Can someone help me figure this out!

[Trevor]

Does anyone know what these center chambers are for in this sump? Ive been sitting here for about an hour and still have yet to come to a conclusion..
It's a u.s aquarium sump if that helps

http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/ae201/trvthekid04/2fa27d726193b401d50b9e59f2b7b33e.jpg
http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/ae201/trvthekid04/ff9563235a82b5f0cc0eddb4712ee15f.jpg
http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/ae201/trvthekid04/2267541382e5c7c04af78797a4c0af91.jpg

 

[Turbosnail]

Is it maybe for a top off setup?

 

[newenglandreef]

I'd say bioballs or some type of trickle. I think the space on the bottom is supposed to house a rectangular sponge.

 

[Trevor]

But where the red top is, it doesn't come off, it's sealed shut so I don't know how you could put anything in there..

 

[THE WOOKIE]

It may be where the water drains in and the right side of the sump is for a fuge. I have seen complicated designs like that before

 

[Trevor]

How hard would it be to remove that whole center contraption? I believe it's acrylic

 

[newenglandreef]

I honestly think it's just a baffle. Water flows down into the acrylic cylinder, over and out, over and under the baffles and onto a drip plate, through bioballs and into the sponge.

 

[Trevor]

Is it even possible to remove it?

 

[newenglandreef]

Most people just use an empty tank for a sump and design it however you choose--with refugium, baffles or whatever. But I'm sure you could use a dremel to cut it off. A sump just removes water from your display, allows you to skim, mechanically filters whatever you want to filter, adds aeration and does whatever else you want it to do. Just sort of a holding area for water you pull out and to treat. So you can do whatever you want with it really.

 

[Pat02026]

Only way is to cut it out. Don't try to pry or break it out or you will almost definatly crack the sump. That sure is a funky design though. My opinion would be leave it alone and try to come up with a way to use it as it is. I'm just a bit confused on the purpose of having the drain chamber in the center. I would love to seethe mfg's original design or application.....

 

[gpx1200]

looks like it could work as a skimer, water pump with air venturi in the first chamber hooks to the barbed elbow at the top and a colection cup would screw onto the white threaded fiting and bam it's a skimer

 

[dz6t]

It is a AIO sump with a Precision Marine skimmer build in. Looks like some parts of the skimmer is missing.