55g sump design - need your comments

[morfeus077]

I have a 120g tank that I plan to overstock. I also have a 55g tank to use for a sump and I want to get the most out of total water capacity. Drew up a couple of plans to scale. I created an image of the scaled drawing below.

I don't care about wasted space, I want as much water as I can get out of this. The idea behind the tiered chambers is to create water disturbance and maximize oxygen exchange. Atop each of the bio ball chambers will be drilled plexi to distribute the flow evenly. Not indicated are pieces of eggcrate where needed for separation. What I would like is your comments on why this will or will not work. Thank you in advance!!!

 

[RayzrsEdge]

just be careful of ur positioning of the chamber dividers, i built one very similar to this and some chambers filled up faster than others, i had to take it apart, cut the dividers down and reposition there height a couple times, placing the drilled plexi glass over the bio balls will distributet he water more evenly but it may slow the flowrate down, what exactly are u using the eggcrate for???

 

[Err]

I like the idea behind the tier system, but I honestly dont think you will need that much poly fill. Why not just make a big fat chamber full of bio balls/scrubbies (w/e your bio media choice is) with a nice drip tray above it that is filled with say...2-4" thick layer of ply fill? that way you will get max O2 exchange and you wont be going over kill on the poly fill.

 

[Err]

Oh and not to mention siliconeing in that weave of chamber dividers is going to be a serious PITA

 

[Matt724]

yeah, that foam at the end there is going to slow down the flow a lot, unless it's pretty porous

 

[morfeus077]

Thanks for the comments folks... here's the revised plan. applying silicone in a 2" column was not going to work. Keep the comments coming!

 

[KoiGorgon]

Far from an expert, but the new design looks much more efficient from what I've learned so far..

 

[Pharaoh]

second design looks like it will work well.

 

[Lil_Stinker]

Both appear functional, #2 will be easier to build & maintain.. the foam at the end may cause issues, are you thinking it will polish the water?

What type of UV is this going to be? you don't want the light hitting the bio material

 

[Pharaoh]

Most pre-fab sumps come with the foam in question. It is there to keep stay debris from getting to the pump and recirculating.