Help with Reefmat install

[ShanksReef]

I have a Waterbox Infinia Frag 155.5. It’s the newer edition with the removable filter sock holder. Right now I’m just running media cups with filter floss because I hate cleaning socks. I want to install a Reefmat. Can someone please help me conceptualize how to install it in my sump? I know I can just hang it where the first back chamber flows into the filter sock chamber but seems that wouldn’t be as effective since a lot of the water would flow to the sides of it. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Formulator]

The reef mat comes with a 1 inch hose you connect directly to the drain pipe PVC. Water does not just waterfall into it from the top if that’s what you were envisioning.

 

[ShanksReef]

The reef mat comes with a 1 inch hose you connect directly to the drain pipe PVC. Water does not just waterfall into it from the top if that’s what you were envisioning.

Ahhhh okay. Yeah that’s what I was thinking as my only experience with a filter roller was my IM 15 Nuvo with the drop in roller. So will I not have any water going in to that back reservoir then? Sorry I don’t know why I’m struggling so much to try and picture this haha. I keep most of my bio media in that chamber so that’s why I ask.

 

[Formulator]

Ahhhh okay. Yeah that’s what I was thinking as my only experience with a filter roller was my IM 15 Nuvo with the drop in roller. So will I not have any water going in to that back reservoir then? Sorry I don’t know why I’m struggling so much to try and picture this haha. I keep most of my bio media in that chamber so that’s why I ask.

Thats correct, no water will go to the back. Some people remove the divider completely to open it up. I have a herbie overflow and my secondary drain runs at a trickle which still goes into that back chamber. Here is my setup for visualization. I have a basement sump so a lot more space to work with, but you get the idea.

I ended up leaving my drain connected to that back chamber and put in a valve and a tee. By opening that valve, I can bypass the reefmat for maintenance without turning off the return pump.

I also had to cut a hole in the second chamber divider in order to connect the drain to the reef mat because it wouldn’t fit down through the same opening as the reef mat in the first chamber.

 

[ShanksReef]

Thats correct, no water will go to the back. Some people remove the divider completely to open it up. I have a herbie overflow and my secondary drain runs at a trickle which still goes into that back chamber. Here is my setup for visualization. I have a basement sump so a lot more space to work with, but you get the idea.

I ended up leaving my drain connected to that back chamber and put in a valve and a tee. By opening that valve, I can bypass the reefmat for maintenance without turning off the return pump.

I also had to cut a hole in the second chamber divider in order to connect the drain to the reef mat because it wouldn’t fit down through the same opening as the reef mat in the first chamber.

Awesome. That helps a ton! I really appreciate it!

 

[leeloo82]

The reef mat comes with a 1 inch hose you connect directly to the drain pipe PVC. Water does not just waterfall into it from the top if that’s what you were envisioning.

Ooooh. I also just envisioned waterfall from the back chamber into the reefmat - like simply replace the filter socks with the reefmat. I didn't think I'd have to cut into any of the Waterbox piping. I have the Waterbox Infinia Frag 175. So there's also a secondary emergency drain. I'm also having trouble envisioning how things will bypass/flow in the sump chambers. Is it possible to do passive waterfall from back chamber so I can skip messing around with the pipes?

 

[MasterClassReefs]

The reef mat comes with a 1 inch hose you connect directly to the drain pipe PVC. Water does not just waterfall into it from the top if that’s what you were envisioning.

Ooooh. I also just envisioned waterfall from the back chamber into the reefmat - like simply replace the filter socks with the reefmat. I didn't think I'd have to cut into any of the Waterbox piping. I have the Waterbox Infinia Frag 175. So there's also a secondary emergency drain. I'm also having trouble envisioning how things will bypass/flow in the sump chambers. Is it possible to do passive waterfall from back chamber so I can skip messing around with the pipes?

You can plumb one side in and let the secondary drain run straight through the sump or plumb both through the reefmat.

 

[Raptor72]

I'm not sure what your sump looks like but a few of us have used a similar method like what I used in my build thread.

Raptor's Waterbox