2nd Wet Dry in a tank ?

[redtailfool]

Allright guys, im looking to beef up my current filtration in my 180 gallon ( fish are getting bigger ). I am torn between a wet dry or another canister. My priorities are both mechanical and biological .. My current filtration consists of 1 wet dry, and 2 canister filters.

Here is the 50 million dollar question : Can 2 wet dry filters work perfectly together in the same tank ? what are the pros and cons of it?

 

[redtailfool]

anybody?

 

[rallysman]

that's a good question. I've wondered how difficult it would be to add another and keep the water level where it needs to be.

 

[redtailfool]

that's a good question. I've wondered how difficult it would be to add another and keep the water level where it needs to be.

its either i make a larger wet dry, or supplement mine with a smaller one. As you know levi, im not the handy at all and would rather get anothery w/d than diy a bigger one.

 

[Tongue33]

I agree with the question of water level.. But at the same time the water level should not be an issue with the wet dry being bought... That is what you plan on doing right ?

If you get the wet dry and the pump that comes with it the water level wont be an issue, and the drain system is correct for it.. The only time i see problems with water level is when we diy the mechanisms IT's kinda like this you have an emp 400 and you add another.. Or anyother filter for that matter. They replace the water that they suck out..

THough now that i am running the tachnicalities through my head... YOu could very well end up with a flood In the event of power outage or other wet/dry cons.... I'll think about that and look at my system some more and if the question is not answered before conclusion... I'll get back to it with my conclusion...

 

[dr_sudz]

As far as I am concerned Wet/drys are the way to go. It really is the superiour way of doing things, but as was just stated the problem of a possible overflow could happen. The canisters are good, but to a sump it isn't as good only because you can add water volume as well as filtration. The more water that is not being used for fish the happier everyone is. I would just buy a much larger sump and sell the one you have and keep it simple, I can only see disaster with running two sumps.

 

[redtailfool]

As far as I am concerned Wet/drys are the way to go. It really is the superiour way of doing things, but as was just stated the problem of a possible overflow could happen. The canisters are good, but to a sump it isn't as good only because you can add water volume as well as filtration. The more water that is not being used for fish the happier everyone is. I would just buy a much larger sump and sell the one you have and keep it simple, I can only see disaster with running two sumps.

Thanks for the advice guys.. Dr Sudz, what kind of scenario do you think 2 sumps would cause ? Shouldnt a power outage still keep the water level ( as long as the water output isnt longer than the 1st wet dry output ? )

 

[Lil_Stinker]

If you go with 2 W/D, might I recommend connecting them via PVC pipe, this will eliminate the flood issue should one fail.

The (proven) theory is that when the one fails then the other empties & the failed one fills & over-flows. This is a very real fear.

Another (proven) theory is that the working sump runs dry (burning our the working pump) & the other fills up.

Both theories can be true depending on the tank overflow volume vs sump capacity.
Theory one can & will lead to theory two if not caught in time.

By connecting the two (or more) sumps, the failed sump will drain into the working sump(s) maintaining an acceptable water level in each. Both overflows will still function, all bio will stay wet, one pump will run the system until the failed pump is replaced.

Yes; this is tried & true. The water passing between the sumps in normal operation is minimal & has already been filtered, so there is no contamination.

The net is a ONE large sump with 2 pumps,

I have seen this in action on a 1200g system with 2 100g sumps. Sam turned off one pump & we watched it go. This system has the sumps overflow to a drain as well, because there is a 200g tank loss when the system rests, so about 100g hits the drain when the system is taken off-line for maintanance/cleaning.

If possible It's not a bad idea to have sumps overflow to a drain.

.

 

[rayman45]

If you go with 2 W/D, might I recommend connecting them via PVC pipe, this will eliminate the flood issue should one fail.

The (proven) theory is that when the one fails then the other empties & the failed one fills & over-flows. This is a very real fear.

Another (proven) theory is that the working sump runs dry (burning our the working pump) & the other fills up.

Both theories can be true depending on the tank overflow volume vs sump capacity.
Theory one can & will lead to theory two if not caught in time.

By connecting the two (or more) sumps, the failed sump will drain into the working sump(s) maintaining an acceptable water level in each. Both overflows will still function, all bio will stay wet, one pump will run the system until the failed pump is replaced.

Yes; this is tried & true. The water passing between the sumps in normal operation is minimal & has already been filtered, so there is no contamination.

The net is a ONE large sump with 2 pumps,

I have seen this in action on a 1200g system with 2 100g sumps. Sam turned off one pump & we watched it go. This system has the sumps overflow to a drain as well, because there is a 200g tank loss when the system rests, so about 100g hits the drain when the system is taken off-line for maintanance/cleaning.

If possible It's not a bad idea to have sumps overflow to a drain.

.

told ya wes... gotta connext em

 

[toxicfish]

Anybody see probs let me know? Just an idea that popped into my head one day, and have not put much thought into it yet.