Filter Media / Trays

[MikeTV1]

I am thinking about incorporating something like the following in my sump configuration. Running my returns from the display tank through the top center position and then drill holes in the bottom of each tray to disperse the water more evenly in the lower trays and then back to an output at the bottom.

http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=prod...5-315-17908004


Am thinking it would be a nice easy way to run any media I need, filter floss, carbon, phosphate sponge, etc... in a very easy manner and the media could be easily changed or removed as needed.

Any thoughts on this?


My biggest concern is noise, but can work to alleviate that.

[ButterfyBoy]

The older style wet/dry's use a design similar to that, and as far as wet/dry's go its still my preferred design. They tend to be pretty efficient at producing reasonable contact areas with minimal chanelling, which is a problem with canister type filters, though they aren't as good as fluidized beds.
I've never noticed noise to be a particular problem, a bit of a gurgle like a rain shower, but nothing too bad. Salt creep can be a PITA however. You will need, also, to clean the filter media regularly, as the beds of granular media function as low-rate sand filters and the upper layers will fairly quickly clog with debris.

[MikeTV1]

That's what I am hoping for. I think the ease of media change, or even multiple bags of media in each tray, just whatever I need, and easy enough to change if or when I don't need it.