Chambers are useful for separating different types of media, for example forcing the water through a mechanical stage first before going into a K1 chamber. You can have as many or as few as you want. They can also help you have an area where you can easily access your pump and heater for servicing/adjustment without digging through or disrupting your media area.
Good oxygen exchange on the chambers that flow over into the next
Some people run very very basic sumps with no baffles at all and they"ll do a great job. Water into a filter sock at one end, big pile of lava rock in the middle and the pump at the other end, job done.
But baffles look better imo, they keep everything compartmentalised. I just go with the basic three section set up, mechanical, bio and pump. You can custom make them in all sorts of ways, it's purely down to individual taste.
I think the effectiveness of different types of sumps isn't solely down to the sump design. A good turnover is important to get the water really flowing through there and using decent media for the BB to grow on is also important. The actual design of the sump comes second to these in my view.
But baffles look better imo, they keep everything compartmentalised. I just go with the basic three section set up, mechanical, bio and pump. You can custom make them in all sorts of ways, it's purely down to individual taste.
I think the effectiveness of different types of sumps isn't solely down to the sump design. A good turnover is important to get the water really flowing through there and using decent media for the BB to grow on is also important. The actual design of the sump comes second to these in my view.
Depends on what type of mechanical filtration is planned, if filter socks is considered, what other media is going in. Any skimmers, refeugium, K1, plants etc going in the sump. Also if chemical filtration is needed, after bio filtration.
For a simple design, use socks at one end for mechanical filtration, pump on other end, all various media in the middle. There is no need for baffles for such design.
For a simple design, use socks at one end for mechanical filtration, pump on other end, all various media in the middle. There is no need for baffles for such design.
There are no hard and fast rules for "chambers" or anything else in sumps, except the law of gravity.
I don't use any chambers in sumps, as I find them creatively restrictive, and sometimes make maintenance non-user friendly, trying to cram arms between barriers, or in smallish spaces.
I use filter socks for mechanical (easy to remove and rinse out, place bio-media in mesh bags (also easy to remove and shake gunk off of, which leaves plenty of space for other things such as protein simmers (yes in fresh water) or separate fluidized beds.
The only time a find any chambering necessary is when trying to separate out a refugium type plant bed so substrate doesn't spill out or wander, and in that case usually just locate a shallow planted tank in the chain or tanks.
U usually use 1 sump for 3-4 tanks (refuguims extra)
I don't use any chambers in sumps, as I find them creatively restrictive, and sometimes make maintenance non-user friendly, trying to cram arms between barriers, or in smallish spaces.
I use filter socks for mechanical (easy to remove and rinse out, place bio-media in mesh bags (also easy to remove and shake gunk off of, which leaves plenty of space for other things such as protein simmers (yes in fresh water) or separate fluidized beds.
The only time a find any chambering necessary is when trying to separate out a refugium type plant bed so substrate doesn't spill out or wander, and in that case usually just locate a shallow planted tank in the chain or tanks.
U usually use 1 sump for 3-4 tanks (refuguims extra)
If you don't have at least 10 distinct compartments in your sump ALL OF YOUR FISH WILL DIE!!!! lol.
Like the others I prefer simpler over complex when it comes to designing my sumps. Two things you might consider are maintainability and will your equipment fit.
The easier it is to get stuff into and out of your sump the easier it will be to maintain which will pay off very big down the road.
I have seen complex sumps designed that make accessing the pump very difficult and that have had so many baffles there was no room to put a heater in the sump (Not that I would ever design such a beast).
Compartments, baffles and the flow of water through the sump is cool... just make sure you don't over do it!
Like the others I prefer simpler over complex when it comes to designing my sumps. Two things you might consider are maintainability and will your equipment fit.
The easier it is to get stuff into and out of your sump the easier it will be to maintain which will pay off very big down the road.
I have seen complex sumps designed that make accessing the pump very difficult and that have had so many baffles there was no room to put a heater in the sump (Not that I would ever design such a beast).
Compartments, baffles and the flow of water through the sump is cool... just make sure you don't over do it!
I used a 40b for the sump under my 75 gallon. I like the 40b simply because it can hold a ton of stuff like media etc. when i designed it (been running for about a year and a half) I wanted to use the 2nd chamber to keep a pump in for simultaneous water changes. I stick my hose from the sink in chamber 4 and turn it on, turn the pump on and let it run for about 10-12 minutes and by my loose calculations it equals out to about a 80% water change. The ease of cleaning your filter media makes the sump super convenient. On the “out” pump I fill a bucket of water that i use to shake the filter media out in and just toss it back in. No canisters to drag around and get the bathroom all messy.
