simplest, cheapest, wet/dry ever

[bitteraspects]

its a DIY. you can build it however you want.
lots of people just build a PVC frame with legs to keep it off the bottom of the sump.
or you can just get a stack of 4 or 5 drawers, and pull the bottom drawer(s) out completely.

 

[Eazy]

Okay. I understand people worry about their pump failing and the sump overflowing, but if your sump is big enough, this wouldn't be an issue....

But what if the siphon from the overflow box fails and the tank overflows? Is this common??

 

[bitteraspects]

precautions need to be taken, but of course its always a possibility. i wouldn't go as far as saying its "common" though.
as long as your system is built properly, you really dont have much to worry about

 

[carsona246]

sorry to uproot this thread, but i have a small question about the drawers, i see in your pictures that the water level in you sump does not go above the second drawer in your biomedia. If you wanted to have the extra water volume, would having the water level going over your bio media drawer lessen its ability to grow the beneficial bacteria? I know that having a sump like this is effective because having water drip over the bio media allows the bacteria to grow well due to all the air available, but if the water level was higher, would it seep into the drawers, or would there still be plenty of air to be just as effective?

 

[jeffers]

great thread. eazy to build and very cost effective. thanks for sharing.

 

[Crispy]

sorry to uproot this thread, but i have a small question about the drawers, i see in your pictures that the water level in you sump does not go above the second drawer in your biomedia. If you wanted to have the extra water volume, would having the water level going over your bio media drawer lessen its ability to grow the beneficial bacteria? I know that having a sump like this is effective because having water drip over the bio media allows the bacteria to grow well due to all the air available, but if the water level was higher, would it seep into the drawers, or would there still be plenty of air to be just as effective?

Yes, water would seep into the drawers and submerge the biomedia. I like having my bio out of the water. Some people's setups have both submerged and unsubmerged media. Personal preference I suppose, but I think the unsubmerged works best... especially in a wet/dry trickle setup.

 

[livebearerfreak]

well there goes my 20 dollars for the week... gotta make a new sump.

 

[sponger_2]

in the submerged drawers, id go ceramic rings. i myself will be doing this shortly.