Because it's using a siphon to bring water into a container, let it run through media, and then being pushed back by a pump. Just saying, IMO I would just go with a simple sump setup. Seems like it would be a lot less hassle and won't have to mess with bulk heads and what not. Not tryin' to derail your thread or anything I just think it would be simpler and just as effective.
Would putting multiple output hoses on the top of the canister greatly diminish the amount of pressure on the lid? Do you think that the barrel that I posted earlier could take it? Or can you think of another similar type container that will better fit the bill? (the ocean clear canisters were pretty expensive considering the intended diy pricetag)
P.s. sorry for all the questions. I enjoy thinking about this design.
Jon M, please refer to the poorly made diagram. The pump wouldn't pull water through the canister. It would push it through. To me this design seems simpler than a typical sump.
And thanks for your input/words of kindness.
The only way to reduce pressure on the lid is by decreasing the head height. If space allows you could place the barrel beside or behind the tank at nearly the same level as the tank. Depending on how tall your tank is you could even locate the top of the barrel just above the tank with the return gravity-feeding back into the tank. This would eliminate the pressure on the lid and the need for shut-offs - just shut off the pump and un-clamp the lid to access media. You will probably want to configure it with water flowing from the top down so your mechanical media is on top and easily accessible.
Jon M, please refer to the poorly made diagram. The pump wouldn't pull water through the canister. It would push it through. To me this design seems simpler than a typical sump.
And thanks for your input/words of kindness.
If you are creating a siphon to bring the water from the tank to the bucket, the pump that's sitting in the bucket is pushing the water from the bucket into the tank right? I think I'm missing something... Pulling water through a bucket is the same as pushing it threw as it has to pull the water being fed to the bucket from the the bucket threw the pump and back threw another tube into your tank right? I run w/d sump filtration on my tank but I'm quite confused as to what exactly you mean here.... But my confusion input isn't really helpin' your cause here so you don't have to respond to this.
Dan F, if I were to run the water from the top to the bottom, do you think that there would be an issue with trapped air making noise in the canister? That was my reasoning for putting the input on the bottom. Also if I have the pump pumping water into the canister from the top, where would I put the pump? Sit it on top of the canister? The more we discuss this, the more far fetched it seems.
I run an ancient Marineland canister in series with the new one. Old one is about 2' below water level and is full of coarse open-cell foam. Second is in the under-cupboard, maybe 4' below and has the motor and much finer media. Siphon draws water out and through old into new, boosted by pump. Pump then sends everything back up. I wouldn't use anything unpressurized like a sump as electricity is expensive around here- if there's no reason to lift water then I'm not going to bother. I wouldn't think these hard plastic Marineland cans are any more pressure-tough than a commercial bucket.
I appreciate the issues with potential leakage- over engineer. Or prepare for catastrophe. I tend to go with the latter as my tank is outdoors.
DIY requires way more tinkering than store-bought, and yes, bubbles in the system will drive you nuts and (likely) double your maintenance time. So will mystically lost syphon and all sorts of other unforeseen headaches. Role with the punches.
So what container would you suggest, Andyroo, for a pump around 700-800 gph? Would the barrels I linked earlier do alright? And what do you think about using regular buckets like http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23470&catid=752? With a price tag like that, it would be easy enough to put several in succession so as to contain different media in each bucket. Then the problem is again the strength of the lid's seal.
Stick with the barrels from before- they seem to have a gasketted (sealing?) lid, whereas these ones don't. Look for a lid that either screws down or has clamps. O-rings are better than gaskets. Test it: fill it with water, towel it dry, turn it over and leave it on newsprint for 48 hrs to make sure it's water-tight. If you're really serious fill it with very cold Diet Coke & close up the lid, give it a shake, flip it and let it warm up in the sun to get little positive test-pressure. Do this on the bed next to the wife's best curtains- the good linens will best show any leaks (KIDDING!!!!! just in case you missed the smily-face)
But seriously, the money's not that bad, so give it a try. Use a little silicone grease (NOT petro-based or Vaseline) on the sealing gasket. Maybe also put the pump on the down-stream side to minimize pressure inside the can, particularly as it fills with fish-pooh and water flow slows down. Maybe get yourself a wet-dry shop-vac first, or do your trials outside.
NB: I'm an overeducated overcaffeinated hack and my tank is outside, so as long as the syphon breaks at 1/2-tank I'm OK- no carpets or flooring to wreck, just a swampy garden. So take my advise with pinch of salt and within your own context and acceptable risk.
Whenever I get the money to try it out, believe me that I will. I just currently have neither the time nor the cash to try something like this. If you would be willing to though, Andyroo, I would be much obliged.
