help my sump flow

[toehead11183]

going to have a 65 gal sump built. im having trouble maximizing my flow through the bio media. sump is 48Lx18Wx17T. i'll have 2 filter sock them all bio media either scrubbies, ceramic rigs or a mix. i have lots of both.


heres the 3 compartments


heres what im thinking



i know a drip system would be more efficient but i always have trouble with them. flow will be around 1200-1400

 

[Oughtsix]

That is a ton of volume for bio media! What are you filtering... a pond?

Here is a thought... Use the design in the top picture. Raise the last partition an inch off the bottom of the tank. Put a screen in this area to contain the bio media. Put 3 inches of bio media in the bottom of the sump. Put some egg crate on top of the bio media. Shove a bunch of Pothos clippings through the holes in the egg crate.

... just a thought.

 

[toehead11183]

i have a 280 gal with quite a few fish. feeding all of them creates a huge bio load all at once. the 2 fx5s are holding for now but with 7 frontosas, 50 clown loaches a niger cat, an irwini cat, 3 blood parrots and a few others with a 4" arowana in grow out, i'll need more. plus, the size of the sump will add some volume, might as well use it to the best

 

[Oughtsix]

For a heavily stocked tank I like a wet/dry configuration better because of the huge air/water surface area. The huge air/water surface area gives you great O2 exchange as well as excellent CO2 off gassing. This would mean adding a drip tray above your bio media and running bio balls or scrubbies surrounded by air. I would wag that 20 gallons of bioballs should handle your bio load pretty easily. You could then use the rest of the volume for a refugium.

You might consider: Sock filter compartment : overflow partition : refugium : overflow partition into Drip tray : Bio ball chamber with egg crate floor : underflow partition : pump chamber.

Just a thought!