What is better - a traditional wet/dry (bioballs) or refugium?

I have a 46 Gallon mini reef. As you may have read in my previous posts, I have had difficulty in getting a sump in my stand. Have to return my Proflex, so need some advise.

Decent luck with a canister, but want to go sump.

 

Hi,

To answer the question in your thread title, a fuge is much better. The wet/dry trickle filter w/bio-balls provides the same exact thing as your LR- a surface for nitrifying bacteria whose end result is nitrates; however, they are rather high-maintenance to prevent becoming a "nitrate factory".

A fuge, on the other hand, allows you to grow macro algae etc that will help reduce the nitrates created by the bacteria in your LR.

 

To really answer the title question you need to answer another question: "Better for what?" A heavy fish load with no room for live rock would indicate a biological filter such as a wet/dry. For a lightly stocked reef you're probably better of using a refugium. Of course, you can do both and you can do neither and still have plenty of success.

Jeff

 

i never really understood the different effects, i never had a refugium before. i never see refugiums in fresh water, so i always thought it was more for salt water