DIY wet/dry filter?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
P

pushrod

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 26, 2009
29
0
0
45
San Leandro, CA 94579
Hello, Im trying to make a wet dry sump filter for my 170 gallon aquarium which has three 1.5 inch to 2 inch holes drilled in the bottom of it, for some kind of filter setup. I have a 10 gallon aquarium I can use to build it out of, if it is big enough... How big of a tank should I use? How many chambers do I need in the sump tank to make this work? How much bio filter media do I need for a 170 gallon aquarium? Ive looked up videos and articals all over the web to find a good design for this project, but have been unsucsessful in finding a good set of plans (I might not be looking hard enough). It would be nice to take the two hang on the back filters off, move the tank closer to the wall behind it, and put all the filters and equipment under the display tank. I am deturmend to build this filter setup myself! Where do I start?
Thanks,
Nick
 
You can use 2 holes w/ pvc piping cut to the height of the desired water lever for the overflows, then you can use the last remaining hole for the return. A 10 gallon will not be sufficient, I'd use nothing smaller than a 30 gallon long. Here's what I use on my 180.........

30GallonWetDrySump.jpg
 
now these three holes are drilled in the bottom panel of the tank. I did a water test the other day and when i drained it, I used one of the holes on the bottom. There was alot of presure pushing water out the hole! What kind of pump can I use that can pump the water back up one of the hole even though theres 1400 pounds of water trying to push it back out?
Thanks,
Nick
 
Ok I don't think you get it, if the return output is positioned "CORRECTLY" it will be at or near the surface of the water not the bottom where the most pressure will be.
 
pushrod;4320334; said:
I have a 170 gallon aquarium that has been drilled in the bottom panel in three locations. I was wondering if I can use one of holes for a return for water back into the tank, even though there is 1400 pounds of water trying to push it back out? I'm going to use 2 of the holes for water going into the wet dry filter. What kind of pump can I use to do this, if I can at all?
Click to expand...

This may be dumb, but what if you plumb a pipe going closer to the surface? It would keep your tank from completely draining itself too.
 
you gonna make those drains into overflows? unless you have a closed-loop system, youre gonna need some extremely good check valves for when the power goes out. what if the check valve fails, or clogs? thats a lot of water on your floor. i had the same dilemma with my 400g. decided not to risk it so i plugged up the holes and ran a regular overflow with returns drilled into the back of the tank.
 
Ok, I get it! I shouldnt use the holes on the bottom just because, if something fails all the water could wind up on the floor. Good thinking! I wasn't going to have an overflow inside the tank at all, but now I'm reconsidering!
 
pushrod;4320596;4320596 said:
Ok, I get it! I shouldnt use the holes on the bottom just because, if something fails all the water could wind up on the floor. Good thinking! I wasn't going to have an overflow inside the tank at all, but now I'm reconsidering!
Click to expand...
yeah, on mine i wanted to use the bottom holes for returns, so it 'pushes' everything up towards the overflows. but the thought of draining the tank in a power outage and freak check valve accident scared the crap out of me! even though it may never would have happened, better safe than sorry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom