wet/dry or not to wet/dry

[aquanovice]

I need help deciding if the best way to go is with a wet/dry sump. Any information pro or con would be much appreciated

 

[daluminum]

reef or fish only??
reef- no.. much better with Deep sand bed and live rock
Fish only- yeah.. save the money on liverock a wet/dry will work fine for your application.
do a search there are tons of topics on this.

 

[aquanovice]

i already have 50 lbs of live rock in the tank but used crushed coral as substrate. i am looking to make it a reef in the very near future. i am also having problems with algae, can you offer any sugestions

 

[daluminum]

what type of algae??? if your gonna make it a reef then you will want to keep the bio load (fish) low and not get the wet/dry.. get more live rock.. you can get 50lbs for what you would spend on the filter.. and be much more benificial.. ~DAniel

 

[b.b.bigbrother]

If you don't use wet dry on a reef system what should you use for a fiter I have a magnum350 canister with bio wheels should i keep that and should i have a sump? <img src="graemlins//confused2.gif" border="0" alt="[confused2]" />

 

[fshhub]

sumps are good,
without a wet dry, i would too have only lr, a dsb and skimming, along with some powerheads for water movement
i agree with daluminum

 

[b.b.bigbrother]

get a sump and keep the canister also? and what should i put in the sump i have a seaclone skimmer but whith 20 gallon sump do you just let the water flow through or make something for filter media?
<img src="graemlins//confused2.gif" border="0" alt="[confused2]" />

 

[daluminum]

just make something to catch the mechanical waste.. then put a skimmer and heater.. maybe add on a refugium and wahlaa.. sump..

 

[b.b.bigbrother]

but keep canister with bio wheels or get rid of it

 

[q]

The same bacteria that live in the wet/dry alos live in the live rock. That is why you can take the media out. If you have rock it is better to take the media out so that detritus won't get collected in the media and add even more of a bio load to the tank. Idealy the detritus would be eaten by the clean up crew.

 

[aquanovice]

the algae in question is a green long and thick mess. there is also a thin layer of a purple/red slime growing on the live rock. is this good or bad

 

[b.b.bigbrother]

I am still a beginner but i believe the long green is hair i had alot also i got 20 red reef hermits they eat it along with tubo snails,the red could be red slime algae I had that also if it starts to spread it makes amess and takes over they have red slime remover worked for me and it didnt kill anything I was surprised.