Wet/Dry (I think) Need Help

[Drewhop]

I am not familiar with any filter systems beyond HOB and my man home made Sponge filters. I just recently got a 180 gallon and need to find a way to introduce some major filtration to the tank so I can get everything all set up and running. I will include a few pictures to help clarify as well as ask questions along the way thanks for any help.

First here is a picture of the top of the tank and how the overflows are setup and routed. Shows pic of overflow. There is one in each corner of the tank.

This picture of inside the overflow 2 holes on each side.

This is a picture of what I am guessing is a wet/dry filter setup.

Now here are my problems.

First the bottom of the Wet/dry is shattered

Would it be worth trying to replace the bottom glass or would it just be cheaper to buy a new setup or make one myself.

My next question is I really have no idea on how to setup the plumbing and how to route it to and from whatever is below the tank and what I need to make it filter and flow correctly. I have a huge amount of plumbing that came along with everything. It was cut apart when previous owner took the setup down. So I have no idea how it goes back together or if they had two wet/dry and only one was given to me.

I can take pictures of plumbing and anything else that is needed. I just dont know were to start.
I have read just about every thread that I could on here about DIY overflow and sumps and for some reason it is just not clicking on how it works.
Thanks for any help.

 

[Druu]

Not sure on the filtration questions as my experience with advanced filtration is limited. Definitely cheaper to replace the pane of glass on the bottom. If you're going to toss it, let me know first. :-D

 

[Sploke]

If you can get a piece of glass cut to fit the bottom of the w/d, you can do that and just reseal the whole thing. Or alternatively, get a 40 breeder or so sozed tank and use that, you can sometimes pick them up used on the cheap.

As far as the plumbing goes, its pretty easy. You will need bulkhead fittings in the holes in the tank bottom. These will drain into your sump/wet/dry, whatever you end up doing. You'll need a return pump of some sort to pump water back into the tank. It looks like the larger hole in each overflow compartment was used as a drain, and the smaller hole was used as a return. The notch in the top of the overflow baffle is there for the return plumbing to come over the edge and put water back into the tank.

 

[Star_Rider]

:iagree:

once you get the bulkhead fittings you can turn a different tank into a sump and design your own sump. or with two overflows you can set up two returns each with their own pump
there are plenty of sump DIY on the net and here in AC.