36 replies to this topic

[ado]

hey mat
I'm just doing a bit of research to try plan how I'm gunna build mine

I can't find any info on the Weir Pro 6000. How many lph does that do?

Or how what would you recommend for a 6 footer?? I just need a bit of info so i can work out prices etc.

Cheers

Ado

[MatHarvey]

hey mate
I'm on the GOld Coast in QLD at the mo for work, so i can't check on the litreage till next sat.

off the top of my head i think it does something close to 2700L per hour. I run this system on 2 6 footers. I basically just put as bigger pump as i had laying around on it. Go as big as you can aford and when you install it put a bleeder loop in the plumbing. Use 2 valves so you can redirect some of the water from the pump back into the sump. this way you can fine tune the amount of return water to suite the overflow perfectly.

i will post pics of mine next sat if you like when i get back to perth

[KrAmEr]

hey mat
I'm just doing a bit of research to try plan how I'm gunna build mine

I can't find any info on the Weir Pro 6000. How many lph does that do?

Or how what would you recommend for a 6 footer?? I just need a bit of info so i can work out prices etc.

Cheers

Ado

The pump should be able turn your tanks volume over at least 3x an hour.

In my sump I use 2 smaller pumps just in case one stops working for whatever reason you still have the other one pumping....

[ado]

thanks mat

some piccies would be great if you have time.

Do you have the two pumps connected together kramer? Or do they both have their own return to the tank??

[MatHarvey]

its better to have them both on there own return lines. Cause if one pump fails the other pump will still return to the tank rather than pump circles in your sump.

post pics next weekend bud
mat

[elliott]

[when you install it put a bleeder loop in the plumbing="MatHarvey"]hey mate
I'm on the GOld Coast in QLD at the mo for work, so i can't check on the litreage till next sat.

off the top of my head i think it does something close to 2700L per hour. I run this system on 2 6 footers. I basically just put as bigger pump as i had laying around on it. Go as big as you can aford and when you install it put a bleeder loop in the plumbing. Use 2 valves so you can redirect some of the water from the pump back into the sump. this way you can fine tune the amount of return water to suite the overflow perfectly.

i will post pics of mine next sat if you like when i get back to perth[/quote]

[elliott]

sorry..

when you say put a bleeding loop in it..what does this mean and what does it do?

[ado]

Elliott,
although I haven't connected one in a aquarium i believe what mat means is a T-piece on the out going side of the pump with a tap connected to it so some water can be fed straight back into the sump.
This way the flow back into the main tank can be controlled without restricting the flow going through the pump.

hope that makes sense

[MatHarvey]

ado's got it spot on.

[ado]

The pump should be able turn your tanks volume over at least 3x an hour.

its better to have them both on there own return lines. Cause if one pump fails the other pump will still return to the tank rather than pump circles in your sump

With a ~600L tank I would be looking at 1800-2400L/h.
If I use two pumps in the sump with their own return as suggested, I could use two ~1200L/h pumps, is that correct??

[Neakit]

don't forget about the head height of the pump and what the lph is reduced to

[ado]

hey mat you still gunna stick some more piccies up?

looking forward to seeing them!

[MatHarvey]

water leaving the tank, not the basket around the overflow (to stop fish) and the one way valve on top of the pvc elbow. Also note the airline tubing stuffed down the overflow intake, this stops the vortex wirlpool effect that makes so much noise and allows the bottom of the intake tube to breath.





Power head with restricted intake sucking through air tube to the one way valve seen above to clear any bubbles that accumulate in overflow



Water prefiltered through regularly cleaned filter wool b4 being spread across the black drip tray on top of bio balls



hi tech filter - ala storage box



return system, note 2 valves to regulate flow to match overflow size perfectly



hope it helps other DIY fans out there

mat

[ado]

Great!
Thanks mat!

Mine is still in the design phase, but it is coming...

[ado]

mat,
i have constructed a similar overflow setup and sump, all working great!

What have you done to stop the return pipe from the pump to the tank siphoning back when the power goes off?

I have a few ideas, like an breather right at the water surface, but am interested what you and others have done?

cheers
ado

[MatHarvey]

hey mate,
great to hear! i've drilled a breather hold just below the water surface. Works fine.

I've just moved house with 2 6 footers.... not fun but they all survived!!

[highlucks]

hey mat thanks for the great design, followed it verbatim and it works perfectly(first try even).

great design