sump questions!

Gluestick

New member
I am looking into buying a wet/dry filter for a 90 gal aquarium. I want a lot of room for a skimmer, heater, and all that stuff so it's not hanging off the back of my tank. I am new to all this, so what am I looking for in a filter? I've heard you don't need bio-balls, but most of the sumps I see come with bio-balls. Also, what is the difference between a sump and a wet/dry filter? and what the heck is a refugium? I am thinking I will buy one from ebay... Are there certain brands that are good? THANKS!
 
You can just use an aquarium. Glue in some baffles and you are on your way. Lots of diy stuff on the net. alot cheaper too.
 
Here you go:

A wet/dry is exactly what the name implies. They all come with either bio balls, or bio wheels, depending on the maker. They are also called trickle filters because the water runs across this media that is air exposed and allows the bacteria to grow. Some people say that these are nitrate factories just waiting to cause a problem.

A sump can be just another aquarium like stated above. It is basically a container for your tank to drain into that may contain your heater, skimmer, and a return pump to get the water back into your display tank.

A refugium is a refuge for the growth of macro algaes and the little bugs we all love, copepods and amphipods and such. This can be part of the sump or separate, but is generally an area of slower flow that has live sand, live rock, macro algae, and lighting. You either buy a premade one, or install baffles in a regular tank to slow down the flow and attempt to get rid of any micro bubbles before the return pump sends the water back.

You can buy any of these pre-assembles, or check out the DIY forum of Reef Central and see how to make them yourself.

HTH
 
I agree with the above. I wouldnt pay top $$ for a "wet dry" filter. i'd buy a used or even new glass aquarium and build it that way.
 
my sump is a 36" long x 17" high and 15" deep plastic bin from home depot. my skimmer, return pump, phosban reactor and heater all fit in there no porblem. and it costs less than $10.
 
Try out marine depot, they sell Berlin sumps that has the overflow go into a filter sock and the rest of the tank is open for your equipment. I have a quiet 3000 pump with heater, a Euro SP2 reef skimmer, and I still have room to add filter media in the filter sock. The water flows down and returns to my tank after going thru a inline chiller.
 
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