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Post by Derekmillett on Feb 15, 2014 21:40:22 GMT -5
Going to start setting up a new tank soon and was wondering which I should use. I've only had 1 saltwater tank so far and it came w wet/dry filter, so that's all I am familiar with. What would your choice be?
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Post by Pokahpolice on Feb 15, 2014 22:15:47 GMT -5
Debatable but a refuge is better suited for a reef tank and wet/dry are more driven for a fish only set up. Wet/Dry systems can boost Nitrates which can poison fish over time but will wreak havoc in a mixed reef.
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Post by gotareef on Feb 15, 2014 22:33:16 GMT -5
wet dry isnt bad as long as you clean it regularly but the ease of the refugium usually wins
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Post by Derekmillett on Feb 16, 2014 6:51:59 GMT -5
So basically I will take a 55 gallon in my case and divide it into 3 sections? One for skimmer, sand and what not, and then one for return pump? All with a gradual drop down?
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Post by maineultraclassic on Feb 16, 2014 7:43:27 GMT -5
3 sections..............1 for input from tank and the skimmer, middle for some live rock and heaters, last for return pump. That's how I have my 10 gal setup for my tank, I didn't go with sand as I saw it as a spot for nitrates to build since it would hard to clean.
For me, I set my baffle height for the depth of water my skimmer worked best in. For a 55 gal, you will have to have your skimmer sitting on something to get it up high enough unless it's a huge skimmer.
Do a search on Google for sump designs and you will find all kinds of ideas.
Steve
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Post by Derekmillett on Feb 16, 2014 9:09:54 GMT -5
So the hose from my over flow....should I set that one the bottom of the tank so it's quieter or should I have it kinda splashing in so it adds air to water? I'm guessing skimmer should add enough air, but I don't really know.
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Post by gotareef on Feb 16, 2014 9:12:18 GMT -5
figure out which design u want and I can swing by and help, ive built quite a few over the years...
the thing you need to decide is do you want the refugium in the middle or on the end of the sump your return pump will go in the other. also do you want bubble trap design baffles or baffles like the ones most acrylic sumps have
I dont worry about skimmer height you can always put something under it (I built a glass shelf to hold mine up)
there will be only one chamber that drops because of evaporation the rest will keep water at the height you want
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Post by gotareef on Feb 16, 2014 9:13:25 GMT -5
So the hose from my over flow....should I set that one the bottom of the tank so it's quieter or should I have it kinda splashing in so it adds air to water? I'm guessing skimmer should add enough air, but I don't really know. you will want it just under water or it will be loud! filter socks work great too |
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Post by speedyron on Feb 17, 2014 10:38:43 GMT -5
I have three sections, first is intake from tank with a protein skimmer and a bio-pellet reactor with its output going back to the skimmer. It then goes thru panes of glass I siliconed in to section refugium and directs the waterflow to about 3 inches off the bottom of the next chamber which has mineral mud and a thin layer of gravel over the top to hold it down filling up the three inches. on top of the mud is an algae scrubber I made going all the way across the entrance of the flow of this second chamber and the rest filled with chaeto a macro algae which can be taken out and sold or just thrown away as is it grows to remove phosphates. there is a light on top of this section to help the algae grow. the next section is partitioned with the glass as high as the first so the flow skims the surface of the mud and directs it thru the algae over the top and into the last chamber that houses the return pump and activated carbon sock along the return flow. hope this helps
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