Pro Clear Aquatics (200) on a 125 gal.

[titansfever83]

OK, please let me know if this will/will not work. Please bear with me and let me know exactly what I need to change if anything. BTW, this is for a 125 gal.


I have a Pro Clear Aquatics Sump(model 200) rated @ 200 gal or 900 GPH
http://www.pro-clear.com/wetdry.html


I have a CHEAP ViaAqua pump(model 3600) rated @ 1000 GPH at no head. Total head from the pump to the top of the tank will be approx 4'-4.5' I'm not certain what that will drop the GPH to but I'm hoping it will be enough for my tank.

I have fittings for my pump to accomodate 5/8" ID tubing. Here are a few questions:


Will 5/8" I.D. tubing work for the return?

Is there a more quiet submersible pump than this P.O.S. I have??

And any tricks to running a wet/dry without turning my living room floor into a kiddie pool???


Jamie

 

[titansfever83]

 

[rallysman]

The sump itself is fine, but to know if the pump is you really need to know how much flow it loses. You can hook it all up and time how long it takes to fill a 1 gallon jug if you want to be really accurate. As far as quiet pumps, I've found the best ones are external. I have quiet one 4000s that are very quiet but they need to be cleaned every couple of months or they'll stop running IME. If you can flow 3x your tank volume per hour you will be fine unless it's severely over stocked.

As far as keeping the floor dry, make sure that there is nothing that can create a siphon in the event of a power failure. If the return is below the water, then drill a small hole right below the water line to break the siphon. That should be enough to keep it from overflowing the sump.

 

[titansfever83]

Thanks Rallysman.

A few more questions. Your referring to the return as the outflow of the filtration?

Say that evaporation takes place and my return eventually is out of the water, will that break the siphon if I have pump or power failure?

And what do you guys use as a return and where to get them. I bought this sump used and it is only the overflow box w/hoses and sump, no pump(but I have one) and no spray bar or anything.


Jamie

 

[titansfever83]

 

[rallysman]

Thanks Rallysman.

A few more questions. Your referring to the return as the outflow of the filtration?
Yes

Say that evaporation takes place and my return eventually is out of the water, will that break the siphon if I have pump or power failure?
No, because the water level will not change in the tank, only in the sump. Since it has an overflow, the water will always be at the level of the overflow. If too much evaporates the pump may run dry. It's best to drill a hole right below the water level on the return.

And what do you guys use as a return and where to get them. I bought this sump used and it is only the overflow box w/hoses and sump, no pump(but I have one) and no spray bar or anything.

I use PVC and make my own.
Jamie

answers in gray
Sorry it took so long to reply!

 

[titansfever83]

Thanks again Rally.

I have never used a sump as filtration and I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right so my floors stay nice and dry!!

The 125 will have a brand new FX5 for mechanical filtration and I plan on using this 19 gal. sump for bio filtration. Thats the plan, I will see how well everything works and go from there.