Wet/Dry Filter questions

[suds1421]

Hey everyone,

First post I'm building an in tank 75 gallon behind my bar in my rec room. The back of the tank is in a utility room so I am thinking about doing a wet/dry filter with a large sump.

1) If I use a stock tank, what size should I use? I was thinking 50-75 gallons of usable water in the sump would be great!

2) If I double the amount of water in the system do I have to double the heaters?

3) How does a submersible pump electricity usage compare to an emperor HOB filter?

4) I was thinking of building the wet/dry with the drawer system so that I could easily clean them.

Any tips?

 

[CharlieTuna]

A 50 - 75g sump on a 75g tank is overkill, but correctly set up could provide you with some fantastic bio and mechanical filtration. Bigger is always better for a sump. You could probably get away with 25g or so if needed. Having said that if I were to set up a 75g and had room for a 75g sump I would do it.

Your heaters need to be sized for your total water capacity. A 75g tank used for a sump is not going to have 75g of water in it, maybe half that depending on how you set it up. By the way, house your heaters in the sump, not in your display.

No idea on the electricity usage, I'm not familiar with HOB's. There are some very energy efficient submersible and external pumps out there.

Drawers work but I prefer to section off the sump. Mechanical filtration at the inlet, filter socks or something like Poret foam. This would overflow into your bio area. Other then your mechanical media, your sump should not require much cleaning.

 

[suds1421]

Thanks!!

Anyone else? Looking for tips, etc.

I am going to build it with two pumps hooked to two different circuits so that if a breaker would blow the other pump will continue running. Going to put check valves in the return(s) to prevent back siphoning.

 

[chally567]

Drilling it would be best for looks and they are a little quieter and use filter socks if possible. I didn't and now regretting it because its way easier and cheaper.

 

[Burko]

Interesting questions...

"2) If I double the amount of water in the system do I have to double the heaters?"

I'm going to say...no. But its an arguable question.

"3) How does a submersible pump electricity usage compare to an emperor HOB filter?"

Hang on the backs are far more efficient with the leccy juice. Its all about 'work done' and in this instance the head height determines how much work is to be done.


"4) I was thinking of building the wet/dry with the drawer system so that I could easily clean them."

Yeah, simple to make and simple to get at. Evaporation can be rampant tho and drilling enough holes for mechanical filtration to maintain flow can be problematic.

Good luck.