could use some help please,converting wet/dry to fuge

Hey all. I would like to throw this out there before jumping in. I would like to take my wet/dry sump with bio-balls and change over to a 20 gal sump/fuge I will try and build. The part im having the trouble with is what to do with the bb`s.Should i use them in the inlet of the fuge like in the wet,dry or replace them with some rock..I already have cheato growing well in the sump part of the wet/dry filter,but its getting cramped in there with all the pumps and stuff...soo if i was to remove the bb`s how would this affect my bio-filter...I want to help the tank not set it back or cause problems..systems been up and running now 1 month shy of 2 years...I was thinking of having the water enter one side go through filter pad flow over bb`s or rock,enter next chamber with skimmer(aqua c urchin =`s small foot print),then enter fuge area w/cheato and sand,enter last chamber for return(some place i`ll fit in phosban reactor)..could really use some direction on this...thanks in advance 8)

 

If you wanted to keep the BB, I wouldn't put them at the inlet to the fuge. I would place them at the inlet of the sump. I am presuming you are going to split the plumbing so most of the water goes to the sump and you can control the flow to the fuge. I have a 20g long and that's what I did with mine. Except I do not run BB. I do filter socks (not at the fuge inlet). I just sectioned off a 12"x12" fuge to house the macros. In the sump, I had enough room for two Rio 2100+, a Mag 9.5, a heater and a good sized skimmer. There is not as much room as you think. If you have the room, you may want to consider a 30g. It gives you an additional 6 inches. The 20g is 30" long. The 30g 36".

I am a big believer in really slowing flow in the fuge area. It gives the macros a good chunk of time to work on the water to remove the nitrates and phosphates.

 

Thanks pharmrjohn,thats why i was asking.i see what you mean,but only have room for the 20 gal underneath with no place to put it behinde or next to tank...i have time for this i was just trying to get all my ducks in a row.. heres a pic of what i was thinking...but will ghange it a bit i like your split flow idea better.. [/IMG]

 

I would put the skimmer after the fuge area. Let the skimmer clean out the exhausted water to let the macros do the work it was meant to do. You will find much better water quality that way. I have split flow in my fuge as well.

 

thanks guys..after reading your guys post here and through the rest of this great site,i have a fine now that i will go for.. Im going to do the split of the over flow one to fuge one to sump,with skimmer after fuge with DSB( 4" ?) and cheato then return back.I will use the bb`s before sump section to start with, then over time change them out to live rock rubble give the bio-filter time to keep up..I would like to keep the flex hose i have.where can i get the "T" that will fit the flex hose not hard pvc..I will build over th next week or so,i`ll try to snap pics along the way....