Refuge vs. straight Wet/Dry sump?? - Aquarium Advice

MDHatter22 · 03-04-2005, 04:31 PM

Hey guys,

It's amazing how set you think you are until you start reading everything on here.

I'm getting ready to set up my 150gal. I have a 39 gallon Oceanic Wet/Dry sump. Chould I (if I can even do it) convert it to a fuge instead? Or should I do sort of a hybrid? Maybe with some live sand and some algea in the well? Is that even feesable?

thanks in advance.

mike

**lando** · 03-04-2005, 04:33 PM

Sure you could. Depending on the configuration it should work fine. remove the wt/dry portion and add a light and you will be prety much ready for a fuge.

MDHatter22 · 03-04-2005, 04:34 PM

Thanks lando.

Couldn't I just keep the trickle part with the bio-balls and convert the reservoir area into the fuge? or is that not viable or even counter-productive?

thanks again.

fishfreek · 03-04-2005, 06:17 PM

What you describe in the above post may be difficult depending on where your pump is located. If your pump is in that resevor then it will be prone to picking up sand. If the pump is external then you would need the bulkhead fitting to be a few inches up from the bottom and still you would have to look at the chance the flow into the sump would pull sand in eventually leading to pump wear.

To have the water depth more than just a few inches you would need to have the bioballs submerged. If your going to submerge the bioballs you might as well put live rock in there instead of bioballs.

I am not fimular with this sump and how its partioned up but you might be able to segment the resevor some and make a mini fuge area between the bioball area and the pump location. Or if you have room you could just work up a little 10gal tank as a fuge and connect it to the sump.

seaham358 · 03-04-2005, 08:01 PM

where are you putting the skimmer?.... Toss the bio balls and get some [acronym:ce4fa75c9b="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:ce4fa75c9b] for the tank.

MDHatter22 · 03-05-2005, 03:16 PM

Here the situation:

redBernadino · 03-05-2005, 03:45 PM

[acronym:d21eaca669="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:d21eaca669], it would be a lot more productive to put the skimmer before the fuge. I would replace the bio balls section with a protein skimmer, making the chamber all the way to the bottom, with a baffle as high as you want your water level. Adding live rock rubble and macro algae into the fuge will give you WAY more filtration than the bio balls. This will allow the protein skimmer to skim the incoming water, and return such water directly to the fuge portion. This will also eliminate any micro bubbles that might escape from the protein skimmer and back into the main tank. [acronym:d21eaca669="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:d21eaca669]

pmac0816 · 03-05-2005, 11:13 PM

I am doing a [acronym:a257ff41f4="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:a257ff41f4] sump now and everything I have read from everyone here is to place the skimmer before the fuge to keep from skimming out all the good stuff the fuge is growing to send back to the main tank. Check out www.melevsreef.com in his hidden treasures section to see some examples of how he builds sumps. I have not found any set rule on how to set up a sump but some setups are definitely better than others. I have also been told that the bio balls break down over time and are not good for the system. Run a search on refugiums here in the forums and see what others have been building. Good Luck!

pmac0816 · 03-05-2005, 11:16 PM

Sorry, double posted somehow.

MDHatter22 · 03-06-2005, 03:11 PM

great info everyone. thanks a lot!

mike

03-04-2005, 04:31 PM	#1
MDHatter22 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 32	Refuge vs. straight Wet/Dry sump?? Hey guys, It's amazing how set you think you are until you start reading everything on here. I'm getting ready to set up my 150gal. I have a 39 gallon Oceanic Wet/Dry sump. Chould I (if I can even do it) convert it to a fuge instead? Or should I do sort of a hybrid? Maybe with some live sand and some algea in the well? Is that even feesable? thanks in advance. mike

03-04-2005, 04:33 PM	#2
lando Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Savage, MN Posts: 7,631 Images: 46	Sure you could. Depending on the configuration it should work fine. remove the wt/dry portion and add a light and you will be prety much ready for a fuge. __________________ Some people are like slinkies...they serve no real purpose yet can still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs! Have a great day! Brian

03-04-2005, 06:17 PM	#4
fishfreek Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 13,971 Images: 82	What you describe in the above post may be difficult depending on where your pump is located. If your pump is in that resevor then it will be prone to picking up sand. If the pump is external then you would need the bulkhead fitting to be a few inches up from the bottom and still you would have to look at the chance the flow into the sump would pull sand in eventually leading to pump wear. To have the water depth more than just a few inches you would need to have the bioballs submerged. If your going to submerge the bioballs you might as well put live rock in there instead of bioballs. I am not fimular with this sump and how its partioned up but you might be able to segment the resevor some and make a mini fuge area between the bioball area and the pump location. Or if you have room you could just work up a little 10gal tank as a fuge and connect it to the sump. __________________ Remember dont tap the glass, your fish will think you're an idiot -Anonymous mother Check out our articles area. 30+ Aquatic articles for your enjoyment Are you in or around the Shenandoah Valley area? If so click here to join our regional forum. Looking for affordable web hosting? Look no more We have the answer Learn more about Coral Reef Conservation. Free photo hosting

03-04-2005, 08:01 PM	#5
seaham358 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2004 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 3,296 Images: 21	where are you putting the skimmer?.... Toss the bio balls and get some [acronym:ce4fa75c9b="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:ce4fa75c9b] for the tank. __________________ 9/02-125 REEF, 125 lbs LR,LS 4x160 VHO, Reef Devil /Sump, Fuge 7/03-55 FOWLR 60lb LR, 50 lb SD sand 2x40 NO strip light, Reef Devil/sump, Fuge TANK PICS http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=98202

03-05-2005, 03:45 PM	#7
redBernadino Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 14	[acronym:d21eaca669="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:d21eaca669], it would be a lot more productive to put the skimmer before the fuge. I would replace the bio balls section with a protein skimmer, making the chamber all the way to the bottom, with a baffle as high as you want your water level. Adding live rock rubble and macro algae into the fuge will give you WAY more filtration than the bio balls. This will allow the protein skimmer to skim the incoming water, and return such water directly to the fuge portion. This will also eliminate any micro bubbles that might escape from the protein skimmer and back into the main tank. [acronym:d21eaca669="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:d21eaca669] __________________ Vince Berardino

03-04-2005, 04:34 PM	#3
MDHatter22 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 32	Thanks lando. Couldn't I just keep the trickle part with the bio-balls and convert the reservoir area into the fuge? or is that not viable or even counter-productive? thanks again.

03-05-2005, 11:13 PM	#8
pmac0816 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9	I am doing a [acronym:a257ff41f4="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:a257ff41f4] sump now and everything I have read from everyone here is to place the skimmer before the fuge to keep from skimming out all the good stuff the fuge is growing to send back to the main tank. Check out www.melevsreef.com in his hidden treasures section to see some examples of how he builds sumps. I have not found any set rule on how to set up a sump but some setups are definitely better than others. I have also been told that the bio balls break down over time and are not good for the system. Run a search on refugiums here in the forums and see what others have been building. Good Luck!

03-05-2005, 11:16 PM	#9
pmac0816 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9	Sorry, double posted somehow.

03-06-2005, 03:11 PM	#10
MDHatter22 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 32	great info everyone. thanks a lot! mike

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wet/Dry or Sump with LR???	AndyH5512	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	3	08-22-2005 07:58 AM
Sump Wet/Dry	jay917	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	2	04-18-2005 08:53 AM
wet dry vs. sump	clowninround	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	3	10-18-2004 12:36 PM
need help with wet/dry sump-want to	bipolar gecko	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	1	09-02-2003 12:27 AM
wet dry and sump	crvz	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	1	04-24-2003 08:54 PM