thinking about built in filter for low water line

[SMinNC]

Here a Top View of what I'm thinking.

I need to go for an hour or so, but can get back with a Front View if you need that too.

The RED is a thin peice(1" +/- Tall) just to hold the foam against your front peice(hole/cut out). The water would go through the foam, then above and below the 1"(red) peice.

If that doesn't make any sense, I'll BBL with a front view.

 

[mellowvision]

yeah, I've thought of that too, but that takes more room overall. I guess I was trying to compact it as much as possible since it's for a small tank. this idea would maximize the foam, maybe... that's what I wish I knew.

 

[SMinNC]

Heres another version.

This is the Front View.

And I'd opt for the narrower Inlet, in Purple to get more sponge contact.

With this version, it would only need to be as wide as the foam and thinkness of box.

 

[SMinNC]

Should have been Pink instead of Purple, mentioned. For the intake size.

 

[SMinNC]

Both of these are mainly trying to deal with your concern about the water traveling the full length of the sponge.

Are we getting closer?

 

[mellowvision]

I like the idea of the lower trench. that could work, although one of the principles of the poret is to give it the maximum surface area for mud to collect, so I'd probably opt for a larger opening.

 

[mellowvision]

I think the only thing I don't like about the trench is not being able to see if anything is trapped under it.

 

[mellowvision]

considering it some more...

when you take into consideration that the substrate requires between 1" and 2.5" (or even more) of depth, the intake vent would have to be higher, and the bottom half of the sponge would be wasted, unless there was a trench below like you suggested. the trench makes use of that space. Also, having the first overflow in the filter point downward makes it a little more forgiving with the waterline... if my first design evaporated too fast and wasn't maintained, the filter stops.

nice idea SMinNC!

 

[SMinNC]

Thanks. I've looking and scratching my head about how to change things around.

What kind of dimensions is this going to be?

One last thought I just had was...

Using my last dia.
What if the sponge was only about half the height?
As in. The top of the sponge would be just below the bottom of the intake hole.
This would give an area where debris could collect, and not just dump itself back into the tank when cleaning.

This hole could be disguised as a cave, for any fish/shrimp whatever that might want to call it home.

BRB with another dia.

 

[SMinNC]