sump design freshwater

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
C

crossleymarko

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Apr 29, 2009
79
1
38
bolton uk
hey all, about to be moving soon. so the plywood 145 gal tank a started around 18mnth ago will get finished. just got myself a 55 gal tank that ill be using as a sump.. here is my design

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19756368/sump design.png

wat do you all think

also im looking at using the pvc overflow siphon method, instead of drilling out the tank.. although it is plywood what does everyone think should i drill or siphon.
if i do go down the road of siphon were do we in the uk get hold of the aqua lifter pumps to maintain siphon.. or is there another method..

thanks all
 
I will give you the same advice that was given to me when I built my sump. Too complicated for freshwater. Check out the gallery in my signature line for my 240 plywood tank. My sump (overhead) is simple and works great.
 
I agree it seems much more complex than need be. I prefer a very simple one large chamber with bioballs for bio filtration and high O2 exchange and another smaller chamber for pump access. If I were to add anything to this basic design it would be a chamber for filter socks. If you study the hi-dollar commercial sumps they all follow this very basic and simple design.
 
everything ive read says you can never have to much filtration, so is this wrong. i want as low maintenance as possible... i know i will still have water changes but even that one day will become automated.
sump%20design.png
 
crossleymarko said:
everything ive read says you can never have to much filtration, so is this wrong. i want as low maintenance as possible... i know i will still have water changes but even that one day will become automated.
sump%20design.png
Click to expand...

I don't see any reason you would ever want to run bio balls submerged. I would remove the bio ball chamber and use all K1 or remove the K1 chamber and put a drip plate over the bio balls to run them in a Wet/dry state. I have a very strong preference for wet/dry bio balls. I see no purpose for the two right most baffles?
 
Bio balls arnt meant just to catch everything up they are designed to hold bacteria in your filter, being submerged is the only logical thing to do with bio balls, its a filter media -.-
 
Bioballs are for wet dry, where water just trickles over them. The submerged media of choice is ceramic rings or something like that. I'm not sure what makes bio balls for wet dry only, but if you ask anyone that's what they'll say.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom