new and and just got a new style tank and would love info and pointers

im new on here but live near palestine texas and have a question and need help

i just got a 160gallon with built in skimmer/sump (das setup i think) and also a small sump/wet/ry filter for underneath and need help on figuring it out for set up thanks(will be a cichlid tank )

chris

OK first of all a DAS (Dutch Aquarium System) tends to be a filtration system which is in-corperated within the tank, as in the tank will have one, or more normally two overflows, one in each back corner. The over flow in each corner then, as I understand it, goes through an integral filtration system, within the back box, before then pumping the "clean" water back into the tank.
From seeing pics of the tank that "CL" had, it was a "reef ready tank" with two over flows integral, within the tank, and I presume drilled for the piping to go to a under tank sump. There was no built in skimmer, and you don't need a skimmer in a fresh water tank, I think you are talking about the castellated top edges of the integrated over flows.
From what you say about a small sump with wet/dry filter, I'm guessing that is what it is.

If it came with no piping, then you need to measure up the out and inflow pipie holes, then go to Home depot/Lowes etc. With your measured plans of what you need in piping. Draw the plan, go there, get your pipe, bends etc, make an out of scale set up on the floor of the store ("ignore the non fish people, they can't help that they are boring") of your pipe and bends, and don't forget the ball valve you will want for water changes and control of water flow.
Then get your PVC pipe solvent.

Now you get to go home and start cutting, slipping together (non solvent) and seeing how it looks.

Now it depends upon the size of the sump tank. Your out flow pump, and the frequency with which you wish to "clean up".

My caveat is that I max out at 55G for my Cichlid tanks. I generally use combined canister filters that equal 100G filtration.
So this is from whatI have read.
As I understand it, for a 160G tank in a wet/dry system, you will need a 55G tank underneath, to comfortably accommodate everything.
You will have a water in columb. . In which sits a sock to catch the larger detrius. After this you will play around with an activated carbon sock, the bio balls and a physical filtration pad.
My own personal preference would be, to have a damned good physical sponge type filter to catch that which the sock didn't catch, then the Bio Balls, then a large sock full of activated carbon, to take out that which everything else din't catch.
When you do your weekly/ bi-weekly water changes.
Rinse your sponges in the water taken from your sump, to clean the crud out (do not use tap water,as the chlorine will kill the bacteria in the sponge) and then syphon the crud held within the bio balls using a pump for your sized tank will make life much easier. Or turn off your over flow, rinse the bio balls in the water which you have taken from your tank clean. You need to keep the bacteria alive in the balls.

This is not the definite procedure, as I have learnt over many years, it's what works for your tank is the best way.

If you're going for a lot of big holey rocks, which will balance your pH for Africans, then get "egg crate" to go under the rocks. (No idea of your experience level).
But regardless, a 160 Cichlid.... enjoy.

i am only wanting to use it as extra filtration i know it is not large enough to handle on its own but like the benefit of extra biological filtration it has all the plumbing it is the tank CL had for sale i just have never had anything this size and only ever had hob filters so the plumbing is a huge puzzle to me and the added overflow inside the tank make it even more confusing