thanks alot! im currently dealing with a little bit of a bubble issue in the filter socks, but its prob because its new water, cold water (finally started running heaters today), and im maxing out the overflows for sure using the mag18. but its nothing bad..
as far as media under the wetdry.. i have plenty of room for more, and ordered a couple more media bags, im gonna stack it all differently but for now i just put some in there to see what i was working with as far as space.
the only serious recomendation i would make to this sump, is not using the aga megaflow bulkheads with the barbed fitting (they suck when it comes to plumbing them) and also having the water line lower in the first chamber.. the filter socks bubble significantly less when elevated out of the water.. i would ideally come down about 2-3 inches in the first chamber, give up an inch of wetdry and another inch of submersed media under it. filter socks seems to work awsome, but they are deff a pain to get working well especially when the overflows are maxed out and the water line is so high in the sump.
also taking the trim off was useless.. the glass i ordered at first was cut to big.. it was their error.. i thought a strait shot in would help.. save your self the time and time.. and time.. and also time.. and leave the trim alone, if glass is cut currectly it will slide and twist right into place.
My glass was cut at 11 7/8th the tank measure about 12inch wide.. 11 15/16th was EXTREMELY tight and i noticed the glass on the 55g is not even silicones perfectly strait.. no use in working with manufactor error when silicone will do an outstanding job holding the glass in place..
just lay down blue tape strips, give your self about .75inch on each side of silicone room, peel after silicone has set for an hour.. i didnt do this and regret it..
as far as cost..
55g $55 dollars
4 glass baffles, 2 1inch glass strips to hold drip tray and lexan drip tray was 45 dollars.. i shopped the hell outa that order, i got prices from 200 to 150 to 80 to 45 =) SO SHOP IT!!!!!
mag18 130
bio media was like 40
seachem pond matrix was cheap too for the bucket like 15 or 20
the ball valves are absolutely useless.... this was my first sump and drilled tank.. i will never waste the money again on ball valves inline.. the gate valve is deff a must.. but honestly i would consider using one ball valve in the shorter section of return plumbing if you have dual outputs to possibly equal out the flow.. once again i havnt had the need to regulate this.. the flow is unequal but both strong.
even if your changing filter socks, you have to turn the sump off because if i close one valve the sump quickly runs dry.. everything has to be shut down..
