Wet/Dry Sumps?

[saltwaterkid]

I am in need of a new sump for my new 180g tank that i'm getting. It's an AGA 180g with 2 built in overflows. Do reefers frown upon wet/dry sumps nowadays since it uses bioballs? I'm really not the DIY type of person and would hate to transform a basic 50g breeder into a sump somehow. Any opinions on what to get or if an Amiracle MR-300 or 400 is good to get?

 

[broomer5]

Some reef keepers do not like wet/drys ... some do. The wet dry filters are very efficient biofilters for tanks that have a large load of fish, and they are still used a lot for FO tanks. Many reef tanks are primarily corals and inverts with a small number of fish, relying mostly on live rock and protein skimming for biological/mechanical types of filtration.
I run wet/drys on both my semi/reef tanks.
Personally I like them, and as long as you do regular maintenance and cleaning, they can work fine. Others will disagree for various reasongs - and that's fine.
If you are not comfortable with making a sump, you can always buy one. There really isn't all that much difference between most sumps. Different compartments and dividers, and materials of construction. A 50 gallon tank would work as well in most cases.

 

[burnnspy]

The reason WD filters are not for Reef tanks is because they are designed to convert ammonia to nitrates which in turn can build up to algae blooming levels.
Then the nitrates need to be removed via large water changes.
Reef tanks do not support large water changes so LR and LS are used to convert ammonia into nitrogen gas curtailing the need for large water changes because they do not have nitrate build up if done correctly.
A sump is not necessary in a reef tank anyway, save your money.
BurnNSpy

 

[andymi]

I say this time and time again, but find someone you trust and stick with their advice. I listen to a person at a pretty well known Saltwater fish store and coral center. I follow the exact procedures they have been using for 20+ years.
I have a 70 gallon, with a plenum, 3-4" of caribsea special grade, lots of live rock, and tons of circulation. I don't use a protein skimmer and my old wet/dry with everything removed is only there for circulation right now. (Didnt want to waste a pump). I do approx. a 5-10% water change weekly, and in my water top-offs I add aragaMight and everything is doing awesome. My anenomes which I bought when they were 3-4" wide are now both about 6-8" wide in just a couple of months, my fish are doing great, so are my capnella, xenia and my Derasa clam. Just goes to show that many different systems will work, some are higher maintenance than others, but they will pretty much all work.
Just pick someone you trust and stick with their advice or it will cost you more $$ in the end.
-Andy
[ August 20, 2001: Message edited by: andymi ]

 

[reefkeeper1]

I have my 90 gallon reef tank set up with a huge wet dry on it i had to take apart my stand to fit it in. I run a trickle filter and then have it run into a area with 30lbs of live rock rock and a lot of microalge to reduce nitrates. You dont need them though with enough live rock and sand you will be fine. The only reason i run mine is i had it sitting there so i figured i might as well use it. I also like to store the bio media for my canister filters that i run on some of my tanks that are not set up so if i need a large qt tank i am ready to go.

 

[burnnspy]

Case in point, Andy converted his WD filter into a $200.00 reservoir.
Sorry Andy, I'm not downin you but what you did is very common practice these days.
Sumps are a convienent(sp) locations to put a high capacity skimmer and add extra volume.
IMO, a balanced reef tank doesnt need extra volume and sump skimmers are just niceities.
I recommend using the $200+ on better lighting then on a sump.
BurnNSpy