Sump design?

Hey everyone I'm fairly new to the hobby but have been doing my research so I can do it right the first time. Anyway, I have a question about the sump pump I am designing. I have seen many types and all sizes but my question is what is the best filter method to use in my sump... (bio-balls, incorporate filter material with bio-wheel, ect...) A little feed back wood be great.

This somewhat of a rough idea that I have - I am planning on building a smaller version of MarineLands Marine Series sump....
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/9/showcase_album/marineland_marine_series_sump.jpg

but instead of of sides being filter material, one side will be filter and the other refugium, with protein skimmer in the middle and eventually adding calcium reactor.

 

sounds good but where will the return pump go?

 

I would tend to like the fuge idea. Remember that the fuge needs a slow current going through it for the cheato or whatever to do it's job. I like having the fuge in the middle with a floss and sponge overflow going to the skimmer in the sump on the end. Look at www.sealifesystems.com I have the RM300 in my 210 gal reef and it's a very effective system.

 

Here's another great resource for sump info. Are you using live rock? If you are there really isn't a need for bioballs or anything else it's just more stuff to clean/maintain IMO.
Melevsreef.com - What is a Sump?

 

What type of a tank are you planning on setting up? If you are setting up a reef tank, you do not need or want a "filter" in your sump. Just a good protien skimmer and as large of a fuge as you can, would be the best way to go. Now if it is a fish only type of setup, doing a wet dry type filter would be great.

The problem with a normal "filter" on a reef tank is it makes the denitrifaction in the rock and sand bed not function as well as it can. It needs the good aerobic bacteria (the ammonia/nitrite eaters) to cover the top of the sand bed and rock, so you get the low oxygen areas under that bacteria, plus a higher concentration of nitrate. Then you get bacteria that lives in a low O2 area and eats the nitrate giving off nitrogen gas.


Kim