180 Gallon Tank Filtration Method?

HI guys,

I have almost completed my DIY 180 gallon aquarium. I plan for it to be a freshwater planted tank with schooling fish and maybe a couple of smaller cichlids.

I am confused as to what type of filtration to use. I can make my own DIY Built in filter with a huge surface area of filter media and good flow rate, but i'm not sure if that will be sufficient. Can the above be combined with other filters like an internal power filter?
Many people have recommended I get a sump running for a tank this size, I have no idea how a sump works, and would I just be better off using canisters?

Please help, running out of time. Thanks everyone

 

Good morning,

I think the type of filtration is up to you. Keep in mind that for Hang On Back (HOB) type filters it's best to have 8 to 10 x the tank volume for your Gallons Per Hour (GPH)

For canister filters it is recommended to have 5 to 8 x the tank volume for the GPH.

As for sumps and wet/dry systems, I think it's your call. I have wet/dry systems on both my tanks and on both tanks I have more than 10 x the tank volume for filtration. More filtration is better as long as your fish are not being blown around the tank by the current.

For my 265g tank, I have a wet/dry with a mag drive pump @ 950 gph in addition to 4 HOB's for a total of 2750 gph. So I'm over the 10 x the tank volume.

For my 33g long tank I have a wet/dry with a mag drive pump @ 250 gph, and a HOB with 300gph for a total of 550 gph. So again I'm over the suggested amount.

You can mix and match filtering systems, no problem.

So for your 180 gallon aquarium, you are looking at 900gph to 1440 gph for canisters and up to 1440 gph to1800 gph for HOB's. Remember, the more filtration the better.

As for wet/dry/sumps you can purchase Mag drive pumps up to 2200 gph I believe.

Ken

 

Thanks Aquarist, will look into wet/dry filters, seem to be exactly what I want. Am I right in saying that the closer it is to the bottom of the main tank the better? something to do with pump head heights? Can the filter media in these filters be customized or are they rather fixed? thanks for all the advice

 

Good morning,

As for the wet/dry systems, my 265g tank on the stand comes up to my chin. The height doesn't seem to be an issue. There are height limits and they are listed with each pump that you purchase.

I use the blue bio balls that come with the wet/drys. This filter system in my 265g tank has been running for over 10 years, and I have never cleaned the bio balls or touched them other than to switch filters around and I spilled them once. (oops!)

I've added my own filter pads, micron pads and filter floss and I've filled the tide pool area with sponges, bio cubes. It's stuffed to the max, as long as it's all wet it's fine. The more surface area you have in the filter and the tank too, the more area you have for beneficial bacteria that is needed to sustain the tanks cycle.

Check out the photos of my wet/dry in the link below:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/my-wet-drysump.59204/

Ken

 

Thanks Ken,

Great help. Great tanks too!

 

Always glad to help when I can.

Keep us posted.

Ken

 

HI again... i've definetely decided to go with a sump filter, with two built in overflow boxes, one in and one out. The design is done and ill be putting it in myself this weekend. I do need to know what size tank I will need though for the filtration to guarantee best quality. I will be running a 800gph pump in the sump.

Will a 20 gallon be good enough or do I need more? Thanks aquarist

 

Good afternoon,

Take a look at the specifications in the link below. This filter is for up to 200 gallon with a pump up to 1000 gph. The dimensions of the sump is 30" x 12" x 16" which comes out to a little over 24g's.

You may get by with a 20, but if you have room for a larger sump up to 30 gallons, that might be what you want to shoot for. Let's get some more responses on this to be sure. I'd hate for you to have a flood.

Ken

 

HI Ken,

With concern to the sump, I have a 29 gallon built now, and looking forward to gettin the rest of the tank finished soon as well. I was only wooried about the flow of the sump overflows in my main tank.

The design has two overflow boxes in the tank built in, one in and one out. This design was very easy to build and saved me a lot of money, but they work on one flowing in (near the surface) and the other flowing out (near the surface) I'm worried that the filtration will involve a lot of surface filtration which will create dead spots in the filter system lower down in the tank?

Is this a possibility or won't it happen? I've thought of ways to counter it such as increased flow with low GPH powerheads, or maybe even a reverse flow undergravel filter system. Is any of this needed???
Thanks Ken

PS: I also need help with water concerns if you have time, the thread is in aquarium water.

THANK YOU!!!!

 

The overflow boxes are situated on opposite sides of the tank at the back. If you need pictures of them please just ask. Thanks

 

Good morning,

A while back I had a 155g bow front with built in over flows on both sides of the tank. Each also had a return flow. I didn't have any issues with the bottom not getting filtered, no difference compared to other types of filtration. Either way, vacuuming will still be necessary.

If you wanted to add a Power Head to increase the current in the bottom of the tank, I don't see that this would cause any problems but may help a bit. As long as the current isn't too strong for the fish.

Ken

 

I think the easiest thing to do would be to throw a couple of canisters on it.

How would you clean the internal filter?

 

I'm really not worried about extra filtration so although the canisters would be a good addition, rather unncessary in my opinion. I'm not sure what you mean by how I would clean the internal filter?

Its a sump running underneath the main tank, I'm considering adding internal filters to increase filter turnover as I have two now free from using my 29 gallon as the sump?

 

oh, I thought you were still considering the built in filter.

 

I really like my wet/dry but I also like my canisters. Just a heads up mine floods if the power goes out, I have a 150 and I can't remember the demensions on my wet dry it only floods like 5 gallons of water but its something to keep in mind, I think mine is a little too small tho. I like my canister on my 125 because I never have to worry about a flood.

 

it only floods like 5 gallons of water but its something to keep in mind, I think mine is a little too small tho.

5 gallons too small it seems

 

oh yeah,

sorry I see what you are talking about jaysee. No I decided that for an extra R200 (30 dollars for you) would go a long way in terms of maintenance and also functionality.

I have confirmed that a 29gal sump will be plently to prevent the risk of flooding in a power out (which is a a weekly occurence where I live). My LFS let me test the sump on one of their tanks with the same setup and size as my tank (which happened to be my inspiration). In theory a well designed overflow system should never flood, which means either your water levels are too high for the overflows or your sump size is way too small, and like jaysee said, 5 gallons is way too small

You can maybe counter that by lowering your water levels to allow the water to sit just above the outlet, so that in a power out you won't have a flood, but that could so very easily waste the efficiency of the pump.