Build or buy used?

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upaquariest

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 26, 2006
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Houghton MI
I have a 55 gallon that right now is filtered by a aqua clear 110 but do to the room that the tank is in it is really difficult to get at the filter. There is only about 3" clearace over the top of the tank due to a short ceiling. I want to switch to a sump style filter but as I am still in college I need to save money where ever I can. I have a extra tank that I was thinking about converting into a wet/dry type set-up, but my lfs has a Marineland Tidepool 2 used for 100 with a pump and overflow however it is missing the bio wheel. I am just wondering what would be my best bet.



The tank is stocked with
2) large angels
1) medium-small discus
1) 6" albino poly seneglus (will be moved to other tank if not used as a sump)
2) medium plecos (possibly being replaced with cories if poly is removed)
1) african butterfly
1) large bala
1) medium silver dollar
 
100$ is great
 
upaquariest said:
thanks any idea where I might be able to find the replacement aside from directly from marineland. lfs said that they couldnt order it
Click to expand...

My local Petsmart has them in all sizes. Check your local store; they may be able to order them.
 
upaquariest said:
...I want to switch to a sump style filter but as I am still in college I need to save money where ever I can. I have a extra tank that I was thinking about converting into a wet/dry type set-up, but my lfs has a Marineland Tidepool 2 used for 100 ...
Click to expand...

I am assuming that is $100 for the setup... In my book, that is pretty steep when you should be able to construct a sump or wet/dry for less than thirty. Have a look through the DIY section for sumps and wet/dry filters. Shop Goodwill and other thrift stores for any materials that could double for what you will need. For instance, I picked up some plastic bins for two and three bucks; they can double as sump tanks or wet dry tanks. Smaller ones can be used to hold bio-balls or pot scrubbers. Pot scrubbers will double as Bio-balls; Pillows are full of filter floss.

I made a wet/dry for less than ten dollars. I bought a ten gallon tank at Goodwill that had all kinds of stuff in it (paid ten bucks for all of it). It came with a nice pump that I used in the wet/dry. I used a ten gallon bucket (free), put the pump (about $3) in the bottom of it, and packed it with plastic bio material that was in the shed for the last fifteen years(free but could be purchased/substituted for around six dollars). On top of the biomaterial, I put a layer of polyester pillow stuffing (free). Pillow stuffing is the same stuff they sell in a tiny bag for four bucks by calling it filter floss. Find the worse pillow in the house. Trade yours for that one. Now go buy yourself a new pillow at Walmart or Big Lots for five bucks. Cut open the dead pillow and remove all of the filter floss that you could possibly dream of. It fluffs up to its original volume as you pull it out. There will be so much in there, that when it comes time to clean your filter, you can really just replace it with more pillow stuffing.

A Goodwill here has about 20-30 shower scrunchies for 69 cents each. I asked for them all at ten cents each but the manager would only give me ten cents off of each...I walked away... you can use anything for the biomaterial that you can dream of. Some people here have even used those green plastic army men. I used this on my turtle tank which was already drilled and had bulkhead fittings already installed, so I did not need to add an overflow or return plumbing.
 
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