[Dj Orion]

First off, thanks to everyone who helped me get this unit (i got alot of responses and help). For everyone who has no clue what I am talking about, my 75g FOWLR filter broke, and I was desperatly looking for a replacement filter/sump. Well Nycmat hooked me up with the money wet dry, and we were discussing what route I should take to filter this FOWLR?

Should I set it up as the old skool wet dry with bio balls and trickle down system? Or shold I gut it, and make it a sump, with possible live sand and live rock with chaeto?

Keep in mind that the tank holds 3 triggers, 2 puffers and a lion, so they are messy and produce tremeandous waste. The tank is a 75g and I allready have a skimmer rated for a 125g, and over 90 pounds of tonga/figi live rock, and 15w UV. I wont being putting corals or inverts in there any time soon. I also have nitrate and phosphate issues right now, so keep that in mind. Any input would be great, I plan on setting this up between tonite and tomorrow.

[Awibrandy]

Dj, what I have done for my FOWLR's filtration is as follows; I removed all of the bio/balls and plates.
The first chamber is where the drain from the tank drains into, and that is also where the pump to the skimmer sits.
The second chamber is where the skimmer, heater, and carbon sit(will be getting a phosban reactor to run the carbon through in the near future).
The third chamber is where the return pump sits.

Now here is the catch, the tank is the 120 that was recently installed. So I cannot tell you how well, or not it is working. So far all looks good.
I didn't throw the bio/balls away though Just incase.
Good luck buddy! Oh yeah, when is it that your coming over?

[Dj Orion]

Damn Awi, looks like you are the only one that wants to touch this one. I am gonna go with the sump method. The first chamber I am gonna use for my uv, a thick layer of live sand, and heater. The main chamber I am gonna use chaeto, live rock and more live sand (if I can figure out a way to keep it from getting sucked up back into the pvc) I may have to create a second partition. I will post a pic later on tontie.

Awi lets meet half way and do lunch!

[Awibrandy]

We really should! But then we won't get to see each other's tank.

I wouldn't put sand in the first compartment where the water drains into from the tank. I would imagine it will go flying from the water pressure.
The middle compartment you can block off by placing a piece of acrylic at the end where the sponge was.

[Davidl919]

Yeah Sump is best, you can go with awi suggestion of not putting sand in the drain compartment. I actually use a drain compartment with sand, live rock rubble, and cheatos together but sump is high. I use the middle section for return and two reactors one for phosphate the other for carbon and the third compartment a filter sock and the protein skimmer.

["DevIouS"]

Use the wet/dry as a sump for your equipment, but do not bother using sand or macro algae in there. It will have zero effect in your type of system.
If you are having a Nitrate & Phosphate problem, the only way you can have it under control is by water changes & a Phos Reactor.
BTW: This is a FOWLR, so you shouldn't be concerning yourself much with Phosphates.

[Dj Orion]

ok,
so i removed the bio balls and stuff and made a custom partition bubble trap divider with acrylic in the wet dry. The divider was actually a problem so I had to cut it down because it wasnt giving off enough flow to the pump. I added 20lbs of live sand to the center chamber and am going to add more live rock as well. The "quiet one" pump is far from quiet imo and my next hurtle is figuring out how to deal with that. Now as for the phosphates and nitrates, I am very concearned with them because I have an insane amount of hair algae growing on the live rock. I have tried several methods and get nowhere fast. In my last attempt to battle this problem I am going to get a phosban reactor and I think I will add chaeto as well (now that i officially have a sump). (stop me now if you think this is a bad idea) As for the setup, I am just trying to figure out how to lower the volume on that damn pump. I guess I am going to have to add some sort of insulation under the tank to absorb the volume of pump buzzing and water splashing. (the buzz does not come from pump vibration, it seems to be from the pump itself)

[Chiefmcfuz]

I would say either or is fine this is a fowlr system not a reef so the req's aren't as stringent.

[Awibrandy]

Which is why I gave my suggestion Chief.

Dj a sump with ls/lr, and chaeto does not necessarily fix your algea problem. When I had the sump/fuge on my reef is when I had my biggest problem with hair algea. I got rid of the fuge, added 2 reactors(1 carbon, the other runs phosar), started using ro/di, and no more algea.
But that is my reef, who knows maybe a fuge will work for you. What's the worse that can happen? You try it, it doesn't work you get rid of it.
Noise pump, umh, you can try the foam thing. But if the noise is not coming from vibrations how do you figuer it will work? I don't understand.

[Dj Orion]

Quote: Originally Posted by Awibrandy umh, you can try the foam thing. But if the noise is not coming from vibrations how do you figuer it will work? I don't understand.

I am thinking that I gotta make some sort of casing or something for this pump just to dampen the buzzing that comes from it. I mean, it borders on sounding like an electric toothbrush, or other cylindrical devices that also buzz like an electric toothbrush....

Maybe I can put a few layers of socks on it and hope for the best.