Wet/Dry Filter for my 125

[JohnL]

John
Is Fredo in your new tank yet? Do you have any pictures?
thanks
Amy

I'm planning to move Fredo next Saturday wish me luck.

[Alan]

good luck in moving him

[5p4zz]

I'm wondering how the water is flowing into the sump, usally its an overflow system, how did you go about setting that part up? I hate having my heaters in my tank.

[Big O]

Wow nice work. Its very very clean.

[JohnL]

I'm wondering how the water is flowing into the sump, usally its an overflow system, how did you go about setting that part up? I hate having my heaters in my tank.

Sorry this is so late but I guess I just missed you post. The first picture shows the overflow box which is much like a HOB. It's used in tanks that don't have overflow built in. It's great not having the heaters in the tank.

[5p4zz]

I'm wondering how the water is flowing into the sump, usally its an overflow system, how did you go about setting that part up? I hate having my heaters in my tank.

Sorry this is so late but I guess I just missed you post. The first picture shows the overflow box which is much like a HOB. It's used in tanks that don't have overflow built in. It's great not having the heaters in the tank.

So theres a pump that drags water into the overflow box? I don't fully understand, if so, wouldn't that cause too much water to be dragged into the sump?

[OinKY]

Just chiming in because I'm a fan of JohnL's marvelous construction ....
He's using a home-made overflow similar in design to the CPR construction....continuous siphon,no pump.Picture on page one at top...his just looks so much better than their design.

[JohnL]

Just chiming in because I'm a fan of JohnL's marvelous construction ....
He's using a home-made overflow similar in design to the CPR construction....continuous siphon,no pump.Picture on page one at top...his just looks so much better than their design.

Qinky's right the overflow box is a continuous siphon. It is actually two boxes one in the tank and one that hangs outside. There is a "U" tube that connects the two boxes and the water flows from the inner box to the outer box. To start the siphon you put water in both boxes put the "u" tube in place and use a piece of tubing to remove the air from the "U" tube which is replaced by water. From the outer box the water flows by gravity to the sump tank below. The pump is a submersible located in the sump tank which returns the water to the tank. When you start the pump the siphon automatically moves water from the tank.

If you look at the first picture in my post you can see the inner box (has slots in it) the "U" tube and the outer box which has a black hose connected to it this hose feeds the wet/dry 30 gal tank seen in the third pic down. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask I don't know if I'll be able to answer them but I'll try.

Here's where I got most of my info from when I built the system. There are some pretty good drawings of how the whole thing works.

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/overflow.htm
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/wetdry.htm

[5p4zz]

Ahhh okay I understand now, thank you for that. I want to set something up for my 20 gallon dyi background tank since it will be all styro/concrete back, I don't really want to have a heater inside.

[JohnL]

Glad to help.

[bigtanksmallbrain]

you do some great work!!!! Your tank by the way is beauticful its just soo clean and everything is hidden and no clutter. A+++++++ anywhere i can find more pics of your tank? I am actually looking into some more filtration for my 125. I have contemplated a sump but am scared about flooding during power outages or losing siphon. Have you had any problems with flooding? I work about 45 minutes from where i live which makes me even more nervous about using a sump. my first choice for my tank would be a sump so im gonna have to do alot of research to see if i can calm my nerves before I make a final decision. I am also with you as I have all the stuff (heaters, etc..) in my tank so im debating over the rena xp4 with heater attached to intake tube or the fluval fx5 if i decide not to go with a sump setup.

[JohnL]

First thanks for the praise I tried very hard to keep it all hidden. Things have changed a little I added a second Rena xp3 and haven't had time to hide the tubes yet. Not too many other pics of it out there except in the DIY section.

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=13409
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=14819

I have two safety systems on my wet/dry so I don't worry too much about overflow during a power outage.

The first is a check valve in the line from the filter to the tank this is a necessity without it you can't turn the filter off because the tank will siphon back into the filter it won't empty the tank but the filter will overflow. Don't ask how I know this.

The second is a float switch that I thought would be a good idea. It is in the overflow box and the filters pump is plugged into it. This is just in case the overflow box becomes clogged and the water backs up. If this where to happen the water triggers the float switch and shuts down the pump.

[bigtanksmallbrain]

so you have 2 xp3s and the sump? how do you like the rena? and have you ever tried the heater that hooks up to the tubing? sorry for the barrage of questions I like to take my filtration serious and I need to get something soon. the tank came with 2 AC110s but im not a huge fan of HOB's. Im gonna keep them for alittle bit but still need to add to them. right now im leaning towards either 1 or 2 fx5s. just worried because i know people have had problems with them

[rainmoose]

how do you like the rena? and have you ever tried the heater that hooks up to the tubing?

being the xp3 was recommended in a previous post to me, i am curious about that heater in the tubing you mention. i never heard of it and i will need to purchase a heater. any info on the one you mention or for that matter, any recommendations on a heater for my 48.5 gallon tank.

[bigtanksmallbrain]

how do you like the rena? and have you ever tried the heater that hooks up to the tubing?

being the xp3 was recommended in a previous post to me, i am curious about that heater in the tubing you mention. i never heard of it and i will need to purchase a heater. any info on the one you mention or for that matter, any recommendations on a heater for my 48.5 gallon tank.

I think its called the Rena smart heater or something like that you should be able to find it at any lfs or online.

I forgot to ask if there is a way to link multiple canisters so that there is not extra tubing in the tank?