Canister filter application 7/6/08
hello WWM crew,
i
<... the beginning of sentences, titles, the pronoun "I" H.N. are capitalized... Please heed our instructions if you want our help>
have a question concerning the possibility of a modification to my Rena Filstar xP2 canister filter. My fish tank is 36"x18.5"x17" ~55 g. I have two 1 3/4 holes drilled in the back left side of my fish tank; one being 3"x3" away from the top left corner about to be used as a 3/4" inlet to a refugium I'm building, and another being 3"x3" away from the bottom left corner.
<Good description... I wonder why the opening in the top left is so large diameter... and re the placement of the one in the lower left>
What i would like to know is if i can attach my inlet tube from the canister filter to the bottom hole and let it drain through a 1" inlet into the filter.
<Mmmm>
I'm worried about possibly overworking the filter since i believe the pressure would force more water to run through the filter normally.
<No... not if all is sealed, the discharge is about where you propose... the overall pressure in the unit will/would be about the same>
Here are the specs of the filter: flow rate=300 U.S. gph, aquarium vol.=up to 75 g, canister vol. 1.4g, power=16w, amps=0.368, max. water head 55 in.(1.40m), and water flow of 160 g (with media and accessories). No other accessories except the foam, micro-pads, and activated carbon.
The filter will sit 4ft. below the hole. If i set this up correctly, would the filter be degraded in any way?
<No, but...>
Just as well, are there any problems with this set up if i used a 2" in. sandbed?
<See WWM re: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/setup/index.htm
Scroll down to "Marine Substrates"...>
And would there be any flooding i have to worry about if the power shuts off??
<Not this, but...>
Thank-you for your time,
H.N.
<Am very concerned, VERY re issues of the placement of the bottom left cut-out... what if the canister somehow has "troubles"... the water will (quickly) drain down to this level... where will the water be? And when you want to work on the unit... do have valving installed... If it were mine, I'd run the canister plumbing lines over the top of the tank... use the present through-puts perhaps for closed-loop circulation. Bob Fenner>

Plumbing 4/10/07
Hi guys,
<Hello Tim>
I have a 120-gallon All Glass aquarium w/dual mega flows. This was initially set up to feed a homemade wet dry w/ a 75-gallon sump. All was well until I had to move from a house into a Manhattan apt. Without the additional space of a house I do not have the room the wet dry requires. So I am forced to switch to a smaller solution. I went out and purchased an Eheim Professional 3 canister filter that I had planned on hooking up to one of the mega's. Upon opening the box I quickly realized that the two were not a match made in heaven. Do you have any suggestions on how to reduce the large bulkhead into the small Eheim intake? I have just returned from the local Home Depot and the didn't seem to have a reducer suitable for the task.
<I'd try here, should be able to conjure something up.  http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=13670&utm_source=google&gclid=CKy66-SXuIsCFRKPgQodGmj8yQ&cookie%5Ftest=1>
Thanks,
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
Tim

Multiple Canisters on a Reef Tank.  9/28/05
<Hi, Adam J with you.>
I have a 44 Gal Pentagon Salt Water reef tank and I am currently running a Fluval 204 canister and I want to add a Fluval 404 canister to the filtration of the tank.  Is it possible to daisy chain the 2 filter in line together?
<I would run them independent due to the different flow rates and incase one of them fails to operate. In my opinion “combining” them would only add more complication.> I would prefer to use the 204 as the mechanical and chemical and the 404 as the mechanical and biological.  Or would it be better just to run the 2 independent of each other?
< I would much rather add a larger/more efficient skimmer than your current prism to the system rather than another canister filter which have been known to be, dare I say, nitrate factories. Looking into refugiums would not be a bad idea either.>
The inhabitants of the tank are as follows:
about 30 lbs. live rock with some hitch hikers
crushed coral bed
Giant Blue Carpet Anemone
<This anemone will eventually outgrow your tank, and possibly eat some of your inhabitants.>
Torch Coral
Blue Crocea Clam
2 Peppermint shrimp
30 Astrea Snails
30 Blue leg hermits
<Far to many snails and hermits for this size set-up, make sure they are all getting adequate food.>
2 Green chromis
2 Yellow Tail damsels
1 Blue Devil
1 Yellow Tang
<This fish will very quickly outgrow your current tank.>
1 Black Perc  (I think it’s a Black Saddle back)
Fluval 204 Filter
Prism Protein Skimmer
2 Maxi Jet Power heads
230 Wt Lighting on for 12 hours (150wt MH,  80wt PC)
Thanks !! , Joe Piazza
<Anytime, Adam J.>

