wet/dry or not for 90 Gallon fresh water?

H

Hein99

AC Members
Oct 28, 2010
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Hey all,

I need some advice. I'm currently running a 60 Gallon tank with HOB AquaClear 70. Been running my 60G for years.

I recently bought a used 90 Gallon setup and it came with a Enheim Professional 1. I couldn't find the model number but I know it's very old and it's not a Pro 2, or 3. And it's a wet/dry.

On two different occasions two experienced guys working at my local pet shop said I should tie-off or plug the 3rd (middle) tube and make my wet/dry just a regular wet canister... with only an in-take and out-take.
I thought this was because wet/dry is more important for a marine tank than a tropical tank.

What do you think? Since I already have it should I leave it as wet/dry or not?

Keep in mind this is my only filtration. I've setup the 3 trays like this:

Bottom tray: bottom half with Ceramic Cylinders. Top half with foam insert

Middle tray: 100% bio substrate.

Top try: 1st half bio substrate. Top half fine filter floss

I might have screwed up some of the terminology. :D
 
You should call Ehiem and ask them for that manual and advice on using the filter operates in either mode. The important thing is you don't want to damage or under utilize the filter by not having some basic guidelines on how it best works. Id be interested on getting some fist hand instructions and a parts list on how it supposed to work rather then here-say. But that's me.
 
CWO4GUNNER said:
You should call Ehiem and ask them for that manual and advice on using the filter operates in either mode. The important thing is you don't want to damage or under utilize the filter by not having some basic guidelines on how it best works. Id be interested on getting some fist hand instructions and a parts list on how it supposed to work rather then here-say. But that's me.
Click to expand...

I took your advice and I did just that.
Enheim told me the easy fix is to just plug the 1/4 inch nozzle that is used for the wet/dry and I'm done.
They said the only risk is should the plug ever fall out for whatever reason you'll have water everywhere.
Although, as I think about it, if I leave the tube connected to the nozzle and plug it at the top of the tank where it hangs pointing into the tank there will be much less risk... should the plug pop-out with the tube still installed it will just start to function as a wet dry again.

But I am conflicted. The Enheim guy said I should leave it as wet dry and use all biological substrate and the fish store guys say I should convert it to just wet and add a sponge and floss at the appropriate places.

Any thoughts?

I just don't know which is better for my tropical setup...
 
i would follow eheims advice they built it and know how it is designed to function properly.
 
A wet / dry filter has the exact same function as the Bio-Wheel on a Marineland hang-on filter. A material with a lot of surface area is exposed to both air and water, which is more beneficial to the bacteria than just water. So a wet / dry filter is useful in both freshwater and marine aquariums.

I think the concern may be that some Ehiem canister filters also have a surge function; the wet / dry part of the canister fills and empties at intervals, like a tidepool action. This particluar feature is not so desirable in a freshwater set-up.
 
I use basic wet/dry systems. water from tank goes into HOB overflow, drains into filtration basket, return pump send filtered water back to main tank. The more complex you make it, the more room for a breakdown. I can go months between filter cleanings due to its size. As far as I'm concerned, wet/dry is the way to go on larger tanks regardless of FW/SW.
 
RustyRay said:
A wet / dry filter has the exact same function as the Bio-Wheel on a Marineland hang-on filter. A material with a lot of surface area is exposed to both air and water, which is more beneficial to the bacteria than just water. So a wet / dry filter is useful in both freshwater and marine aquariums.

I think the concern may be that some Ehiem canister filters also have a surge function; the wet / dry part of the canister fills and empties at intervals, like a tidepool action. This particluar feature is not so desirable in a freshwater set-up.
Click to expand...

Yes, the Enheim does have a 'tide' action... in that the output stream is strong for a few moments and then dips off to weak and cycles back to strong.

Is this bad for fresh water or just not as good as a steady strong output flow?
 
Hein99 said:
Yes, the Enheim does have a 'tide' action... in that the output stream is strong for a few moments and then dips off to weak and cycles back to strong.

Is this bad for fresh water or just not as good as a steady strong output flow?
Click to expand...


They do provide surging action when properly set up/ran. I do not believe in their W/D function/Actions. I would just plug or modify in a way that tubing is under the tank water to deactivate W/d action. I find it pain in the B--- filter as W/D.
Tried few models and was not happy with any eheim W/D.

As far as medium, you can make it mostly/all bio medium (micro bioballs, etc) with fine poly as last medium if 2nd filter is provided or do all bio/chemical/mechanical filter set up.
Do you intend to set up another filter for this 90G? I strongly recommend independant back up filter, whatever it may be.
 
Cerianthus said:
They do provide surging action when properly set up/ran. I do not believe in their W/D function/Actions. I would just plug or modify in a way that tubing is under the tank water to deactivate W/d action. I find it pain in the B--- filter as W/D.
Tried few models and was not happy with any eheim W/D.

As far as medium, you can make it mostly/all bio medium (micro bioballs, etc) with fine poly as last medium if 2nd filter is provided or do all bio/chemical/mechanical filter set up.
Do you intend to set up another filter for this 90G? I strongly recommend independant back up filter, whatever it may be.
Click to expand...

Hey Cerianthus,
For the moment I'm justing going to run the single Enheim. I did find out that it's a 2229.
Maybe in 6 months I'll add a regular wet canister filter and change out my current Enheim to all bio. Don't want to spend the money right now.
I do like the idea of a backup filter but it wont protect me from power problems; which I think is the most likely show stopper.

What's the difference between using micro biocalls vs. other porous stones as bio media?

Thanks all for all the comments and tips!
 
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