OK so i have a 90g all glass with built in overflow running to a pro clear wetdry. the wetdry is definitely rather small. it measures 20"X8"X15"tall with only a 2.5g bio-area. I use bioballs still with a mechanical phosphate pad over it. Its returned to the tank by a mag 7. I have a 18 watt UV and an awesome protein skimmer which I am confident in. the tank also has 80lbs live sand and, so far, 120lbs live rock. tank is intended to be a full blown soft coral and fish tank. the tank has been running 6 weeks now and its pretty packed. i bought a amiracle wetdry and i couldnt fit it under the stand thanks to all glass' center brace. Question is: Due to live rock and better than average skimmer, can i keep this smaller wetdry and stock the @#%$^ out of the tank.....? is there anything, media? setup? etc? i can due to make this wetdry perform better?
My reef filtration...Please read and comment!
- Thread starter michael43
- Start date
Henry Bowman
Reefing since '87
Yeah, lose the bioballs. If you have enough live rock ( 1 lb or so per gallon) and the sand bed is 4" or deeper, you have plenty filtration capacity.
scaryperson27
New member
That skimmer could be very capable for a high bioload system if he stuck a couple more airstones in there and got a high output air pump. Airstone skimmers can produce some pretty knarly nog. The wetdry has to go, there is no doubt about that. I would say empty the tanks water into a bunch of bins, move it forward, and stick a 30" long aquarium in there. I picked mine up for about 28 dollars at the local fish store.
You can create baffles using eggcrate which you can get at home depot (it is meant to be used for lighting).
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=342159915&size=o
You can create baffles using eggcrate which you can get at home depot (it is meant to be used for lighting).
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=342159915&size=o
RandyStacyE
New member
Re: My reef filtration...Please read and comment!
You have a very nice tank there! I doubt that there is something that you can do to this sump to make it perform ‘better’. I suppose the question is what do you want the sump to do for you?
I never have and never will use bio balls or any other type of rubble for that matter. I just don’t see the need for it. Your live rock and sand is all the biological filtration you’ll ever need. I’ve heard many say “remove the bio balls VERY SLOWLY, little at a timeâ€Â. I don’t understand why that is said so much either.
I would eventually use a larger sump and more powerful skimmer. A bigger sump is super handy. I like to direct my overflow into a filter sock. This would be all the mechanical filtration you’ll need. The skimmer will suck up the rest. I direct the output of my skimmer into the filter sock as well; it will eliminate any micro bubbles that the skimmer may put out.
A UV sterilizer may be a good idea as a future investment. I use them on any tank 55 gal and above. I just have a small pump sucking water out of my sump, through the UV and back into the sump.
The point of a larger sump is so that you have plenty of space to do anything you want with your system. Room for a larger skimmer, space to grow some loose frags and gives you the opportunity to grow whatever you want down there.
You have a very nice tank there! I doubt that there is something that you can do to this sump to make it perform ‘better’. I suppose the question is what do you want the sump to do for you?
I never have and never will use bio balls or any other type of rubble for that matter. I just don’t see the need for it. Your live rock and sand is all the biological filtration you’ll ever need. I’ve heard many say “remove the bio balls VERY SLOWLY, little at a timeâ€Â. I don’t understand why that is said so much either.
I would eventually use a larger sump and more powerful skimmer. A bigger sump is super handy. I like to direct my overflow into a filter sock. This would be all the mechanical filtration you’ll need. The skimmer will suck up the rest. I direct the output of my skimmer into the filter sock as well; it will eliminate any micro bubbles that the skimmer may put out.
A UV sterilizer may be a good idea as a future investment. I use them on any tank 55 gal and above. I just have a small pump sucking water out of my sump, through the UV and back into the sump.
The point of a larger sump is so that you have plenty of space to do anything you want with your system. Room for a larger skimmer, space to grow some loose frags and gives you the opportunity to grow whatever you want down there.
Thanks for all that randy! I do have a 18w aquamedic uv on the system. When I meant perform better, I am really just trying to stock the crap out of the tank in the future and make sure my equip can handle it. I am going to take out the biobalss and replace with meachanical filtration only. Other than for the use of room within the sump...is there any other reason to get a bigger sump? Can I switch to a fug without spikin the nitrites and killing everything?
