webbl19
Active Member
I'm looking to diy a couple reactors for carbon and gfo. Found some good DIY videos so I got a plan for all that.
My main question is where should the return lines exit to in my sump and where should they pump from? Should the water enter and exit in the skimmer chamber so the skimmer can skim more or should they exit to my return pump chamber?
I currently have a small 10 gallon sump with 3 sections. First section receives tank water, which only has my skimmer, second has a small amount of rock and sand with a biopellet reactor pump and a heater (biopellet exit line drains back to the skimmer), then the last chamber has my return pump.
I google sump designs and I see examples of people placing them all over the place, so I don't know if it really matters to much where the water exits the reactors for the gfo and carbon. I read that the biopellet should go back to the skimmer to skim the waste it will produce, so that's why it goes back to the skimmer.
Lastly, I would like to use a single pump for all 3 reactors. How many gph would you recommend? I will be putting a ball valve on each reactor to adjust the flow to allow for tumbling of the gfo and biopellets and to slow down the flow in the carbon. I would think I would need something sort of strong to power all 3, but maybe not? I was thinking around 600 or 700 gph might work? Does that sound to weak? Seems like everyone recommends between 100-200 gph for each reactor.
Here's what I'm working with. I have a 20gallon that I will use someday, just haven't got around to making it into a sump. The reactors will sit on the floor right next to the tank probably, may try to figure out a way to hang them or drill them to the wall. Will need to pump up about 8 inches or so back into the tank. I will also probably be using pvc for the whole thing to make it look a little better.
Any input will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
My main question is where should the return lines exit to in my sump and where should they pump from? Should the water enter and exit in the skimmer chamber so the skimmer can skim more or should they exit to my return pump chamber?
I currently have a small 10 gallon sump with 3 sections. First section receives tank water, which only has my skimmer, second has a small amount of rock and sand with a biopellet reactor pump and a heater (biopellet exit line drains back to the skimmer), then the last chamber has my return pump.
I google sump designs and I see examples of people placing them all over the place, so I don't know if it really matters to much where the water exits the reactors for the gfo and carbon. I read that the biopellet should go back to the skimmer to skim the waste it will produce, so that's why it goes back to the skimmer.
Lastly, I would like to use a single pump for all 3 reactors. How many gph would you recommend? I will be putting a ball valve on each reactor to adjust the flow to allow for tumbling of the gfo and biopellets and to slow down the flow in the carbon. I would think I would need something sort of strong to power all 3, but maybe not? I was thinking around 600 or 700 gph might work? Does that sound to weak? Seems like everyone recommends between 100-200 gph for each reactor.
Here's what I'm working with. I have a 20gallon that I will use someday, just haven't got around to making it into a sump. The reactors will sit on the floor right next to the tank probably, may try to figure out a way to hang them or drill them to the wall. Will need to pump up about 8 inches or so back into the tank. I will also probably be using pvc for the whole thing to make it look a little better.
Any input will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
