View Full Version : wet/dry filter
cloran
07-28-2003, 10:33 PM
Need advice on whether or not run a wet/dry filter on a planted tank
plantbrain
07-29-2003, 6:46 AM
Tank's really too small for it to be practical(75 gallon or more etc).
Canister filter would be good.
See George Booth's site for more discussion on wet/drys for planted tanks.
Regards,
Tom Barr
125gJoe
07-29-2003, 2:26 PM
For a planted aquarium, I'd use a good canister filter. The Rena xP series canisters are nice and at a good price, also quiet - very quiet... :)
cloran
07-29-2003, 10:28 PM
I was thinking of making my own trickle and as far as canister fluval 303, I can get one cheap. I'm on a budget(Fiance and 6 month boy
I've run a W/D for years on a 50 with no issues. I don't the problem. Why limit W/D to 75 and above. I'm not sure my small unit would stretch that far. Are they no longer made other than in jumbo tank sizes?
I've run a W/D for years on a 50 with no issues. I don't see the problem. Why limit W/D to 75 and above? I'm not sure my small unit would stretch that far. Are they no longer made other than for jumbo tank sizes?
plantbrain
07-30-2003, 3:40 PM
When you consider the cost of a size of a prefilter on a small tank, it's not such a great choice for a smaller tank IMO.
Sure you can do the Tupperware sump/trashy cann tower and what not.
But the prefilter is a bit tough to make DIY. And the cheapest one's run about 50-60$. About the cost of a nice Canister for the tank of this size.
Larger tanks tend to need more flow than a single cansiter can provide. I use a Via Aqua on my 75 gallon and have used W/D's on planted tanks for many years.
I will say watt for watt and generally, the nice canister filter is better for the tank with plants, shrimps etc.
Yes, you can buy a reef w/d ready tank or a tank with a built in over flow, but it cost more and many folks cannot alter their tanks/already own thetank and simply want to change the filter.
I like w/d's, but they use more electric and are not as quite as a canister filter.
A number of folks use 2 or more canister's for larger tanks.
It is nice to hide most things in the sump area, but......you can hide the intakes/CO2 etc in the tank also.
It's not that "you cannot use them" with smaller tanks, it's more a general issue of cost for premade ones/prefilter's etc.
Prefilters can be/are rather large. Adding these to an existing small tank is quite a large item.
Drilling a hole like at many LFS and using thos elifeguard bulkhead strainers will work also and be cheaper but you'll have to do some DIY.
Regards,
Tom Barr