Filtration Ideas for 55gal Cube Tank

nanotrey · 02-11-2005, 01:47 PM

I have just purchased a approx 55gal cube tank, it came with a penguin 280 bio-wheel filter. I was thinking about arranging based rock and live rock in the center of the tank and basically build a large pile that's about 2/3's of the tank high ( dims are 24"x24"x24&quot

but I want to maintain good flow thru the pile. Any ideas?
Undergravel, powerheads, Wet/Dry, ECT.......
I welcome any thoughts. It could be a beautiful Tank and I only want to set it up once.... the right way.

Thanks,
Trey

m_lacom99 · 02-11-2005, 01:57 PM

Just an idea here but a spray bar in the middle of your pile of rock. That would give good flow from inside the pile pushing out so nothing you dont want would stay in there.

Marc.

nanotrey · 02-11-2005, 02:17 PM

I was thinking of some kind of central support tube with holes drilled in it to give flow into the pile. but I was worried about too much flow....?

m_lacom99 · 02-11-2005, 02:34 PM

[quote author=nanotrey link=board=Filters;num=1108158463;start=0#2 date=02/11/05 at 17:17:45]I was thinking of some kind of central support tube with holes drilled in it to give flow into the pile[/quote]

Thats what a spray bar is

The flow depends on the pump you plug on it... i would say just a good powerhead rated for something around 250 gph should be enough.

Marc.

Matt Rogers · 02-12-2005, 01:30 AM

Is this what you want to do?
http://www.3reef.com/cgi-bin/yabb/Ya...num=1107507408

nanotrey · 02-12-2005, 02:22 PM

That looks real close. I'm interested in seeing if it can be done in a single pipe design with the pressure line coming up thru the middle and nozzle thru the sides of the overflow return. Keep the ideas coming, I'm in no hurry to screw something up. I want to have it fully design before I even buy equipment for it.

Thanks,
TRey

Matt Rogers · 02-12-2005, 02:26 PM

[quote author=nanotrey link=board=Filters;num=1108158463;start=0#5 date=02/12/05 at 17:22:25]That looks real close. I'm interested in seeing if it can be done in a single pipe design with the pressure line coming up thru the middle and nozzle thru the sides of the overflow return.
Thanks,
TRey[/quote]

Yeah that is pretty close to what he did.. except he had the returns coming through the sides of the pipe.. being paranoid about leaks, I would have come through the overflow with the returns like you are thinking.

nanotrey · 02-15-2005, 07:42 AM

What kind of connection or bulkhead fitting would you use for the overflow riser? I've seen some in AES' catalog but I'm not real sure which is best for the bottom of a tank.

Matt Rogers · 02-15-2005, 09:04 AM

One of these. 1" will give you 500 gph.

nanotrey · 02-15-2005, 12:39 PM

That looks good. I think I've given up the idea of the single pipe with return coming up thru the middle. I'm thinking now I'll go with two 1" lines, and just hide the return in the central reef with jets in various locations. I may revive the idea when I have time to fabricate the components.