Wet Dry Filters without a Drilled Tank

[aquagal]

Do you have to have a drilled tank for a wet dry/trickle filter to work? Or, is there a way to DIY without drilling, and use pumps I guess?

[White Worm]

You can do it without drilling. Just build yourself a DIY overflow that gravity feeds down to the sump.

[salth20]

aquagal,
Yes, you can use a wet/dry without drilling the tank. You need a siphon box/prefilter. Basically a box inside the tank, a u shaped support, and a box outside the tank, connected by a u-tube. Check out this link for a picture and description of how they work...http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html
I make one mod to the tanks that use siphon boxes. At the top of the u-tube, I drill and tap a 1/8 barb into the tube. I attach a piece of airline tubing to it, and run it to the main pump used to return the water to the tank. On the input of that pump, I install a piece of pvc that has been warmed in an oven, and then compressed in a vice, making a nice 3" long area of flattened pipe. I drill and tap another 1/8 barb here, and hook up the airline tubing from the u-tube. In the event that you ever lose siphon on the tube, the pump will remove the air, and restore it. It works on a venturi principle. In order for the water to move though the flattened section, it has to speed up. The faster flowing water creates a vacuum, and the barb feeds that low pressure area. I haven't had a box lose siphon yet with this method.
Good luck!

[aquagal]

So, these prefilter boxes work the same as the internal overflows of reef tanks? You then connect these to a trickle filter/sump?

Sounds cool.

Don't really follow your instructions for modifying it. Probably because I've never seen one up close and need to visualize a bit more. Do you have any pics.

Also, do these set-ups tend to flood?

Thanks for the input.

Sherry

[RockHound]

Do you have to have a drilled tank for a wet dry/trickle filter to work? Or, is there a way to DIY without drilling, and use pumps I guess?

Link below explains how overflow box's work, with drawings.

http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-overflow/114.asp

eBay has loads of them.
(ebay search word "overflow box".)

I gravity feed to a W/D filter, which drains into a sump.
Then, water is pumped back into the tank.
From the sump.

They are lots of hang-on type PCV pipe DIY overflow designs.
Without the box.
Google DIY overflow for examples

[richmond5]

What to do with overflow with two water-out and wetdry trickle with one water input?

[phidelt85]

Here's a link to a thread I started a couple years ago that walks you through building your own PVC overflows. It's a long read but you'll find a lot of good info IMO.


http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=54839&highlight=help+sump+overflow

[RockHound]

What to do with overflow with two water-out and wetdry trickle with one water input?

Place a "Y" fitting in the lines to combine the 2 flows into 1.

[richmond5]

Place a "Y" fitting in the lines to combine the 2 flows into 1.

I thought of that too, but will that reduce the flow rate. If so, by how much? The one U-shape overflow which I was considering has a flow rate of 1200g/l with two outlet. Thanks!

[RockHound]

It would reduce the flow by about 1/2, if you did it that way.

I assume the two outlets from the prefilter are 1 inch.

If so, why not plumb them to a 2 inch "Y" fitting.
Then run that 2 inch line to your trickle filter.

Or, run both 1 inch lines into the top of the trickle filter.

[RockHound]

So, these prefilter boxes work the same as the internal overflows of reef tanks? You then connect these to a trickle filter/sump?

Sounds cool.

Don't really follow your instructions for modifying it. Probably because I've never seen one up close and need to visualize a bit more. Do you have any pics.

Also, do these set-ups tend to flood?

Thanks for the input.

Sherry

Diagram below may explain a good example of a DIY overfolw to you.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj85/placer_mines/diyoverflow.jpg

[phidelt85]

That about sums up my link above :)

[RockHound]

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj85/placer_mines/diyoverflow1copy.jpg;)

[VL67]

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj85/placer_mines/diyoverflow1copy.jpg;)

Jim,

You're the Man!:D

Regards,

Vince

[RockHound]

I don't deserve the credit.:o
These were cooked up by salt water guys, a few years back.:)
But, they sure work.;)

I got interested, because I once bought a 180g, glass tank cheap.
That was not drilled & I did not have the tools to do it.

[MostlyDiscus]

Hi Sherry,

Annadale pets has overflow boxes that would work just fine. cant remeber the prices but you can speak with Steve there who runs the fish dept. Let me know if you need help. I have a bit(1 and 3/4) to drill tanks too if that works better(cheaper) for you. I am in Vienna and dont mind helping true discus fans:) Ed

[aquagal]

Wow.

Thanks Ed. I know Steve pretty well because I always corner him to ask discus questions when I'm in the store.

I didn't know Annandale Petz carried overflow boxes? I'll have to check them out next time I'm in. Right now I have 2 55gal w/ canister filters. Only one of them has a stand that could accomodate a wet/dry filter. I'll have Steve show me my options next time I'm in the store.

Thanks for the offer!

Sherry