Wet Dry Sump filter

[navykorman]

Ok so i can get some input if you think this will work before i tear down my 112 then set it back up just to find out i wasted my time. I spent 5.5 hours on this and hopefully its set up right. I tried to take the best photos i could. I put the design together with alot of exposure for oxygen increase, and alot of b.b. Im not to concerned about the mechanical filtration part cause i will still be using my canister filter.
The first photo is the flow of the water. It will be for a 112g brackish acrylic tank with pre-set overflows. The water 1st comes into some filter pads then egg crate divides that and the bio- balls. It then goes over a divider then splashes back and forth then it will have more b.b. (clay combos) (dont know what there called lol) then goes back over a divider then filter floss. after that it will be in the main chamber where i will have some coral frags and the heaters and return pumps.

Hopefully i explained as much as i could. If anyone has any feedback it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[water_baby83]

Well it's a little hard to figure out the finished product since we only have topside views and being all acrylic, can't really tell where some parts split and others join, so I think if it was filled with the media you intend to use, it would display better. However, from the diagram, and what you explained, in theory it sounds great, so it will be cool to see if it holds up in the application. The only thing I would advise against, is corals in the main chamber next to the heater and return valve. This is for a few reasons, but the main of those being that corals need light, and even ones with lower lighting requirements, still need a good amount. So unless you were planning to rig it with lighting, I would advise against it. Additionally, because of their nutritional needs, you wouldn't want them to be situated in there. Sure, they need to be in "clean" water, but living in their would mean that everything was heavily filtered before it ever reached them, meaning that any foods, or supplements you placed in the main column would be minimal by the time it reached them. That's no bueno. And supplementing directly in the main chamber (along with feeding), wouldn't really solve the issue either since the flow rate is going to be so high, it'd be carried right back into the tank before any significant amount was utilized by the corals - especially frags who need higher levels of iodine/strontium/calcium. Would be better imo to have some matured live rock in there instead. Micro flora and fauna can handle the heavier currents and lower levels of nutrients than most, and would offer yet another excellent source of final filtration before returning to the tank.
The design looks good though, so I can't wait to see it in action. Good job.

 

[navykorman]

Thanks for the reply. Well i should of cleared up what i ment by coral frags lol sorry. Umm i went out to the lfs last night and picked up some dryed coral mainly for ph buffers. I dont like to use the salt buffers or chemicals and i found out that coral raises ph. But its not live coral or need anything. Sorry good point though thank you. I was waiting for the silicone to fully cure before i put water in so as soon as i get home im filling it up then putting all the media in it before i place it under the big tank. hopefully it all works out.
thanks again

 

[fast]

What if one day your return pump fail? electric went out or it just dead.

 

[bomber]

Seems as if the return area has alot of unused space. Make that area smaller and make the bio area larger. Can't wait to see it put together. Good luck.