Does my FW sump design look good?

[DonovanJM]

I just picked up a 90 gallon aquarium and it came with a sump setup for SW with a skimmer and I think it would be easier to start over rather than reconfigure it. I'm using a 20 gallon aquarium because unless I make one myself that's all that will fit in my stand. As of right now we are planning on a simple community tank.

Hopefully I will be able to post a pic since this is my first post. I may not though. So my tank is 30"x12"x12" basically. Starting on the left I have the tank draining into a 6" with 2 types of Puro-clean filter media. Going under a baffle into 6" chamber of bio filter (lava rocks), flowing up over a weir into another bio filter chamber (not sure what to use), down then up over another weir into a 10" chamber with the pump and heaters.

How does this sound? I have 2" gaps under the baffles for flow is that too much? What other bio-media should I use? Any suggestions?
Thank you for your help.
Donovan

 

[celebrist]

why cant you use the existing sump sans skimmer?

 

[DonovanJM]

why cant you use the existing sump sans skimmer?

I guess I could. It has a huge intake area that I could split up. All it has is the intake area and the pump section. I think it was set up for a wet/dry filter. Here's a picture of it. Also for me part of the fun is learning about the process and putting my own touch on it. I do appreciate the help. Thank you.

 

[celebrist]

understood

 

[DarylMac]

Your design looks good. I'm not sure if the 2" gap under the baffle will create any issues, I presume it wouldn't - but if you want to see a good tutorial go here, at the King of DIY;

He uses DVD cases to prop up the baffles - but that may just because they are convenient and easy for him to work with. I really don't know.

I'm planning on making a sump using a design similar to yours (which is basically like the one in the DIY tutorial). The only difference is that I plan on placing my heaters in the small area just before the final weir, before the pump chamber - not that I think it will matter all that much.

 

[DonovanJM]

Thanks! I have seen that video. I have watched a bunch of his stuff. It's good stuff. I think I'll probably go with one similar his as well. Go with only one chamber for biological media but have it be bigger then have a bigger pump section.