Announcement

**CichlidFan** · 04-17-2008, 07:03 PM

Re: Great aquarium set up

I understand your aspirations cope, I think we all have similar desires in certain way. I researched Wet Dry's on the net for a while but did not find any real memorable sites I can steer you to. One way to learn more about Wet Dry's is to post question like this one here in several different clubs or forums with aquarium related themes.

I would invite you to call me if you like and I will be happy to give you my interpretation of how WD's work and their strong and weak points.

CF

PM me for the number

**jklntx** · 04-17-2008, 07:46 PM

Re: Great aquarium set up

You may want to visit this site for ideas

Aquarium Photos, Articles and Tools - RateMyFishTank.com

http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/

Fish aquarium photos, articles and advice. Learn everything you need to know about maintaining aquariums.

**cope** · 04-17-2008, 09:26 PM

Re: Great aquarium set up

thanks guys.... why don't the manufactors of these products have web sites.... like eheim and rena all I can find when I enter ...like eheim.. all I get is the stores that sell it with a microscopic description.... I would think that the manufactors would have a site that would promote the use of thier product.... maybe some videos of how stuff works and why it is superior..... makes me scratch my head... am I mising something on my search engine?

**Zulaab** · 04-17-2008, 10:48 PM

Re: Great aquarium set up

Wet / dry filters I am going to recommend Pro-Clear... http://www.pro-clear.com/

Wet / dry have the best biological and Oxygen exchange system. Its downfall, would be mechanical filtration. You can only put one or two pieces of mechanical filtration, therefore it takes a little longer to clean the tank with them, but because of the superior bioload cleaning this will outweight most other issues you will find with them. Ease of setup ? : Not easy at all. (I think you know this already) Cleaning usually means a major operation. (not done often except for the drip tray which should be cleaned once a week or two (this is where the majority of mechanical cleaning is done)
Potential WATER on your floor if incorrectly setup and water is allowed to drain back into the overflow because the pump has stopped (power outage etc)

Canister -- Good Mechnical and Bioload, but because the biomaterial is always covered with water there is not the oxygenation that wet/dry's offer and therefore you will not get the bioload (oxygen is needed for the best bioload) Does a good job at cleaning and you can add and remove mechanical pads to add and remove the amount you want the water cleaned by (ie how many times does the water have to go through the system before the particle is caught in the filter)
Ease of setup : fairly easy once the tubing has been done and cleaning is easy too. You will have to stop the canister and pull it completely apart to clean it completely.

HOB -- same as canister.. easier to clean and hold less material, ie therefore will not last as long as a canister when it comes to cycle time between cleanings. Another thing with HOB's is the amount of water turnover is not near high enough once you have a medium to big tank without adding multiples.

Internal filters should be used for small tanks or as secondary cleaning and oxygenation on bigger tanks.
Easy to clean and setup (easiest)

Cope I will attempt to get pictures of my canister and wet / dry soon

Jesper

**cope** · 04-17-2008, 11:16 PM

Re: Great aquarium set up

thanks Zu... I have watch many of youtube videos.... how to make your own from a bucket, or coke bottle, or have 3 miles of piping going thru your house...or have some fangled 2x4 cabnet and a couple of drop lights.... and one guy made part of his tank out of plywood... let's see.... I just got a brand new house...yep... I see it now... plywood fishtank...and a garden hose runing thru the window and a coke bottle filter.... yep.. wife is gona love me for this.... LOL..... and you know ... on my 135 the wet dry system.. the ONLY mechanical filter I have is a 12"x12" x1/4 " carbon pad..... that is it...period.. and that tank is like crystal clear..(go figure)..did notknow if I should add some UV light in the sump tank... or just leave well enuff alone... the main thing is.. when I get my new tank..I want everything to be good.... I was even thinking of getting a 55 gallon container for the garage... and have water waiting for the water changes.. I was gonna set up a quick connect to the sump or canister.. to drain the water.. and I was gonna get a pond pump to bring water from the 55 gallon drum into the house... I was thinking that by doing the 55 gallon drum..I could de-chorinate the water.. and I would not have to add water conditioner.... I like to figure stuff out and then explain how I did it to my freinds and relatives.... I love the figuring out part.... and then the creating part.... for example... the light cover on the 135 is made from an upside down gutter...the ballist are remote mounted.... of coarse that tank is a used tank and at my shop.. so yes I would want something nicer in my home... but you get the idea.. these are the kinda DIY things ....I love to see. them.. lot of people have some great ideas... thank.. Cope

**Zulaab** · 04-18-2008, 12:01 AM

Re: Great aquarium set up

If you want really nice then go on Craigslist and just wait for a nice setup.. pay some good money for it but it will be cheaper than new.
Again get a good wet/dry for your system and like you can see a wet/dry can keep water crystal clear with one good pad in it.
Just remember to clean it often.
I like wet/dry's but having seen some out there I would make REALLY sure that I got a good one.
I have seen some wet/dry's call themselves 240 gallon capable, and the same bioload is what the pro-clear calls a 125.. Yes there are differences between wet/dry's and I think its important to get the right kind for the job. Cichlids especially when they get a little bigger are messy. A good filtration system is important.

**eklikewhoa** · 04-18-2008, 07:01 AM

Re: Great aquarium set up

The DIY guy to talk to is fshfrk! Pick up a 24pk and head over to his place!

With the filtration thing....I like to use multiple different filtration set ups to somewhat "cover all the bases".

**Mzungu** · 04-21-2008, 09:24 AM

Re: Great aquarium set up

To answer your question about websites...

Eheim: http://www.eheim.com/base/eheim/inhalte/index8e75.html

Rena: http://www.marsfishcare.co.uk/en_us/index.asp (linked from the Aquarium Pharm. page)

Announcement

Great aquarium set up

Great aquarium set up

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment