Overflow box Prefilters

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boisblancboy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 17, 2006
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Michigan
I am wondering if I could change the prefilters in my overflow box to a finer media to help collect more crap. This is this overflow box, its the one on the right in the picture:
http://www.theaquariumonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=567

The reason that I think it would work with no problems, even if the prefilter got clogged is because the pipe that the prefilter fits over is open on the top, so if the water level raised because the filter was clogged, it would just bypass the filter.

The pipes inside the filters have 3/16" slots cut on each side of the pipe, from the bottom all the way to the top with a spacing of about 1/2", which of course allows the water to go through the prefilter and not over top of it.

So what do you guys think? Any sugguestion?
 
If you make it a finer celled foam it will lower the flow rate, lowering the filtering cycle and allowing the water quality to drop (by allowing the detrious and ammonia to stay in the tank longer).

If the pre-filters clog and get bypassed then the gunk go straight to the W/D's filter.

What are you using in the W/D , I can't remember sorry. You could add another layer there (finer), to the bottom of the filter stack.

These's no easy way to get around cleaning the filters (as lazy as I am, I should know), without throwing obsene amounts of money at it...physically larger filter units extend the time between cleanings but not by too much.

Dr Joe

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Water cycle through my wet/dry: First- overflow box, then U tubes, through prefilters, down dual 1-1/4" lines to blue bonder filter pad, through drip tray, over bio-balls, into sump and back to the tank. If you read my first post there shouldnt be anyway to slow the flow down because if the prefilters clog it will flow over the top of them and directly into the dual 1-1/4" lines.
 
I ment if you use a finer celled foam in the pre-filters they will not flow as much.

I understand about the pre-filters by-passing is clogged.

You could put a finer filter media after the blue bond to polish the water but that could slow down flow too.

Any changes done I would do in the W/D where your working with larger areas of filter material.

It's never easy is it...course if I wanted easy I'd raise dirt...:D

Dr Joe

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What's your pump's flow rate at the head?

Going to a finer material shouldn't pose too much of a problem with the size of your drain lines if your at-head flow rate is 1200GPH or less. Above that, I think you're going to be cleaning prefilters fairly often if your tank has a moderate to high bio-load.
Of course, the worst that can happen is you find the finer material is too much of a maintenance hassle and simply switch back to the coarse material..
 
At head preasure the pump should be moving approx 700gph, its on the low side I know for a 240g, but it only had ONE Oscar in there. Once I get more fish, I will get larger pump, then the current one will be use for backup purposes. The reason I want to run a finer prefilter is that it is much easier to pull the pre filters out and clean them. Also it helps the pads in the drip tray from getting clogged as fast.
 
Instead of making my own, do you guys happen to know where to find some different prefilters?
 
I have two of the same overflows (300 and 400) and I have perfectly clear water. On my 180gal, the 400 flows to the 300gal sump (same site), and the 300 flows to a 150Pro on my 75gal. What are you trying to achieve? My 180gal is perfectly clear and I can see from end to end lengthwise (6ft), and have no stuff in the water.

If you are trying to keep the water spotless, keeping the prefilters in the overflow, and adding some type of finer media above your bio balls would work better. If you also have the Aquaclear sumps, I would recommend a quick trip to Wal-Mart to purchase some preformed fiber-floss from their sewing department. I simply cut it to the right dimensions, and then pull it apart so it is as thin as i need. Using this for a polising pad cleared up my water the most.
 
Just trying to achieve more and better mechanical filtration with my wet/dry system. As of right now the prefilters only stop HUGE particles, since it really isnt doing much, might as well make it do something, since they are in a place that is easy to get to and easy to clean.
 
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