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#Post#: 226--------------------------------------------------
Wet/dry filter
By: Midnighttide102 Date: September 21, 2014, 9:59 am
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Hey guys anyone up on these filters I am in the process of
setting up a 150 and never used a wet/dry before have a few
concerns maybe someone can answer a few questions I have
How do I determine what size return pump to use ?
How do I figure out how many gallon an hr my Hob skimmer box is
moving?
Besides bio balls what do you run in the wet/dry ?
Also my Hob has 2 outlets do I have to run 2 u tubes to keep up
with the 2 outlets ?
Been keeping fish for many years breed and raised angelfish for
over 8 years but this wet/dry sump stuff is all new to me so any
advice would be great Thanks All
#Post#: 236--------------------------------------------------
Re: Wet/dry filter
By: Petsotics Date: September 21, 2014, 11:19 am
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Can you post pix of your wet/dry filter? The skimmer just needs
to be adjusted to where only the bubbles are going up in to the
cup (no water). If water starts to flow over in to the cup, an
adjustment needs to be made.
Only bubbles should be collected in the top cup.
There are so many designs of wet/dry filters. Just like with
most aquarium equipment one needs to know what is they want to
accomplish (and yes, I know what filters are used for), but you
sometimes, if not most of the time or all of the time you can't
make one filter do everything.
One example, some wet/drys have a sock or sleeve filter bag to
catch all the large debris where the water drains in to first
and then on to some type of sponge filter which is layed flat
under the sleeve filter bag, and then the bio-balls and so on.
Some may not have a place for the sleeve bag, some may not have
the place for the flat sponge. And for this reason, it would be
a good idea to post pix so people could see it to better help
you. :)
And for the most part, some filters can be modified.
;D
#Post#: 246--------------------------------------------------
Re: Wet/dry filter
By: Midnighttide102 Date: September 21, 2014, 1:42 pm
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Hey sorry when I said skimmer I didn't mean protien skimmer
probably my fault cause I am new to this type of filter , I was
talking about the box that goes onto tank to let water down into
the filter
#Post#: 252--------------------------------------------------
Re: Wet/dry filter
By: Petsotics Date: September 21, 2014, 4:30 pm
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no problem. Ok, I think I got what you mean. :) If that's the
H.O.B. box that takes the water down to the filter. So you
probably got an over-flow box that goes inside the tank itself.
Then you would probably need 1 or 2 "U" shaped tubes to move the
water from the over-flow box in to the H.O.B. Drain Box (I
beleive it's called) of which the water goes down in to the
wet/dry filter.
Depending on how many gph your return is, that will help in
determining if you need 1 or 2 "U" shaped tubes. :)
I hope I got it. Still a pic or two would help. :)
#Post#: 402--------------------------------------------------
Re: Wet/dry filter
By: Jeremiahsfish Date: September 23, 2014, 12:08 pm
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I currently have a 165 running with a wet dry filter. I have
the top level full of loose fill filter floss with a polishing
pad on the bottom. The other three levels have biological
media. I use plastic pot scrubbers and have had great success
with it so far. I use a 700 gph pond pump for the return. I
found pond pump to be way cheaper then a mag pump. I am able to
cover the entire filter with a thick blanket for the noise. The
only real noise from the tank is from the overflows themselves.
#Post#: 470--------------------------------------------------
Re: Wet/dry filter
By: joescaper1 Date: September 24, 2014, 12:39 pm
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Midnighttide102,
First you need to determine the vertical distance from the water
level in your sump to the water level in your tank (head). You
didn’t mention what type of fish you are going to keep in the
new tank, so I will use mbuna for this discussion. Most keepers
believe 8X to 10X turnover of the tank volume is a good rule of
thumb. This would put the volume necessary, between 1200 and
1500 gallons per hour (GPH). So find a pump that provides 1200
to 1500 GPH at your particular head.
You should have a 2’ diameter overflow pipe to accommodate 1500
GPH.
I use pot scrubbies in mine. However, mine are completely
submerged, most people say use pot scrubbies in an immersed
state.
No, as long as the combined cross sectional area of the two
pipes is less than the cross sectional area of the common
drainpipe.
Joe
#Post#: 481--------------------------------------------------
Re: Wet/dry filter
By: Midnighttide102 Date: September 24, 2014, 3:21 pm
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Thanks to everyone who took time to answer my post
#Post#: 482--------------------------------------------------
Re: Wet/dry filter
By: Petsotics Date: September 24, 2014, 3:35 pm
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No problem. :) I hopw we all helped.
#Post#: 535--------------------------------------------------
Re: Wet/dry filter
By: plindsey88 Date: September 25, 2014, 6:09 am
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I always use E-Shopps brand sumps and HOB overflows. For you, I
would suggest the WD-200CS. This will come with the correctly
sized HOB overflow box and return plumbing. It is a dual intake
system (both the sump well and the HOB box).
The Rio 17HF should be the perfect return pump for your system.
You can purchase all of that on Amazon.
Now, some folks use a polyester filter pad in their drip tray.
You will be replacing that every 15 minutes. The better option
is to buy some Seachem Matrix bio filter media. It's a porous
gravel that is large enough to not clog up the drip tray. Fill
the drip tray with that, and you will get the nice rain shower
flow that you want, and it never has to be replaced. You also
get the benefit of some additional surface area for beneficial
bacteria to grow.
Rather than fill your bio chamber with loose bio balls, consider
putting them in a large nylon mesh bag (a small laundry bag
usually works). Make sure the bag is large enough that the bio
balls can still fill your chamber. Having them in an easily
removable / replaceable bag makes maintenance much easier.
Lastly, a wet / dry is really great for ridding your tank of
ammonia and nitrite, but it is so efficient that it basically
acts as a nitrate generating machine. To counter balance that
effect, I fill two media bags with Seachem De*Nitrate and
install them under the plastic grate that holds my bio ball bag.
As the water passes over this material on its way to your
return pump, it will significantly reduce all those extra
nitrates that the wet / dry otherwise puts back in your tank.
This will greatly reduce the need to do water changes every 15
minutes.
Picture of my set-up attached...
#Post#: 544--------------------------------------------------
Re: Wet/dry filter
By: Midnighttide102 Date: September 25, 2014, 8:25 am
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Thanks the tip on putting the bio balls in a bag was worth it's
wait in gold I was thinking what a pain in the butt it was going
to be to remove those things to change whatever I deceide to put
underneath them in the open space Great Idea Thanks
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