Lets talk sumps!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
also with the filter sock , i would have 1 cut out for the single sock and put arylic all around the lip. Then drill another hole in the acrylic and use a less finer sock , so when the fine sock overflows the water goes onto the acrylic top and drains through the second sock , hope you understand.
 
TheCanuck, everything you said made sense! I was wondering if the filters and the socks were overkill and were serving the same purpose. I am not a foam/sponge freak, these are just things that weren't used the last time I had a big FW tank and they looked interesting. I enjoyed your drawing and it's clear that extra effort went into the amount of scrubbies and the detail on the pump! I have redesigned the sump yet again by running a 3" PVC spraybar the length of the sump that will be fed by 2 overflows. Water will go throught a prefilter pad and then into "scrubbie madness" as you recommended. My heaters can sit in the area with the pump. Comments?

SumpRedesign2.jpg
 
Nice... I am under the impression that freshwater sumps need not be as complicated as marine sumps. The design is good.

Bear
 
You would be surprised at how little bio media you actually need, especially once a tank is established. Unless of course we are talking a glass bottom overstocked tank with very little 'scaping.

Not that no bio media is necessary, just that you do not need as much as you would think. Mech media needs more maintenance, socks and such, whereas bio needs, well none really, but mech provides a usefull function in filtration and omitting that would be definately noticeable in your water collumn.
 
fox3;3850987; said:
You would be surprised at how little bio media you actually need, especially once a tank is established. Unless of course we are talking a glass bottom overstocked tank with very little 'scaping.

Not that no bio media is necessary, just that you do not need as much as you would think. Mech media needs more maintenance, socks and such, whereas bio needs, well none really, but mech provides a usefull function in filtration and omitting that would be definately noticeable in your water collumn.
Click to expand...

I love the new design.
I thought you had a good idea with the graduated filter sock , i just dont know how you could get that to actually function as good as it looks. Your new design is actually my design for my new 360 next weekend. Though if you figure out the graduated filter sock thing ill impliment that in mine as well. I planned on using my fx5 for the "filter sock" using fine pads in the fx5. My protien skimmer also takes fine particles out as well.

Im sure everyone will agree , you can never have to much bio media.:naughty:
 
Another suggestion, if perhaps you consider using seachem's Pond matrix (my personal favourite) you can filter an insane amount of water with a very little area. They rate their product to support 400 galls of water for every liter of pond matrix (don't ask me why they use metric on the product and U.S. units for tank capacity instead just picking one. I'm still trying to figure that out) Then you can build a small bio chamber and still have some kick for filtration. The extra space you can use to build something else fun like a fuge or algae scrubber. Also I enjoy filter socks very much. I have them on 3 tanks in the house. My filter maintenance almost doesn't exist. I have 2 socks for each tank. Once a week I take the old one off, put the new one on, then throw the old ones in the wash machine with a 5% or so bleach/water mix and DONE! Any way, just another possibility. The other suggestion are pretty spiffin as well. Also I agree with canuck about not needing sponges with the socks. Either one should do the job unless you put sponges first and then a mega fine sock like a 25 micron or something.
 
TheCanuck;3850471; said:
heres a new diagram i took the time to draw... you seem to be a foam/sponge freak lol , so heres how it goes. The water goes through the filter sock , and the filter sock is below the top of the sump just incase it clogs and begins to over flow. The socks clog easy and will overflow so this prevents water from getting out of the sump. Then there is a foam block , to get the derbis if the sock ever overflowed. Then the water travels up to the drip plate which has another filter pad on top , which isnt needed put it seemed like you would like it. Then it drips on a massive amout of elevated scrubbies. Then goes to the pump. No space wasted all used to the fullest. Simple YET very effective. You better consider this lol i actually drew it for you.

The graduated sock idea sounds bad A
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Sooooo, you pretty much drew up exactly what I said about the scrubbie bay... I agree with the design & I'm glad that got the point across better, but I still think foam has a place in any sump. Not just for mech, but also bio: Different BB species prefer different surface types, so all my sumps have a mixture of (at least, some have more) random sponge chunks, biomax, gravel, scrubbies, and PVC rings. The rule of thumb is that every new surface type you introduce should quadruple the # of BB species in the whole system, making the entire bio-filter more robust & keeping any single species from dominating.

As far as my graduated sock idea, I liked someone elses idea of a spacer between the socks in case one overflows... However, I still think if the water travels thru the socks from coarsest to finest, clogging shouldn't be much of an issue. In fact, any sock system that overflows before a serious blockage occurs probably has a design flaw. The advantage of sock designs is 3-fold: gravity, surface area, and hydraulic pressure using that gravity to force water thru all that extra surface area. The spacer idea should work just as well in a design using this sequence.

OP: Love the new design, so just figure out your mechanical (sock or sponge) & get to building!
 
I am going to assemble the outside box this Saturday while I watch the snow fall. Once I get the box built and really get a feel for the size I will think more about the final design. I wish I had space to make the sump deeper but my stand clearance is only 22 inches and I want to be able to work with the sump should the need arise.
 
i think sponges are useless , and have almost no surface area. I was aware of two types of bacteria , submerged and oxygenaged BB.

I like the matrix idea , you could add some matrix to "sump" or submerged part of the wetdry. Man your tank will be sparkling clear no matter what you do.

I think putting it together and sticking in the stand or against the wall then looking at it realistic wize. Your right get a feel for how you would like to do it. Heck you could flip a new design again , though i think your design has improved through the last posts!

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=305149

theres my little sump i made in like 30 mins with the pvc overflow for my 180 gallon. That little black thing is an insertable wet/dry . Pretty cool , and it all fits well. I have the wet/dry with srubbies and the submerged bio max below ( a whopping 3 litres ).

Simple , effective. Easy to maintain , easy to top off.
 
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