Canister filter with overflow

skiguy411 · 02/09/2007, 01:54 PM

I'm thinking about starting a saltwater aquarium and have thought over a couple of designs. I'm very new to the hobby , so I'm not sure if what I want to do will work or if its even necessary. This would be a fish only aquarium with base rock to start.

What I was thinking about doing is cutting a PVC pipe in half and placing it in side my 29 gallon tank (sealed with silicone). The top of the pipe would have groves cut out to act as an overflow. (similar to the tank Travis Stevens did). The water would spill into the pipe and through bio balls(or some other type of media) to help with biological filtration (sort of like a wet/dry filter I suppose). Next the water would trickle down below the balls into a small reservoir where my canister filter(a Rena Filterstar xP1) would pull it up and out of the tank, do its thing, and return the water to the tank.

See my attached picture for clarification.

Would this work or would it not be worth the effort?

loves saltwater · 02/09/2007, 02:19 PM

What type of livestock are you planning on having with this setup?

skiguy411 · 02/09/2007, 02:30 PM

Haven't really decided. I know I definitely want a clown fish or two, but beyond that I'm open to a lot of things.

I would have liked to have damsels as well but it doesn't look like clown fish and damsels mix too well.

taillonjohn · 02/09/2007, 02:59 PM

For a fish only tank it seems logical.... although, why not just get live rock (difference is just a buck or two between live and base rock), then you wouldn't have fuss around with the bio-balls or other bio-media. in time, I'm sure you'll want to go from FO to reef, then you'll be that much closer to that objective as you'll have good live rock

skiguy411 · 02/09/2007, 07:21 PM

Is there any advantage or purpose having the overflow if I were to get live rock?

skiguy411 · 02/11/2007, 08:05 PM

btt

zoomfish1 · 02/11/2007, 08:15 PM

I don't see the need with enough LR. If you do 1-1 1/2 lb per gal you would have all the filtration you would need.

If you plan to have a sump then the overflow would serve a good purpose.

02/09/2007, 01:54 PM	#1
skiguy411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 47	Canister filter with overflow I'm thinking about starting a saltwater aquarium and have thought over a couple of designs. I'm very new to the hobby , so I'm not sure if what I want to do will work or if its even necessary. This would be a fish only aquarium with base rock to start. What I was thinking about doing is cutting a PVC pipe in half and placing it in side my 29 gallon tank (sealed with silicone). The top of the pipe would have groves cut out to act as an overflow. (similar to the tank Travis Stevens did). The water would spill into the pipe and through bio balls(or some other type of media) to help with biological filtration (sort of like a wet/dry filter I suppose). Next the water would trickle down below the balls into a small reservoir where my canister filter(a Rena Filterstar xP1) would pull it up and out of the tank, do its thing, and return the water to the tank. See my attached picture for clarification. Would this work or would it not be worth the effort?

02/09/2007, 02:19 PM	#2
loves saltwater Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Katy,Tx Posts: 945	What type of livestock are you planning on having with this setup? __________________ Does anyone have the number to Reef Keepers Anonymous! AM- 0 Rite- 0 Rate- 0 Phos- 0 PH- 8.0 SG- 1.026 Cal- 420 KH- 8.0 dKH Alk- 2.51 meg/L Mag- 1350 Temp-78-80 Current Tank Info: 125RR/30 gal DIY sump-fuge/100 lbs of LR/PM Bullet Skimmer/1000GPH Closed loop/T5 4X54 Watt HO

02/09/2007, 02:59 PM	#4
taillonjohn Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 753	For a fish only tank it seems logical.... although, why not just get live rock (difference is just a buck or two between live and base rock), then you wouldn't have fuss around with the bio-balls or other bio-media. in time, I'm sure you'll want to go from FO to reef, then you'll be that much closer to that objective as you'll have good live rock __________________ John

02/11/2007, 08:15 PM	#7
zoomfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 1,659	I don't see the need with enough LR. If you do 1-1 1/2 lb per gal you would have all the filtration you would need. If you plan to have a sump then the overflow would serve a good purpose. __________________ Zoomfish Current Tank Info: 75g RR, dsb w/90 lbs sand, 150 lb live rock, anemone & LPS tank

02/09/2007, 02:30 PM	#3
skiguy411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 47	Haven't really decided. I know I definitely want a clown fish or two, but beyond that I'm open to a lot of things. I would have liked to have damsels as well but it doesn't look like clown fish and damsels mix too well.

02/09/2007, 07:21 PM	#5
skiguy411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 47	Is there any advantage or purpose having the overflow if I were to get live rock?

02/11/2007, 08:05 PM	#6
skiguy411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 47	btt