How to Hook Up a Wet & Dry Filter

Wet/dry filters trickle aquarium water slowly through a pre-filter and then through a biological filter media that adds a sufficient amount of oxygen to the water. Wet/dry filters can complete a three-stage filtration process. Once the wet/dry filter is put into action, all you need to do to maintain the filter is to clean the filter pad and fill it with water. Wet/dry filters come in a variety of sizes and shapes to fit specific aquarium models.

Things You'll Need

  • Empty 2-liter bottle
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Instructions

  1. Assembly

    • 1

      Construct the main filter with its protein skimmer and the skimmer pump. Place the filter unit under the aquarium or in another desired location.

    • 2

      Attach a siphon-overflow box to the pre-filter box and hang it on the aquarium rim. Place the siphon tube in the pre-filter box. Connect one end of the spiral drain hose to the slip-fitting on the pre-filter and the other end to the bulkhead in the main filter.

    • 3

      Attach the adjustable return spout to one end of the vinyl tubing. Attach the other end of the vinyl tubing to the return pump.

    • 4

      Attack the 1/4-inch vinyl tubing to the remote drain on the protein skimmer cup. Place the other end of the vinyl tubing in the 2-liter bottle for draining.

    Operation

    • 5

      Fill the aquarium with water until it fills the siphon-overflow box. Fill the pre-filter box with just enough water to begin draining into the main filter.

    • 6

      Start the siphon. Add more water if needed.

    • 7

      Start the protein skimmer and pump once the water completely covers the pump. Continue adding water to the sump until the water line is reached.

    • 8

      Adjust the air valve that leads to the venture valves on the protein skimmer.