Overhead Wet/Dry?!

smokinstarfish

smokinstarfish

Member
I've looked high and low for any information about an overhead wet/dry! Thought that was funny seeing as how it would be a better alternative for some people, like me.
I bought a three-level 2X4 display shelf and tanks from a LFS and fixed it up really good. Bottom tank is Malawi cichlids, the top is a Rhom pirhana, and of course, the middle I wanted as my saltwater FO.
It's a 4-gal squarish bucket sitting on the top shelf beside the pirhana, one level above the saltwater. A MagDrive 3 pumps water 2 ft up, eventually to drain out the bottom, via bulkhead/ pvc. It's built strong and for reliability. It will never overflow or spill. I also got fancy and put in a plexi-glass window after most my guests wanted to see inside it.
An overflow and sump would be too much money for me right now. It would also be a little tricky to do considering the shelves and panels are cramping it up. I didn't want to drill the glass tank and that would be the only acceptable overflow for me.
But it looks really cool. Anyone with information regarding anything like this? Tell me what you think! I'm going to post pics in a week.
 
shanev

shanev

Member
The only thing that would concern me is draining at the bottom of the bucket. If you have the drain at near the bottom and the electricity goes out what will stop the entire bucket from draining into the display?
 
madd catt

madd catt

Member
There is a overhead wet-dry by aquarium products its been out for 5 years,they also make diatom filter ,you local pet store should or could custom order it for you.
 
smokinstarfish

smokinstarfish

Member
If the power goes out, the pump stops pumping water, and return flow stops within seconds. The remaining water to trickle down and drain has no affect on the tank's water level. It's like a shower; if you turn off the tap, the drain won't clog unless something gets in there.
The only thing that could go wrong is the unit overflowing... pouring past its not-so-water-tight lid and onto the electrical equipment below.
Should be too well plumbed for that to happen though. The drain at the bottom is encased by a super-glued egg crate cage, holding the bio balls 3 cm above and preventing them from plugging it. Also, the drain PVC is wider than everything else, allowing little water to collect at the bottom. Luckily, the plexi window shows the entire process clearly, from top to bottom.
If anyone has suggestions or questions... :)
 
shanev

shanev

Member
DO you have some type of overflow or baffle preventing water from flowing out of the bottom drain? Im having a hard time pictureing your setup.
For example if I take a milk jug full of water and poke a hole in the bottom all the water above the hole will drain out, whats preventing yours from draining? A pic would be great.
 
smokinstarfish

smokinstarfish

Member
I hope this works. Got a picture finally... but with my lame webcam that can't even reach far enough for close-ups. Without the picture, you won't have a clue what all this to follow means:
A- Suction pipe; PVC running up to and the Mag-Drive's (C) intake... to give the pump a deeper reach so to speak with the intake more than half the way down. This will catch more shibby.
B- Outflow pipe, returning water from the drain on the bottom of the filter above, fuelled by a force of gravity so strong that shoots the water to the tank floor, bubbles and all. I can't get a shot of it right now. This pipe has a 'Venturi' action due to some unexpected and interesting laws of physics. (Clearly, the water traps air bubbles as it cascades down.
It's neat because it's the laws of gravity here that's forcing the water flow back to the tank with ease. There's as much pressure going up as there is coming down. If I were to plug the outflows with my finger, the water level starts rising immediately in the filter, and submerges the bio balls.
C- Also behind this panel is the Mag-Drive, sitting just barely submerged. It's covered enough to quell the noise, and to re-prime itself should suction be lost. I used to have it out of the water up but everytime the power went out or something, I would have to re-siphon it. If I was out for the day, the bio balls would dry up, the fish could fall ill, and the pump could burn-out. Yaaay!
D- 1/2" PVC riser bringing the unfiltered water up from the pump below. Just as the drain pipe, this comes through a hole drilled in the shelving supporting it, allowing less bends and turns, and a much more clean, appealing look. (Dumb though that I put it right infront of the plexi-glass window (F) and absuring the view.
E- Drip tray... it's hard to see, zoom in... behind the plexi window you can see the white plastic tray. It's just the bottom cut out of an identical but different bucket. Fits great and matches. Inside it is egg crate and micron padding to keep it real clean inside.
F- The plexi-glass window. I couldn't stand it before not being able to see inside the unit, so I did this. It's fasened in there real good, using two-part epoxy glue and many nylon screws. Of course, it doesn't have to withstand any water pressure (but it can) because the unit was designed to drain at the bottom... and fast... to avoid overflow disaster.
G- Just pointing to where all the behind the scenes plumming is, sandwiched in between the bottom the filter, and just above the waterline of the tank.
H - The second outflow tube... can't see here either. It's a single but larger jet, sending water across the surface. See, as the water drains from the filter, it's coming down through a hole in the shelf and splits into two, where each L-joint tapers off from 1" PVC to 1/2" just above the surface. (The lighting is secured here too.) It gives good water flow all over the tank.
I- My pirhana tank. He doesn't like the wet/dry beside him, in part because it's bright white and reflects too much light his way.
J- Unseen in this bad picture, two of the three jets from outflow pipe B are here, each pointing up, forward, and, away from each other at a 45 degree angle.
Anymore questions, comments, or advice, please...
 
smokinstarfish

smokinstarfish

Member
There's just something so satisfying with things you make yourself, especially when the designs and improvisions are your own flavour... and the project actually works in the end! LOL... My projects always end up working, but not after spending triple the budget on wasted or uneeded stuff from the hardware store. :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top