Adding pressurized filter to canister filter to increase media volume. Yes or No?

[nismob]

Hey guys.

I am thinking about adding a DIY pressurized 5Gal water jug to my running and cycled tank. Currently I have 1 Sunsun 303B canister filter. I will be switching to 2 Sunsun 402B canister filters since they both will have a total of 36W power consumption which is about the same as running 1 303B (35W).

2 402B filters will offer more flow and more volume for media and additional mechanical filter so this is definitely a yes.

I also want to add an additional 5Gal water jug which I will transform it into a pressurized sort of filter which will hold K2 Moving Bed Bio Media. Those K2 are very small and will flow freely so it won't affect water flow significantly. Water will flow into canister filters and into this 5Gal water jug before it returns to the tank. I will connect only 1 canister filter to the water jug. The other canister filter will be on its own or maybe I will add another 5Gal water jug to it in the future if my plan works out.

My tank stand is 3ft and water level is about 51" above ground. My concern is since 402B canister filter pump is rated at 265GPH and at 51" water level, the flow is not very strong IMO. What do you guys think about this plan? Should I connect 2 canister filters to the 5Gal water jug. 2 water IN hoses and 1 water OUT. That way, the pressure will be stronger to push the water through. Should I add a smaller water jug instead of using a 5Gal one which is too big? I am ok using a 3Gal one.

Please let me know your thoughts and if you have done one or similar set up, I would like to know your opinion.

Thanks guys. Good day

 

[jwh]

I don’t know the sussun well, however If your water parameters were ok with the 303, and you now move to two 402’s why would you add anything more. Adding pressurized vessels strain your pump and reduce your output, hence I’m not sure what the net gain would be.

 

[dan518]

I think you will be disappointed with the flow of the 402 at that head hight especially if it's going through the jug. Personally think get another 303 and forget the jug.

 

[nismob]

Thanks for your very prompt inputs.

I can foresee that adding a pressurized filter will cause more stress to the pump but Sunsun offers a smaller type of canister filter which can be used as additional space or a standalone filter (with a pump). I assume it is still safe for the pump if this smaller filter is connected to the main canister filter.

https://www.amazon.com/TechnToy-HW-603B-3-Stage-External-Canister/dp/B00CC6SCJQ

I thought if I buy this to add more space, which is still very limited, why not use a jug which is much bigger.

My water parameters are good and well under control. I want to add more bio media because I am slowly transforming my tank into a community tank. Not that they will make a huge difference since I don't feed them a lot but I just want to be on the safe side.

I have the 402B running in my other tank and I am ok with its flow rate so using 2 402B makes more sense to me. Adding another 303 would increase power consumption to 70W.

 

[markstrimaran]

I think I would build a 10 gallon sump with gravity powered filter socks.

 

[duanes]

I'm not a fan of pressurized filters.
The 1st pressurized DIY fluidized bed I built was problematic because in power outages, or stopping it for maintanence would cause back siphon (even with a check valve) and i had to wrestle with it to get it going again, and unplug media filled line. It was large, and filedl with water and media, was quite heavy, around 70 lbs.
A 5 gallon jug (filled) will weigh in at @40lbs +.
After a while I took off the top and ran it unpressurized and everything went much smoother. the influent tube just had to be pulled out if blocked, and the addition of media was easy, just toss it in.
Here it is unpressurised (4ft tall by 8" diameter)using aragonite sand as media, and as an alkalinity buffer, running at a few hundred GPH.
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I find with a fluidized bed, a strong pump dedicated to only that filter helps tremendously.