Best way to trap detritus in sump?

[FastUno]

What have you guys found to be the best way to trap detritus in the sump?

I have a 90g tank & a 30g sump. My 1" return used to go into a 100 micron bag, but the problem was that the bags would get clogged too quickly. It was also a pain to pre-clean the bags & then machine wash them.

I then tried a fluval basket with a sponge filter:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Product...ss//T1/F26EB+0171+0141/EDP/8172/Itemdy00.aspx

In this basket I run phosban on the bottom basket, carbon in the middle, & the sponge on the top. The water going from my return flows direcly into the basket & all three stages. I have found that cleaning these sponges is much easier than cleaning those 100mic filters. Problem is larger particle can get trapped in there & are somewhat of a pain to get out. What if I use panty hose right before it enters the sponge? Maybe that will work better?


Anyone have any better ideas as how to trap the crap before it enters the sump?

TIA

 

[twinreef]

YOu have a pic of the way you have it setup?

 

[FastUno]

I will take a pic in a few. Not really a whole lot to see though, cause it's tight in my sump. Really just the basket & 1" vinyl tube coming from main thank that goes right into it.

Water enters the sponge, then the 2nd carbon chamber & then the 3rd phosban chamer. I have also added some coral sekelton at the bottom of chamber to prevent the basket from toppling over. I have also tied in some of those tables that they place in the center of pizza orders. So that this gives room for water to flow from the bottom.

 

[FastUno]

Here is a pic:
http://www.pbase.com/fastuno/image/55959033.jpg

 

[Tonyscoots84]

thats looks like a good idea with the filter baskets but arent you making even more work for yourself then just a simple filter sock... that u can just interchange and then wash when you have enough dirty ones.. i will be trying the filter sock when i get my 75 gallon up and running hopefully it works out..

 

[jackson6745]

I use micron bags (large bags) and sawp them out every 3-4 days. I have 10 of them so when I have about 8-9 dirty ones I wash them. Its very easy and I think the best way to keep detritus from entering the sump.

 

[DRZL]

I know ive said this before but women knee highs work just as well as micron socks, u get a pair for $.99 at walgreens and when your done with them just throw em out and go anew, i cant see myself washing anything w/ detergent and sticking it back in my tank

 

[FastUno]

I had a few pair of 100 micron bags. We share 1 washing machine in this building & if they caught me washing these things I know I would hear it. They would try to blame me when the machine would break down, which is often.

I find it sooooooooo much easier to rinse out the sponge every 3-4 days in my sink. It washes out so nicely & there is so much that gets trapped in there believe it or not. The only gripe If have is of larger particles getting stuck & then I would have to pick them out of the sponge. I think if I used knee highes before it hits the sponge, that it just may work out nicely. Have not tried it yet & I was hoping that someone had a more ingenious way. Something that we have not though of yet?

I will take a pic of sponge before & after. This cleaning is like 3-5 min worth of just rinsing & squeezing water out & then picking with tweeser any larger particles caught. It would take more like 2 min if the larger particles would not get stuck in there. It's amazing how they look after, almost like new. This is so quick & easy and can be viably done every 3-4 days.

 

[FastUno]

Also, failed to mention this. But this method traps all my air bubbles. Do you see my return pump (I know bad location), but it's right next to this container & no major air bubbles in the tank!

We are talking some 650g/hr going through & no air bubbles.

 

[FastUno]

This is a filter that was taken out today (prematurely for show-n-tell).

This is after 5min of cleaning:
You can see some of the larger particles there that I have to extract with tweezers. When I squeeze this sponge in the sink I see a bunch of black stuff coming out, so I know it does it's job. I am sure not as efficiently as a 1 micron filter, but without all the hassles.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

as i said its a good idea.. pretty much we all have our own things we do.. if this works for you then i would keep doing it.. i will be trying out diff. ideas once the 75 gallon is up..

 

[DRZL]

I say try the socks, you'll be surprised, its genius in its simplicity, do as you wish like tony said everyone has their own perogative.

Have you done any phos tests before and after the fluval? Ive had the 404 and I quickly found out that it helped me at first but F'd me over later, IMO it turned out to be a big soft bio-ball

 

[FastUno]

The beauty of this is that it's an open system. No filters/fluvals to dismantel & setup again. You simply move vinyl pipe over & twist the top, then replace sponge with clean one. Do this every 3-4 days. Really almost as if using a 1 micron filter.

I replace the carbon every 1-2 weeks & phosban much longer.

I will definitely try to use the knee highes, just have to find a way to conveniently tie it to the vinyl 1" tube. I want to be able to quickly replace it without any hassles.

I have not tested for PO4
My tank:

 

[derm]

knee highs work very well , i use them for carbon and it works fine

 

[FastUno]

My next stop is at the pharmacy for knee highs & some baking soda (after the storm).

Hard to believe that they work as good as 100 micron filters though. Maybe if you wrap one within another, it will even work better, but still not as good as the microns.

 

[DRZL]

knee highs work very well , i use them for carbon and it works fine

:wink1: same here

U'll be suprised how well they work, I only use one sock at a time, look for the white cheap ones in little plastic nuggets, not the ones that come in a box

 

[kimoyo]

look for the white cheap ones in little plastic nuggets, not the ones that come in a box

:lol:

Fast,

Do you space for a settling sump or settling compartment?

 

[FastUno]

I have no baffles or compartments in my sump. Sorta had to do everything fast when I set it up. Furthermore, my 30g is stuck in my cabinet & cannot come out & I have very little room to work in there. Lucky enough to be able to get the basket & skimmer in there.

Had to throw the 30g from the top of stand & now it cannot come out unless I remove 90g or break the 30g.

 

[FastUno]

Are these the ones?
I nearly got avalanched out there. Clawing & fighting my way through the snow I knew this was no easy task. People were freezing up solid in their tracks & cars were sliding & being thrown into the air. I stopped only to help the Swedish Biking Team, who had been stuck in a pool of ice fighting their way with their high heels.

Alas, after the whole 2 block hike I obtained the objects of my now obession-knee highs!

Word to the wise...don't go out there!



http://www.pbase.com/image/55999505.jpg

 

[DRZL]

LMAO...

Alls well that ends well...


MONEY!...those are it
Did you get that weird look from the cashier?