Customizing a sump

[AirForceAquariu]

So when I first got in the hobby I was given poor direction and ended up with a standard Eshopps Wet/Dry (http://www.eshopps.com/products/filters/wdfilters/wd75cs/)

I want to takeout the bio-balls and replace them with a small Live Rock area and Macro algae (or at least chaeto) to cultivate some more pods and in general have a nice little Fuge Section. Advice on how to do this gracefully? This is a temporary fix of course, but should be a nice weekend tinker.

 

[Gorgok]

Plugging the bottom opening would probably be enough to make it into more of a standard sump with return chamber... Then the bio ball section could be used for a skimmer and whatnot. Adding a baffle somewhere in between the far wall of the return chamber and the divider would do the same, with more control of the water height in the bio ball section. Just don't make the return too small.

Plugging/adding a baffle to section off the bio ball chamber will mean you probably want to vacuum it occasionally, unless your flow through it can keep everything suspended. So that cover will most likely need to be removed or at least removable.

I would just remove the balls and cover, plug the bottom hole and put a skimmer on that grate (depending on depth) with maybe some macro in there too and a light. No rocks etc, unless you have basically none in the tank.

Or just get a cheap glass tank and cut some baffles.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

That cover is removable as is. It has a filter pad under the hose that is just a flat filter sock so it is part of filtration as is.

The hole at the bottom is the only way for water to move from where the bioballs my current skimmer and return which is the other side.should I drill something new? That acylic is the full height to the top.

 

[Gorgok]

In the picture linked there was a slot at the top of the bio balls. If that isn't the case adding a baffle after that divider which will set the desired water height in the entry chamber is the simplest thing i would say.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Oh wow! I had completely forgotten that was there. I think it is a backup in case the bottom was plugged. In any case, thank you for noticing that!

Would it make sense to use that side as the fuge? I could leave the cover on, plug the bottom, and have a light come in from the side. Just another thought.

 

[fishgate]

Sell that and build a proper sump. They are not hard to build and you will get enough from selling that one to cover the materials to build a better one. You can build a 40b based sump for under $100 with glass partitions.

 

[ca1ore]

So when I first got in the hobby I was given poor direction and ended up with a standard Eshopps Wet/Dry (http://www.eshopps.com/products/filters/wdfilters/wd75cs/).

The quality of advice depends on how long ago that was . I'm old enough, and have been in the hobby long enough, to remember the articles George Smit wrote for FAMA in the mid 1980's extolling the virtues of a trickle filter. I dutifully used one for some years before conventional wisdom banned them from use - don't recall anyone (revisionist aquarists aside) saying they were a bad idea back then.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

About 6 months ago haha. I of course have read PaulB's thread who still uses a UG filter. I am thinking at this point I might just get a 40B and make a new one and do a switch. That way I can have the fuge I want and more room for dosing and reactors in the future if I want to go that route