Can I turn my wet/dry filter into a refugium?

OK we must've put the post up at the same time. Ok just a few questions... you said 1/2" holes?? would that be kind of like the holes in the overflow box?? And what kind of light?? And because of the light would I have to put a fan in?? And I would use sand and Chaeto??

 

And any suggestions on the powerfilter on my 29 gallon tank??

 

Mangroves and chaeto???

 

move your return pump all the way to the right, and put that baffle 1" away from it. that will give you room for sand under bioball part and all the way towards the baffle. bioballs vs live rock rumble is a debate.. if you have enough LR in display you can slowly take out bioballs if you want. seeing how I dont have more room in my wet/dry to make a full fuge. I will eventually make a seperate sump with a small pump in my wet/dry to feed the fuge and have the fuge taller then wetdry and make a gravity fed tubes to let water back into sump.. check out another pic I just did..

 

more like the holes in the drip tray.. just to let water flow good enough so the return pump wont be undersupplied. CFL (compact flourscent flood light) 20-26w will work, they put no heat out. 5000k-6500k spectrum. home depot has them. you dont need the sand, chaeto has no roots. mangroves would probly like sand or mud. I dont use any sand right now.. not by choice just no room..

 

Here's what I would do:

Seal the underpass that leads from the bio-ball chamber into the return chamber. Drill holes farther up the baffle that divides the two chambers where you want the water level to stay for the fuge. This will make it so the water has to overflow through these holes from the fuge into the return. Next put in a bubble trap baffle for the water leaving the fuge and you should be good to go. I attached a picture for you.

 

that I cant help ya, I did see a thread a week ago on that. might have to do a keyword search on that.. someone might remember and chime in. it didnt look to hard.. basically a hangon fuge. pretty kool.

 

ok so you think you picasso! lol good idea, I might patent that one for myself.. K+

 

You know that makes sense. What size would the fuge be?? Can I get away with a 10 gallon?? And would I have to drill into the tank to get that tube that would put water back into the sump?? What size pump would you use for the gravity feed?? Could I keep the pump that I use for the return? I am currently using a quietone model 1200. Thanks so much for the tips and pics!!! Sorry I am stealing your plans!

 

mikejrice's idea you could just use your existing wet/dry without adding a seperate tank.

10g would be fine, just make sure its a few inches higher than current wet/dry. you might have to raise it by putting something under it. you could still use your same return pump.. the fuge pump would need to be a very small one or one that is adjustable. fuges like low flow. you would have to drill a hole in glass or build a fuge out of acrylic and run a 1" or bigger pipe back to wet/dry for water to drain back. or something to that effect.. you should probly check out 3reef diy section on fuges for more ideas too.