Sump design questions

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drunkenmastera

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 19, 2009
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Atlanta GA


I'm building this sump for a 220 gallon using beanimal style. The sump will be directly below tank, i'm guessing 5 ft.

1. Any concerns?
2. The part where i have the filter media, I seen a lot people with drip try to spread the flow into media, can you just use bags of media because it'll have to flow through all of it to get to return pump?
3. I search and didn't see where someone incorporate a water changer into their sump (I have a water line plumb, where should i add it to sump)
4. What about drain line for draining old water out? I was just going to drill a hole in the tank for this drain line.
 
I'm no expert, I'm in the process of building my first sump, but I think that 3rd baffle needs to be lower. If the bottom clogged, the water will overflow the sump?

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i would never have those dividers come to the top of the sump in case of clogging. you want to make sure that water keeps getting to that pump. you also want it as clean as possible or waste will burn out your motor. i would have the water drain onto bio balls, go through sheets of different density sponges (largest pores first), then go through carbon last. i also think it would be cool to have some shrimp in there or something. bamboo shrimp will clean everything.
 
If you have the room in your sump, I would recommend Teeing off your drain just above the sump so that water falls into two filter socks versus just one. They tend to clog up quickly even when running larger micron socks (ex 100 micron) and running two will extend the time between required cleanings.

Wet/Dry trip trays are fine (nothing wrong with them) but there's nothing wrong with keeping it simple and just using submerged bio media (ex- Seachem Matrix, Ceramic rings etc). If you decide to use submerged media, it's a good idea to keep them in bags so that it's easier to clean them every so often...all you really need to do is shake them around in the sump and it's easier to do that if they are in a bag. You can find Filter socks for your mechanical filtration (I would recommend starting with 100 micron) as well as larger micron bags (I would go with 400 micron) to hold your bio-media here: http://www.dudadiesel.com/search.php?query=+filter++bag&i=filterbags

If you are looking to setup a drip system to do a continuous water change, do a search for drip systems. If you are looking to just have a way to do an easy manual water change you will likely want to drill your display tank and not the sump. I would put the hole maybe a few inches below the level you would normally do water changes. I wouldn't want it on the bottom of the tank, because if there is an issue with the bulkhead, you will not be able to service it without entirely draining the tank...or worse yet, if the bulkhead fails = empty tank.

Lastly, if you haven't already bought your pump, I would recommend looking into Laguna Max Flos. They are very efficient, quiet and reliable pumps. Since pumps run 24-7, it's important that they are efficient.

Good luck!
 
I wouldn't use baffles and go submerged media, but that's personal preference. If the water enters through socks and has a pump returning water, then as long as the media is between the two points you have a functioning filter.

I use a drip system on 3 of my sump tanks and its as easy as drilling a hole in your sump/tank at the height you want your waste water to drain. Drip emitters supply water to the tanks and water drains by gravity out the drains.


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thanks guy, a lot of good info!!!!!!!!!!

i was thinking of doing a 1'' manual siphon in middle of tank for draining old water.
Then can I just install float valve switch like on toilets to start refilling water to sump? Then the return pump push the new water to tank?
Eventually the new water will fill the main tank and the float valve switch off?
Anyone see any issues with that?

Jc1119 said:
I wouldn't use baffles and go submerged media, but that's personal preference. If the water enters through socks and has a pump returning water, then as long as the media is between the two points you have a functioning filter.

I use a drip system on 3 of my sump tanks and its as easy as drilling a hole in your sump/tank at the height you want your waste water to drain. Drip emitters supply water to the tanks and water drains by gravity out the drains.


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Click to expand...


Can you provide more details about the drip emitters supplying water to tanks and water drains by gravity?
 
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