Sump Design

[Ranchhand02]

I am in the very early stages of setting my 75 gallon tank back up, and I am wanting to redo my sump. My tank is a 75 gallon marine land corner flow. When I started the tank over ten years ago I started it with an eshops brand wet dry filter. After a few years I removed the felt pad and the bioballs in the wet dry filter and used the bare tank as my sump. I had a return line coming in and going to a filter sock then I just had one big chamber with the return pump and protein skimmer in it. I am wanting to redo the set up now so I can make some progress in getting the tank back up and running in a year or two. What should I use for mechanical filtration? Should I use filter socks or is there a better alternative? My sump dimensions are 24" x 12" x 16" H. Please help me design the best sump I can with the space I have, and please post pictures. Thanks

 

[Ranchhand02]

Should I use filter socks or something else for mechanical filtration?

 

[mcgyvr]

I personally believe its best to avoid mechanical filtration in marine systems when you have corals... Those particulates are/can be food for the corals.. Let them free to roam the tank to be consumed/used vs just collected to rot if not disposed of quickly..

I am however currently building a new sump for my new tank and will have a filter sock section.. BUT.. Its only to use temporarily during maintenance routines IF needed..
aka if heavy detritus blowing off is needed or during initial startup to remove sand fines,etc... I will NOT run them normally..

 

[Ranchhand02]

I personally believe its best to avoid mechanical filtration in marine systems when you have corals... Those particulates are/can be food for the corals.. Let them free to roam the tank to be consumed/used vs just collected to rot if not disposed of quickly..

I am however currently building a new sump for my new tank and will have a filter sock section.. BUT.. Its only to use temporarily during maintenance routines IF needed..
aka if heavy detritus blowing off is needed or during initial startup to remove sand fines,etc... I will NOT run them normally..

That sounds like something I would like to try also in my sump. I like the idea of being able to have mechanical filtration if needed, but then be able to bypass it if needed also. Please post a picture of your sump when you get it set up.

 

[mcgyvr]

That sounds like something I would like to try also in my sump. I like the idea of being able to have mechanical filtration if needed, but then be able to bypass it if needed also. Please post a picture of your sump when you get it set up.

No problem..
Should be a week or so.. All the acrylic gets delivered tomorrow.. I'll access to the CNC machine next week.. (Mine is down because I just moved and haven't set it back up yet)

I still haven't finalized the design yet but its likely 4 or 5 sections.. drain/socks/skimmer/fuge(macro algae)/return pump..
Starting with a 40 breeder from Petco

 

[kupadupapupa]

Filter socks do have to be cleaned regularly or they'll pollute your tank. That being said I couldn't go without filter socks because of how dirty the sump gets without them. If your sump is easily accessible and easy to clean then don't use them. But if your sump is in a stand with minimal room and you know you wont be cleaning it at all then I would definitely use filter socks.

 

[mcgyvr]

Filter socks do have to be cleaned regularly or they'll pollute your tank. That being said I couldn't go without filter socks because of how dirty the sump gets without them. If your sump is easily accessible and easy to clean then don't use them. But if your sump is in a stand with minimal room and you know you wont be cleaning it at all then I would definitely use filter socks.

Thats one "design concept" I'm doing (or hoping for) in my sump design.. Good "flow through" so that detritus does not settle and is moved through the sump fairly well..

 

[karimwassef]

If you have a 2' x 2' room, you can try a settling filter... round tub with a surface output and a bottom cone to remove heavy particulates.

https://www.ntotank.com/50gallon-crmi-natural-white-cylindrical-open-top-tank-x6541995

https://www.ntotank.com/35gallon-norwesco-white-inductor-cone-bottom-tank-x4851985