Wet/Dry filter questions

[revival]

Ok so i been trying to research more about wet/dry filters and have some questions. Sorry if they are stupid questions but i am really lost when it comes to wet/dry.

- if i plan on getting a wet/dry but dont want my tank drilled i would need a overflow right? Besides DIY anyone have any recommendations if i wanted to purchase one?

- I know alot of guys here build there own but i dont know if i have the time and ideas to build one so i wanted to know if anyone here had any experience with just buying one? I know there are overpriced but might be easier for me.

- I been reading alot of articles/threads and its really confusing if i wanted to build it. Any links to something that has simples instructions and everything i would need to build one? I have read tons of DIY threads and am still confused as hell. If im planning on getting a 220-270 gallon tank, how big would the sump need to be?.....how big of a pump? I dont even know where to start.

Again sorry for the stupid questions. I am clueless and alot of you guys are masters and im just trying to get educated. Alot of you make it seem so easy and i want to learn before i give up

Thx in advance.

 

[leather]

Don't feel bad I was in the same place you were. I will let some of the other guys who have a lot of experience in here to give you tips, but the thing that helped me the most was just building one for my 55 and learning what worked. Now I think it is the best way to filter, even modified my diy overflows for my own style, and have constant water change, and multiple tanks on one sump. Stick with it and experiment before you go big.

 

[revival]

The thing is i was set on canisters. I been reading alot and only recently started researching wet/dry. Thing is even if i wanted to build my own, i wouldnt even know where to start and its so frustrating. I look at memebers set ups and i see PVC pipes running everywhere and im like WTF..lol. I guess i just need to be lead in the right direction. I think its cool as hell that people here have the talent, ideas and patience to DIY. I admire it and can appreciate it...but might be easier for me just to buy one if possible.

 

[epond83]

The cheapest for sure is DIY the stor bought was cost a lot. I have never done a DIY so i can't help you except to say read as much as possible and try one, PVC is fairly cheap just leave of the exspensive valves and stuff till you get it right.

If you do buy one the safest one would be ones that work with an aqua lift that contiunouly pull water out and any air that shows up. Also some use two tubes that go up and over which is helpful because if one losses siphin the other one is still going hopefully and you see it quickly.

 

[leather]

I started with a rubbermaid tote, some plexiglass, and a bunch of scrubbies. Don't think about the piping for now just picture water trickling through media and having an area to be collected. the pipes don't have anything to do with filter. I have a whole lot more filter than I could have ever bought, but I had to start with trial and error.

 

[epond83]

I was set on canisters also but I'm upgrading to a 180 soon and have decided to use a sump because my turtle is very messy and opening the cnister all time is annoying and wears out the seals. With a sump i can change out the filter socks quick and easy which means i'll do it more often and have nice clean water.

 

[jcardona1]

if you get a glass tank, check out www.glass-holes.com they sell sweet overflow boxes for glass tanks, and even include a glass drilling bit. this is the best way to do it. followed by the DIY PVC overflow, then a store-bought over-the-tank overflow box.

for sumps, if you use ceramic media, there's no need to build any dividers or baffles. just an empty tank! water in, water out, thats it. that's how i had my 400g setup, and i did the same thing on my planted tank.

here's what i mean, my little 57g with a 10g sump, simple as can be! water comes in one side via filter socks and a submersible pump on the other side.

 

[knifegill]

I am currently running a sump using soft pvc hosing. I don't trust my pipe skills, so I just use the hosing. It gives me more options, anyway. So you could try that if seeing a spiderweb of hard PVC plumbing scares you the way it scares me.

When I make my big sump for the 125g, I'm doing it ^ that way for sure.

 

[leather]

if you get a glass tank, check out www.glass-holes.com they sell sweet overflow boxes for glass tanks, and even include a glass drilling bit. this is the best way to do it. followed by the DIY PVC overflow, then a store-bought over-the-tank overflow box.

for sumps, if you use ceramic media, there's no need to build any dividers or baffles. just an empty tank! water in, water out, thats it. that's how i had my 400g setup, and i did the same thing on my planted tank.

here's what i mean, my little 57g with a 10g sump, simple as can be! water comes in one side via filter socks and a submersible pump on the other side.

Everything I see of yours is beautiful, from the picture of your led lit tank, to the planted tanks you have, right down to the plumbing and all your tools hanging in there places. I have to give it to you, you are great with the details, and thats the most important thing.

 

[revival]

Thanks for the help so far guys. I would appreciate more pics too if possible. If i just did a sump for ceramic media, would i still need an overflow box? And would the hosing be the same? Hey J, thanks for the pics. I still dont understand the hosing underneath your tank? Was your tank drilled?