55 gal Sump Design

[Jonergin]

This is my first sump design and I'm feeling like it can't be this easy or that I'm missing something.

This will go on my 240 for my two O's, a Midas and as an intermediate home for my Marbled Pim (indoor pond in the future for him).

I wish to use filter socks in a non-traditional way. I love the concept behind them but I'm wary of the complaints that they require constant attention to keep the water flow at its peak. So I would like to instead use them as the last step before the return pump. This of course will require some creative water channeling but I think I can do it.

Specs:

• 1500 gph through dual 1.5 inch drains in a single overflow (from glass-holes)
• 55 gal sump
• 5 chamber design, 1st chamber mechanical, 2-3 bio, 4 for as-needed customizing, and 5 for water polishing and return pump.
• Mag Drive 2400 at 5 ft head = 1630 gph ( I know this is not what the charts say online, but it is what my box says)
• Algae scrubber (130 gal excess from pump, diverted)
• Return from sump a RUGF system (chomper's design)

These are some areas that need refining, information or ideas, so please feel free:

1. Area where water from overflows comes into the sump and encounters the pre-filter media (spray bar? trickle plate? t-elbow?)
2. Angle of attack for algae scrubber (ideal water velocity?)
3. 4th chamber as refugium? I think my water velocity will be too much though, the sump turn over would be every 2.2 minutes.
4. How to channel water from 4th chamber so that there is no bypass of the filter sock(s). I had thought about forming open top spouts by cutting PVC in half and affixing it to pre-cut notches in the acrylic wall into the 5th chamber.

Below is the PowerPoint Ranger blueprint. Click to enlarge.

 

[BadOleRoss]

Keeping in mind that everyone has different ideas on sumps, here are my thoughts. Take the 2nd chambers, make it about 3" wide and make this a chamber where water will rise to fall down through your bio media. Chamber 3-4, combine them into 1 chamber for your bio media and get your bio media off the bottom of the sump. Maybe on a shelf 5-6" off the bottom. In my minds eye, water will enter the sump and go through you mechanical filtration, rise through chamber to where it will overflow onto a drip plate and fall through your bio media (bioballs, scrubbies) to the bottom of the sump where it will get pumped back to your tank. Love the algae scrubber. I love sumps too!