Filter at end (side) of tank?
 

I've seen a few pictures of tanks used as a room divider - I like the look,
but can't figure out how I'd handle the issue of the filters, if I'm using
back-filters like the Emperor 400 - to eliminate filters on either the front
or the back side of the tank, I guess I'd have to go to a sump-type system -
or is there another alternative? If I go to a sump, would I have to drill
the tank, or is there a provision for the suction and return tubes to go
over the top of the tank at the end of the tank? Thanks for any
suggestions.

Filter at end (side) of tank?
 

"No-Name" wrote in message
...
I've seen a few pictures of tanks used as a room divider - I like the look,
but can't figure out how I'd handle the issue of the filters, if I'm using
back-filters like the Emperor 400 - to eliminate filters on either the front
or the back side of the tank, I guess I'd have to go to a sump-type system -
or is there another alternative? If I go to a sump, would I have to drill
the tank, or is there a provision for the suction and return tubes to go
over the top of the tank at the end of the tank? Thanks for any
suggestions.



The most clean way to do it would be to drill the tanks, that's if they're not
tempered and can be drilled. You can buy predrilled tanks. If you don't already
have the tank, the all-glass 180 gallon tank would look nice. The cutout on one
wall would be a little narrower than on the other wall as the built in overflow
covers a few inches on each corner in what's normally the back of the tank. In
my overflows on my rack system, the overflow is simply a piece of pvc tubing
with vents cut in the top of the tube. The top of the pvc is about a half inch
down from the top of the tank with the lowest cut about an inch beneath that.
You can have another piece of pvc coming up into the tank from the bottom for
the return as well.
There are overflow systems that have a small box you could hang off the side of
the tank that work on siphon. Or you could have a cabinet above the tank with
the sump over the tank and pump up to it. This would eliminate the need to
drill. Drill bits are expensive and difficult to use and I couldn't find any
glass places that would take the responsibility of drilling a tank for me.
The other option is a canister filter like the fluval 404. You could set one up
on each end. Depending on how the tank was stocked, that would probably keep up
with most of your filtration needs.
Amateur
www.amateurcichlids.com

Filter at end (side) of tank?
 

I did this in my old apartment. It was a 1 bedroom with a kitchenette kinda
area that attached to the frontroom area... and that was it. To try and
break it up a a little and save on space for couches and such my wife and I
turned my 90 gallon tank with full canopy and is about 6 foot assembled....
and used it as a divider between the kitchen type area and the front room.

In a lot of ways this is tricker than what you are proposing because there
is nowhere to hide what you have. The way I did it, I just tried to make
everything as inconspicous as possible.

2 powerheads powering the UGF went that the ends of the tank and I skipped
using any in the middle and took out the tubes in the middle.
2 magnum 350 canister filters. one at each end.
heater on the side closest wall
2-24 inch lights one on each side.

I taped up all the cords and tubes for the Magnums on each corner with a
matte black tape and most people never noticed. I also covered up the
backside of my tank with curtains so people wouldnt see the canisters and
lights and such....

It was impressive to anyone who ever came into the apartment and I got to
enjoy my tank from either the kitchen or the frontroom.




"Amateur" wrote in message
. com...

"No-Name" wrote in message
...
I've seen a few pictures of tanks used as a room divider - I like the
look,
but can't figure out how I'd handle the issue of the filters, if I'm
using
back-filters like the Emperor 400 - to eliminate filters on either the
front
or the back side of the tank, I guess I'd have to go to a sump-type
system -
or is there another alternative? If I go to a sump, would I have to
drill
the tank, or is there a provision for the suction and return tubes to go
over the top of the tank at the end of the tank? Thanks for any
suggestions.



The most clean way to do it would be to drill the tanks, that's if they're
not
tempered and can be drilled. You can buy predrilled tanks. If you don't
already
have the tank, the all-glass 180 gallon tank would look nice. The cutout
on one
wall would be a little narrower than on the other wall as the built in
overflow
covers a few inches on each corner in what's normally the back of the
tank. In
my overflows on my rack system, the overflow is simply a piece of pvc
tubing
with vents cut in the top of the tube. The top of the pvc is about a half
inch
down from the top of the tank with the lowest cut about an inch beneath
that.
You can have another piece of pvc coming up into the tank from the bottom
for
the return as well.
There are overflow systems that have a small box you could hang off the
side of
the tank that work on siphon. Or you could have a cabinet above the tank
with
the sump over the tank and pump up to it. This would eliminate the need to
drill. Drill bits are expensive and difficult to use and I couldn't find
any
glass places that would take the responsibility of drilling a tank for me.
The other option is a canister filter like the fluval 404. You could set
one up
on each end. Depending on how the tank was stocked, that would probably
keep up
with most of your filtration needs.
Amateur
www.amateurcichlids.com

Filter at end (side) of tank?
 

I have two (2) Emperor 400s now - would one Fluval 404 provide equal
filtration and biological action - I'm pretty happy with the Emperors right
now - the seem to do a great job!

"Amateur" wrote in message
. com...

"No-Name" wrote in message
...
I've seen a few pictures of tanks used as a room divider - I like the
look,
but can't figure out how I'd handle the issue of the filters, if I'm
using
back-filters like the Emperor 400 - to eliminate filters on either the
front
or the back side of the tank, I guess I'd have to go to a sump-type
system -
or is there another alternative? If I go to a sump, would I have to
drill
the tank, or is there a provision for the suction and return tubes to go
over the top of the tank at the end of the tank? Thanks for any
suggestions.



