Using canisters connected to wetdry? (PICS)

[hondas3000]

This is exactly what will cause the massive flow reduction in the canister filters.

To the OP. NO, this will not work to your expectations. Canister filter pumps are high flow / low head pumps. You put the intake down at the bottom like that and your flow will get cut more than half. I bet the flow would be 1/4 of the max output.

I agree with this, Canister only work best if the intake line is higher then a canister so the water can run down without much pump to it. Just get yourself another pump for the wet/dry and you have yourself 3 filters.

 

[velanarris]

Or you could use your canisters for mech filtration and the sump as a big bio filter.

Basically put the canisters first, sump second, you'd still need a pump to go from the sump to the tank.

The other way you could do it would be to put the sump above the tank and have a power head (strong one) pump up into the sump and let that gravity down to the canisters.

 

[Jgray152]

Canister only work best if the intake line is higher then a canister so the water can run down without much pump to it.

That's right, but, the intake still need to be the same height as the output height to maintain the rated flow. When the intake and output are the same height, the pump is dealing with zero head without taking anything else into consideration.

It would be interesting to know how much PSI some canisters can produce. Just for the fun of it.

Or you could use your canisters for mech filtration and the sump as a big bio filter.

Basically put the canisters first, sump second, you'd still need a pump to go from the sump to the tank.

1. Doing this could will cause water to flow through the canister while they are off. If you do not use an overflow or have a siphon break, you will have a very wet floor.

2. When the canisters are running, they will probably be flowing more since the output will be much lower than the tank. Problem with this, you need a pump in the sump to match exactly what the 2 canisters are pumping. Its very hard to near impossible to do this.

 

[buddha1200]

agree with jgray152 if the flow of the overflow doent match the amount the canisters pump you will have a problem with the water level in your sump and that could be a real pain trying to adjust

 

[HarlanAshmore]

i think it would work well it would cut the flow a bit but i dont think it will make much difference

 

[Jgray152]

i think it would work well it would cut the flow a bit but i dont think it will make much difference

It will make a HUGE difference with the canisters to have the intake as low as that. Think of it this way, instead of the canisters needing to pump 0 PSI (in theory) they will now be pumping against under 2 PSI of water. In normal operation, they would have the same pressure on the intake and output side.

 

[takinap]

Well. this changes everything, that SUCKS> My idea was to use the same amount of electricity while improving filtration. I can put the sump on a shelf to lift the inputs for the canisters a good 5-6" if that will help. Any other input guys? Polish you said you did it, any pictures? Did it cut back on flow?

 

[Leptar]

It will work just fine.... pop the impellers off the canisters so your flow isn't restricted as much...
The sump will be pushing the water into the canisters..

My only concern would be if you use pads in the canisters you might have a problem like what was stated before regarding the water level in the sump...

I would sell the canisters and current sump tank and upgrade to a larger sump tank... but that is just me..

 

[takinap]

Yeah the only thing is that I got REALLY good deals on these two canisters. Their ease of use is awesome whereas sumps are cumbersome (to move and setup) I liked that during the tank change over it took all of two mintues to pop the canisters off the 125 and put them under the 220 and get them running again. I can get my hands on tons of tanks like 55's that i could make a sump out of, im just not sure if the trouble is worth it.....where should I look for the cheapest pumps?

 

[Jgray152]

Well. this changes everything, that SUCKS> My idea was to use the same amount of electricity while improving filtration.

With head restriction you will actually use less electricity

I can put the sump on a shelf to lift the inputs for the canisters a good 5-6" if that will help.

It will help, but not enough.

Polish you said you did it, any pictures? Did it cut back on flow?

Yes it did and it does, quoted below

And yes it will work, I have done it with an XP2 and and XP3, the XP1 didn't have enough power to lift the water that high though.

Its obvious that you will loose lots of flow regardless of the canister you use.

It will work just fine.... pop the impellers off the canisters so your flow isn't restricted as much...
The sump will be pushing the water into the canisters..

In theory, it would but not if you want the canisters to run their rated flow. The sump especially will not push water through the canisters. Your sump would need to be 100% sealed tight to resist the enormous force pushing against the sealed sump cover.

Example, if the cover is 3 ft below the top of the tank. That is equal to 1.30 PSI. If you have a sump that is 24" x 18", that is 561 pounds of force exerted on the cover that you would have to make seal. I don't see that happening.