Attention Frank: re african cichlid tank filtration

thanks again for your input frank, I have made a few refinements to my plan that I will run by you:

firstly, in the triangular-prism pipe we have talked about, if necessary, I will install an air stone to give it a bit more uplift.

secondly for the sump I will use a plastic water container with handles (we call it a jerry can in australia), so that, when it comes to water changes, all i have to do is turn off the pump and screw on the lid of the container and carry it to the bathroom, tip it out and refill the container. then all I have to do is carry the container back to the tank, put it back in place and start her up again!! - surely this has been done before cos it sure beats hoses and siphoning etc.. (except for gravel cleans of course!!

Paul

*feeling pleased with himself*

Good idea, I can see that it would keep any solids suspended in the column of air bubbles untill these solids goes down the overflow.

I have a plastic trash can that catches rain water off the house roof. To get the water into the bsmt. fish room, I installed a hose bib at the bottom. If, on the other hand, you were to use foam sponges, you wouldn't have to move it at all!.......Frank

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I agree with Frank, re: removing the water from the bottom. I've seen systems where they have slotted openings (with a screen behind them) at the surface and at the bottom of the tank (on that triangular piece Frank mentioned). Water pouring into this section is mixed, and the heater is stored there. The mixed/heated water then runs over to another plate with a single opening and on to the drilled overflow. Your tank would have one of these in each corner (for redundancy and flow). Ideally, the drilled back plate is several inches higher than the sides or front glass, so you have no waterline in your view. An alternate to this is to drill the bottom and bring a tube up with a sliding section. Adjust the height to control your water level. I think this design tends to hold your water level slightly higher.

I've crossposted back to into the alt.aquaria thread which seems appropriate.