new small scale set up

I'm after some advice on the best way to set up a small breeding system
now its only going to be small and done on a  budget using stuff i have as much as possible, will be housing mainly gobies to start with.
 
i have a large koi vat (400ltrs ish) and i plan to place a 4ft tank across the top of this (supported apropriatly) to make it the sump,  i would then pump the water up and along the 4ft tank to a drain in the opersite end.
 
now i had hoped to divide the top tank with baffels and weir combs on top of them (the tank is already set up like this)  but im not convinced on the flow patterns through this sort of set up.  if possible i want to avoid drilling and each tank, but if i really have to i will.
would just soft plumbing a second loop that drains into each tank be enough for flow?  how much flow do the  of set upfish need?
all thoughs would be appreciated as i need to balance this beeing workable with cost of setting it up

any one any thoughts on this or how to better plumb it in
 

Welcome Matt,
I think the flow through may work well for you, provided that the sections are sufficiently screened to prevent the gobie groups from "visiting" each other.  If you plumb the return from the sump with a manifold that will feed each section fresh water, over the top, each group should have pretty good water quality. A lot of flow is not needed, although it can be an aid in keeping the system clean.  Think about the filtration of the water, as well, once it leaves the 4 foot tank.

yeah im using a skimmer, and possible will use k1 media, waterchanges will be a definate maybe algea
 
the sump is 400ltrs so hoping to have pretty good stability, ive now picked up the tanks there are two so should be pushing 750ltrs in total...
 

Those compartments look really small... like 8" across by 24" deep... kinda a weird size. You would have been better cutting it in 1/2 by the long way and then dividing them into smaller squares.

-Adam

yeah its some one elses set up that i got today at a good price (less then the cost of a new 4 ft)  so it prob wont stay that way,  although gobies can be keept well in quite small tanks, but i prob divide the tanks into 3 by taking out the 2nd 4th and 6th baffels, using the two ends for filtration media

There is not going to be suffecient enough flow with solid dividers like that. the water will just flow over the top and not mix down near the bottom. you will need to get a pipe going down the length of the tank feeding each section. nice pick up though.

so is the general feeling that if i feed each section individualy i could still drain to sump from one end?

I'd also think flow can be an issue in the middle compartments, but you can fix that with a small powerhead or an airstone.

Matt, could you not change the section for mesh screen?  That way you can still up and over like Kathy says but you will increase the flow?

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yeah i guess i could,  would need to be mesh as the gobies would go through egg create etc, just not sure about mesh glogging getting dirty being hard to clean etc.

you can always use something like gutter guard. that wouldn't clog up as easy.

RLTW

180 Gallon Mixed Reef

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

yes, if you feed each section you can still drain from one side. that's how my system was set up, and part of it still is.
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members-reefs/flynns-breeding-system-18176/

flyn fish what divides your tanks is it some kind or acrilic with slots cut in it?

if i have a good flow through the divides,  can i just feed one end of the tank and drain the other , as that would make it all way simpler to do.

The problem comes if the flow is just over the top, the water at the bottom won't get mixed in as well as you might want, and depending on the ambient temp in the room, the tank's temperature might not be as accurate as you want.  You just need a way to mix the water in each compartment, and then its not as big of a deal to feed one end and drain the other.

so example of that would be to feed one end drain the other, and to have a powerhead  in each section not ideal on the powerhead front but would work. 

Right.  I have a 40B divided into 3 sections like this, with the flow over the top.  .  My feed on the right hand section points down to the bottom of that section, and does a good job of stirring up that section.  I really only need additional circulation in the other 2.  I use airstones though, and they seem to work fine for me.  Cheapest powerhead I could find for it (that I liked) was the Eheim Compact 300 or the minijet 404, both around $16 online in US, don't know prices over there though.  They would work, but I think the airstone does the job fine. 

ok i get ya,  ive got plenty of powerhead and pumps about so that makes an option.
 
now to work out the alternatives to doing it this way! so i can decide between them

matt just drill it.
there are many tried and tested reasons why systems are designed as they are. take a look at any large systemised set of tanks at a retailer or wholesale and 90% will be the samething on a theme.
in an ideal world you would feed water in at the top, and draw it off at the bottom, as fish waste sinks, and would this be drawn toward the overflow.
 
...anyway...i'll be over monday night to sort it all out!!! with the diamond drills and a nice shopping list! if you're lucky will bring the angle grinde too.
 

I'd love to think that you'd be able to drill it - but how could you get a drill into the middle parts?

a dremel with a flexible line

RLTW

180 Gallon Mixed Reef

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

like ive got the drill into any and everything ive used. cordless drill. none of this drill press stuff! drilling from the outside. who said anything about drilling the sides...keeping each tank separate.

well ive a few decisions
stand has been treated to a fresh coat of paint,   every other divide has been removed, the tanks have been painted back and bottoms,
 
just need to drill them and can start setting it all up