simplest, cheapest, wet/dry ever

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
fhawk362;3662219; said:
Quick question, i can never figure out how to match the pump output with the amount of water going into the wet/dy, do you have to remove some water every so often or hows that work
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im not sure what exactly you mean about having to remove water, but im sure the answer is no.
overflows (as the name implies) only remove whatever extra water is pushed into the tank by the pump. as long as your pump is rated for less flow than the max of your overflow, you dont have to add or remove any water for it to operate.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219465
 
Ok, i feel like i ask alot of stupid questions on this topic so im going to try to figure it totally out right now. Ok question 1. Are there two pumps or just one for the return. 2. Could I get an explanation on how the water transfer works, i understand the filtration behind it i just dont get how when you syphon the water down that the return pump puts back the same amount of water? Does the pump sometimes run dry, or do you use two of the same pumps so you get the same amount of water going into the filter as going out? I think of it as the water is syphoned or overflows into the box at an unmeasured amount of water so the returning pump would either be pushing more or less water than coming in, thats where my problem would lie. Someone try to clarify this for me please.
 
briang> Just the filter floss at the top of the drawer system needs to be changed as it accumulates debris. The drawer system makes this a very easy task.

fhawk> The pump will fill up your tank up to the overflow and then the overflow brings the water back down to your wet/dry. The overflow will always keep the water at a certain level providing your pump isn't too strong for your bulkhead size. Once the waterline is below your overflow, water won't go down into your sump. Once the pump is turned on and pumping water into your tank, the level will rise and your overflow will once again start draining water automatically.

Currently using a catalina 2300 as my return pump, but will upgrade when I add another overflow and run twin wet/drys (since another identical drawer system will fit in the 55g sump). :D I also run 2x AC110s and FX5 on this 190g.

Might as well throw another tank shot up here. :)

DSC02373.jpg
 
Hi fhawk, I have built a sump similar to the one here.

fhawk362;3664670; said:
Ok, i feel like i ask alot of stupid questions on this topic so im going to try to figure it totally out right now. Ok question 1. Are there two pumps or just one for the return.
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This system is a sump located under the aquarium. The system by which water gets from the tank to the sump is called an OVERFLOW. There are many types of overflows and I will explain a very common one.

There is a solid PVC pipe mounted inside the tank, usually at one side directly over the sump. There is a hole drilled in the bottom of the tank and the pipe runs strait up through the hole and stops just below the top of the tank. The point that the pipe passes through the tank must be sealed to prevent leaks (usually using a screw on flange). The top of the pipe allows tank water to overflow into it and then pour into the sump underneath. This means that the waterlevel of your tank will always be at or just over the top of the overflow pipe!

Therefore there is NO pump on the overflow! You may use 1 or more pumps for the return.

2. Could I get an explanation on how the water transfer works, i understand the filtration behind it i just dont get how when you syphon the water down that the return pump puts back the same amount of water?
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Cycle is as follows:
  • Excess water from tank overflows into the overflow pipe
  • Water pours through the overflow pipe into the sump
  • Water passes through filter media in sump
  • Water pumped from sump into tank at any rate you desire
  • Water being pumped into the tank raises the water level of the tank
  • Excess water from tank overflows into the overflow pipe
  • Cycle continues indefinately
Does the pump sometimes run dry, or do you use two of the same pumps so you get the same amount of water going into the filter as going out? I think of it as the water is syphoned or overflows into the box at an unmeasured amount of water so the returning pump would either be pushing more or less water than coming in, thats where my problem would lie. Someone try to clarify this for me please.
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As water is pumped from your sump to the tank it causes the tank to overflow back into the sump - therefore the waterlevel in your sump remains constant. The pump should never run dry.



Sumps with built in wet/drys like Crispy has show in this article are excellent value for experienced fish keepers. Bear in mind the following:
  • The amount of water in your tank is determined entirely by the position of the overflow. You cannot run your filter with a lower water level in your tank.
  • Having a hole drilled in the bottom of your tank is a risky business. Any leaks at the flange will cause your tank to drain entirely. The overflow must be as watertight as the sides of your tank!
  • Overflows can be VERY noisy - fortunately you can make a silencer :)
  • If your pump stops then the water in the return pipe and any water above the level of the overflow will drain into your sump (the narrower your overflow pipe the more water there will be). You must allow for this volume of water to be contained by your sump or it will overflow onto the floor! A good way to prevent this is to fill your sump up with the pump turned off. When the pump is turned on the water level will drop a bit then remain stable (it drops very slowly due to evaporation).
  • Sumps are great because they add water volume to your tank, can be hidden from view, can be modified very easily, have huge capacity for filter media, can hold all your aquarium equipment like heaters and thermometers, can increase oxygentation of the water, the list goes on an on.
  • Sumps are cool
I hope this is of some help to you fhawk. I don't believe there is any such thing as a stupid question. There is a fair bit of info on the net about sumps. Try putting "DIY sump filter" into google. I'm happy to answer any of your filtration questions, but this is probably not the right thread to do it. If you can't find anything then start your own topic and send me a private message linking to your topic.
 
nice job thanks for the upload !
 
Thanks alot guys, especially griller, sounds like you really know what you're doing.
 
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