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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V1 #346
> Let me preface my comments by saying that I have a homemade wet/dry in my
> 100. However, this is for a beginner who has never kept an aquarium before
> and so making their own is out of the question. Also, their total budget is
> $400 and a wet/dry for $140ish is a bit much. The problem I've had with my
> wet/dry is that the flow rate is too great and causes a great deal of
> surface agitation. However, I noticed that almost everyone with a 55-70
> gallon tank on this list seems to keep the canister filter with great
> success. Does anyone have any suggestions?
>
> - -Roni
I have an 80 gallon that was originally filtered with a Fluval 403 and
RUGF. Recently (around 2 months ago?), I tore down the tank and rebuilt
from scratch. As one of the components of "Boothanizing" my tank, I
replaced the Fluval and the RUGF with a DIY wet/dry. The wet/dry is
without a doubt the nicest filter I've ever had.
Here's my list of percieved advantages:
1. It's easier to clean, so I clean it more often.
2. The "surface scum" is skimmed off without excess agitation.
3. Since I clean it more often, I now use 100 micron felt as a
"standard feature", and my tank's never looked so clean.
4. Sumps are great! Now my heater's hidden, and I built a CO2 reactor
since I have somewhere to put it.
Here's a description of my filter (note that I bought some things I could
have made myself, so it's not neccessary to spend as much as I did).
Amiracle pre-filter $49 @ TFP
Rio 2100 pump $30 @ TFP
5 gal. Coralife 1" bio-balls $30 @ TFP
Rubbermaid sump, tower, drip tray around $15 at Wal-Mart
PVC pipe, fittings, etc around $10 at Home Base
If you're looking for designs, check out the Krib:
http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~aquaria/krib/index.html
Feel free to ask if you'd like help building one... that's how I figured
out how to make mine!
-Eric
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