So I've been working on the filter. I found a 30 gallon storage tote that I'm going to try to use. It may not end up working out but I'm trying to work with what I have so may as well give it a go. The sump is going to have four chambers, Inlet from the overflow I'm going to build in the tank and mechanical filters. Through two small baffles that I"m hoping to place the heater or heaters in. Then into a very large area for biological media which is going to be Lava Rock. Then into the pump area. I've bought a 620 GPH pond pump. I would have liked to have a bigger pump but this one was affordable although I may decide to upgrade it down the road.
In this picture the inlet will be on the right. The water will flow over the first baffle after going through my mechanical media, under the second then over the third onto the biological media. Then under the fourth baffle into the return chamber which will house the pump.
I have chosen Lava Rock as my biological media. It's extremely porous and extremely cheap. I paid about five bucks per bag and used one and a half. To hold the lava rock I found these nifty little mesh bags that are designed for washing your delicate things in the washing machine. They are 16" long, 5.5" wide and 3" tall. I bought six of them. If I did my math right those six hold roughly 25 liters of media. Which is about four times as much as a Fluval FX6.
As soon as the silicone cures completely and I pick up some hose I'm going to test it with the pump to see if It will flow enough and to see if the thing just falls apart. I'm kinda winging it here so I have no idea how this will work out. I think it's good in theory.