Converting a Wet/Dry filter to a sump/fuge?
- Thread starter EWC88
- Start date
returnofsid
New member
Creating bubble traps in the sump, after the skimmer does a great job at getting rid of the micro bubble issue.
returnofsid
New member
I've got the same type of wet/dry unit, of which I've removed the bio-balls. Pretty hard to convert it though. I'm in the process of getting ready to make my own sump/fuge out of a 29 gallon aquarium. It's really inexpensive to do and will be a better unit that the ProClear. Proclear makes a great wet/dry unit, if used as a wet/dry unit...lol. In the past few years, saltwater has come to find out that wet/dry is not a good way to go with reef tanks. Too much nitrate build up with the bio-balls. If all you're looking for is a sump then the proclear unit will work by just removing the bio-balls. If you're looking for a sump/fuge, the unit's not very practical. Not enough room in there for the modifications. I tried it with mine and it's just not working. If the top could be removed from the first part of it and that portion turned into your skimmer area, it'd work. I decided that was more work than just building a DIY out of the 29 gallon tank. I happen to have a 29 gallon tank laying around though.
The major draw back is that you want 3 separate compartments for skimmer, refugium and return pump. All 3 areas should be divided by bubble traps. There just isn't room in the ProClear. Here's a link to what I'm going to build that may help. It's a rather long post but has some great pics for reference.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22393
The major draw back is that you want 3 separate compartments for skimmer, refugium and return pump. All 3 areas should be divided by bubble traps. There just isn't room in the ProClear. Here's a link to what I'm going to build that may help. It's a rather long post but has some great pics for reference.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22393
silverwolf72
New member
I just drilled a bunch of holes in the bottom of the first compartment. Seems to work perfectly well as a sump.
returnofsid
New member
As I said above, it'd work great as a sump only. If you're wanting a sump/fuge, it's not likely going to work well.
draleigh
New member
I ran in to a similar issue with the wet/dry that came with my tank. I think i am going to end up putting another small tank next to the wet/dry and run the small tank as my fuge, then use the wet/dry as a big sump. Diffenitly add some baffles or you are going to have micro bubbles - i am fighting with those now
clevername
New member
This is EXAXCLTY what im doing now, i havea wetdry with bioballs and pump. Going to put a 10g next to it and have a skimmer, carbon pump and some mirco algae.
TonyOrlando
New member
Im in process of adding a 10 gallon tank to my wet/dry. Im drilling 2 holes on bottom side of wet/dry sump and connecting it with 3 inch tubing to the 10 gallon tank. I will have a divider to decrease micro bubbles and possibley a sponge in 10 gallon to help with the bubbles(might have to remove if nitrates go up). Not sure if im going to add a fuge, the guy at lfs didnt recommend it unless having algae issues. He said its not that important, he doesnt have fuges on any of his tanks and they all are really nice.
returnofsid
New member
llama, we need a lil' more information that you've provided. How large of a sump/fuge is this going into...how large is your display aquarium...
We can't tell you if you're going to have enough room between your skimmer and your return pump if we don't know how much room you have to begin with....lol.
If you'd like, here's a great link to a thread on Reef Frontiers. It's when I was looking for information on building my own sump/refugium. I am going to be building one out of a 29 gallon aquarium.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22393
We can't tell you if you're going to have enough room between your skimmer and your return pump if we don't know how much room you have to begin with....lol.
If you'd like, here's a great link to a thread on Reef Frontiers. It's when I was looking for information on building my own sump/refugium. I am going to be building one out of a 29 gallon aquarium.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22393
