My Wet/Dry Refugium Conversion Idea

mendecot · Apr 12, 2014

Ok, so in my constant search for more information about the saltwater hobby, I ran across some posts about bio balls being Nitrate factories, so I followed the rabbit hole and now I'm feeling like I would be a bad person if I didn't convert my Wet/Dry with bio balls into a refugium. So I've practiced my MS Paint skills and mocked up a design. Let me know if you think something like this would work or if its even worth it.

Here is the original blueprint of the sump I have. If I'm correct I can add two new acrylic baffles to flood the middle chamber to hold live rock, float some macro algae and breed pods that will make their way into the DT.

Here is my masterfully crafted MS Paint rendition of what I'm trying to do.

Will there be the right amount of flow?
Do I need to be able to clean the floor under the live rock?
Do I float the Macro Algae over the entire top of the refugium or does the live rock need light?
Is this even feasible?

I appreciate any feed back.

mendecot · Apr 12, 2014

Messed up pics, here they are.

Intricateart · Apr 12, 2014

That could work really well.I think the proper flow would keep it detritus free. Live rock doesn't need light and the macro algae should attach to it. Are you keeping the drip tray? The drip tray is the only part I foresee a problem with. You could eliminate the pre-filter and use a filter sock below.

mendecot · Apr 12, 2014

Yes, the drip tray will be gone. The first baffle will direct the water to the bottom and then and flood the normally dry chamber and it will spill over the second baffle to the return pump. So the rock will be completely submerged. The macro algae will hopefully float on top of the water under the light. Ill probably have my carbon bag in the compartment with the return pump.