sump

[Alexander Murillo Dichev]

I am redesigning my sump (Skimmer-less and Sock-less). It's a 40 g sump and 1000 g/h return pump.

Wanna use tons of Seachem Matrix. Thinking about placing it in between the baffles. For a total of 8L of Matrix. This way, water from the refugium has to pass through the Matrix to get to the return section.

Wondering if forcing water to pass through 8L of Seachem Matrix won't restrict the flow too much?

Has anyone tried this?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R! Unfortunately I don't know the answer to your question as I've got no experience with Matrix other than the movies ;) But hopefully another user will chime in with the answer. And we'll give a bump to this thread to put it back on top to be seen more :)

#WelcometoR2R

 

[Alexander Murillo Dichev]

Thanks Mcjones.

I contacted Seachem, but no reply so far. Hopefully someone here has experience with using loads of matrix.

 

[beaslbob]

don't know about matrix. sorry.

But to me the main thing would be the refugium filled with macro algae.

my .02

 

[Alexander Murillo Dichev]

don't know about matrix. sorry.

But to me the main thing would be the refugium filled with macro algae.

my .02

Correct. I want to rely solely on biological filtration and nutrient export. So I got rid of all mechanical and chemical filtration, so now I'm only gonna use three things on my sump:

- chaeto (nutrient export)
- pods (take care of detritus and uneaten food)
- seachem matrix (nutrient export)

 

[Greybeard]

When I set my peninsula up, a year or so back, I started with 8l of Matrix, loose over the bottom of the refugeum. It was a mess. Trapped all kinds of detritus, tended to float around with any flow at all (it's real lightweight stuff). I ended up with about 3l of it, packed tightly in a big sock, sitting passively in the bottom of my refugeum. Working out well for me, at this point. Only system I've ever had trouble with in keeping nitrate UP :)

The point of Matrix, for most people, at least, is to use anaerobic bacteria to control nitrate. In that pursuit, a slower flow is generally more desirable. Using Matrix as a trap between sections is going to push all of the flow moving in your sump through that Matrix. If I wanted to use it in that sort of configuration, I'd probably go with a more solid block type material, MarinePure or Brightwell XPort, rather than the smaller Matrix media.

 

[beaslbob]

Correct. I want to rely solely on biological filtration and nutrient export. So I got rid of all mechanical and chemical filtration, so now I'm only gonna use three things on my sump:

- chaeto (nutrient export)
- pods (take care of detritus and uneaten food)
- seachem matrix (nutrient export)

IMHO forget the matrix. From previous post it used anaerobic action.

By contrast macro algae uses aerobic means. first the algae comes with some aerobic bacteria for the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate action. Second macro actually prefer to consume ammonia over nitrates. So if ammonia jumps up, the macros consume that directly. Which prevents dangerous tank crashes. Then as ammonia lowers, the macro switch back to consuming nitrates. All the while consuming phosphates and co2 while returning oxygen and fish food. This is in total contrast IMHO to the anaerobic actions. Which if not working correctly can actually return ammonia to the system.

You may still want to use say a sponge or something to prevent the macros like chaeto from entering the display.


my .02

 

[cracker]

I too wonder if floss or such in the baffle would restrict flow.

 

[Alexander Murillo Dichev]

So if ammonia jumps up, the macros consume that directly. Which prevents dangerous tank crashes. Then as ammonia lowers, the macro switch back to consuming nitrates.

Didn't know chaeto changes roles, I thought it only consumes nitrates, that's it. Great info.

I wanted to use matrix to convert ammonia to nitrates, then the chaeto to take care of the nitrates. Didn't know chaeto could take care of everything.

Now that you put it this way, I'm having second thoughts about porous media.

 

[Dpate]

Don’t put anything between the baffles, you will be battling water flucation levels in the return chamber for the rest of your life!
If you want to force water through the matrix, use a reactor

 

[beaslbob]

you could also use a sponge on the pump intake.

 

[Dpate]

you could also use a sponge on the pump intake.

You could but do you really want to clean it a few times a week?

 

[Alexander Murillo Dichev]

Don’t put anything between the baffles, you will be battling water flucation levels in the return chamber for the rest of your life!
If you want to force water through the matrix, use a reactor

or maybe this.. hmmm..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-E...rentrq:71f4f6241640a888af435967fff336f0|iid:1

 

[Alexander Murillo Dichev]

You could but do you really want to clean it a few times a week?

this tank is in the lobby of a dental clinic, it should require minimum intervention.. that's why I removed the skimmer and socks.. I want the bacteria, the chaeto and the pods to do all the cleaning (instead of me) .

pods -----------------> take care of detritus, fish waste and uneaten food
seachem matrix ------> convert ammonia to nitrates
chaeto ----------------> take care of nitrates