redterror123 Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Hi I am re-designing my 6x2x2 freshwater aquarium with 5ft sump and wanted to know what is the best media to put in the sump. Any advice. I am going to be using the tank for large american red terror cichlids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krellious Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 jap matt, ceramic noodles. K1? and fitler wool. or fir spinnign arm filterwoo/jap matt then bioballs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlecoSam Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Sump or wet dry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buccal Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Jap mat for primary mechanical filtrationBlack sheet sponge for secondary mechanical filtrationBlack matala mat (coarse grade) with 'Water Cleanser Pond Block' underneath for biologicalK1 media tumbling for biologicalAll in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattzilla Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 if its a wet sump (submerged media) you could use hydroton. its a hydroponics growing meadia that works great. Cheap as chips too so you can fill the sump to the brim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellow Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 you could use hydroton.Have you used Hydroton, Matt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattzilla Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 i have been using it for years, most of my sump is full of it now, have used in canister filters hang on filters etci think a 50 ltr bag cost about $50 so it's soooo economicalneeds a very good wash when first used and will float until water logged, which doesn't take long.i put it into large laundry mesh bags so it doesn't float away through sump and makes it easy to remove and rinse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckmeister Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 I've used expanded clay (aqua clay) in my sump for years its cheap and works well. Sometimes in can take a little for all the clay balls to sink but they get there eventually.Mine is Cotten filter mat first. Just bought 20 meters this week actually off ebay. Then I use aquaclay (50 bucks roughly) then I have shredded plastic, bagged. Then More Cotton filter then into the return and back to my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redterror123 Posted May 19, 2015 Author Share Posted May 19, 2015 Thanks for all the advice I am going to a wet sump. Thinking of putting 3 chambers then freshwater return.1st chamber jap mat2nd chamber black mat3rd chamber either k1 media or ceramic.might have to re-think my design now and how many chambers im running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellow Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 i have been using it for years, most of my sump is full of it now, have used in canister filters hang on filters etci think a 50 ltr bag cost about $50 so it's soooo economicalneeds a very good wash when first used and will float until water logged, which doesn't take long.i put it into large laundry mesh bags so it doesn't float away through sump and makes it easy to remove and rinseI've used expanded clay (aqua clay) in my sump for years its cheap and works well. Sometimes in can take a little for all the clay balls to sink but they get there eventually.Mine is Cotten filter mat first. Just bought 20 meters this week actually off ebay. Then I use aquaclay (50 bucks roughly) then I have shredded plastic, bagged. Then More Cotton filter then into the return and back to my tank.Awesome! It's always interesting to see what other people use for media. There are always cheaper alternatives to conventional products.Filter wool is just dacron. When I had tanks, I bought it from Clark's Rubber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robdog013 Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 In my weir overflow I have a durso about 4/5 of the way up and the weir is always filled with water, can I put k2 media in here or is it too dirty because the water hasn't gone through any mechanical filtration yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buccal Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 No such thing as water being to dirty for K media.That's the beauty of it,,, it tumbles and keeps its self free from blocking up,,,, 100% biological action 100% of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattzilla Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 k1 is awesome, just a little noisier than some other medias because of the water agitaion required for it to move around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlecoSam Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Will it be tumbling in the weir? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robdog013 Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 I can see a lot of water movement and there is more water movement at the top near the inlet for the durso Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robdog013 Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 If there wasn't enough cyclical movement I was going to run an airline into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill6122 Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Hi guys new to this I have an aquapet tank 780 litre with a inbuilt back sump 600x600x200 and it is 3 sections in the sump I’ve stuffed jap mat in the first chamber with floss on top the second chamber has noodles and media balls the last chamber has Petworx power head 2300 litres per hour for the life of me every 2 weeks this sump crashes to some extend don’t know why for the life of me help needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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