Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

[jeebus]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

Yes, the tank is 6 foot in length.

I'm thinking at this point, per everyone's advice, I'll be doing the following:

Primary Wet/Dry Filter System:
1 Eshopps PF1200 overflow box (1000gph)
1 Pro-Clear 125 sump
1 Eheim 1260 water-pump (635gph)

Supplemental Canister Filter System:
1 Eheim 2217 with chemical filtration (264gph)

Other Supplemental Filtration:
1 Powerhead w/filter (brand unsure at this point but will be at least 300gph)
1 Sponge Filter

That gives me approximately 1200gph, or my goal of 10x turnover. I know I will lose 20 to 30% with filtration, but that's okay. I'm gonna go with the Eheim 1260 that puts out a max 635gph. I figure that will give me a little wiggle room to fine tune the 1000gph max intake on the Eshopps PF-1200.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Zulaab]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

Jeebus -- If you are going to go with a 1200 then I would go with either the Eheim 1262 (908gph) or a Mag 9 or 12.
Please remember you are going to have at least a 4ft+ ft head on it, which means at 634gph, you are looking at only about ~475gph effective.

I run a Mag 5 on a 75g tank and I think today its to small.. but since I am selling / giving the tank to my Mom and she will never have tropheus in the tank she will be happy with what it has.

[jeebus]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

Jeebus -- If you are going to go with a 1200 then I would go with either the Eheim 1262 (908gph) or a Mag 9 or 12.
Please remember you are going to have at least a 4ft+ ft head on it, which means at 634gph, you are looking at only about ~475gph effective.

I'll take that into consideration. Thanks!

Its also worth noting that I've been incorrectly stating that the tank is 125g when it's actually 135g.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

I would get the single overflow....with either 1260/1262

[jeebus]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

I would get the single overflow....with either 1260/1262

Why?

[Zulaab]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

The overflow does not get to capacity with either one or the other.  With a Mag 9 or 12 you are running up against capacity.  
This is why I am thinking EK is saying that.
Eheim I think are great pumps personally, but I believe they are just going to be to small in this application.
With the tank being a 135g, a 6x overturn = 810 which means either an eheim 1262 or Mag 9.  7x turnover = 945 which means realistic Mag 12.

PS. if the tank is a 135 I hope the Pro-Clear is a 175, and if it is then I would say go Mag 12 and get the PF-1200 overflow for sure.
PPS.  Since you live close to the Katy area, I would have no problem inviting you over to my house and you can see how I have the 75 setup and what to look for etc to setting up a wet/dry system.   The setup I have was done by Mike -- the owner of Mike's Trophical Fish and Pets.   I can also show you all the modifications we did so you will be able to do the same and understand why we did them.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

My 135g had a 1262...worked perfectly.

[jeebus]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

The overflow does not get to capacity with either one or the other.  With a Mag 9 or 12 you are running up against capacity.  
This is why I am thinking EK is saying that.
Eheim I think are great pumps personally, but I believe they are just going to be to small in this application.
With the tank being a 135g, a 6x overturn = 810 which means either an eheim 1262 or Mag 9.  7x turnover = 945 which means realistic Mag 12.

PS. if the tank is a 135 I hope the Pro-Clear is a 175, and if it is then I would say go Mag 12 and get the PF-1200 overflow for sure.
PPS.  Since you live close to the Katy area, I would have no problem inviting you over to my house and you can see how I have the 75 setup and what to look for etc to setting up a wet/dry system.   The setup I have was done by Mike -- the owner of Mike's Trophical Fish and Pets.   I can also show you all the modifications we did so you will be able to do the same and understand why we did them.

I might take you up on that offer. In the meantiime I see what you're saying on the Mag 12 versus the Eheim 1262. I'll do some more research and let everyone know what I end up doing. As for the size of the sump, I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's going to be a 125. The whole reason I'm even doing a wet/dry (or looking into the feasibility) is because I will be getting this for free. So If I do need a larger size, then I'll probably just go all canister.

[Zulaab]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

Why to Wet/dry vs Canister with regards to Tropheus.

