Is this container too big for a DIY wet/dry?

[KaiserSousay]

You may not be able to use the bottom drawer for media

Sure he could. It wont be as effective but its better than leaving it empty

Many use the "empty" bottom drawer as a stand, to keep the bulk of the bio media exposed to the air, for max benifit.
Plus, the spare drawer is full of fresh media for changing out the first drawers major gunk catcher.

 

[kallmond]

I'm thinking of building a similar sump but was told some of the plastic container may release toxic into water?? and needs to be food grade to be safe...

I'm so calling shenanigans on this...

The only time plastic gets 'toxic' is if you microwave it or otherwise super-heat it. Even with BPA (That shatter proof plastic they outlawed for water bottles in the US) it was fine unless you over the course of years heated it or left it out in the sun for long periods of time and then drank from that bottle every day. The reason they outlawed it for baby bottles is because people microwaved them and then feed their kid out of them 5 or 6 times a day every day. If you never heated the plastic it was fine.

Use whatever plastic you want, provided its clean and free of damage it'll be fine.

< disclaimer> I'm not a scientist, but I read every article and scrap of information I could find about plastic when my son was born. < /disclaimer>

 

[Pharaoh]

No...it is not too big.

 

[JakeH]

You may not be able to use the bottom drawer for media

Sure he could. It wont be as effective but its better than leaving it empty

Many use the "empty" bottom drawer as a stand, to keep the bulk of the bio media exposed to the air, for max benifit.
Plus, the spare drawer is full of fresh media for changing out the first drawers major gunk catcher.

Agreed. He could use the bottom drawer for anything, including....wait for it...wait for it.......submerged bio-media! Oops, did I say that out loud? Just kiddin, but with my drawer system I found it more beneficial to run the bottom drawer empty & allow a higher water level to reduce the odds of starving the pump. The bottom drawer media just catches gunk if its below the water line & the gunk ends up in the strainer of my pump.

To John7429: You're also correct that the bottom drawer is fine for media. However, in my experience with my drawer system, it really depends on the media in question. I'm a huge fan of submerged biomedia, but in the bottom drawer it doesn't get much water movement & collects a lot of gunk, so I dont waste expensive ceramic media in there. Running mechanical media below the water line is almost totally useless, as it doesn't really get good downward flow, which causes flotation & the bottom drawer wants to slide open, causing even more bypass. Again, just my 2 cents!