Tropical Fish Forums

[dwezil28]

After receiving 2 broken Marineland acrylic sump filters from an online vendor, I decided to build my own wet/dry filter. The filter was built using a Sterilite 4-dawer set and a 22 gallon plastic container. I use a continuous siphon overflow box by CPR (800 gph) to move water down into the filter. Water is pump back up to the tank using a Quiet One pump 3000 (780 gph)


The CPR overflow box

[img][/img]

Filter drawers laid out before installation




Filter installed in stand



Filter set up and running

[Caton]

How much did it cost you to make it? Like everything from the broken sumps to the pump?
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[dwezil28]

I got the Marineland sump for $140, including shipping. The vendor was liquidating their inventory. They normally sell for around $260. By the time I send back the second broken sump the vendor was all out, so I got a full refund.

The whole project not including the overflow box ($112) and return pump ($56.00) cost me about $130. The Bio Wheels cost me $27 for three of them. Since the filter also has bio balls, you don

[monstrosity]

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29 G

[Caton]

Cool! I really wanted to get a wet/dry filter but never had the money. I hope it works out for you really well!
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[ibm450]

how did you setup the filteration. I'm still confussed with were each medium should be and gaps required in between to allow dripping of water.

so, is it fine pads on top, then course then bio balls?
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-o0o-

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

[oddball808]

besides the bio-wheels, I like it.
nice and clean, and seems to fit nicely under your stand.

hows the noise with the doors closed?
looks like you have your bottom drawer slightly submerged to cut down on any drip noise.

[oddball808]

[diademhill]

The best first stage for sumps and pond filters is actually Vet Bed dog bedding. This makes a brilliant pre filter/particle trap and can be hot washed or hosed down and reused.

You need the original white with green back.

[oddball808]

most dog bedding is made of recycled bed foam and poly-fill. and depending on the chemical process, the bedding can be harmful.
if you intend to use any such material, be sure it contains no chemicals or perfumes.

however, you can buy huge rolls of poly-fill or quilt batting material in the craft section of most stores and this works great for filtration and water buffing.
as with any fine media, it will need to be changed regularly (due to the amount of waste its removing from your water column), but at $4 for a 6 month supply, I don't think you will be hearing too many complainnts.

simply cut off the amount you need, and save the rest for our regular replacement.
I use poly-fill in conjunction with a coarse filter pad (which I simply rinse and reuse), and this method works great for all my tanks. even those whoich are heavily stocked, and heavily fed.



not a speck of floating particles to be seen. and the bare bottom is nice and clean. all thanks to a $4 roll of quilt batting from wal-mart.