Can SW tank overflows be Mod into FW sub filters?

Rod, where do they sell these Tom wet/dry's? I can t seem to find them on ebay so where have you got ten good deals on them. If I do this I think Im going to need something made of lightweight canister plastic that I can snatch around, as I just cant see hauling out an entire glass tank for cleaning and whatever. Hopefully they have a two part tank unit to make it easier and lighter to move in and out of the cabinet. If you have the web sight to any recommended manufactures maybe they have tank to sump size recommendation. Seriously any and all recommendations of a system for this 225 tank would be appreciated. Here is a good photo of the exact same aquarium and cabinet to just give you an idea what I'm dealing with but obviously much cleaner then mine for the moment anyway lol. You can see the overflows identical to mine and the cabinet space also identical. On the left I believe it shows a wet/dry filter and on the right a skimmer which I don't need, right? As you can see its hard not to be tempted to use those large overflows as stand alone internal filters.
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Heres a nice unit Gunner

heres a nice unit Gunner:

http://cgi.ebay.com/CPR-CMB-3000-We...in_0?hash=item2c505e895d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

It comes with the over flow box that you dont need so you can turn around and sell that piece for a good 50 - 75 dollars which brings the cost of your sump down to 200.00 - 225.00 which is a great deal since its large and handles up to 400G tanks, Large wet/drys that size are very expensive and that one looks in great condition. all you would need if you dont have already is a return pump and some bio balls or bio media and a filter pad and you would be up and running. i like how is a 2 unit set up and the sump part is a seperate tank the water drains into for your return. and the auction ends so so have a look!

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you can always try your idea of using the internal over flows as DIY internal filters and if it doesnt work out like you planned then get you a wet dry set up later on.
 
BTW - plugging holes is cheap and easy - $5 bulk head fitting and a 2 dallor plug from Ace. As for a wet dry/SUmp. U can make one supa easy and supa cheap. I see them all the time made from tanks with only a divider or 2 siliconed in place. They dont have to be expensive or complicated. One section for bioballs or Media and that can be all wet or have water tricking over it. Another section for pumps and heaters. I saw a few when I was in Texas made of a Tank, 2 pieces of glass, and Plastic scrub pads. That was it and it worked GREAT! If I were you I would make one from a old tank. It does NOT have to be 50% of the volume of the tank. On my 180 I use a wet dry because I got it cheap/used. I think it holds 10 to 15 gallons of water- MAX! Once they are in place you dont take them out for cleaning. You would use a pre filter dad or some thing like that and swap it out or clean it. The basic thing with a Wet dry or sump is you creat a huge area for bacteria to grow (surface area).

I hope this was clear. I am tired. Arkangel77
 
IDK why or where the 50% tank for a sump came about. But look at it like the inch per gallon of fish. And do what works.

Yea, it would kind of work for a 20g. But needing a 100g sump for a 200g tank... I don't think so!

Also, I'm pretty sure your overflows don't work off of a syphon. The water just goes over the top and well... drains. Right?
So, unless you manage to clog up both overflows so bad at the same time, you don't have much to worry about with the return line.

BTW?
Are you a noise free freak? LOL
If you don't like the sound of a grugleing stream in your office. Uhhhhh? Get some Nature CD's to add to the enviroment? :D
 
Serously though, there was a disscusion about how noisey an AC filter is, the other day.
If you think an AC 20 or 30 is noisey, you might want to go with your overflow/filter conversion. And a few flu-vacs. ;)
I don't think any of my ac's are noisey, except like the one running on my 20g next to me right now. With the water lvl down 4".
 
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