Aquaclear wet/dry

phil1964

phil1964

Member
Anybody have one of these?
I got sold on this at the LFS because I was told Amircle is going belly up. Am I getting jacked around?
 
iceburger

iceburger

Member
i like the amiracle mud filters, they're a nice substitute for the ecosystems and at about 1/3 the price, and you don't have to have a drilled tank to use them, they come with a pre-filter box already so IMO they're very nice
 
phil1964

phil1964

Member
What do you mean has not warped yet?
Getting it tomorrow.
Guess I'll find out
I am kind of going into this blind (uh oh)
Dont even know what model it is but the box was big.
I always liked the big presents under the tree.
I am going with advice from the guy at the LFS (uh oh!)
 
exotickeeper

exotickeeper

Member
I have the aqua/clear pro series 150 with the skimmer. I like it, but the only draw back in my experience is that the Rio pump that comes with it will stop working in about a few months (I've had many run-ins with those Rio's. One side has bowed out about an inch or so, but no leak or anything. Skimmer works great, (when the stupid pump is working). So I bought a Mag 550 for the skimmer and for the return pipe!
 
phil1964

phil1964

Member
I just brought home a new tank with all the accessories.
The filter is a Aqua Clear Aquatics model 200 wet/dry.
I saw somebody here that had a 300. I am interested in finding out the specs of this thing.
A pic or a website would help a lot. The filter has no identification on it so I am not sure if I got the right one.
Also, the instructions (1 whole page) suk. Plus I think there might be stuff missing.
Somebody give me some ammo to use against the LFS before I go back.
Other than that I think everything else is cool. Got loads of stuff, just not sure about the filter. Also, got a Pondmaster magnetic drive utility pump 700 gph flow. Is this OK for the filter?
The tank is a 180. Going to do FOWLR for now.
 
phil1964

phil1964

Member
Anybody. Did I buy a POS?
It looks OK but I am wondering if I should hook it up or go for the return.
Any links to see a pic?
 
rkm

rkm

Member
No its a good wet dry. I have the 175. No problems yet. Well I do have a small leak in the fitting on the drip plate. I'm not sure if I did it but it looks a little cheezy the way it was put on. No big problem or anything it just seeps a little between the fitting and the plate then simply finds it way across the drip plate cover and into the sump. I'll fix it one of these days. The directions do suck. I think the parts are:
1 sump
1 bag o bio balls
1 drip plate cover with a 90 elbo on it
1 drip plate
1 drip plate sponge
1 filer after the bio balls
1 plastic plate that holds the filter
1 4 foot hose
1 over flow box
1 filter for the overflow
1 teflon nut and bolt for the overflow
1 teflon thumb screw to hold the drip plate in the sump
I think that is it.
 
phil1964

phil1964

Member
If your parts list is correct I am missing parts.
For one thing there is no inlet ontop od the bio ball chamber.
Does yours look like this?
I thought there were going to be 2 bio ball chambers.
Again I was told this is a 200 model.
Plus this is my first attempt to attach a pic.
 
rkm

rkm

Member
It looks like it's all there. I think the lid is actually under the blue drip plate you have. I think the packaged it so the lid is upside down in with the bio balls so that the elbows dont get broken during shipping. It looks like a big system I do think it is a 200 mine looks about the same size but I do not have the double hoses coming off of the overflow to the lid. That looks like the same way mine was shipped. (wrapped up and all) but I do not remember if the lid was up side dow or not. I was so darn happy to see it I pulled it all appart.:)
Good luck
 
phil1964

phil1964

Member
Thanks so much. I thought, I paid for it I am ripping it apart, and you are correct, the top is there. I am going to mess with it now.
Do you what gallon tank this is good for? I think I was told a 180 but since that is what I bought it sounded like LFS crapola. Thanks again. Now I can sleep!
 
marinerock

marinerock

Member
HI RYAN...
JUST LOOKING THROUGH THIS POST AND SAW THAT YOU HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH THE WATER SEEPING FROM THE FITTING ONTO
THE COVER...
I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY WET/DRY...THOUGH NOT
THE SAME BRAND AS YOURS...HOWEVER, THE WAY TO ALLEVIATE
THE WATER FROM SEEPING ONTO THE COVER IS THIS:
DRILL OUT THE DRIP PLATE HOLES ONE SIZE LARGER THAN THE
FACTORY SIZE....FOR EXAMPLE...MOST DRIP PLATE HOLES ARE
3/16"...DRILL THESE OUT TO 1/4"...I RECOMMEND TO LEAVE
ALL PERIMETER HOLES AT THE FACTORY SIZE AND DRILL THE
REST OUT TO ONE SIZE LARGER THAN FACTORY SIZE...
I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN WHEN THE BLUE FILTER PAD WAS
SUPER CLEAN AND THIS ALLEVIATED THE SEEPAGE...
REMEMBER THAT YOU STILL HAVE TO CLEAN THE FILTER PAD REGULARLY BECAUSE IF IT GETS REALLY DIRTY, IT WILL START
SEEPING AGAIN....
HOPE THIS HELPS...
REGARDS....
MARINEROCK
PHIL....GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW PURCHASE....ENJOY !!!
 
rkm

rkm

Member
marinerock
Thanks for the info. I might have to try that. I was just thinkng about resealing the fitting. I think what you are saying makes since. The pad gets dirty and the water cant get through fast enough, so it backs up a little and finds the easiest way out.
Phil1964
What ever acqua clear # you bought is for that size tank. I bought a 175 so it will support up to a 175gal tank. At least this is what I'm told
 
rockface

rockface

Member
I have had 2 of thier wet/drys, and just purchased a motorized 350 skimmer about 5 months ago. All of the equiptment has worked great. The other thing is thier customer service is excellent. I had some issues with one of their products, and they shipped a brand new unit to me, BEFORE having me return the faulty one back to them. They sent it 2 day deliverly from thier Florida office. They even sent a prepaid shipping label to send the bad one back to them.
 
marinerock

marinerock

Member
HI RYAN....
EXACTLY....ALSO, ALL THESE WET/DRY SYSTEMS ARE BASICALLY
MADE THE SAME WAY...THE MANUFACTURERS JUST DONT WANT
TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE AND MAKE THE FITTING COVERS
A LITTLE HIGHER TO ALLOW FOR MORE SPACE BETWEEN THE
COVER AND THE FILTER PAD.....IF THEY ADDED MAYBE 1-2" MORE
IN BETWEEN ....THE WATER WOULD NOT BACK UP AND PROBLEM
SOLVED...THEY COULD ALSO JUST LOWER THE DRIP PLATE
COMPARTMENT A LITTLE AND THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM ALSO, HOWEVER, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE SOME BIO-BALLS SO THAT WOULDNT BE GOOD....
REGARDS...
MARINEROCK
 
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