Re-building a sump filter compartment?

gardiendepoisson · Feb 28, 2023

I picked up a used Waterbox Reef 70.2 that had the filter compartment removed (baffle taken out) in order to accommodate a filter floss roller. I don't want to jump on the roller bandwagon because (to me) it's a hassle to replace the rolls compared to the plastic filter cups that I regularly fill with floss in my current tank. I want to rebuild a compartment to house a filter but I'm not sure how to close it off so the water is forced to flow through it before entering the rest of the sump. I'm thinking I could use a small (8"x8") plexiglass box set on top of a bio brick and cut a hole on one side near the bottom for water to flow out. I'm also thinking I could just stuff the box with floss; do I really need a filter cup or sock?

blaxsun · Mar 1, 2023

After a year having to replace floss or clean filter socks loses the novelty, so you may want to mull that around before embarking on your new quest.

Dom · Mar 1, 2023

People routinely complain about the costs in this hobby. And roller mat systems are an unnecessary expense. Plenty of cost-effective alternatives to roller mat systems. Filter floss or white felt squares in a media tray will do the same thing.

Granted, it isn't automated.

But I submit that the more we automate, the less in touch we are with our systems.

gardiendepoisson · Mar 1, 2023

blaxsun said:
After a year having to replace floss or clean filter socks loses the novelty, so you may want to mull that around before embarking on your new quest.

I've been doing plastic cups and floss for two years so far and I'm not tired of it yet.