Sump filter sock idea, help needed

[Drummond]

I'm building a 40B sump and want to have the option to use filter socks when I feel they are needed. I've seen pictures here of similar setups but need advice on how to build it. I want to have the drain be on the far left, draining into maybe a 5" chamber. After it enters the drain chamber it will have to rise over a baffle and fall into the filter sock box, maybe two 4" or two 7" socks. The baffle would be high enough that it collects all the water from the drain chamber but low enough so if the socks clog it would just pour over into the next chamber. I have heard of people using acrylic and cutting two holes to seat the filters in. I have read that just a hole wont work because the socks would need to be seated. Is there a product I can buy that could seat these filter socks? Am I making things too complicated?

I was also wondering if anyone would ever consider running just one sock and leaving the other hole open? It would filter more slowly, prevent overflows, and give pods a chance to get through the system. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Reefinny]

Take a look at my sump - this is exactly what I did just on a larger scale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Az10M3kVs

you can cut the pieces you need out of 1/4 or 3/8 acrylic

 

[Drummond]

Take a look at my sump - this is exactly what I did just on a larger scale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Az10M3kVs

you can cut the pieces you need out of 1/4 or 3/8 acrylic

That is exactly what I want to do. Do the socks just rest on the edge of the hole?

 

[Reefinny]

yes - the sump works awesome. No more splashing and can easily change the socks as needed

 

[thejuggernaut]

Yea, that is allot like what I want with the sump I'm planning to build soon. I want to make some inserts though so that when I am not running socks, the water wont drop 4 inches making allot of noise. I'm not sure how I want to do it though. I've seen a few that use different drop ins. One for filters socks, or another that you can fill with filter floss. The Emerald line by Trigger Systems uses it. They call it their interchangeable plate.

http://www.triggersys.com/test/emerald-details/

Lots of options, but I think you are on the right track. The ability to be able to just pop the socks out easily, will make you use and change them more often.

 

[Drummond]

I have never used a sump before. Do you think it will be really loud with the socks removed? My thought was that the water level in the filter sock chamber would remain pretty high to mitigate most of the splashing.

 

[thejuggernaut]

Usually they drop atleast 2" or 3". You can get some pretty decent water splashing if your flow rate is up over 1000 GPH with a drop of a few inches. It can be negated with a lid though.

 

[fishgate]

No reason to reinvent the wheel....

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=23710

 

[Drummond]

No reason to reinvent the wheel....

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=23710

I don't want the drain to go directly into the sock

 

[thejuggernaut]

I don't want the drain to go directly into the sock

I'm with you for a few reasons. It's easier to remove and clean them the way your are wanting to design it. Also, if you use a herbie or bean animal style drain, you can have all drains spread out equally across both filter socks. Instead of having only 1 drain per sock.

 

[sleepydoc]

I'm with you for a few reasons. It's easier to remove and clean them the way your are wanting to design it. Also, if you use a herbie or bean animal style drain, you can have all drains spread out equally across both filter socks. Instead of having only 1 drain per sock.

This.

Here's a thread I started with my sump build, also a 40 breeder.

My goal was to have the option to use filter socks, or leave them off, if I didn't want to use them. What I originally did was put some glass cleats on the baffles next to the plate holding the filter sock. The problem with that was when the plate was removed, the cleat was just above the waterline and would cause turbulence and splashing with the water coming over the baffle. (Approx 1100 gph, 1" drop over the overflow)