Well in the meantime... I ordered an XP4 so that will be the main filter on it as of now. Rated to 265gallons and I always figure half of what they say, so should be okay for 100g.
how does built in overflow work
- Thread starter aprime11b
- Start date
Xp4 flows 190 gph full of media. That's about 2x turnover an hour which is a little light for a 100 depending on stock. You may want to consider an fx5 instead for a canister.... About $230 online
In the meantime you're better off finding out the size of your hole and ordering a bulkhead. It ll make life down the road much easier if you go ahead and at least put a bulkhead on your drain (bottom) hole ...
In the meantime you're better off finding out the size of your hole and ordering a bulkhead. It ll make life down the road much easier if you go ahead and at least put a bulkhead on your drain (bottom) hole ...
Jc1119;5052428; said:
I really like the XP filters and never tried the FX5 but I have heard good things.. I already ordered the XP4 but I emailed to try to cancel it. I will take your advice, as that is the point of this, so I just ordered an FX5 for 50 dollars more. I hope it is worth it.
I love the xp's too and own several but I think the fx5 will give you more room to play around with for stocking purposes....
I think the flow about 600 gph full. I think it's worth the extra 50 bucks. You could put the sump off for awhile till you get an idea how you want to do it
I think the flow about 600 gph full. I think it's worth the extra 50 bucks. You could put the sump off for awhile till you get an idea how you want to do it
aprime11b;5052183; said:ya i think it was a steal.
anyways I just went to tue value and they have pvc and soft tubes. I came home real fast to figure out for sure what to buy. I think the hole at the bottom of the overflow is between 1 and 1.5" the 2 holes on the top must be .75-1''. I dont have a tape measure.
So how should I do this?
They don't have bulkheads, so I am thinking of getting something else and sealing the whole around the pvc or soft tubes I go with. what would seal or fill the gaps?
So I need to buy a pond pump too that will get connected to the outtake and push water up and back into the tank, right?
For the drain hole you need a bulkhead, sealing around the pipe is a disaster waiting to happen! There isn't really a glue or sealant that will work in the long run. Find a ruler and double check the size of the hole. Then order one of these:
http://www.petsolutions.com/storefr...ement-bulkheads/prodReplacementBulkheads.html
A 3/4" bulkhead takes a 1.5" hole, the 1" bulkhead uses a 1.75" hole.
For the return lines it is fine to fashion up something from scratch, but it really is better to buy a bulkhead for the drain. Some people have done DIY bulkheads with stuff from a plumbing store, but I don't have a parts list. Personally, I think it is worth buying the real deal. I would look at pumps on the Pet Solutions website as well, they have good prices and free shipping if you spend $99.
Dan F;5052519; said:
wish ya lived close so you could help because reading all this info and trying to map it out is kinda tough.
aprime11b;5053515; said:wish ya lived close so you could help because reading all this info and trying to map it out is kinda tough.
Yeah, if I had a little more free time I would. Our baby (#2) is due in two or three weeks, so I don't get out much these days...
It may not go together quite as easily as you were hoping, but it will be a sweet setup in the end.
To start out:
Measure the bottom drain hole and get a bulkhead.
Get a pump. A Quiet One 3000/4000 or a Mag 7/9.5 would work well.
Find a tank or heavy-duty plastic container to build your sump. It should be something that will fit in the stand and still give you enough head room to clean/change the mechanical. A ten gallon is probably minimal, a twenty-long would probably be better. I think aquariums are better than tubs because it is easier to make a tight-fitting, drip-free top.
