Mechanical filtration first ?

[fishmaster11]

Hi MFK,

I just recently ordered an 8x4 aquarium. I plan to do a sump above and below my tank. My question is does it matter if mechanical filtration is first or last?

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Hi MFK,

I just recently ordered an 8x4 aquarium. I plan to do a sump above and below my tank. My question is does it matter if mechanical filtration is first or last?

Yes, it does matter, because if your mechanical filtration isn't first the rest will get clogged up with crap and be useless.

 

[esoxlucius]

Yeah, ideally you really need to take as much particulate out of the water as possible before it gets to your bio section. Your bio section is without doubt the most important area of your whole set up. For it to work efficiently it needs to remain as gunk free as possible so water flow dosen't get restricted.

That said, over time you may still notice a slight build up of crud in there, some of the particulates are just too fine for the mech section to catch. Maybe once a year I will carefully rinse my bio in tank water to clean it up and get rid of waste and dead bacteria etc.

The key is to have adequate mechanical filtration from the start.

 

[flukeone]

From what I understood it goes mechanical - > biological - > uv if any - > pump

 

[fishmaster11]

Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[fishmaster11]

I am trying to figure out how to get the water up to the above sump without having to have a return pump in the tank. Don't want to see that in the tank. Reason I want it to go to the above sump first is for mechanical filtration . Easy access on top.

 

[esoxlucius]

So, above sump for mechanical and below sump for biological? Very odd. Why don't you just have one sump hidden under your display tank that accommodates mechanical, biological and your return pump? Access shouldn't be an issue if your stand is built right.

 

[BichirKing]

can you put a piece of black acrylic in a corner and hide the pump behind it? kinda like they do for a regular overflow skimmer box?

 

[fishmaster11]

So, above sump for mechanical and below sump for biological? Very odd. Why don't you just have one sump hidden under your display tank that accommodates mechanical, biological and your return pump? Access shouldn't be an issue if your stand is built right.

Yes, stand will built correctly. But it's easier than to have to bend down and get under the tank. Lol

 

[fishmaster11]

can you put a piece of black acrylic in a corner and hide the pump behind it? kinda like they do for a regular overflow skimmer box?

Hmm I could do that. But still wouldn't look great.