This is what I think I might go with. I can use my existing over flows to have this fed by gravity on the way down to the sump. I have the space to run something like this behind the set up, and maybe can build this into my overflow, and have it filter the water on the way down to the sump to be heated and returned.You might consider and find a bio-tower and the lack of footprint it take useful, they can be as narrow as a couple inches or as wide as the largest PVC carried in your area,
and be almost as tall as a tank, or drill ports and be packed with biomedia,
They can be place outside the sump and stand but flow into the sump.
I have made them as narrow as 3" in PVC diameter and as wide as 8" and 5 ft tall.
The one above is @ 8" and made with clear PVC for the viewing portion, but normal PVC components were used for the other parts.
Below you can see standard PVC parts
A cap can be used to minimize spatter.
How did you plumb this at the bottom?You might consider and find a bio-tower and the lack of footprint it take useful, they can be as narrow as a couple inches or as wide as the largest PVC carried in your area,
and be almost as tall as a tank, or drill ports and be packed with biomedia,
They can be place outside the sump and stand but flow into the sump.
I have made them as narrow as 3" in PVC diameter and as wide as 8" and 5 ft tall.
The one above is @ 8" and made with clear PVC for the viewing portion, but normal PVC components were used for the other parts.
Below you can see standard PVC parts
A cap can be used to minimize spatter.