.com

It's basically made up of crushed (not crashed) coral bits. Occasionally dredged from areas close to coral reefs. In short its mostly calcium carbonate ? in "scientific" terms. It buffers your water from getting too acidic.. but too much coral chips isn't a good thing either. You'll need only one bag for such a tank.

Place some fine filter foam or wool at the inflow side of the sump. Second stage bioballs, then some ceramic rings or lava rock. I use Eheim Ehfilav in my canisters and would gladly use it in a sump tank if I had one. Cheap and efficient in terms of biomechanical filtration.

Activated carbon is not a waste of money if you know how and when to use it. It should give off a crackling sound when in contact with water. If it doesn't then its not what it supposed to be. Use it to remove medications from the water, or when you need to remove impurities.

I do not use anti-chlorine because some of the ingredients are not really useful. I won't make any claims but that's my personal preference. Do what you feel is correct.

I would agree with BFG's thoughts that the filter might be too strong. For now your goldfish might love the current but it can easily tire them. Goldfish aren't the strongest of swimmers IMHO but if they're okay for now then I suppose the pump's more than adequate. Look out for any signs of stress in the fish though. If any show signs of problems then its best to change the pump to a lower-rated model or spread out the flow of the water by means of a rainbar or a drip plate (plastic tray with some small holes on the bottom).

[izzat]

Hi,

What is the piping being used by David? Was it normal pipings or GF pipings?

[coryfav]

Congrats on your new toy! This setup really looks like fun!

Was it normal pipings or GF pipings?

Goldfish pipings?

[BFG]

I don't think it's GF piping.

[izzat]

Fav

GF Pipings = Georg Fischer Pipings

*OT: BFG, do you know where can I get GF pipings?

[BFG]

You need to head over to SGREEFCLUB forum and read through the member tank section. A few of them uses GF piping section.

[coryfav]

Thanks, Izzat. This's really something interesting that I've to read up on.

FlyingChicken, do keep us posted on the progress of your setup.

[BFG]

Congrats on your new toy! This setup really looks like fun!


Goldfish pipings?

Eh, I miss this.

Fav, this GF piping are high end pvc plumbing. The valves and connector are made smoother to use than ordinary normal ones and the price are of course not as normal too.

Ace, if you find anyone bringing in these GF piping, pls tell me ah. Need to get some for my new tank. Too many thread to read up. Got a headache already.