Wet/Dry filter or Sump Refugium?

[emilypres]

I am brand new to the hobby and have been reading alot. I figured i would start buying things a little at a time and slowly but surely i would get enough to get started. I recently bought some items thru craigslist for $75. Its everything you see in the pictures including a 4' coralife T5 light. I think i got a pretty good deal but im not sure. I thought i knew what i wanted to do with the 2 acrylic tanks but now im not sure. Any ideas? I am planning on buying a 75gallon reef ready tank. I want a coral/fish tank mix. Please look at the pics and tell me what you think i could do with this. It looks like the 2 acrylic tanks were attached at one point, however most of the baffles are missing. I can make baffles at work easy enough.

so i think my question is do i go with a wet dry filter with the protein skimmer or do i try and set up some sort of sump refugium with a skimmer or can i do a mixuture? Need some advice from someone more experienced than me.

 

[Jopalmighty]

I'm pretty new to the hobby as well. After much research I made the decision to go with a sump/refuge. because of the issue with trickle filters possibly raising nitrates if not cleaned regularly. I do also run a skimmer and my nitrates have constantly been 0

 

[Kyle918]

I'm pretty new to the hobby as well. After much research I made the decision to go with a sump/refuge. because of the issue with trickle filters possibly raising nitrates if not cleaned regularly. I do also run a skimmer and my nitrates have constantly been 0

I agree. With everything that I have read on this forum, I would stay away from a wet/dry trickle if you are doing a Reef Tank.

The wet/dry is more applicable to a fish only setup. Like jopalmighty said, it can raise your nitrates if not cleaned regularly not to mention more cleaning is just that...more unneed cleaning.

 

[Fizz71]

+1 on the others. The traditional "Wet/Dry" filter has gone by the wayside for all but the FO people (there are exceptions of course). Live rock is your filter--you can use wet/dry filter media or socks if you feel the need for large particle filtration.

I'm not sure what that monstrosity in your photos is. Two W/Ds linked together maybe? Either way...an acrylic box is an acrylic box...you can make it work. Hell I had 3 rubbermaid tubs linked together like that for my sump for years...I'm not a DIY Acrylic guy.

I'd be curious what those skimmers are rated for...probably more than a 75g would need but hey...you got 'em...use 'em!

There's potential in what you've got there, but I'm not sure what to type as advise.

 

[eyesinthedrk]

My personal opinion is that an undersized refugium is a waist of time and space. I think you would be better served to use that space for added water volume and media reactors. I wouldn't bother with using it as a wet dry. You live rock will handle the nitrogen cycle fine all by its self. Just use it as a conventional sump. I'm sure many would disagree with me about the refugium, but as I said that's my opinion.

 

[corpjet1]

If used together I would be concerned with how high those bulk head fittings are. If you had room to tie them together great but those bulk heads are way too high.

You could set that system up nice with a refugium and plenty of room for one skimmer, there is no reason I can see to run two.

 

[emilypres]

I did set it up and have it running, however, i just recently purchased eshopps adv-100 sump so I will be switching over. If anyone is interested in these 2 acrylic tanks, just pm me. I will probably use them on some of my smaller tanks for small sump, but if someone really wants them I would be willing to part with them.