2 800 gallon tanks filter uprgrade

Hello i am in the process of figuring out an upgrade for the filtration on two 800 gallon tanks butted up to each other in a restaurant. the current filtration is two micron filters and sand filters for pools with an undergravel filter. The tanks are seperately filtered And do not have overflows just undergravel filters. My intention is to drain each tank and add over flow walls on a 45 degree angle in each corner of the tank and then drain down the current bulk head. The reason for this is because the amout of oils and scum on the top of the tank is unbelievably bad. Now heres the prediciment I do not know if i should do two seperate sumps with two skimmers and two uv sterilizers or just combine both into one sump with one larger protein skimmer then have it return through the existing micron and sand filters then through one large uv sterilizer and into the tank. I feel the more water volume between the two tanks would allow for a higher stock of animals in the tanks. let me know what you think any opinion helps. thanks

 

When you add more total volume you get a more stable environment. Be warned, however, that if something were to break out you'd now have all the fish in both tanks infected, and treating that could mean $$$$. With proper care and a QT with correct acclimation this should be no problem. Bio load is not always the problem of more fish, room is also a competing factor.

 

I quarantine all fish for two weeks before being placed into the displays. The tanks are massive and just look to empty the are the centerpiece of the restaurant and need to look absolutely perfect. they currently are not at all

 

I would run a central sump if it were my setup. Buying one really big skimmer would probably be more cost efficient than two smaller skimmers. As for the infected fish thing, when your working with tanks this size with this much money invested you QUARANTINE EVERYTHING to make sure this doesnt happen. Ditch those undergravel filters and get some decent filtration on those tanks with plenty of live rock. centralized sump with skimmer and refugium is what I would do. Look into those 300 or so gallon plastic tubs that they sell at tractor supply stores as horse feeding troughs or something similar for a sump. I would think that would be cheaper than having to buy a 300 gallon glass tank.


As for the overflow, you may also just want to run a simple bulkhead and strainer on each side of the back glass to skim the surface. This will be much easier and take up less space than a corner overflow. (and you wouldnt have to drain the tank all the way). You could even silicone a simple glass overflow to encase the bulkhead (similar to a coast to coast, just not all the way across) if you wanted even MORE surface skimming.


hope this helps

 

By the way what are the dimensions on those tanks? Its hard to imagine a system thats 1600-1900 gallons total. haha

 

I am looking to do the horse trough idea i need durability not pretty or anything like that as far as the overflows go the back of the tank has no access whatsoever everything is below as far as filtration. i was shooting toward the single sump idea i really think sharing the filtration would be alot better especially with a high water volume plus one skimmer is prob more power efficient then two especially the price

 

you said the back has no access. Do you mean the tanks are up against a wall or something? Because once you drilled it and ran the plumbing you would not ever need to get back behind the tank. May require you to drain the tanks and use jacks to push it away from the wall in order to run the plumbing.

The corner overflow would work well too, I just didnt want you to have to drain the entire tank and let the silicon dry for a day or two if there is alot of fish in there already.

 

have yet to measure the full dimensions i just looked at these tanks today and am in the process of a quote for them. they are about 10 feet long 5 feet tall and about 3 feet wide. they are very outdated and in need of an update bad like i said the amount of scum on the top of the water is terrible it almost yellows the water. plus this system has metal halide lighting and has absolutely no corals. four on each tank which isnt very nice to the power bill. plus doesnt metal halide grow more algae then led? and the heat off the lights is tererible with no ventilation in the cabinets above.

 

im going to drain the tank also to do a scratch removal they are scratched very bad from poor service prior. these tanks are against a wall and are supported with structual iron. it would be a lot of work to move plus the chance of damage is way to expensive it is 2 inch thick acrylic.

 

so it sounds like they hired you to take care of the tank? man you have one heck of a job ahead of you. I dont find that halides grow algae more so than LED unless you go too long without replacing the bulbs. Corals or not, you may need the halides JUST to be able to penetrate a 5 foot tall tank. You should at least install some intake and exhaust fans in the sides of the canopy.