tide pool filtration

[sasbdas]

Hi Everyone! I really need help! I purchased a 210 gallon reef ready tank with 2 tide pool filters. I have not been able to find any info on this type of filter. Can anyone please HELP me understand how this is supposed to work?

 

[acrylic51]

Let me hunt around, I think I have a manual on them... Not making any promises but will check for it

 

[ophiura]

Tidepool filters are effectively like a wet dry filter except that it should have a rotating "biowheel" in the bottom, below several filter trays where you can put foam, etc. But effectively it is like a wet/dry filter/sump. Bacteria colonize the surface of the wheel and as the water flows over the wheel, those bacteria break down ammonia into nitrite, and then into nitrate...just as bioballs/biowheels do on other types of filters.

 

[sasbdas]

If you had a choice between the tide pool and sump, which would you prefer?

 

[ophiura]

Well they are different things. A tidepool has biological filtration and a sump alone does not. A tidepool, if it is like mine at least, has an area that would be considered a "sump" where I have my skimmer and return pump. Not a lot of room but ya know, workable. If I could I would probably do some combination of wet/dry, sump and refugium. But at the moment this works quite nicely indeed :yes: So depends on a lot of factors - your fish load, type of fish, other biofilter (LR, LS, etc).