I love your filter!
Just a thought...
Starting from the Right side of your sump where the aquarium water enters.
1) The water enters via filter socks in the right most compartment.
2) A baffle filled with holes reaching from the top all the way to the bottom of the sump. All water will have to go through the drilled holes.
3) A 2" thick filter sponge covering the entire cross section of the sump. i.e. the sponge will be the size of the baffle.
4) A second baffle filled with holes 2" away from the first baffle. In essence you will have a sponge sandwiched between two baffles filled with holes. This will allow you to easily remove the sponge for cleaning and reinsert it between the baffles.
5) The K1 media compartment spanning the majority of the width of the sump.
6) A third baffle filled with holes creating the right most compartment for the pump. Or just use a piece of screen the size of the cross section of the tank instead of the third drilled baffle. Or don't put a third baffle in at all... Us a 1 1/2" pipe the width of the tank for an intake strainer for your pump. Drill the pipe with holes small enough that the K1 wont get trapped. Then put this intake on the left bottom side of the sump.
By having baffles filled with holes you will be spreading out the water flow over the entire cross section of the sump and you won't have a current on the bottom of the sump bypassing the K1 media. The sponge as well as the holes will disperse the water evenly. Drill the holes in the second baffle so they DON'T line up with the holes in the first baffle to maximize the water dispersion pattern.
8) Get a coil of PEX pipe (1/2" or 3/4" by maybe 10 feet long) and drill a bunch of holes in it. Put this coil on the bottom of the K1 compartment and blast the K1 with air. Forget about pretty swirl patterns and just go for maximum activity.
My thinking: The bacteria you are trying to culture are aerobic bacteria so the more air they come in contact with the stronger the culture you will be able to build.
I think you came to the conclusion that a fluidized K1 filter is redundant to the BIO balls. I agree! A huge sponge the size of the cross section of the sump and all the K1 media you can fit should be an optimal filter.
Just a thought...
Starting from the Right side of your sump where the aquarium water enters.
1) The water enters via filter socks in the right most compartment.
2) A baffle filled with holes reaching from the top all the way to the bottom of the sump. All water will have to go through the drilled holes.
3) A 2" thick filter sponge covering the entire cross section of the sump. i.e. the sponge will be the size of the baffle.
4) A second baffle filled with holes 2" away from the first baffle. In essence you will have a sponge sandwiched between two baffles filled with holes. This will allow you to easily remove the sponge for cleaning and reinsert it between the baffles.
5) The K1 media compartment spanning the majority of the width of the sump.
6) A third baffle filled with holes creating the right most compartment for the pump. Or just use a piece of screen the size of the cross section of the tank instead of the third drilled baffle. Or don't put a third baffle in at all... Us a 1 1/2" pipe the width of the tank for an intake strainer for your pump. Drill the pipe with holes small enough that the K1 wont get trapped. Then put this intake on the left bottom side of the sump.
By having baffles filled with holes you will be spreading out the water flow over the entire cross section of the sump and you won't have a current on the bottom of the sump bypassing the K1 media. The sponge as well as the holes will disperse the water evenly. Drill the holes in the second baffle so they DON'T line up with the holes in the first baffle to maximize the water dispersion pattern.
8) Get a coil of PEX pipe (1/2" or 3/4" by maybe 10 feet long) and drill a bunch of holes in it. Put this coil on the bottom of the K1 compartment and blast the K1 with air. Forget about pretty swirl patterns and just go for maximum activity.
My thinking: The bacteria you are trying to culture are aerobic bacteria so the more air they come in contact with the stronger the culture you will be able to build.
I think you came to the conclusion that a fluidized K1 filter is redundant to the BIO balls. I agree! A huge sponge the size of the cross section of the sump and all the K1 media you can fit should be an optimal filter.