Tropheus in the wild and tanks want "Highly Oxygenated water"

Canister offers you well circulated water which is not oxygenated while being filtered which means that the oxygen in the water has to feed the bacteria which helps your bacteria breaking down your Ammonia and Nitrites.  With a canister you have to make sure that there is enough rotation of your water to allow for your tropheus to have enough Oxygen.   With Canister you will need for a 135g approx 1650g (12x) of water change over to be the optimal for a Tropheus tank.  The magical number for a wet/dry because the water is oxygenated while in the filter (the water runs over the bio balls) is .6 of what optimal for Canister.  Ie just over 950gph.  Now I have seen the difference between wet dry and canister and I will show you when you come over the difference, and once you see it you will understand why a wet/dry is superior a plan when cleaning and oxygenating your tank.

Let me know when you want to stop by :)

Jesper

[jeebus]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

Okay, here's a quick update, the sump is a Pro Clear 175, rated at 600gph. It's got a bio area of 4.5 gallons and a sump area of 13.5 gallons.

Soooo... Can I still run a 1000gph pump with this sump? I still plan on putting an Eshopps 1200 as my overflow box.


Also, without adding a second intake to the sump (which is a single 1" intake), how can I eliminate the flow loss from the two 1" overflow box bulkheads that I have to wye into a single line? I'm thinking the only thing I can do is to make the wye a 2" line, and figure out a way to make the sump intake 2".

Thoughts on either?

[CichlidFan]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

Personally, I wouldn't sweat the modifications, I'd go with what it was designed to do, filter a 175 gallon tank at the recommended rate. You can compensate with a Aqua Clear 110 hob, or a Eheim 2217 inside with the W/D.  Add a strong powerhead to move water and add some air and enjoy.

You may have to tweak the return pump or add a butterfly valve, but it shouldn't be too much trouble....use the force luke/glen....

CF...aka obiwan

[Zulaab]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

Jeebus --  when I see you I will explain more to you.
Run two flex hoses down to the sump and let them join right before they enter into the sump.
This will lower your loss overall.
I would choose a Mag 12 since its a Pro/Clear 175 for sure.
I sent you a PM and you will see the setup I have tomorrow and you will understand most everything I have done and why I have done it.

[jeebus]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

I do plan on supplementing with a 2217 and a powerhead, but..

What I'm most worried about is ensuring that the pump can't over take the OFB. So if I get a 1000gph pump (at 6' head), as well as a OFB rated at a max 1000gph, then its realistic that at some point, the OFB could become clogged to some degree which would allow the pump to run dry from over taking the OFB. I'm trying to figure out that magic ratio between sump pump & OFB that will allow a maximum safe output.

I'm thinking a pump rated around 750gph (at 6' head) would work perfect for the Eshopps 1200 OFB rated at a maximum 1000gph. This way, I can adjust the height of the interior OFB to alleviate my second worry:

My second worry is complicated one: adjusting the OFB to get maximum flow to the sump/pump, but at the same time still leaving it high enough below the water line that the sump doesn't over fill in a power outage yet still provide enough flow to the pump so that the pump doesn't over take it. I do plan on adding an elbow to the pump to lower the over all intake, as well as adding the drilled hole to the return nozzle to help combat this fear.

This Padawan has been racking his brains all weekend thinking about this :)

[CichlidFan]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

Understandable, it will reveal itself to you in due time....do relax, enjoy the process, it will all come together as you go along.

CF

[jeebus]

Re: Setting Up Wet-Dry Sump/Pump Filter...

Jeebus --  when I see you I will explain more to you.
Run two flex hoses down to the sump and let them join right before they enter into the sump. This will lower your loss overall.

Doing this (which I do plan on doing) will allow for more flow than a single 1" line, but there will still be a significant loss at the 1" wye adaptor that will connect to the sump - as compared to a 2" wye connection to the sump.

I do think pressure from the second 1" line will increase the flow rate at the wye, but will it be enough to see a difference (numerically) from a single Eshopps box? Ultimately, even though I'm going to run the 1200, I really don't think that without a 2" (or two 1") fitting(s) I'm going to see anything close to its rated 1000gph. That's basic hydraulics that unfortunately can't be cheated..

I would choose a Mag 12 since its a Pro/Clear 175 for sure.

Yeah, the Mag 12 will give me 950gph at 6' head. It might be a little strong for the situation I've been describing though. If you can convince me tomorrow that it won't overtake the Eshopp 1200 OFB wye'd down into a single 1" intake, then I'll get it. Otherwise, I'll probably go with the Eheim 1262, which will give me 750gph at 6' head - which is a safer number for me at this point.