Wet/dry turned into fuge?

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oceangrl11

Guest
Hey there. any of you guys know how to turn a wet/dry into a fuge? Has anyone done it before ? If so any info would be helpful. I posted a pic of my filter on the New hobbiest board under 75 gal pics :) Please let me know if this is a possibility so I do not purchase another tank for the fuge :)
Thanks bunches.
Heather
 
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thomas712

Guest
Personally I did add another tank for a fuge and simply converted the wet/dry into the main sump. This way I could control the amount of water turnover instead of accepting whatever the former wet/dry drain ratio to return was. Also pumping the water from the former wet/dry - now fuge, would be killing alot of pods/worms that you want to grow unmolested. If you were just going to us macro algae, it could work but make sure to cover the return pump so that the macro doesn't get into the pump.
What purpose did you want a fuge? Nitrate reduction using macro algae, or DSB? Pod production?, increased water volume and stablility? ...what?
Thomas
 
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oceangrl11

Guest
well i would like to reduce nitrates b/c the tank is going to be a reef tank but so far it only has fish and live rock and they do not like the high nitrates. Also wanted to create more stability in the tank. For now i am just going to put in some macro where the bioballs were until i can get a larger tank (probably another month or two). Also, what does DSB mean?
I have not decided if i am going to do the pod thing yet because i have not researched it much. I have to wait to see how things go. Currently I am working on getting more LR in the tank.
any input is appreciated :)
 
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thomas712

Guest
DSB = Deep sand bed.
In order to have macro algea in the former wet/dry you will need to increase the water volume in that area so that the macro is submerged. Now here is where I see a major problem. If your system ever shuts off from a power outage the former wet/dry will no longer have the capacity to hold the water that drains from the main tank, this will cause an overflow.
 
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oceangrl11

Guest
Thomas:
Thats exactly what I have been thinking about :) However, if worse comes to worse and it does turn off we have hard wood floors in military on base (all paid for free) housing. :yes: So I am not too concerned about the water on the floor. I do see your point and thanks for giving me a heads up. LOL. I need to get a 25....soon. ttyl.
~H~
 
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thomas712

Guest
Why not just replace the wet/dry with a 20 gallon long tank, raise the level of water just enough, about half way up, and then be done with it. You can place baffles in the new sump to keep the macro algea away from the pump area.
 
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oceangrl11

Guest
So then 20 is enough for a 75 gal tank? Well i would not mind that. Its just the cash issue of course. Cheaper to keep what i have than purchase something new. But i have been shopping around and found some reasonable stuff. Unfortunately b/c i live in missifreakinsippi there is no one in the state that does SWT well enough to trust, nor anyone to trade with :( Let me know if the 20 would work....if it is kind of pushing it then i will just get a 25 b/c i do not want overflow when i get what i want....know what i mean?
 
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thomas712

Guest
Depending on how you have it plumbed it should do fine.
NMReef has a 100 gallon tank, 55 gallon refugium and a 20 gallon sump
I have a 90 gallon tank, 55 gallon refugium and a converted wet/dry that is about 15 gallons or 20 gallons. I plan to get a 20 gallon this sumer and make a simple sump.
We both have internal overflows so that we don't loose that much water. (depending on what happens.)
Thomas
 
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oceangrl11

Guest
What is an internal overflow? I have never heard of that before :notsure:
 
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thomas712

Guest
Internal overflows are for drilled reef ready tanks. it is a box that is normally in one corner, both corners and sometimes in the middle of the tank. The water drains from the top of the water column into the slots of the overflow, they are about 1 inch slots, so if thepower ever goes out it can't drain the whole tank.
Internal overflows are the best IMO. You should be albe to plug those words in and find something about them on the net.
 
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oceangrl11

Guest
Thomas712:
Thanks for the 411 on the internal overflow. I think i know what you mean now. they are those long semi-circle 'cases' that sit inside the tank. I will do some more searching online.
Diablo:
Nice pics. I have seen those posted somewhere else on the forums. What size tank do you have it used for? 75 90?
 
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thomas712

Guest
You can find them curved like you say or box shaped with two sides or three. Normally they are colord to match the background of the tank. My overlfow is also drilled near the top for my spraybar.
 
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oceangrl11

Guest
Hey. what is the purpose of a spray bar and what does it do?
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
Thomas, I to am thinking of using a spray bar. I beleave that I have to much flow in some areas and not enough in others. Is there a formula for how many holes for the size pipe? Is it better to place vert. or horz. Or is it something that needs to be played with in the tank. I guess what I'm asking is there a rule of thumb or is it just a matter of tinkering?
Don't mean to hijack! Sorry!
Thanks, Tim
 
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thomas712

Guest
Originally Posted by TurningTim
Thomas, I to am thinking of using a spray bar. I beleave that I have to much flow in some areas and not enough in others. Is there a formula for how many holes for the size pipe? Is it better to place vert. or horz. Or is it something that needs to be played with in the tank. I guess what I'm asking is there a rule of thumb or is it just a matter of tinkering?Thanks, Tim
I didn't mess with the pvc pipe and all. I went instead with a modular spraybar, each nozzle on the spraybar can be somewhat guided for different flow, this way I have a few that point down along the back of the tank so I didn't need another powerhead to help clean up anything that collects. Hmmm.. I think I have a pic on this computer for how it looks.
 
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