1st try at sump filtration

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
You may want to consider some kind of "polishing pads" at the top of the "fine sponge" and under the egg crate with the weight...

These polishing pads are just very fine media that is rated in the 3~10 micron range. Felt fabric is an alternative to higher priced polishing pads...


I see no purpose for the filter floss on top of the bio media...


Providing an 'air gap' between the drip tray and the bio media will provide a point of oxygenation of the water at the bio media. This will (at least theoretically) provide better conditions for bacteria to process/oxidize waste by-products...
 
Very nice, and I agree with nutcase. I don't know what you are using for biomedia, but bioballs stick to filter floss like velcro.
 
The raising of the baffles has me a little worried. If you raise them too much you may end up having to run the sump with such a high water level that if the power goes out, your sump won't be able to hold in the event of a backsiphon. This was mentioned previously, but just make sure you test it before you silicone anything. I prefer to leave a little extra space for a back siphon. Having to constantly tinker with your water level is annoying. If you keep your baffles a little on the lower side, you have a larger margin for error. I'm not disagreeing with the previous posts...just concerned that you may go too high and end up regretting it. There's a happy medium somewhere in there. Good luck!
 
^Valid Concern^

It's a matter of finding the balance between having enough empty space to catch all of the water when the pump is turned off...

Yet not leavign so much space empty that you are not making full use of the sump space you've supplied...


As in most things in life, the solution is in the balance...
 
i raised the baffles after i was given advice to, i had the concern about too much water going into the sump thats why they were so low and the sump tank so high to start with. so ive adjusted them to be higher than the beginning design but lower than the last touch up, a happy medium.
what i will do is when i get the sump made i will get it made 30x20x23 (lxhxw).
that way i can lower the baffles (by 1") but not lose any media space and that leaves approx a 25g cushion.
i can get the overflow custom made to be at whatever height i choose so even with the tank full i can have the overflows built so i can never get careless or make a mistake.

i believe that 18litres of bio is a bit much so that is now reduced to approx 12 litres. im only adding a shoal of med sized fish and more bichirs so huge bio isnt going to be a concern.
mechanical filtration is more my problem because my cichlids like to spread the food around hence the large return pumps and large overflows so i get good turnover.
Image4.jpg
 
So this is the flow path of the water?

Unless i am missing something I have major concerns about the functionality of the filter.

Image4.jpg
 
Here is a generally accepted to be very effeicient design that may help you out.
 
oops

filter%20sump%20design.JPG
 
It looks good for the most part if you drill the return line you will not get as bad back syphone. Also you may want to make 2nd baffle taller and the last one only a half inch up frome the bottom.
 
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