So I had some time and an idea. 
Like most of us, I have a stupid amount of "spare" stuff lying around, so I started with the 220g rated wet/dry.
This was put on a shelf a few inches higher than the top of the main tank (gravity drain back to main)
After cleaning the canisters (2 XP2's, 1 304 Fluval) I re-packed them with sponges and floss only. I dumped the bio media in the W/D and made new hoses from the canisters to feed the W/D.
I rebuilt my AC500's to put back on for more mech. instead of the 4 Emp 400's that were on it and painted all intake tubes black. The output from the canister fed W/D dumps in to an empty AC70 for return to the tank. Heaters were moved from the main tank to the W/D, and after 24 hrs or so, the main tank looks wonderful. Only 5 well placed black tubes along the back wall are hardly noticable, and it's so quiet as opposed to before, I find myself checking things to make sure they are still running.
Time will tell, but first opinion from me is that it's going to work nicely.
Tons of mech., tons of available bio (all the bio in the three canisters just barely covers the floor of the W/D, plus the bio balls being trickled on)
Planning to add floating plants to the W/D in a couple weeks if all is still working as it is now.
Nice to add a big W/D into the mix without HOB overflows or drilling. No flood potential either.
Like most of us, I have a stupid amount of "spare" stuff lying around, so I started with the 220g rated wet/dry.
This was put on a shelf a few inches higher than the top of the main tank (gravity drain back to main)
After cleaning the canisters (2 XP2's, 1 304 Fluval) I re-packed them with sponges and floss only. I dumped the bio media in the W/D and made new hoses from the canisters to feed the W/D.
I rebuilt my AC500's to put back on for more mech. instead of the 4 Emp 400's that were on it and painted all intake tubes black. The output from the canister fed W/D dumps in to an empty AC70 for return to the tank. Heaters were moved from the main tank to the W/D, and after 24 hrs or so, the main tank looks wonderful. Only 5 well placed black tubes along the back wall are hardly noticable, and it's so quiet as opposed to before, I find myself checking things to make sure they are still running.
Time will tell, but first opinion from me is that it's going to work nicely.
Tons of mech., tons of available bio (all the bio in the three canisters just barely covers the floor of the W/D, plus the bio balls being trickled on)
Planning to add floating plants to the W/D in a couple weeks if all is still working as it is now.
Nice to add a big W/D into the mix without HOB overflows or drilling. No flood potential either.
