Well, Its been a while. I have it up and running. My measurements were right on the money. With the return pump down, it fills to about 3 inches from the top. It is plenty of room for my return pump and my pump to the back porch filters. I mounted filters to hold Carbon and GFO and a rope filter. It works great now with a few adjustments to the fillable filter housings. BUT, the biggest thing I love is the Roller!!!!!! It has been running almost 2 months and I am probably through less than 2/3 of a roll. That is with adding the sand and starting the tank. You know how much sediment that kicks up. Now I know by bioload is not that heavy yet, but wow. I would be washing socks already right now. I hate socks with a passion.
I have had no problems with leaks at all. The lid needs to stay on to cut the smell. Its not super bad but after the roll sits dirty for a month it is not roses. I have had no problem with the motor turning the roll. I even reached in and hit the switch and turned the roll just to make sure that it hasn't gotten a hole or something in it. It is useing that little material. One piece of advice. Don't roll the roller with your hand. You will break the plastic motor gear. The largest thing that I can see about this thing so far is when I change out the roll, I will need to vacuum out the tank. Since the flow starts on the outside of the roll and pushes to the inside, the roller tank does hold some of the heavier particles. It is not bad, and nothing that I see as a complaint to not buy it. It doesn't hold anymore than the sump itself. After I got my Magnesium up and got the precipitation out, than got past the early carbon dosing milky (new tank), my water is awsome. It is just like air in there. I am very very happy.
