Replace Mag 7 with 9.5 on 125Gal

[stevew14]

I would like to increase the return flow from my wet dry. I have an oldish US Aquarium Wet Dry that i bought and used with a 75 gallon tank for years. I'm not sure what the capacity is, but it has a single 1" (I think) drain line on the overflow box. I've been using a mag 7 pump, and when I got my 125, I moved it to that tank. It does well in combination with two 2217 Eheims and a maxijet 1200, but i keep thinking it would be even better with a mag 9.5. I think I might be able to do this and keep the same overflow/sump, but I'm not sure. I know I would at least have to add another U-tube but would rather not change out sump if I don't have to.

Do you think this would work, or will it be too much?

Thanks

[Zulaab]

Stevew14.
Measure the chamber where your bioball are at and then run those measurements on this website. http://www.firsttankguide.net/calculator.php
Then list how many gallons this is. As soon as you have it here.. I can tell you the size of bioball sump you have and what your max size pump you can put on there.

A Mag 7 uses a 1/2" return line where a mag 9.5 uses a 3/4" You will need to new return line for your wet/dry, but this is usually a non-issue because most tanks can handle without a problem a 3/4 hose. Real issue is when you go Mag 24/36 when you go to 1" return line.. then there might be problems with your setup. Most single return setups can handle a 9.5 without issue.. At MAG12 you are going to want a dual drain line to handle the flow coming back to the wet/dry.

Hope this helps... and let us know the size of the bioball chamber

[stevew14]

Thanks for the quick reply! I came up with 3.12 gallons. This is just the compartment that actually contains the balls, not the overall size of wet dry.

[Zulaab]

You are correct.. this is all I want to know because this tells me several factors.
You have a wet/dry that will max out on a 125 so you are good to go there.
Single input correct ? Most likely a 1" pipe.
A Mag 9.5 will do you VERY well.. I would NOT go Mag12 as it is going to be to powerful for your setup.

Is your tank drilled or does it use a pre-filter box ?

[stevew14]

It uses a pre-filter box with a single drain that I think is probably standard 1". Do you think the increased flow will make a visible difference in water clarity. It is usually pretty clear, but sometimes has a bit of haze, more so when viewed from the end. I think this is still from the sand when it gets stirred around by the little guys. Just wondering if the larger pump might help this at all.

[Zulaab]

One thing you might have to do is you might have to pick up a second overflow tube (the u-tube is the clear plastic tube that takes the water from the inside of the tank to the outside.) One tube will only draw about 600gph across, which is why you want to get a second one.
The haze you have is potentially just bacteria build up.. how often you clean your filters ?

[stevew14]

I figured I'd need another tube, it was the drain and sump capacity I was concerned with.

I clean the filters every 4 weeks or so on an alternating schedule, one this week, and the other one a couple weeks from now, etc. I use one 2217 pretty much as bio with mostly ehfi substrate pro. This is only rinsed when it gets too grungy, and then only in tank water. I rinse the rest in the sink and replace media. The other has some noodles, sponges and carbon/floss.

I leave the wet dry alone except for the occasional syphoning of the excess sand and grunge that builds up over time in th bottom.

[Zulaab]

You are doing fine.. I dont clean filters but once every 4 to 6 weeks too.. this allows all the bacteria to grow and do a good job. Over filtration is always better than under filtration. How many fish you have in the tank ? and what kind ?

[stevew14]

An ever increasing amount it seems. A couple varieties of cyps, paracyps, some Xenos, a couple enantiopus, some yello and black calvus, trio of trets, several lamp moorii, trio dewendti, trio nasuta gold, two pair ventralis silver streak, pair of callochromis, two six stripe fronts (still relatively small), two multipuncts, 1 syn. brichardi, 1 ABN pleco and 1 regular BM, 1 small calico pleco and 1 royal pleco. Oh yes, and 1 dewendti fry in the overflow box. Seems to be doing fine there. He is the only survivor from the batch momma spit out about three weeks ago!

Right now, the female nasuta and callochromis are both holding, and the male dewendti filled an upright flowerpot with sand in very short order, in an attempt to lure one of the females into his ever-improving nest.

I guess that's alot of fish for a 125 huh? I think it totals out to about 54 not including the plecos and cats. They all are growing up together and seem quite comfortable with each other, though I have a feeling that sooner or later, the trets and fronts may become an issue. It is tempting to setup other tanks and try to keep up with all/ any fry, but I remember how that got to be after a while back when I was keeping Malawis. I just don't think I want to put the extra time into it. So I think for now nature will just take it's course and we'll see what happens.

Thanks for your help, I think I'll just pick up the bigger pump and give it a go. I can always put a ball valve in-line if need be.

[Zulaab]

Yeah you can always add a valve, but you should not need to at all.
Like I said.. you will need another U-tube but you should be good after that.

The Fronts have to go and your trets too.. or else you are going to end up feeding your other priced fish to them. Fronts natural food is the sardine of Lake Tanganyika (also known as Cyps). When they grow up they will devour what they can hold in their mouth :(

[geoff_tropheus]

You have so much bio capacity on the wet-dry, that that 2217 is a waste. You should pack that thing with coarse pad, fine pads, and floss and use it as a polisher and clean it every month.