is wet/dry necessary?

[kasha]

So on formal websites (dr. fosters) wet/dry is the 'ultimate' but I've noticed that many reefers use sumps without any wet/dry component. Is it necessary? Why or why not? I've heard that LR can substitute for the wet dry. So the question is why do you need LR in your sump if your main tank is full of it?


Thanks,
k


(i am in the process of transferring from a 45 to a 90)

 

[Wes]

it's not necessary with live rock. and you don't need liverock in your sump.

 

[MikeyZO]

I have a wet/dry and I slowly took the bioballs out and let the LR in the main tank do its job. Nothing changed.

 

[DCG1286]

So on formal websites (dr. fosters) wet/dry is the 'ultimate' but I've noticed that many reefers use sumps without any wet/dry component. Is it necessary? Why or why not? I've heard that LR can substitute for the wet dry. So the question is why do you need LR in your sump if your main tank is full of it?


Thanks,
k

(i am in the process of transferring from a 45 to a 90)

Live rock is the best for filtration ... Those bio-balls for the wet/dry systems are nitrate factories ... I just keep a little bit of LR rubble in my fuge just for some critters to hide under.
I use to run the wet dry system 13 years ago ... but in the end like many did ... removed the bioballs and relied on LR for their main filtration.

-David

 

[Tito]

A wet/Dry or Trickle Filter is best used for a Fish Only tank.

Fish Only tanks will do just fine with Nitrates. While most people shun Nitrates it seems to do no harm to fish in both short and long term scenarios. This is based on actual reports from people who have had systems running for years and have kept the same fish.

I do think that Nitrates affect corals.

 

[kasha]

A wet/Dry or Trickle Filter is best used for a Fish Only tank.

Fish Only tanks will do just fine with Nitrates. While most people shun Nitrates it seems to do no harm to fish in both short and long term scenarios. This is based on actual reports from people who have had systems running for years and have kept the same fish.

I do think that Nitrates affect corals.

so does that mean that the hang on side filters are also not recommended for reef aquaria? if so, where do you have your activated carbon?

 

[Tito]

Depends on what you are trying to do. Are you trying to keep corals?

Do you want to just keep fish?

 

[ITALIANSAUSAGE]

Build Yourself A Refugium And You Will Be Happy. You Can Add Your Skimmer And And Lr You Want And Chaetos Is Also A Great Way To Go. My Tank Has Never Been Happier. Jmi

 

[kasha]

Depends on what you are trying to do. Are you trying to keep corals?

Do you want to just keep fish?

coral. i already have a 45G with SPS and am upgrading to 90G. currently i have a hang on filter to 'help' out, but i'm trying to figure out if i will need it or if live rock is enough. i've been told that wet-dry is not good for coral because of the nitrogen waste and i also know that the hang-ons also simulate wet-dry...

so i guess my question is, what else do i need for filtration in my 90G reef tank other than a filter sock, LR, phosban reactor, skimmer and macroalgae? (activated carbon??)

thanks

 

[DCG1286]

coral. i already have a 45G with SPS and am upgrading to 90G. currently i have a hang on filter to 'help' out, but i'm trying to figure out if i will need it or if live rock is enough. i've been told that wet-dry is not good for coral because of the nitrogen waste and i also know that the hang-ons also simulate wet-dry...

so i guess my question is, what else do i need for filtration in my 90G reef tank other than a filter sock, LR, phosban reactor, skimmer and macroalgae? (activated carbon??)

thanks

Forget the hang on ... I am running a 90G tank ... Skimmer (Aqua-C EV 240), fuge with LR Rubble ... DSB ... Chaeto, caleurpa and some mangroves ... keeping mostly SPS in my tank ... everything is growing very well ... I have roughly 150-170lbs. of LR in the tank.

-David

 

[Tito]

Forget the hang on ... I am running a 90G tank ... Skimmer (Aqua-C EV 240), fuge with LR Rubble ... DSB ... Chaeto, caleurpa and some mangroves ... keeping mostly SPS in my tank ... everything is growing very well ... I have roughly 150-170lbs. of LR in the tank.

-David

What he said:approve:

 

[duke62]

you have a sump were the water comes down you put your filter sock,the water escapes the filter sock into the area where your skimmer is.then if you like you put your fuge with chaeto and some rocks in the next chamber it will need good flow in that area.then the sump will have a small area where you can put your activatad carbion in a mesh bag.u dont need to use this area for alot of reefers use a reactor to put there carbon in,then next chamber is where i would hang reactors (phosban,carbon) this is also where your return pump will go.