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Trelize

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Posts posted by Trelize

  1. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    Sump is complete ...

    Be kind please :bggrn:

    20130923_185952_zps043bc97a.jpg

    Plan is

    From Tank --> Into tower (larger top section to hold filter socks) --> (Smaller Middle section of Tower) Sintered glass and possibly a bit of Bio balls if there is room --> (Bottom Section of tower) Cutting sections out for flow its purpose is to raise tower off ground --> Baffle --> Poret Foam x 2 (Was thinking 30ppi and 20ppi ??) --> Baffle --> Heaters --> Return pump --> Tank

  2. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    Cool , so how does this sound then ,

    From tank --> Filter Socks --> Sintered Glass --> Overflow then through the Poret --> Heaters --> Return

    I have already bought the tower I am using stackable crates and I think I could reshuffle them making the larger section the top for the socks and the smaller 2 underneath for the Bio noodles ...

  3. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    As for the sump plans, they look pretty sound. My only concern would be what are you going to use for mechanical filtration? I've had several sumps like that, and even when using AquaOne 'Micro Pads' (which catch most of the finer stuff but also clog really quickly) under filter wool I would get crud building up in the bottom of the sump. The trickle media is great, but IME not necessary for even fairly heavily stocked tanks, which is why I would prefer to opt for better mechanical media (ie filter socks) and just simple ceramic rings, sintered glass or Pond Matrix submerged for bio filtration.

    Without knowing your dimensions it's hard to tell, but I'd say the Poret foam isn't going to be necessary with that sump. My old heavily stocked 6' set up (green aro, dats, bichir, cichlids, TT eel) had a similar design with bio balls and ceramic noodles and the bio was more than adequate for that stock even with the large heavy feedings of meaty food (the mechanical on the other hand was somewhat lacking). I'll see if I can find the dimensions to see how much media was in there, but it wasn't a massive amount.

    Hey David , the dimension's planned for the sump are 900 x 500 x 400mm ,

    I am a little lost when it comes to Mechanical media ? Filter socks ? ... so before it goes through the Bio balls I should try get the majority of the gunk off ?

    That's if I even need the Bio balls ?

  4. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    So here is my sump plan , exercised my MS Paint skills a bit today !! wish I could use Google Sketchup ...

    Anyways, opinions would be appreciated ...

    Basics are from Tank --> Bio tower (Pre filter, Bio Balls, Sinteredglass or Bio Noodles) --> overflow -->

    --> Poret Foam (10ppi then 30ppi possibly ?) --> Bubble trap -- > Heaters --> Return Pump.

    Sump_zps72caed96.png

  6. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    The 'Maximum Flow' figure is with zero head. Based on this chart you'd be looking at about 5-5500LPH at 5' head, depending on the return plumbing of course. IMO that is sufficient for your tank size, and I'd say go with at least 32mm pipe for the return.

    Thanks David , that has put me at ease , I am going to cost it up now , do you know if I could order the 1.25" adapter from HFF too ?

  8. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    Is that the right figure for the PJ2000?

    I think you'd want to shoot for at least 4-5 times turn over after the head loss etc, maybe more if you're planning on heavily stocking it.

    Sorry , 7600LPH for the PJ 2000 .

    You think the PJ2000 then ? I am struggling to get my head around head loss etc.

  9. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    Started getting my equipment together in preparation of the tank arriving , got 3 x 200W Jager's over the weekend , found the 300's just so long ! also ordered a STC-1000 as my temperature controller , had a look at some return pumps...

    I got the Laguna PowerJet 11000, AFAIK they're the same pump as the MaxFlo series, but they come with all the waterfall crap for ponds. The MaxFlo wasn't available here but the PJ was, only downside was that I had to buy the adapter for the 40mm/1.5" return plumbing separately.

    Do you think I would be alright with a PowerJet 1500 @ 6000LPH or the PowerJet 2000 @ 2000LPH I estimate around 5 foot Head Loss on a 700 Litre system ? ?

  14. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    Been looking at return's , and could do with a bit of advice regarding this to please ...

    So 2 x 40mm "herbie" overflow going out , what size should I have as a return ? 25mm ? 32mm ? I love the look of the Loc-line but it seems too small ? anything similar available ?

  15. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    PH pens seem to go pretty cheap on TM maybe they are crap ... ? , but I think I am gonna take your advice David and get the a "master Freshwater Test Kit" will look at the API as suggested , thanks

    I must say I thought PH was the thing to keep an eye on , I should read a little more up on this , I am glad the tank is weeks away , giving me time to find out all that I need to

  18. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    If you're going with two drains then definitely try a Herbie-type set up. Make one lower than the other and have that one adjustable with a ball valve so you can set it to run as a full siphon, then the other will just take the remainder, It really is that easy!

    Yup , going with the Herbie as suggested , how noisy is it going into the sump and can I have the drain run straight Vertical into the sump or should it be at an angle ?

    Lighting , I am going to get a Current Freshwater + on my Dads Tropical system he is done with replacing tubes, he has an AR980 and I think the 36" Unit should go in there pretty well and please him to no end .

    I am waiting for my tank and cabinetry to be complete before I make a decision. reason being that I have received a quote for a custom build and I like it , its a little more but has 3W led system that will be a bit brighter also like to support local business ... :bggrn:

  19. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    TBH I'm not sure if 32mm is enough, always better to have more capacity than needed when it comes to overflow drains!

    ... so , thinking 2 x 40mm bulkheads, 1 main and 1 emergency , still undecided on the "herbie" system , to be honest it just seems too easy ? I am going to look further into it though , as I said I thought Durso was the way because of noise .

  20. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    Well your off to a great start, my advice would be weary of TM there is a lot of rubbish on there, it's not all rubbish but i found it better to try and by from breeders. There are some great breeders on this forumn or keepers who have a good idea of where to find good quality fish look forward to more updates.

    Thank you , I will try avoid TM , sound like trouble really , and it seems there are a few breeders on here that are willing to help anyways ...

    Not really, but if you look at the pics I posted you'll see how I've done exactly that with 4' and 3' units over my tank.

    viewtopic.php?f=4&t=63535&start=225

    I spent last night looking into these units and I really do like them , just hoping that 1 row will do as you suggested david , also if they had a timer they would be great !

    In looking around I found that Current is launching a "Ramp Timer Pro" that will give you more control over the units programming on and off , setting moonlight etc. so that would make it complete in my opinion ?

  25. My African Cichlid tank journal

    in Cichlids

    Posted

    Hey Ryanjury

    will then look at a Dems and electric yellow startup maybe like a 15 / 12 mix then see what else is around , hadn't really decided what peacocks as yet , been keeping an eye on TM to try get an idea of good breeders ...

    Will definitely be going with a larger group of Cuckoo's !

    David R

    I am going to look further into the drains , yesterday afternoon I did think that I might need to go for a 1.5" Durso to cope with the flow , I looked at some site and youtube clips about the Herbi last night it seems too easy ? just a straight pipe and ball valve with a back up ? Will look further into it today , I thought Durso was the way as it was a quite system ?

    Now , with the Laguna pumps and the Current lighting , do you order internationally yourself or is there a local distributor I don't know about ?

    T.

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