Automated systems

[jgentry]

Any one care to explain how they have automated water change systems set up? Or does anyone have a good link on such topics? Not sure if I'm going central or per tank filtration yet.

[davidtcb1]

I'd like to hear responses on this as well. For me, I'd have a tough time fully trusting a full automated water change system unless you had major bucks to spend. I'd be afraid of a sensor, float valve etc. going bad and the next thing you know it's Noah's Ark in your space. I would have to have a quick manual way to expel a lot of water from a sump into a drain/outside then refill from there. More time consuming obviously, but so is rehabbing after a flood. Haha. I do like the idea of being able to isolate a specific tank within a looped system. Of course, all separate tanks is the same thing. If you do all separate tanks, are you thinking just air-driven filtration or adding other filters?

I'm moving in a few weeks and will have a fish room in the basement finally. I'm also weighing my options.

[jgentry]

I was thinking of doing a central system as I would not be introducing new fish to the system without holding them for a month. Was thinking of a drip into the side of the sump with the pump that would change about 10% of the systems water per week. I would have a overflow box going to a floor drain on the side of the sump were water returns from the tanks. I'm planning to drill all of the tanks with an additional bulkhead half way up the tank. These would have screens and and of the drain bulkheads would be plumbed together and also go to the floor drain. This should allow my to turn one valve and empty 50% of the water from all of the tanks. All I would have to do then is run water to the sump and turn the pump back on until all tanks are full.

The purpose of the small drip would be to always have some fresh water entering the system and to prevent issues if I have to travel for a couple of weeks. I was thinking that the 10% would likely allow me only have to do large water changes once a month. And they would only involve turning a valve then adding water back to the sump. Pretty darn easy. If I wanted to push it even further I could up the drip going into the sump and possible get completely away from a regular water change schedule.

System is likely to be 6 75g tanks and 3 125g tanks. Still in the planning stages. Lots to get done before anything can happen with this. The goal is to have it cycled and up and running before next summer. It will hold a few breeding pairs and be used to grow out there fry.

Someone tell me if my idea is off or is flawed in some way. I'm open to whatever will work the best.

[jgentry]

Also trying to decide on building wooden racks or having metal ones made. Obviously wood is much cheaper, but the metal looks so much nicer and will hold up forever.

[davidtcb1]

Sounds like a good plan, especially with the permanent sump overflow "safety" drain to the floor drain. That would make me sleep better for sure! Haha. Instead of an overflow box, you could just drill a bulkhead high up on the sump and it would do the same thing without having to mess with an over flow box. The only time consuming thing I see is on the fill up. The pump will fill the system faster than you can add new water, so you'll have to babysit that (fill, pump, unplug pump, fill, pump, unplug, etc.) But with only 9 tanks it may not take too long...maybe an hour once a month?

I'm considering wood vs. metal too. You have a source for the metal ones/getting them made?

[jgentry]

There is a company in Gallatin that will make them. But they are not cheap. They look so much nicer with a nice coat of gloss paint on them though.

As for the water fill up I have pretty high water pressure so I think it will come close to keeping up. I will need to spend some time cleaning the glass and such so even if I have to baby set for a couple of hrs I'll need that time for other stuff. That once a month for 9 large tanks sounds like a dream compared to the 6-8hrs a week I was putting in at my old house.

I already have a air pump that can handle all the tanks so I will have at least 1 sponge filter in each tank for extra filtration. I have a battery backup that I'm going to run the air pump through so I will not lose fish incase of a long power outage. The batter backup should be able to handle the pump for about 48 hrs.

Anything that I'm missing?

[davidtcb1]

How much is not cheap?

Sound like a good plan. Are you leaving room behind the racks to work or will they be tight to the wall? This is a dilemma I'm having. Mine will have to be along the walls and that worries me for having to do bulkhead, plumbing etc work in a crisis.

[jgentry]

Mine are going to be pretty tight up against the wall. It's in a garage so water spills do not really worry me. If something major starts leaking I would have to drain that rack and pull it out but if you install the PVC correctly it should last a really long time. Likely 20-30 years.

Metal racks are going to run about 6X the cost of building wood racks myself.

[davidtcb1]

Yeah mine will be against a wall(s) since the door that leads in from the garage is in the middle of the room and you have to walk through the middle of the room to come in/out of the house.

Do you still have your wooden racks? I'd like to take a look at them if so and if I end up going that route.

[jgentry]

I do still have them. Have several tanks as well. Hit me up if you are interested in any of them.

[davidtcb1]

Selling the racks?

[jgentry]

Probably. I will likely start from scratch or buy metal ones.

[davidtcb1]

Ah ok.

[davidtcb1]

I would like the challenge of building them myself but never really been my strong suit lol

[davidtcb1]

What's the largest tank your racks hold?

A few of these might be good for me too.

www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9883