Toying with a idea for filtration

eric.battani · Aug 23, 2015

On my current tank build, I was thinking about getting some 8inch pvc pipe cut about two and half foot with a removable lid. It will have a 1/2in pipe with water flowing into each tube and 1/2in pipe for the water to flow back out.
Now each 8in tube will be sealed and filled with live rock rubble and have a decent amount of flow.
But my concern is, with the 8in tubes not letting any light in, will the live rock still be able to function like live rock(grow pods, filter the water, etc)
Mostly I'm wanting to have a minimum amount of rock in my display for more open room in the tank for corals to grow but not giving up the beneficial aspects of having a large amount of live rock.
(Yes I know I could fill the sump up with rock, but I have other plans for it)
Thanks for any help.

4FordFamily · Aug 23, 2015

eric.battani said:
On my current tank build, I was thinking about getting some 8inch pvc pipe cut about two and half foot with a removable lid. It will have a 1/2in pipe with water flowing into each tube and 1/2in pipe for the water to flow back out.
Now each 8in tube will be sealed and filled with live rock rubble and have a decent amount of flow.
But my concern is, with the 8in tubes not letting any light in, will the live rock still be able to function like live rock(grow pods, filter the water, etc)
Mostly I'm wanting to have a minimum amount of rock in my display for more open room in the tank for corals to grow but not giving up the beneficial aspects of having a large amount of live rock.
(Yes I know I could fill the sump up with rock, but I have other plans for it)
Thanks for any help.

I doubt the bacteria (the primary filtration mechanism within live rock) would need light to flourish. I would be worried about the rock moving and blocking flow. Pods don't enjoy direct flow so I don't know how that will all work.

I'm the furthest thing from a sump design and plumbing expert but just my .02.

Maybe the [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] will be able to better assist you.

eric.battani · Aug 23, 2015

Well the inlet will be at the bottom of each tube. And the outlet will be at the top of each tube. Plus with half inch pipe, hopefully it won't get clogged. And everything will be made to disassemble for cleaning from time to time.

eric.battani · Aug 23, 2015

I forgot to mention, I plan to run two of the 8 inch tubes. Hopefully I can get about 30 or more lbs in the tubes

steve&mari · Aug 23, 2015

Sounds like in theory it may work as bacteria and pods don't need light. How much flow would be a factor as @3FordFamily has stated about the pods not liking high direct flow. You're basically building a reactor for liverock.

eric.battani · Aug 23, 2015

Well I haven't given thought to a specific amount of flow. Was just going to tie it into the return pump with valves to control the flow.

steve&mari · Aug 23, 2015

That should work just dial in a nice flow that's not beating the pods up and should be fine I'd think. We're hooking up a dual reactor that's fed from our return pump also. I purposely got a way larger dc pump just for feeding other reactors and flexibility of adjustable flow rates. Let us know how it turns out.

eric.battani · Aug 24, 2015

Funny you mentioned the D.C. pump. I was looking at a 3000 gph one. Its only a 75g aquarium but I want to periodically be able to turn off the algae scrubber, rock tubes, etc and put all flow to the tank to stir up any detritus and catch it in a filter sock.