180g First Time Sump Question

[Gage Zamrzla]

Hello, I am going to be setting up a new 180g tank with duel overflows within the next month or so (depending on arrival). I plan to keep a pair of Jaguar cichlids in it alone. I don't plan to go cheap but I DO want to try and save money where it's possible.


My most challenging task is setting up a sump for the first time. My thought is rather than purchase a new sump or pre-owned from Craigslist I would try making one using a 40g breeder tank I already have. I've thrown together what I have in mind but considering I've never once gone this route before I'm looking for any help, input, criticism I can get to make sure I set this up once and never need to altar a dumb idea.

What I hope to get out of it.. I want to be able to clean and change filter pads quickly and easily, put very large amounts of biomax in it, and in a perfect world set up a refugium using pathos roots held in place in gravel or sand.

I'm still learning how the individual panels need to be placed to create the chambers so if they are misplaced please correct me so I can sketch a new design. Also, any recommendations for a more efficient design are happily welcome.



Water comes in on the right side through a filter sock, bio media would be in the far right chamber, from there it would pass into the refugium which has a large amount of pathos rooted into gravel or sand, it then passes into the third and final chamber on the left to the return pump and back into the tank. Good? Bad? Stupid? Never set one of these up before so any opinion or help is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[SingAlongWithTsing]

Not my design (found on a different forum months ago) but it's similar to what you want, not sure if it'll all fit in a 40b

First Chamber: Filter socks, the holder is above the spillway

Second Chamber: Filter Pad first tray, Lighting diffuser/eggcrate to hold up bio media
Water travels under and over to the Third Chamber

Third Chamber: Refugium
Water travels "across" the refugium and down to the Fourth Chamber

Fourth Chamber: Pump

You can stick sponges in the spots between chambers 2,3, 4

 

[rodger]

The simplest sump is filter socks and K1 or a knockoff. Submersible pump with a screen for pump made from PVC with slots cut in it. Lots of airstones to churn the media. Drop your heater in the bottom.

 

[Gill Blue]

you want to leave room for flow at the top, otherwise you can overflow if a chamber becomes blocked.

 

[carbene]

you dont really need chamber/s. Just get the biggest tank you can fit in your stand off craiglist. have filter socks for overflows on both sides of the sump and dump all your bio media in the sump. easier to just hang golden pothos on the side of the sump with its roots submerged .

 

[Danh]

I agree to hang the filter socks on the drain in to the sump. That is the easiest and most efficient mechanical filtration there is. I agree with Blue - the top of those panels shouldn't go all the way to the top of the tank. And like carbene said, you don't really need the chambers.

 

[AmazonKeeper21]

Another very simple yet very effective filter is using a trickle tower. Uarujoey king of diy on YouTube has a video explaining this method. Had them on both my 150g. They are by far the easiest to clean an also have room for your refug if you want it, or max amounts of bio. I ran 40b for both of those tanks with no problems