Wet/Dry or Sump/Fuge

[bgreenlee]

I have recently started up my tank which is a 29 gal which I plan to eventually have as a reef tank. It has about 35# of LR, which is low from what I am reading, 1.5" aragonite sand, 130watts pc lighting, and currently has a 10 gallon tank with a wet dry filter built into it. It has about 300gph going to the filter through an overflow box and siphon. I am still trying to decide on a good protein skimmer for it, I am using an old Skilter that I had from several years ago, it dont get much, but it does take out some. I may DIY on the skimmer as it seems like most on the market, short of theEuro-Reef, need mods to be good anyway (plus it gives me justification to add tools to the collection).

Currently the water in the tank is 78.6-79.6 degrees, ph=8.3, NO2=0, NO3=0, PO4=0, alkilinty is around 12, and Ca=450. The water right now is great, I had a very short cycle as the live rock adn sand I used was from my established 55gallon I had at my parents for the last two years.

What my concern is, the more I read the more I am steered away from wet/dry filters and towards the idea of a sump with refugium. I am not concerned with the current parameters of my water, buy am concerned with the long term effects of the wet/dry system compared to the sump/refugium setup.

Anyone want to elaborate on the pros/cons of each as well as what direction I should move in before I start adding livestock to the tank. Any advice/comments will be greatly appreciated.

Billy

 

[reefwick]

Wet/dry's are kind of "old " technology. They are fine for FO tank because fish can tolerate higher nitrates. The wet/drys turn into nitrate factories. From what you say a reef tank is what your striving for so hands down a sump/fuge is what you should do. It will house your heater, skimmer, macro-algae. It will add volume to your tank therefore making it more stable. It is the most effecient way to export nutrients and will serve your purpose perfectly.

 

[ledford1]

If you can, I'd move to the sump/fuge setup you're thinking about. I think that would be a better move for the long-term.

A wet/dry is okay for some systems as long as you keep up on the water changes. It sounds like you've done well with it so far though.

If the likes of EuroReef is out of your price range, you might check out ASM skimmers. They're the same style, just not as heavily made, and can save you some cash.

 

[bgreenlee]

I think I will go with the sump fuge setup. With my current stand a ten gallon tank is about all that will go under the tank. How deep should I plan on keeping the water level in the sump? I assume the deeper the better for consideration of water volume.

 

[commodore]

If you keep the wet/dry free of detritus and keep up with water changes, nitrates shouldn't be a significant problem

 

[bgreenlee]

How tall shoudl my baffles be in a 10 gallon tank to make it a refugium? I want to have enough room for a skimmer on the inlet side of the sump as well.

 

[bgreenlee]

Here is what I am thinking of doing for my 10 gallon sump/fuge. I plan to put a Coralife 65 skimmer in the inlet side of the unit. I plan to put algae, LS, and LR in the fuge section.

Will this work.

 

[six.line]

If you'd like some more information to stew over while posting questions here, www.melevsreef.com has some great information on sumps and refugiums, along with about 20 designs he came up with. Sounds like he doesn't give a hoot if you use them, either, as he posts all kinds of info about each.

 

[bgreenlee]

Any other comments before I start putting this together, have all the pieces now, just have to apply the silicon.

Please.

 

[bgreenlee]

Well its done and drying. I decided to go with a shorter piece on the side that empties into the the return section to keep down turnulence and possible bubble entry into the return pump. I went with a 5" wall instead of a 10" like the rest of them.

I will post pics when I get it under the tank tomorrow afternoon.

 

[sidjam]

before you set your baffles you might consider how deep you want your water on the skimmer side. not sure about the superskimmer but my euro-reef does best in 7in. of water. i'm also in the process of setting up a 29g. i'm doing the 10g sump with baffles set in the middle. not enough room for a fuge for me in the 10g. as the euro-reef cs5-2 i'm using has a 9x9 footprint.

 

[bgreenlee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6553969#post6553969 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sidjam
before you set your baffles you might consider how deep you want your water on the skimmer side. not sure about the superskimmer but my euro-reef does best in 7in. of water. i'm also in the process of setting up a 29g. i'm doing the 10g sump with baffles set in the middle. not enough room for a fuge for me in the 10g. as the euro-reef cs5-2 i'm using has a 9x9 footprint.

I wasn't sure about that, but figured I would go ahead with the deeper water and just build an acrylic stand for the skimmer to set on if needed. With the 29, I wanted as much water as I could in the sump and return section as possible. I drain back 1.2 gallons when I shut the pump off, I built the sump to allow 2 gallons of drain back without overflow. I figure I have about 4 gallons in the fuge as built, Not much, but should be able to grow a nice ball of chaeto and calurpa along with a little sand and live roce. Time will tell I guess.

 

[sidjam]

sounds good.