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How would you filter a 10’x4’x30” ray tank that will be directly on the ground

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OnlyFinsCT

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2024
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I’m planning on something like this with tank being 10’x4’x30”. I have an extra 3’ width that can serve as the side cabinet shown here to contain filtration, making the overall display 13’ long. The entire display can not exceed 37” height. This is going to be an entertainment stand in front of my theater screen in my home theater. It’s going to be a ray tank and ideally I’d like a sump, but I think the tank directly on the ground like this and cabinet dimensions might complicate that. What would MFK do here? I’ve attached an inspiration photo taken from Google that shows the general idea I had in mind.

IMG_4480.jpeg
 
OnlyFinsCT said:
Do you think I would have any trouble feeding the trickle filter with water given the tank is on the ground?
Click to expand...
No. You have an overflow on the top at the side with the filter. You can even have a combined overflow and underflow.

Not all of the side compartment has the filter. Part is partitioned off, except with a gap from the bottom. And that is where the return pump is.
 
Midwater said:
No. You have an overflow on the top at the side with the filter. You can even have a combined overflow and underflow.

Not all of the side compartment has the filter. Part is partitioned off, except with a gap from the bottom. And that is where the return pump is.
Click to expand...
How big would the filter need to be for this tank?
 
Would rays be able to handle being on the floor with a large subwoofer in the room? This may be overly stressful for them. It probably would be worth looking into some sort of material to absorb some of those vibrations before they touch the tank, especially if you have something like a 18" Ultimax.

Filtration is going to depend on the amount of stingrays and the species (size) you get. I'd at least get a skimmer. My Simplicity skimmer is pretty quiet.
 
Flaring Afro said:
Would rays be able to handle being on the floor with a large subwoofer in the room? This may be overly stressful for them. It probably would be worth looking into some sort of material to absorb some of those vibrations before they touch the tank, especially if you have something like a 18" Ultimax.

Filtration is going to depend on the amount of stingrays and the species (size) you get. I'd at least get a skimmer. My Simplicity skimmer is pretty quiet.
Click to expand...
I already have vibration isolation so I’m not worried about that. There’s also going to be a short base of a few inches that the tank will sit on so I guess saying it’s directly on the floor is a little misleading.

I already have 3 rays and likely will get a 4th. They’re all black diamonds.
 
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I'm assuming this will be on a slab with no basement or other lower space to house a sump.
Could you go the other way? Is there a room above that could house an overhead sump?
I'm assuming these aren't options...

Consider... Building the full 13' space as a tank... build a wall 1.5' from each end... use the 10' center as the aquarium... leaving you a 1.5' long x 4' wide @ 2.5' deep chamber on each end to arrange as filters... This would eliminate the doors on the front from being functional, but they can still be there for ascetics. You'd have to create top opening doors... You could have a gap at the bottom, allowing water/debris to flow in...

End Filtration.png

Something like this.

On the right... debris flows in along the top of the sand... Use light defuser or similar to keep Rays/Fish out... solid waste flows in, heavy stuff rolls around at the bottom, smaller lighter stuff goes up into the sponges... Stage progressively tighter sponges... During maintenance, remove the sponges and siphon out the heavier waste that collected at the bottom... This still leaves a 1' x 4' @ 2.5' chamber for other media such as MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) or whatever else you want. Make a basket to go around the pump lined with quilt batting or some other "polishing" media...

On the left... Same basic approach, but this side acts as a skimmer.

Also, the sponge filter doesn't have to run the full 4'. Though the longer you make it the less resistance it will cause.
As drawn, if the sponge media got clogged it would create an overflow situation. To protect yourself from that, lower the wall between the rear chamber and the aquarium. lower than the rim, higher than the aquarium water level. This will allow water to by pass clogged sponges.
I'm sure you'll catch other details that need to be modified. It's just something I mocked up real quick using Paint
 
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