Sump help
- Thread starter Tseering23
- Start date
I've switched the order of media since design. Going to have K1/K2 media first, then ceramic, then sponges and poly.
I don't see a reason it wouldn't work, but I will say it is probably overkill. I am not a big fan of K1 beds, and I feel if you did the mech how you have it and mated the ceramic/K1 together with just bio media you'd be set. The K1 just adds extra to it that I don't want to deal with. YMMV.
GL!
Thanks. The only reason I'm using the K1 is because I got 5 gallons of it when I bought my bigger tank, so might as well use it. Do you mean to put ceramic and K1 into the same chamber? I'm also not using filter socks, putting poly in with sponges instead. In the input chamber, can I keep the water level about half way with the valves I'm using and pump? That's my main question about the design.
Your water level will settle as high as your shortest baffle I imagine. Without an baffles it'll settle based on how much you put in the sump as a whole.
It's getting a little confusing all this. If i'm understanding you correctly you want to control the water levels in different chambers of your sump independently, by using a valve for one compartment and your pump to control the other!!!! A basic sump set up doesn't work like that.
All you need to do is set the overflow at the desired level in your display tank, that sorts out your tank level, and this will never change, unless your overflow blocks, and even then there are safety measures you can put in place to prevent this.
And then down in your sump the running water level will only go as high as your last baffle, without a gap at the bottom.
Once your system is running your water levels in your display tank and first sections of your sump will never change. The only chamber which will be up and down will be your pump chamber. Evaporation decreases the level, a slight top up will increase the level. That's all you need to know.
How you set your mechanical and bio up is purely down to your own preference but the fundamentals of the tank/sump water levels are pre determined by your overflow and baffle configuration, and your pump pushing water through it all.
All you need to do is set the overflow at the desired level in your display tank, that sorts out your tank level, and this will never change, unless your overflow blocks, and even then there are safety measures you can put in place to prevent this.
And then down in your sump the running water level will only go as high as your last baffle, without a gap at the bottom.
Once your system is running your water levels in your display tank and first sections of your sump will never change. The only chamber which will be up and down will be your pump chamber. Evaporation decreases the level, a slight top up will increase the level. That's all you need to know.
How you set your mechanical and bio up is purely down to your own preference but the fundamentals of the tank/sump water levels are pre determined by your overflow and baffle configuration, and your pump pushing water through it all.
Thanks for all the input. I thought I saw a video where could control both intake and output chambers, but I've moved past that. Is this setup better and less simple?
Is it ok to have last baffle up to 20"? Just for overflow in case of outage or pump fail, so the return water doesn't back fill the sump?
I always put my mechanical filtration before the bio media to reduce the speed at which the bio gets gummed up with refuse.
In my opinion that is WAY too many partitions. If you aren't planning on making a moving bed out of the K1 I would just put it in the same compartment as the ceramic media... if you have to use the K1.
In my opinion that is WAY too many partitions. If you aren't planning on making a moving bed out of the K1 I would just put it in the same compartment as the ceramic media... if you have to use the K1.
I was going to make moving bed with the K1, figured that would help break down waste before gets to mechanical. I got 5 gallons of the K1/K2 media with tank I bought so figured might as well use it. The last baffles are just for bubble trap.
