Have question about wet dry filter

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CichlaLoverer

Aimara
MFK Member
Aug 5, 2013
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I currently have a Eshopps 300 wet dry filter running and I have question about the water in the sump... Does the water have to be high up or in the middle of the sump or can the water be low where the water level shows in the sump...

I know sump evaporate, but does it matter how high the water is in the sump?

If ya look closely, u can see the water level mark underneath the bioballs crate... Lmk what you guys know about wet dry filters, Thanks MFK
image.jpeg
 
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CichlaLoverer said:
I currently have a Eshopps 300 wet dry filter running and I have question about the water in the sump... Does the water have to be high up or in the middle of the sump or can the water be low where the water level shows in the sump...

I know sump evaporate, but does it matter how high the water is in the sump?

If ya look closely, u can see the water level mark underneath the bioballs crate... Lmk what you guys know about wet dry filters, Thanks MFK
View attachment 1183450
Click to expand...

Your water level is fine, wouldn't let it get lower than that .:)
 
I am still dabbling with it, If it gets too low my return pump, mag drive little giant, starts sucking air, I have had it set up for a couple of weeks, I might try a sponge in my suction chamber.
1" plumbing into a 1/2" pump intake.
 
wet/dry filters are also called trickle filters. Typically, the biomedia is not submerged, but the water just trickles over it. I partially submerge the bioballs when we're going to be gone--that's easier than having someone check the water level and add more water because of low levels due to evaporation. I used to add water to submerge the biomedia during power outages (have a generator now, so don't have to do that any more).

Just the inconvenience of having to check for evaporation, worrying about the pump burning out because of low water, and die off of the beneficial bacteria if there is no water trickling, had me rethink about the advantages of submersible media where the water level is much higher in the sump. Actually, our wet/dry filter has performed flawlessly for over ten years. I have circumvented the evaporation issue be adding a couple of inches of extra water--enough to keep the levels good until the next water change. The only other thing I need to work on is remembering to plug the pumps via extension cords into outlets on the generator system before going out of town. (only the new part of the house is on the generator system)
 
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I keep my water level as low as possible. Wet/dry filters won't stay dry if you have them submerged. The trickle tower is to make the water trickle for gas exchange and contact time with the media. Bio balls are NOT excellent submerged media, but they will work that way. I would personally run that sump lower to get all of the trickle out of the bio balls that you could.
 
At two inches deep my pump starts suckling air. That about as good as it gets, plus 2.5 inches of make up water. That lasts about 4 days.
 
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