The most clean way to do it would be to drill the tanks, that's if they're
not
tempered and can be drilled. You can buy predrilled tanks. If you don't
already
have the tank, the all-glass 180 gallon tank would look nice. The cutout
on one
wall would be a little narrower than on the other wall as the built in
overflow
covers a few inches on each corner in what's normally the back of the
tank. In
my overflows on my rack system, the overflow is simply a piece of pvc
tubing
with vents cut in the top of the tube. The top of the pvc is about a half
inch
down from the top of the tank with the lowest cut about an inch beneath
that.
You can have another piece of pvc coming up into the tank from the bottom
for
the return as well.
There are overflow systems that have a small box you could hang off the
side of
the tank that work on siphon. Or you could have a cabinet above the tank
with
the sump over the tank and pump up to it. This would eliminate the need to
drill. Drill bits are expensive and difficult to use and I couldn't find
any
glass places that would take the responsibility of drilling a tank for me.
The other option is a canister filter like the fluval 404. You could set
one up
on each end. Depending on how the tank was stocked, that would probably
keep up
with most of your filtration needs.
Amateur
www.amateurcichlids.com

Filter at end (side) of tank?
 

"No-Name" wrote in message
...
I have two (2) Emperor 400s now - would one Fluval 404 provide equal
filtration and biological action - I'm pretty happy with the Emperors right
now - the seem to do a great job!

I don't believe that a single fluval 404 can do the same job as two Emperor
400's. They really do different jobs in some aspect. I think the Emperors do a
better job at providing bacterial filtration with the bio wheels, as well as
aerating the water more with more surface agitation that the fluval. The fluval
is all in all a more efficient filter. It'll do a better job on mechanical
filtration as well as provide biological filtration. But not enough to replace
two Emperor 400's. This leads to the question, what size tank are we talking
about? What is the stocking on the tank? If it's a 55 gallon tank with a single
angel fish, one Emperor is more than enough. If it's a 200 gallon tank with five
neon tetras, one emperor is still more than enough. But if it's a 75 gallon tank
over stocked with Mbuna, you'll probably want an Emperor filter at the end of
the tank with a fluval underneath. Or you can look at the Tidepool overflow
filters and the siphon box they sell separately. There's also Eheim's to
consider, the Filstar XP's I've also heard great things about and a lot cheaper
than the fluvals.
AC

Filter at end (side) of tank?
 

Thanks for your help.

Right now, I've got a 105 gallon tank, very heavily loaded with holy rock,
bare-bottom (no gravel), two powerheads with the air injector hoses in and
sponge filters (mainly to increase circulation), and the two Emperor 400s.
I usually like to keep the tank overstocked with Mbunas, although it's a bit
light now with an impending move in a month or so. The water is always
crystal clear.

If I go with an alternative to the Emperors, I'll probably leave the
powerheads in for additional top water agitation, air, and better
circulation.

What do ya think?

"Amateur" wrote in message
. com...

"No-Name" wrote in message
...
I have two (2) Emperor 400s now - would one Fluval 404 provide equal
filtration and biological action - I'm pretty happy with the Emperors
right
now - the seem to do a great job!

I don't believe that a single fluval 404 can do the same job as two
Emperor
400's. They really do different jobs in some aspect. I think the Emperors
do a
better job at providing bacterial filtration with the bio wheels, as well
as
aerating the water more with more surface agitation that the fluval. The
fluval
is all in all a more efficient filter. It'll do a better job on mechanical
filtration as well as provide biological filtration. But not enough to
replace
two Emperor 400's. This leads to the question, what size tank are we
talking
about? What is the stocking on the tank? If it's a 55 gallon tank with a
single
angel fish, one Emperor is more than enough. If it's a 200 gallon tank
with five
neon tetras, one emperor is still more than enough. But if it's a 75
gallon tank
over stocked with Mbuna, you'll probably want an Emperor filter at the end
of
the tank with a fluval underneath. Or you can look at the Tidepool
overflow
filters and the siphon box they sell separately. There's also Eheim's to
consider, the Filstar XP's I've also heard great things about and a lot
cheaper
than the fluvals.
AC

Filter at end (side) of tank?
 

"No-Name" wrote in message
...
Thanks for your help.

Right now, I've got a 105 gallon tank, very heavily loaded with holy rock,
bare-bottom (no gravel), two powerheads with the air injector hoses in and
sponge filters (mainly to increase circulation), and the two Emperor 400s.
I usually like to keep the tank overstocked with Mbunas, although it's a bit
light now with an impending move in a month or so. The water is always
crystal clear.

If I go with an alternative to the Emperors, I'll probably leave the
powerheads in for additional top water agitation, air, and better
circulation.

What do ya think?


I think there's no such thing as too much filtration. ;-) Unless of course you
have a five gallon tank and the water is shooting through it like water from a
fire hose. If the Emperor 400's will fit on the ends of the tank, you can go
that route. Depending on how you stock after the move, you may want to consider
two canister filters. I have a Fluval 404 and an Emperor 400 on my heavily
stocked 75 gallon Mbuna tank. It's probably overkill, but I think it's a good
practice for heavily stocked tanks.
AC