Plastic grating - Need grating for my sump

J

jeff123

[Currently my Oceanic sump has bio-balls from top to bottom. I seen newer designs that keep the balls off the bottom and out of the water. I have a problem with junk collecting in the submerged bio-balls at the bottom. I would like to get some grating and install it a few inches off the bottom of my sump to keep stuff from collecting in the bio-balls that are submerged.

Any idea where I can get a small about of plastic grating?]
 
[You can get it at home depot. It is the luvers for lighting. They only sell sheets that are like 2'x4' for about $10.]
 
[Jeff,

The plastic grating is called egg-shell and HD carries in the lighting section as was mentioned.....

However, Have you considered removing the Bio-Balls? For a reef tank they are usually not very beneficial. That's even more true when they are partially submerged in a Wet/Dry fashion. They have a tendency to cause your nitrates to rise and become a problem. Usually plenty of live rock and a good skimmer are all that is needed for filtration. HTH

(I am assuming this is a reef tank?)]
 
[Hope you don't mind, but I'm have freshwater (see my signature) and am just tapping into the expertise (which there is a lot of) on this forum.

Thanks a bunch for the HD lighting tip. I'll be there tomorrow checking it out.]
 
[oops... didn't catch your signature :rasp:

Maybe someone with more FW experience will chime in if needed.

You can also use the egg-crate (above I put it wrong... must have paint finishes on my mind) on your tank instead of glass tops to aid in gas exchange if needed.]



Edited By grim-bob on 1109560912
 
[No problem, egg-crate it is. I like the plastic top to lower evaporation. I have air pump feeding into the sump to help with the O2. Thanks for the info.]
 
[Jeff if you only need a pretty small piece I have some scrap. I live on the edge of Euless and Grapevine so it may be pretty close for you!]
 
[I need a piece 10" X 24". If you have something this big great, otherwise I'll be at HD tomorrow anyway for some plumbing fittings.]
 
[homedepot carries two types of eggcrate. They are both approximately 2'x4', but one is slightly larger (> 2x4) and slightly shinier. The shinier one is around $5-6, while the other one is around $10.]



Edited By Ptt on 1109567331
 
[OK, now that I know where to get it, what is the best way to cut it? I'm thinking Dremel, it seems too brittle for cutters?

Keith, did you have a piece big enough for me?]
 
[Nope sorry. None of mine are 24" anymore!

I used tin snips to cut mine. It worked but it is very uneven so I would recommend a dremel or a band saw.]
 
[Needlenose pliers does it nicely, snapping it off piece by piece. Or a table saw.]
 
[These can be used nicely (if you have one). It give a closer cut and fit nicely in the 1/2" squares.

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[My tank is still in the cycling stages.... but, once things are stable and tank in settled. I think I would like to phase out the bio balls in my sump. A couple of questions on this subject are....:

1. When would be a good time to start phasing these out..?

2. Over what period of time should the process be done...?]
 
[New tank still cycling? Pull them out now as you don't need them. Think about it, lots of people cycle sump-less tanks all the time.]
 
[Thanks guys for the cutting info.

What is the best way to get this to stand up off the bottom of the sump? I was thinking either small PVC pipe as legs or glue small pieces of acrylic to the side of the sump for the eggcrate to sit on.]
 
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