Need Help Making Sump

[Chago09]

OK I wanna make a sump for my 150 gallon. I have already drilled the tank three times. Twice for the pipes draining the tank and one for the water filling the tank. I added a basket over the two drain holes. My basket is at the top of the tank and is 1 foot long by ten inches tall and 3 inches deep. I felt it's a simple design that should work effectivly. I didn't understand why people made there baskets go from top to bottom of the tank. It only takes up more space that way. Is there something wrong with my design??? By the way its for a FOWLR tank

Anyways I bought some really cheap sump piping that is 1.5" at home depot, it was like 10 bucks for 20 or 25 feet. I will be using two pipes to drain the water down and here is the plan I had for my design. I first will have the two pipes basicly sitting on some filter sponge or floss or something for mechanical filtration. Then a piece of plastic with multiple holes to spread the water around will drip the water into the bio balls(is there any other media which works better, like pot scrubbies???). The bioballs tower must be out of the water correct??? I can't be submerged as I understand??? Then the water will fall into the actual holding tank where it will be then pumped back into the main tank. Any flaws???? things I should add??? things I should remove???

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Bioballs are not recommended for tanks with live rock. Live rock provides all the filtration you willneed along with a good skimmer. You can either put lr rubble in that chanber, or just redesign your sump to also include a refugium. That would be your best option.

 

[Chago09]

right but I will be doing a FOWLR and won't have 1 lb per gallon. Therefore I am going to need some bio help in my system. I will have 80 lbs of live rock in a 150 gallon and will add over time. I need some sort of bio filter in my sump.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Have you thought about getting another 70-120lbs of dry base rock, and letting the live rock seed it? Your fish will appreciate it, not only for the filtration, but also more places to live and swim through.

 

[Chago09]

actually yes now that you said that I will be doing that. I was wondering that before and some people were telling me that it would take years to seed.... although with 80lbs of the good stuff I don't think it will take that long. I think I will add probably another 50lbs of base rock. Croalife sells that reef rock would that be a good choice???