Diy Wet/dry

[Matty]

Has anyone made a wet/dry filter before? The concept seems pretty easy, but I would hate to try build one and totally screw it up. Also, if i make it, i would like it to look nice and professional, so i would probably make it out of acrylic, the only problem is that i've heard this can get quite pricey. Would it be better to just purchase one new?

 

[blue_ram]

Has anyone made a wet/dry filter before? The concept seems pretty easy, but I would hate to try build one and totally screw it up. Also, if i make it, i would like it to look nice and professional, so i would probably make it out of acrylic, the only problem is that i've heard this can get quite pricey. Would it be better to just purchase one new?

I haven't built one, but I was contemplating on building one while back. After doing a little research, I decided that if I built it out of new acrylic sheet, then it's not much cheaper than purchasing one. Only cheap way to build the filter out of acrylic is to find a local plastic material supplier who's willing to sell you some scraps. BUT, if you can live with less than "professional" look, it can be built VERY cheaply. If weight isn't a problem, you can use cheap 2.5/5/10 gallon glass aquarium. If the weight is a problem, head down to local target/walmart and pick up some plastic totes. Most totes cost < $5.

In any case, here's a link that shows how he built his wet/dry filter.

[edited for spelling]

 

[Matty]

thanks alot! in case i do end up buying one, how much should i expect to pay? I will need one that can handle a 100g tank

 

[blue_ram]

thanks alot! in case i do end up buying one, how much should i expect to pay? I will need one that can handle a 100g tank

That really depends on your setup. It can cost anywhere between $175(US) for marineland's version to $500(us) for full custom setup. Obviously, $500 is a complete rip off. Virtually none of them includeed an overflow or the water pump. I no longer have the link, but about 2 years ago, I found a reasonable on one line for about $225. It looked a lot like Amiracle wet/dry filter, but with much larger sump. It had 10g sump with prefilter trays, and came with bio-balls and sponges, so the price was pretty good. With a 700-800 gph pump, it should easily handle your 100g aquarium. Use this as a guide line on how much you should expect to pay. Try googling for it. Also check the ebay.

 

[simonbrown403]

I found a wet and dry filter while browsing the www and they had use them large storage boxies the type that stack, simple but afective.

What he di+d was to use a 3 draw unit the plastic type you put veg in in the kitchen cut the bottom out of the draws and zip tie some plastic mesh, then all that sat in a large plastic container wher the pump and heaters and what not was housed.

If memory serves me corect he was using it to filter his fish room

 

[Matty]

any idea as to the link?

 

[simonbrown403]

any idea as to the link?

sorry m8 its one of them when i,m not looking for it it pops up all the time, now i cant find the bugger anywhere

It looks something like this.

Il keep looking

 

[Matty]

wouldnt you want to go through the coarse filter medium before the fine floss?

 

[simonbrown403]

wouldnt you want to go through the coarse filter medium before the fine floss?

It's a pre filter, juwel filters and many other work on the same princable.

The idea is you filter all the crap out before it hits your bio medium, that way you can just rince your floss out ocasonaly getting rid of the waste, as large particals of waste can take sometime to decompose, and can foul and even affect you PH in the mean time.

It also lessens the amount of cleaning you need to do on your filter, just simply rince the floss out in tap water (how often depends on your tank) and keep the pump clean.

 

[Matty]

ok, its a prefilter, but i dont understand why you would place the coase mechanical filter medium after the fine floss, kinda defeats the purpose doesnt it?

 

[simonbrown403]

ok, its a prefilter, but i dont understand why you would place the coase mechanical filter medium after the fine floss, kinda defeats the purpose doesnt it?

Not really, i thought that at first, it's just more efficient this way.

How often do you do filter cleans?, probably once a month like most.
Over the course of the month the filter will take in all the particle of waste not to mention the ammonia excreted by the fish.
The smaller particles are delt with without a problem, but the the larger ones will form a sludge in the the filter medium, which not only slows the flow of water, but also reduces the amount of o2 you medium will receive, which is essential to the oxidization of waste (ammonia and nitrite).

Because of this parts of your filter medium will turn anaerobic.
Having some areas of anaerobic in your tank can be beneficial, as the bacteria that forms, convert the nitrate into nitrogen gas (this usuall happens in you substrat), which escapes in to the atmosphere, but if there is a thick sludge in the filter, the gas cannot escape and pollutes and kills off the bacteria in the filter carsing problems.

Like said before a prefilter ie the floss removes the large particles of waste, so the filter doesnt have to deal with them, which in the long term means, your taking nutrients out of the system (helping to control the build up of nitrate/phosphate which coarse algae and can lead to long term health isues with your fish)

I have prefilters in all mine and the wife's tanks, all i do is take the floss out and rinse it in hot tap water, (which is ok it's not a bio medium) every water change, because i do it regular it means i hardly have to clean the filter, maybe once every 2/3month and even them its a quick rinse in tank water.