Please critique my sump design

[sashimimaster]

Ok, I think I've got it now. Put the mech filtering first then the refugium since it has the highest water level, made the wet dry area next with a lower level. Then finally through foam and ceramic noodles being submerged and plenty of spare room for extra water when things over flow.

The lighting will have to be from the sides but I think this will work.

 

[Toby_H]

^^ That would work and is the best design you've posted thus far...

I personally would minimize the bio media and enlarge the refugium...

Naturally to give the bio balls a somewhat even flow you will need to use a drip plate above them. You will want to put some form of sponge, fabric or something on tiop of it to prevent plant matter from dislodging and getting caught in the bio balls where it will biodegrade much like fish waste will...

 

[sashimimaster]

Ok, added a thin layer of large pore foam over the drip plate.

Now I just have to figure out a way to make the floss cover easy to remove for cleaning.

Thanks for all the input. I'm so glad I asked the question.

 

[BadOleRoss]

How is it hard to clean filter socks? Just order 10-20 of them and switch them out. Cleaning is no harder than taking one out and putting another in. When you get a stack, throw them in the washing machine with some bleach water.

It's not hard to clean the filter sock, but its a pain in the butt. A replacement filter sock from Foster and Smith is $10, so you are talking a couple hundred bucks for 20 of them. Switching them out is easy, but throwing them in the washing machine with some bleach didn't get them anywhere near clean or even cleanish. They had to be soaked in bleach water for a day or two and then hosed out. I was having to clean them every other day and that was using 4 of them on a 315G tank turning over only 3 times an hour. Just not a good option IMO!

 

[SpeshulEd]

You should check out mcmasters...
http://www.mcmaster.com/#filter-bags/=7aii6d

I got 15 of them ( POLYESTER FELT FILTER BAG, 100 MICRON, TRADE SIZE 1, 7" DIA X 16-1/2" HEIGHT, item number 5162K39[FONT=&quot]) for $56.30 shipped.

To wash them, all I do is throw all of them (except 1) in the washing machine, set it for the largest load possible and pour in a cup of bleach. Mine come out nice and clean every time.

With it being a larger size, I only use one and switch it out about twice a week. I wash a load once every two months give or take a week.
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[jcardona1]

filter socks are no good?

say what you want, my tank stays crystal clear with a 100/50 micron filter sock. ordered a bunch at $3 each, swap them out every few days. when i get a stack of dirty socks, throw them in the washing machine with water only and they come out just like new.

if that's not easy and cheap then i dont know what is. using coarser media is just more hassle IMO