slapper said:Do you know how a bead filter works because i dont. Is it biological or mechanical or both. If it's mechanical, how small of a partical does it filter?
Its biological. Going back to your original plan, i think putting drains at the bottom
is dangerous. Imagine if something was to go wrong all the water in your tank could potentially go out of the tank, into the sump and could eventually end up on the floor.
It could be a costly disaster. I would stick with an overflow.