Wet/Dry for a 50 gallon

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
E

elevatethis

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 14, 2005
868
1
0
Richmond, VA
Hey guys...I'll be setting up a 50 gal in a few weeks here and while I have had good luck with HOB and Canister filters, I'm thinking about trying a sump filter with this new one. I've never used a wet/dry before, so I apologize ahead of time for any ignorance...

The tank is NOT drilled nor does it have an overflow box. So, I found this:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CRCM50

This kit comes with the sump overflow box, and plumbing.

My question is what else will I need? What other media could I use and where would I place it? How big of a pump should I get to return the water to the tank?

Thanks, and sorry for the noob questions...
 
i really wouldn't do a wet dry for a 50 personally, they have very good filtration, but i use them on tanks over 125 gallons, i think it's overkill for anything smaller, i'd just do some canisters.
 
Half the fun is building it and it wouldn't cost much. you can use powerheads and a 10gln tank as a sump. I would do it in a heart beat just because. Heck you could put the thing on a well built dresser and use the bottom drawer for maintinece access.
As for paying for a sump I would agree with XR.
 
I checked out the write up here for a DIY sump. I haven't really grasped the concept with the DIY overflow, so I might just purchase the overflow and build a sump.

The concept looks pretty simple....

i really wouldn't do a wet dry for a 50 personally, they have very good filtration, but i use them on tanks over 125 gallons, i think it's overkill for anything smaller, i'd just do some canisters.
Click to expand...

I didn't know there was such a thing when it came to filtration??? ;)
 
check the diy section, in the stickies there are some very easy overflows on a 55 your looking at 3/4" pvc overflow on each corner you can easily find a big food container at a resteraunt supply house for your bio tower. get scrubies for the media. Drip plates arn't hard to make just make sure it fits snug to prvent all of the water from running down the sides. Nylon floss for your mechanical filter and you can aford to buy the big bag at the fish store for a w/d tower this size. A big power head or a rio pump conected to a spray bar with vinyl tubing from any hardwear store (pvc with a cap on one end conected to the pump with holes drilled into it facing down and out to keep poop a float) throw your heater in the sump and your done. It'll take the glue longer to dry then the acual project. And for the peace de resitaunce---- Paint all the pvc and the back of the tank black and walla no more junk to be seen in the tank. later you can hook up more stuff like an auto top off (all your evap takes place in the sump not the tank (another bonus)) uv sterilizer just about anything you want all in the sump and no more clutter in the tank. If it is all set up right you CAN NOT over flow the tank or sump on a power failure. This is the fear that keeps most people from doing them. When set up the right way no more water can drain the is being pumped in. You will never again set a tank up any way. Heck I know people with Nano Reefs as small as 5 glns with 20gln sumps!!!!!!! Yes that is how the real succesful ones are set up.

So what are we talking about here??? 80 bucks 120 if you splurg on a big pump???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom