Wet/dry tips Wanted

[chico3611]

I am about to convert a 55 over to a wet dry for my 150, before I take on the project anyone want to give some tips on what to do or not do.

I'm sure some one has some convenience tips they can share.

I plan to have two 1inch pipes feeding into it about 15 gallons of Bio-Balls and then a Mag-drive 1800 on the return. I will also have a UV on one of the retrun lines. <<<<Should I run it 24/7 or only a few hours a day?

Any advise on how to keep noise down? I can still make layout changes.
I have the room should I make a large prefilter section before the balls or will one layer of standard blue filter pad cover it?

Im greatfull for any advise - thanks in advance.

 

[chico3611]

And for those who have made their own wet dry and have a pic. Show it if you can, ill be posting mine once its finished.

 

[boisblancboy]

I would run the UV 24/7, the water is always going to passing the pull with the light on or off, might as well leave it on. Being the bulb is going to get dirty whether its on or off because of passing water, let it run!

As for keeping the wet/dry quiet, just run the water level so that it is to the bio-balls, cause the water dripping from the balls to the water line can be noisey. That is if thats how you design you sump anyway.

 

[Dr Joe]

I am about to convert a 55 over to a wet dry for my 150, before I take on the project anyone want to give some tips on what to do or not do.

I'm sure some one has some convenience tips they can share.

I plan to have two 1inch pipes feeding into it about 15 gallons of Bio-Balls and then a Mag-drive 1800 on the return. I will also have a UV on one of the retrun lines. <<<<Should I run it 24/7 or only a few hours a day?

Any advise on how to keep noise down? I can still make layout changes.
I have the room should I make a large prefilter section before the balls or will one layer of standard blue filter pad cover it?

Im greatfull for any advise - thanks in advance.

Use two 1.25" pipes instead of 1".

how many returns do you have? The UV has a set rate (dwell time) you must consider.

Design it so you can put a finer filter under the blue stuff, if it furns out you don't need it you can run more blue stuff.

I would run the UV 24/7, the water is always going to passing the pull with the light on or off, might as well leave it on. Being the bulb is going to get dirty whether its on or off because of passing water, let it run!

As for keeping the wet/dry quiet, just run the water level so that it is to the bio-balls, cause the water dripping from the balls to the water line can be noisey. That is if thats how you design you sump anyway.

Bio-balls submerged? or just partially?

Dr Joe

.

 

[chico3611]

Thanks for the advise Dr Joe. I read your postings everywehre,honored to recieve one. Can I ask why 1.25 pipes? Its not an option as my tank is drilled for 1inch bulk heads (well 1 inch pipe fitting into the bulk heads)

Im going to plum in 3 returns possibly. One for the UV obviosly with a valve so I can control flow rate -UV is rated for upto 400GPH unfortunalty my flow meeter taps out at 250GPH. Im going to shoot for running 300gph (smack middle of UV dwell specs)

As for the bio balls (15 gallons worth), I was going to have them all out as that is what I have been seeing lately, what ratio do you recomend I have submerged?

 

[prophets]

Here's a link to my diy stand/wd filter. If you have 1" openings, I assume it might be a All glass Megaflow 150? Anywho, I picked up the 125 AGA Megaflow and made a diy with a 20G High tank, since you already have a 55g, that makes it much cheaper per se.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51826

good luck!

 

[chico3611]

Now that was alot of help, thanks so much

That is similar to what I was going to shoot for, but since I have the extra room im going to do a bubble difusing chamger up front (I at least think that will cut down on noise) then water is to spill over into filtration portion.


Thanks much for the pics again

 

[prophets]

no problem dude. a bubble chamber? hmmm...interesting idea.

But I guess I'm okay..I don't really hear anything at all from the sump, but then again its under the tank in a enclosed cabinet. I figure since the flow is going into a drawer and its filled with pads, the rushing of the inital drop is lessened and the outcome is a steady drip of pre-strained water over the biomedia and then back out thru a 3 1/2 pad (aquaclear 500 foam block) to the pumps.

Don't forget to post some pics of your DIY WD!

 

[PhullTank57]

I would run the UV 24/7, the water is always going to passing the pull with the light on or off, might as well leave it on. Being the bulb is going to get dirty whether its on or off because of passing water, let it run!

I personally would run the UV on it's own seperate system, say on the output of a canister filter... If your main filtration system (wet/dry) ever went down, your UV wouldn't have to rely on it to run. You have more control over everything this way. Plus, less plumbing, fitting hassles... (ball valves/gate valves, etc.).

I also would only let the UV run for only a few hours of the day, unless of course you can afford always buying replacement bulbs all of the time?

 

[chico3611]

I also would only let the UV run for only a few hours of the day, unless of course you can afford always buying replacement bulbs all of the time?

That is exactly what I was thinking<<<<bulb life and juice being constantly sucked up (only 18 watts in this case)

But I do have a question regarding having it off, will algea build up in the sleeve and then effect the performance of the UV? I see no way of actually doing any cleaning to the unit. I guess that not actually a concern, but sill I wonder about it.