Integrated sumps

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Heres a sneek peek at what i was planning. I know to some this is tacky but keep in mind this tank is for my 2 year old daughter and will be in her room haha...
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I'm intrigued by this idea, and mulling it over for a new tank I'm planning in the not-too-distant future. I like adhering to the KISS principle, wherever possible and appropriate. The only really commercially-produced equipment required is a pump and some tubing. Two things I haven't yet completely resolved however, are overflow control and cleaning.

Assuming water moving between 2 chambers in a closed system needs a way to fail-safe the overflow, due primarily to the cleaning requirement, making this basically one issue, at root.

My new tank will be a long, low rectangle across the top of an entertainment system. An integrated filter on one end would be ideal for consistent flow and I think maybe not detract from the overall appearance too much in a tank like that.
 
Yea, thats pretty close. You could neatly tuck the tubing to the corner between the rock and the glass and run it under the substrate.

I didn't leave enough clearance between the glass and the stone for the tubing, I had everything ready when I noticed the ugly tubing just hanging in front of the stone :(

the stone is siliconed in place, so removing it might either break the stone or break the glass I'm thinking of getting a tall plant to hide it
 
I didn't leave enough clearance between the glass and the stone for the tubing, I had everything ready when I noticed the ugly tubing just hanging in front of the stone :(

the stone is siliconed in place, so removing it might either break the stone or break the glass I'm thinking of getting a tall plant to hide it
I just suggested that because it looked as though there was a space between the stone/glass. If you're real worried about it, im sure if you used a razorblade and removed a few points if not all the silicone on one side, you could reseal the stone/tubing/glass together. Of coarse itd have to be dry and given time to cure...

Obviously a simple dense plant would do the trick!
 
Plant it is :D

the tank is already cycled, all levels are where they should be at and the 4 fish in there are happy so I don't want to go through all the hassle
 
Oh to answer your original question.

The stone I chose for the background kept the water cloudy for a few days, I had to keep changing the batting daily for a week or so, it kept coming out yellowish until it came clear.

I have batting, then filter media https://www.amazon.com/Govine®-Aquarium-Filter-Ceramic-Filtration/dp/B01H6J22S0/ then batting again in the first chamber, then heater then bio balls and pump.

Water is always clear and API reports all levels where they need to be. I do a 10% water change per week when I vacuum the gravel. Then I have to clean the filter media in tank water, replace the batting and vacuum the filter side.

Easy process and the only ugly part is the tubing that I didn't account for while building the tank and when gluing the stone. Everything else is in the rear and no one sees it
 
Oh to answer your original question.

The stone I chose for the background kept the water cloudy for a few days, I had to keep changing the batting daily for a week or so, it kept coming out yellowish until it came clear.

I have batting, then filter media https://www.amazon.com/Govine®-Aquarium-Filter-Ceramic-Filtration/dp/B01H6J22S0/ then batting again in the first chamber, then heater then bio balls and pump.

Water is always clear and API reports all levels where they need to be. I do a 10% water change per week when I vacuum the gravel. Then I have to clean the filter media in tank water, replace the batting and vacuum the filter side.

Easy process and the only ugly part is the tubing that I didn't account for while building the tank and when gluing the stone. Everything else is in the rear and no one sees it
Lets see the happy fish!! I like pics
 
No more tubing:
img_3412567_0_3613b7f58a87bd5ab4c2204abfeb1da2.jpg
 
Sump

Please keep us posted on your progress. I am in the beginning stages of creating a integrated sump. I have been considering some unconventional designs that allow maximum filtration while taking up the least amount of space. I can always resort to a traditional side or back wall sump.

design:
1. I am using a modified shape that you would find in a corner Hamburg Mattenfilter
2. Instead of the baffles being perpendicular to the wall, they are at an angle to were the baffles and the walls form a triangle.
3. Instead of having three horizontal sections, I will have the mech. filtration on top of a fluidized media (separated by a sponge or a piece of acrylic with holes drilled throughout. Finally it will go into the "out" chamber where it will be heated
4. here is a rough blue print

Any suggestions will help
 

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