Filter media in wet/dry

[patdown]

I've noticed many people use bio balls and many use scrubbies as bio filter media in a wet/dry sump. Many pictures show both types of media submerged or partially submerged. A lot of the time, statements are made that bio balls do not perform as well when submerged. I haven't seen comments of this performance deficiency when referring to the scrubbies. Do scrubbies also suffer from this performance deficiency when submerged?

Also, when placing heaters in the sump, is it OK for them to be in the same section as the return pump? Would it be OK to put heaters in the section as Seachem Matrix when the matrix is the bottom of the sump ? Touching the matrix or not?

Thanks.

 

[patdown]

I have a 180 gallon tank and a 50 gallon sump (used aquarium). I would like to use a dual overflow with the vertical tubes about three feet apart and behind a 3D background. The horizontal tube 'A' would tie both overflows together and the T's would go to filter socks in the wet/dry sump via flex tubes, down through 10 gal of bio balls, over some matrix (4-6 L), through a sponge filter, and then to a Magdrive 12 return pump with 3/4" pvc.I know tube "A" will not actually be as drawn. It will be lower in order to set the waterline in the DT. I had planned on using 1" pvc for the whole overflow assembly , but many suggest using 1.25" instead. The head for the pump will be around 4 feet. I think either size pvc will work, but what do you guys think?Please critique as I am just getting into this stuff. Artwork credited to unknown person. I just edited it.

 

[cypher1024]

As far as I know, the reason for the 'dry' part of the wet/dry system is so that the bacteria have access to more oxygen than they would submerged. Bio balls have less surface area than scrubbies, so they can house fewer beneficial bacteria in either a wet or dry environment.

Heaters can be installed anywhere provided their glass isn't touching anything (contact can create hotspots and break the heater), and they must stay submerged at all times, even during a power-cut.

Personally I wouldn't join both overflows like that. They will both be drawing water from the middle of the tank. It would be better to have each of them draw independently from each end.

What is the expected flow rate of your pump at that head?

 

[patdown]

From the Mag-drive charts, around 1100 @ 4ft head. However, there will be plumbing involved, so I am sure that number will be lower. Which does bring up another question. I also have an FX5 in this setup. So, I can separate the two overflows and place them about 20" from each end of the tank for surface skimming and the FX5 input in the middle of the tank about 6-8" from the bottom of the tank. How does that plan sound? What about the overflow piping size?

My plan for the return of these both of these filters is to go through the 3D background with Loc-line and use their flare nozzles to direct flow through-out the fish side of the background. I wanted to use the Loc-line to get adjustability to eliminate/reduce any dead spots.

Would there be any benefit to using pvc piping to create a closed-loop system rather than a dead-end pipe? At that point, I would just tap in to the piping for the Loc-line at the appropriate places. I think I have read that a closed-loop system is better for more of a uniform flow than a dead-end system.

 

[Crispy]

I found the best 'submerged biomedia' to use in a sump is running a bunch of sponge filters. I have 4 of them in my sump driven by one 4-output airpump. barely uses any electricity and works great.

 

[patdown]

This is the "closed-loop system" I was talking about. Apparently the term "closed-loop system" in the aquaria world means something different than what is depicted in this drawing. This is considered a return manifold system. Drawing courtesy of Anthony Calvo. You can run this in the tank however you want. Each of the outlets should have some sort of way of directing the flow (Loc-line, swiveling pvc connectors). Mr. Calvo is a salt water guy but describes a system such as this at the top of the tank with the output underwater. Maybe use something like this up top from the sump pump and on the bottom from the FX5, acting like a UGJ.

 

[anarekist]

i just put an air stone in there if it's submerged, sump that is.