2 different sump designs, which is better?

[breakspirit]

Hey guys, I've been heavily researching constructing a 30 gallon sump for my 125 gallon tank and I've run into two basic designs, one of which is far more common and the other of which has far more bio filtration. Here is a rough sketch of them I did in MS Paint =)



Design A is the one you see everywhere in which the inlet is covered by a filter sock and then a baffle separates that area from the drip pan, mechanical filter, and bio filter area. This design sacrifices a large amount of the tank for a seemingly pointless chamber.

Design B forgoes that chamber and the water simply pours straight into a filter pad/drip pan/bio media chamber. This allows for far more bio media and I can see nothing wrong with this design.

Of course, I've never built a sump and therefore may be missing some obvious reason for which everyone chooses design A over B. Can someone please enlighten me?

 

[haxjester]

I can't say the advantages of Design A as I've never used one. I built mine according to your Design B, and it's worked out great!

 

[fishloaf666]

im assuming design A is quieter

 

[turtlesrock]

they both go through the same phases of filtration so they are both as effective as the other one. its the media you use and how much you turnover and what the stock is.

 

[Egon]

I personally use the B type design, it's easier to DIY that sump. The big open chamber I build PVC supports and put plastic peg board across the top just under the incoming line. On top of the peg board I put some mechanical filter floss stuff looks like cotton. Under the peg board is bio balls or pot scrubbers. Water comes out, hits the mechanical filter media then spreads out across the plastic peg board and flows evenly down through the bio balls and to the pump. Simple. 50% of the bio media is out of the water making a true wet/dry system. Design A seems like the bio media will be totally submersed?

 

[frnchjeep]

Both of my sumps are like design B. Design A will be quieter as long as the inlet pipe is submerged in the chamber. There won't be any splashing noises from the inlet. The only noise will be the pump and the water trickling through the biomedia.

 

[turtlesrock]

yeah B is the better choice if you want to DIY it (highly recomended)

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

my sump is designed according to deisgn A and i love it i have my mech filtration sititng on top of the first chamber in a tupperware drawer type thing with holes drilled in the bottom with my heaters sititng in the first section and then my bio chamber in the second and pump in the third

 

[bomber]

I would choose design A.

I would then add a 100 micron filter sock to that tube along with your design to have super crystal clear water.

 

[tdkee1]

I would choose design A.

I would then add a 100 micron filter sock to that tube along with your design to have super crystal clear water.

I agree. My next sump will be design A (55 gallon) with two 7'' filter socks. I like how they polish the water.