Wet/Dry Questions?

Ok, I have a 55 and I have a friend that is helping me set up a 30 gallon tank as a wet/dry b/c I have never set one up b4. He says he doesn't like having and bio balls or filter media b/c it can take out some of the stuff you want to keep. He just wants to put a sand bed in the bottom of the w/d along with the protein skimmer and heaters. Does anyone else do this? I have always seen bio balls and filter media in them? Sorry I'm a newb. Thanks for the help.

 

Welcome. I use a filter media on my sump. Sort of a spongy material that the water from the overflow boxes drain through as the water returns to the sump. I'll try to post some pics of the system for you. I also have sand and LR but that is in my refugium.

 

That is what I am used to seeing so when he told me not to use any at all I was starting to wonder if he knows what he is talking about or if it is just personal pref.

 

It's all about preference...some go with the LR( they say that is all you really need), others use wet/dry with bioballs, others a sock with filter media(zorb). Matters who you talk to about it. I am using bioballs, zorb(carbon, and bio stars. It's ok.

Wet/Dry's are nice but they limit how much water you can keep in your sump.(unless you have them hang above your sump). There are many threads dealing with sumps.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/filters-etc/sump-design-42301.html
Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums


This is a little off track but if you have not begun filling your main tank...DRILL your main tank. Before you even dream about sump, DRILL your main tank. Overflows suck.

Zak

 

Some ppl swear by them and have had them for yrs without even cleaning them, and some cant stand the sight of those little pointy blue balls. Some say the bio-balls are a no3 factory. I've had them in my wet/dry for as long as I can remember and I think there great. As I have stated before, you cant go with what one person says " its the best". Every system is different and what is working for me, might not work for you and vise-a -versa. Unfortunatly in this hobby, for the most part, its about what you can afford and what you like and what your planing to keep in your tank. Yes my no3 is around 15-20ppm, but its b/c I have a big bio load(IMO) and I dont have a refugium. Im sorry to say, but If you listen to everyones adivice(which is good btw), you'll go crazy!!! Just look at my name. I hope I havent confused you even more. Luna

 

I usually try to avoid these questions as I myself think a wet/dry with a good quality bio Ball can't be beat and they offer the system a larger margin for error because they W/D increases the available dissolved oxygen far better then any other method . Plus you can vastly increase the bio load of the tank with fish and what ever you want because of that oxygen in there for the animals.
I would never suggest a DSB to anyone unless I did not like them and a Plenum if designed and built properly is the better way to go. All a DSB supposedly offers was what they said it was to offer is Natural Nitrate reduction or NNR And Guess what it did not work as advertised and still they do not do what they are supposed to unless you limit the animal load and add this and that and spend weekends on its maintenance worrying about the sand fuseing up and added new packet's of sand fauna every year or less..

As for L/R no need and the same for live sand.. Unless you just want to spend the money ? I'd rather set up a wet dry and use dead base rock and dry aragonite sand then seed the new sand with a pound or two of good quality Live sand rubble to seed it and let it cycle out for 12 weeks with a single just one yellow tailed blue damsel.. And bring it along slowly and I have never had any issues with NO3's no more then many I know have with their DSB and their labor of love .. If you do have a problem then a simple coil de nitrater will solve it.. I run one all the time anyways as we keep SPS corals only..

 

Wow, thanks for all of the replies. I am having the tank drilled. I think I am also going to have couple more holes drilled for circulation instead of having a big ugly power head. My friend was also telling me about something called a squid which can switch which hole the circulation comes out of every 15 min. or so and creates a wave like affect. Has anyone ever heard of it?

 

anyone?

 

Switching Current Water Director (SCWD)

This is the SCWD, pronounced squid. It's a device that, well, you can read the description on the page. I've heard of it, and read about it, but never used it and have never really heard about anyone's experience with it.

Hope this helps.

 

The squids are Junk really get a Ocean's motion set up and be done with it cost more but its worth more .. I have known more that have thrown their squids in the trash then a few.. Unless they changed the design ? Maybe some would know ..Nope just looked at posted link its the same junk