DIY trickle filter

[spiral_72]

I'm researching/designing my own wet/dry trickle filter. There seems to
be an abundance of info on the net but one thing still baffles me. How
is everyone getting a $15 powerhead to lift water from the filter back
into the top of the tank? I have tried several methods with the 300gph
powerhead I have, but it stalls at 2ft of lift.

My tank lid is about 4ft from the floor (55gal on a stand). I expect
whatever pump I use will need to lift 3.5ft at 125gph or so. With those
requirements I am looking at a pond or fountain pump. Yes?

[George Pontis]

In article om>, spiral_72
@yahoo.com says...
> I'm researching/designing my own wet/dry trickle filter. There seems to
> be an abundance of info on the net but one thing still baffles me. How
> is everyone getting a $15 powerhead to lift water from the filter back
> into the top of the tank? I have tried several methods with the 300gph
> powerhead I have, but it stalls at 2ft of lift.
>
> My tank lid is about 4ft from the floor (55gal on a stand). I expect
> whatever pump I use will need to lift 3.5ft at 125gph or so. With those
> requirements I am looking at a pond or fountain pump. Yes?

There is a small Eheim, not too expensive and not too noisy, that will do that. It
is the Compact 1000. Flow rate is reduced with that much lift but I think your
125GPH requirement is in the bag. With no lift it can pump 260GPH at maximum rate.
It has an adjustment to reduce flow if necessary.

I have not looked at an 802 powerhead lately but I think that one has a good
chance of meeting your requirements. Not sure about $15 though.

[Billy]

"spiral_72" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> I'm researching/designing my own wet/dry trickle filter. There
> seems to
> be an abundance of info on the net but one thing still baffles me.
> How
> is everyone getting a $15 powerhead to lift water from the filter
> back
> into the top of the tank? I have tried several methods with the
> 300gph
> powerhead I have, but it stalls at 2ft of lift.
>
> My tank lid is about 4ft from the floor (55gal on a stand). I
> expect
> whatever pump I use will need to lift 3.5ft at 125gph or so. With
> those
> requirements I am looking at a pond or fountain pump. Yes?

Once you add some back pressure, many powerheads poop out, even with
the venturi hole plugged. Most powerheads are designed to just move
water, not *pump* it necessarily, though some do, depending on
design. (Shape of chamber, design of impeller, etc) A small pond pump
or similar would suffice.

Like these:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8164&N=2004+113041

I always buy the next powerfull pump up from what my math tells me I
need.

billy

[NetMax]

"spiral_72" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> I'm researching/designing my own wet/dry trickle filter.

Why? I'm only asking as they are not the best.

> There seems to
> be an abundance of info on the net but one thing still baffles me. How
> is everyone getting a $15 powerhead to lift water from the filter back
> into the top of the tank? I have tried several methods with the 300gph
> powerhead I have, but it stalls at 2ft of lift.
>
> My tank lid is about 4ft from the floor (55gal on a stand). I expect
> whatever pump I use will need to lift 3.5ft at 125gph or so. With those
> requirements I am looking at a pond or fountain pump. Yes?

A pump's flow rate (or GPH, gallons per hour) is a characteristic of the
head pressure (the weight of the water being pushed up above the static
water line). The higher the head pressure, the lower the flow rate.
Some pumps are optimized to work on very little head pressure, so they
have great GPH but lose power very quickly when pumping water up any
distance (ie: cheap powerheads). Others are the reverse and give a low
GPH, but lose power slowly as the height being pushed against increases.
Powerheads and pond pumps are available in both these ranges and in
between. As it's more applicable to pond pumps, the GPH/head pressure
graph is often printed on the box. Some of the larger powerheads might
meet your requirements, but there are small pumps designed specifically
for this (generally smaller than pond pumps and not having any
pre-screening). hth
--
www.NetMax.tk