I have a 300 gallon stock tank buried up to its rim, pump up to my gravel filled half barrels with bell siphons, which drains back to the fish tank. The water level fluctuates, but not much. Maybe a couple of inches at any given time. With 8 half barrels, they all flood and drain at different times. With an occasional top up due to slow leaks or natural evaporation, it's fairly consistant.
One pump does all the work. I've pumped all the water out in a HSM or two. Once from a drain pipe coming loose on one of the growbeds. Rainwater fills up the tank to overflowing occasionally. And I've, uh, sorta left the hosepipe turned on and walked away a few times
I wanted my system to have a more consistant temp with not much in the way of moving parts or timers, so I buried the tank to put it at the lowest point. Some folks like the FT up high to run directly into their growbeds and have a sump tank. I never liked the idea of all that water being up so high. It's heavy and has to be supported, hence the hole in the ground. Then its easy to check on the water level with just a glance.
Just my opinion.
What are your plans? Got pictures or a diagram?
After coming here and learning more about other ways of doing things I have definately changed my opinion on chop2 though so when I get around to moving gravel and buyings a few new beds I'll go chop 1
Just joking!
its so hard to get used to chift pist after it got revolutionised I wounder if flomedia will have the same effect on new comers that watch his vids hahaha. Its funny you know you buy into chop 2 because your new to ap then you realise chift pist aka chop 1 is more efficent = smaller pump less power and if you decide to have a larger pump its more aeration in the FT and more movement.