Weir pre filter?

[Jez1992]

I'm in middle of planning upcoming build with two stacked 300 gal tanks on one system.

On bottom tank I'm going to have internal sump full of k1 as bio.

However for pre filter, I thought that instead of losing space in sump I tank area to fit in the mech filtration, why not cram the weir on top tank full of sponges and then floss on top. I'd raise it up with some egg crate so the floss element would be not submerged.

And would be easy to change floss every couple of days and then clean the sponge every week or so?

Any feedback on this idea?

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I'm in middle of planning upcoming build with two stacked 300 gal tanks on one system.

On bottom tank I'm going to have internal sump full of k1 as bio.

However for pre filter, I thought that instead of losing space in sump I tank area to fit in the mech filtration, why not cram the weir on top tank full of sponges and then floss on top. I'd raise it up with some egg crate so the floss element would be not submerged.

And would be easy to change floss every couple of days and then clean the sponge every week or so?

Any feedback on this idea?

makes me nervous because large debris is more likely to cause issues but a lot of people do it, I say go for it.

 

[duanes]

To save space in one of my sumps, I used an 8" diameter, 4ft tall tube full of lava rock as a cascading (trickle tower) for bio, with scrubby sponges on the top for use as mechanical. As long as I rinsed the sponges daily there was no problem, when I'd forget and they plugged up, the result was only splash. That was also because an extra hole was drilled as insurance for overflow that could fall into the sump in cause of a blockage
I had tried putting sponges in weirs but found they could easily plug and cause the tank to overflow.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I really think that having a sponge in the overflow is just asking for a flooded tank. The only way I can see doing this safely would be to cut a hole in the sponge and have an emergency overflow tube that pushes through it. This way if it gets plugged up you will still have another means of the tank to overflow to the sump, and not over the edge of the tank.

 

[Jez1992]

I'm very thorough on cleaning so id hope it wouldn't get to that point!

That was my only worry. However I would have three drains.

two of which to take the flow normally, and then an emergency also which is higher than the sponges slightly. And yes as per last post id presume this would go though that.

I guess I could try it on my current smaller set up to see what happens!

 

[bbortko]

I've used poret foam and matala mat with no issues, just wash during weekly water changes. I only got an extra day out of my filter socks so I abandoned the practice as the results didn't justify the extra work.