a sump worthy of the SHARK!!

[shark bait]

I have been looking at my third tank, a 300. But this will be a shark tank. I plan to make this and over kill tank, 1 hp chiller, 80g sump, refuge, all the works. So I have everything ready to rock and roll but the sump. I need it to be able to house a skimmer lots of rock and uv, diatom, 2 canaster media fluval 404's. I plan 1 shark and some other random fish, but sharks can and will in a poor system spike a tank to near cycle levels after eating and having a huge #2. haha well who has a sump out their that is 400-500 gal rated??

 

[scsinet]

Nobody that I know of... you'll almost have to and want to have it custom made or do it yourself.
Seach google for the word "melev."

 

[phishface]

Those 404's arent much, for the size tank you got. You might want to look at a closed loop for better water movement. But of course, IMO. Good luck. :happyfish

 

[shark bait]

Originally Posted by phishface
Those 404's arent much, for the size tank you got. You might want to look at a closed loop for better water movement. But of course, IMO. Good luck. :happyfish

The 404's are going to pull from the sump and feed back into it just for the addition of phos guard and carbon, not as a bio filter. the sump and refugium will be the bio filter. An 80g sump should be more than enough.

 

[psusocr1]

i have300 gallon MT with a 100 gallon sump/fuge

 

[turningtim]

JMO but an 80 sump/fuge is going to be small for that tank and critters. I would see about about getting a used 125 and dividing that for a sump fuge. 75 gallon fuge ans 50 gal sump.
But PSU set-up works well with a 55 fuge, a 45 sump and a oversized external skimmer.
JMO
Tim

 

[psusocr1]

ya i learned from tim that their is alot more numbers to be calculated when it comes to your sump/fuge. you actually need to figure out how big you need so that it will handle your tank or vice a versa. its a fairly confusing process to me, but to him and guys like squidd ,, well they just know what their doin..
Tim shoot me an email i got new pics for you

 

[shark bait]

sounds good. I'm going to start making my own sump/ref with all the fixins external. The tank is 72x30x30. The builder said it is less than 300 but i should set up my sys as if it were a 300. so i'm geting a 75 g and going from their, and using a 20 gal above it for pre filter and media and will over flow into the 75 ref and will have an external skimer and nitrite reactor with 2 404, one with carbon and the other with phos. I see how this mixture works as i cycle, and after the cycle is done use large shrimp to attempt to spike the system. if i am able to run at 0 for a month i will add some piolt fish and watch it. i do not expect to put any sharks in the tank for about 6 months untill i am feal the tank can tank the load and then some. Is this a good plan. I have ordered the sharks and rays book so this is just off my personal know how.

 

[psusocr1]

did you get the tank custom built?? if you want to get into sharks and rays the longer the tank and wider the tank is better.. i like the 30" width but think you would be better off with a 24 inch height and a longer tank. most people will tell you if keeping sharks and rays the footprint is more important in some cases than the gallons.
in your case you have 72x30x30 or 281 gallons
whereas i would choose a 96x30x24 or 299 gallons which is almost what i have but mine is a littler higher so that it gives the shark and rays more room to swin long ways rather than high which they dont do much
or you can evan go with a 84x30x24 or 261 gallons , this one also has a nice footprint
a wide tank is better as well depending on how long your shark gets so he can turn around in the tank comfortably.
justs ome things to think abotu but either way it will be a nice tank..
whats the chiller for? what species of shark do you want to keep that your going to be using a chiller? or is it just that hot is so cal all the time? ive only been to cali once and cant remember what their weather is all the time,, i know it does get bloody hot their though!!
HTH

 

[shark bait]

I live in ca so a chiller is a must. I have thought about a wider deeper tank but i am limited to space as it is. I am really starting to second guess this change. if it was up to me i'd do a 96x36x30 but i have a wife. need i say more. If I really had it my way i'd just live on a boat in San Diego.