Equipment/Pumps/Plumbing    5/2/06
Hello Crew,
<Hello John>
I've Google'd this topic and haven't found any hints or answers, so it is time I ask you...I'm setting up a 90g AGA with the Megaflow overflow kit.  I have an Eheim 1262 for the return from my sump/refugium.  My problem is plumbing the Eheim, with metric connections, to the 3/4" Megaflow bulkhead.
If I use Eheim/metric tubing, it won't fit on the bulkhead, but if I use 3/4" tubing it won't connect to the Eheim.  Any hints or ideas?
BTW, the Eheim is rated for higher flow than the Megaflow, but I plan to bleed off some of the return via a T into the refugium.
<You might want to dip the tubing in boiling water to soften it, then try to slip it onto the barbed fitting.  I have done that a few times with good results.>
Thank You  <You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
John H.

Which Option For Plumbing A Separate External In-Line Filter? - 01/18/07
I have a 142 gallon aquarium that drains through a 12" x 12" central overflow via a 2" Durso standpipe into a 30 gallon sump.
<<Ok>>
A Reeflo Barracuda then pumps the water back into the tank at about 1500 GPH.  I want to run a second loop through a Nu-clear 533 filter, primarily for additional circulation and chemical filtering with Purigen and PhosGuard.
<<I see...excellent>>
I have a Little Giant 4MDQ-SC for this purpose, although I would like to eventually replace it with something cooler and quieter.
<<One of the small Iwaki or GRI pumps would do nicely...even BlueLine or PanWorld for a bit less dosh.  Choose the smaller models without the cooling fan for less noise...would still be plenty of flow for the purpose of the filter>>
My question is, how should I supply this second pump?
<<Preferably with its own throughput/bulkhead fitting from the tank>>
I have three available options.  The first is to feed it through a 1" bulkhead in the bottom of the overflow.
<<Mmm...only if the overflow can take the extra volume...I believe RC has a 'calculator' for this>>
The second is to use the currently plugged hole in the side of the overflow near the bottom, and then through the 1" bulkhead in the bottom of the overflow via 1" tubing.  In that way, it will draw water from the tank outside of the overflow, not from within the overflow itself where it may compete with the 2" drain.
<<Indeed...this is a much better option in my opinion.  The bulkhead in the side of the overflow can easily be fitted with a screen to protect livestock>>>>
The final option is to feed the pump from the sump, but will that be too much for the sump or drain to handle?
<<You'll be pushing, maybe even exceeding the limits of the drain...at the least this will create more noise/turbulence, and the associated plumbing hassles to resolve same>>
Thank you very much for any assistance that you can provide!
<<Best to go with option two in my opinion.  This is the approach with the least hassle and the best chance for success...you will in effect be creating a closed-loop with an in-line filter.  Regards, EricR>>

Using A Manifold With An Eheim Canister Filter 1/10/07
Hi crew!
<Hello Laura.>
I read through the info on the Goodbye Powerheads article and was wondering if this manifold idea would work if I built it and ran it out from the return on my Eheim 2028 canister filter (rather than having to add another pump to my already crowded 55 gal. reef tank).  What do you think?
<Laura, the Eheim pump that is incorporated into the filter will more than likely not develop enough pressure to use a manifold with it.  The Eheims usually come with a spray bar option, and this is what I would use.>
And also, does this manifold really allow a tank to flourish without the use of all these powerheads?
<It does help to eliminate dead spots in the system, and yes, can take the place of several powerheads if the pump is sized correctly.  Do search our site on this subject for more info.>
I will admit I am a bit skeptical, but I'd love to give it a try if I can eliminate them!
Thanks so much for this wonderful site and your expert advice!
<You're welcome, and thank you for writing us.  James (Salty Dog)>
Laura