Building a 55g sump

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oscarman2003

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 26, 2008
482
1
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Baltimore
I am bulking a 55g sump I need to know what should the spacing be between my baffles and how far off the tank bottom should my media chamber be. This sump will be filtering a 125. This is a pic of the design that I am doing just don't have any measurements. And what gph rating would be sufficient for this set up


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1) the text says it's for a 125, but the diagram shows an 85. Regardless, it would be helpful to know more about what's going to be in the final version of the tank as well as what other filtration other plan to have as well. E.g., if it's going to be a lightly stocked tank and you already have a HOB, this sump might work fine at 1.5-2x turnover. On the other hand, if it's heavily stocked with carnivorous fish and this is the sole filtration, more turnovers could be suggested. If you are going to use one pump and already have the UV, then what size is the UV and what are you trying to get from the UV (kill algae, bacteria, parasites?)

2) I think as long as you have 2 inches below the media, you will get adequate water flow. However, bio balls aren't very efficient as a submerged water media. I'd suggest something else like pond matrix or matrix if the media will be submerged like this.

3) the planted stock will not get a lot of deep water flow the way it looks. It looks like the entrance and exit to that compartment is simply an overflow at the top. Most of the water will simply flow along the top. If that's how it is supposed to work, then fine, but you might want more input from others that use plants in their sumps.

4) the baffles have to be wide enough to allow the water to flow in the desired directions without constricting the flow. You might want to wait until you have a better idea of the amount of flow through the sump. The faster it flows, the wider the baffles have to be.
 
Well I started construction today desided 16" media chamber first baffle 2" off bottom with inch spacing between the first two baffes will post pics in am


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If I were building this I would increase the media capacity by lowering the bottom of the media chamber and raising the top so there is some wet/dry effect, looks like the drip plate could come up three to four inches. As for the planted area, if this is for nitrate removal, I would root the plants in ceramic media or larger rock, either a thick layer over the bottom or in net pots that allow water to flow through.
 
I would put the bio ball chamber after the refuge and other mechanical filtration. This way you can run a lower water level in the bio ball chamber and the bio balls can be surrounded with air instead of submerged which will be MUCH better!

Water supply from tank --> mechanical filtration --> refuge (plants) --> Bio ball chamber --> pump.
 
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