Wet/dry vs sump and protein skimmer

[36boo]

Just asking what's the best wet/dry or protein skimmer and sump and I may not be asking the question right I'm still new at this and want to start a new build

 

[sbash]

It probably depends on what you want to achieve. What size tank are you looking for? Fish or no fish? sps or just softies? etc...

I have never done wet/dry, but I could see it being a lot of work if it was on a larger system. I am also not sure what the potential risks may be of a wet/dry. I also believe it would lead to a more complex build, so unless you are buying a pre-fabricated sump with wet/dry champers, it may not be a good starting point. However, that would have to do with how much effort and research you want to put into your build. I can certainly say (based on what I know now and how I built my latest system), I put way more effort into my first build than I needed, however it did lead to a lot of reading and learning; so it was not really a waste.

Lastly, depending on your coral desires and your bioload, a wet/dry filter configuration may still need to be augmented with a protein skimmer...

 

[36boo]

It probably depends on what you want to achieve. What size tank are you looking for? Fish or no fish? sps or just softies? etc...

I have never done wet/dry, but I could see it being a lot of work if it was on a larger system. I am also not sure what the potential risks may be of a wet/dry. I also believe it would lead to a more complex build, so unless you are buying a pre-fabricated sump with wet/dry champers, it may not be a good starting point. However, that would have to do with how much effort and research you want to put into your build. I can certainly say (based on what I know now and how I built my latest system), I put way more effort into my first build than I needed, however it did lead to a lot of reading and learning; so it was not really a waste.

Lastly, depending on your coral desires and your bioload, a wet/dry filter configuration may still need to be augmented with a protein skimmer...

I found a tank sale on Craigslist and it came with it a I didn't know anything about just want to see what ya would say abour it I want all type of corals

 

[sbash]

I found a tank sale on Craigslist and it came with it a I didn't know anything about just want to see what ya would say abour it I want all type of corals

Used tanks are a great way to get low cost systems. What size is the tank, and what size sump are you thinking?

 

[36boo]

Used tanks are a great way to get low cost systems. What size is the tank, and what size sump are you thinking?

It's a 72 bow front aquarium with pro clean 125 wet/dry I think for 250.just don't know anything about wet/dry was looking at some YouTube videos about it got its pro and cons

 

[jsker]

Wet/dry systems are pretty old school. When I did use them I would pull the bio media, bio balls after about 6 months for the reason that all kinds junk would get stuck in the media. Then the phosphates nitrates would go crazy.
You can convert the wet/dry to a sump or offer $125 for the setup and find a sump and skimmer else where. You can buy a 72 bowl front new for $250.

 

[hejjo]

Only issue is I've heard of is detritus buildup on the bioballs which can potentially lead to nitrate issues in the long run. It looks like you could modify it to use a filter sock instead of the bio balls if you wanted to or just not use the bioballs. I got my tank and sump on craigslist with the sump being a wet dry and have been using it for over a year with no nitrate issues. The reason i use the bioballs in mine is because by sump was noisey without them because the sump was designed to use them and i couldn't come up with a way to cut down on the noise.

 

[36boo]

Only issue is I've heard of is detritus buildup on the bioballs which can potentially lead to nitrate issues in the long run. It looks like you could modify it to use a filter sock instead of the bio balls if you wanted to or just not use the bioballs. I got my tank and sump on craigslist with the sump being a wet dry and have been using it for over a year with no nitrate issues. The reason i use the bioballs in mine is because by sump was noisey without them because the sump was designed to use them and i couldn't come up with a way to cut down on the noise.

Do you have to clean the balls ever 6 months or so

 

[hejjo]

Annually for sure but depending on your bio load maybe sooner.

If you start having nitrate issues that would be first on my the list of culprits.

Some people only clean half at a time and others do it all at once. By the time you have to clean them you'll have built a relationship with your tank and will know what's best [emoji6]

 

[Neptune 555]

I have not used bio balls.. I have used skimmers... I like the idea of skimming the water in the tank. It removes the waste from the water versus trapping it. I would also say instead of bio balls I would want to use that space as a refugium. That would give you another natural way to absorb the nitrates in your tank and help feed your tank with the pods that live in the refugium.

Neptune

 

[beaslbob]

IMHO start the tank with macro algae in a refugium. At least 10-20% of total system volume in the refugium.

Chaetomorphia is a good choice

Get the macro algae growing and in control.

then do the rest.

(I also "cycle" the system by using male mollies. When they live for a few weeks then try marine only fish)

my .02

 

[hejjo]

(I also "cycle" the system by using male mollies. When they live for a few weeks then try marine only fish)

my .02

IMHO cycling any tank with a live animal is inhumane.

There're plenty of other ways to cycle a tank that are jus as fast or faster.

 

[beaslbob]

IMHO cycling any tank with a live animal is inhumane.

There're plenty of other ways to cycle a tank that are jus as fast or faster.

actually if you start out the tank with macro algae and use mollies already acclimated to saltwater there is no stress. the macros absorb ammonia preventing the spikes.

my .02

 

[kyleflahardy]

I prefer wet. It works faster and I personally feel that it pulls more out.

 

[DeepBrew]

I was a complete noob when I bought my 75G tank and got a wet/dry sump with bioballs with it. I always had trouble controlling nitrates even with regular water changes. The wet part of the sump was shallow and I couldn't find a skimmer that would work in it so after a few months I built a new 29 gallon sump with a skimmer and refugium. Nitrates have never been an issue since I added the skimmer. The wet/dry sump now sits unused in the garage. I don't have a lot of experience but I'd suggest a skimmer over bioballs.

 

[beaslbob]

I was a complete noob when I bought my 75G tank and got a wet/dry sump with bioballs with it. I always had trouble controlling nitrates even with regular water changes. The wet part of the sump was shallow and I couldn't find a skimmer that would work in it so after a few months I built a new 29 gallon sump with a skimmer and refugium. Nitrates have never been an issue since I added the skimmer. The wet/dry sump now sits unused in the garage. I don't have a lot of experience but I'd suggest a skimmer over bioballs.

Assuming your refugium had macro algae IMHO the algae made the second tank so much betterer and betterer. LOL.
(nitrates would be low to unmeasureable even with bioballs and a refugium.)

my .02

 

[recess62]

actually if you start out the tank with macro algae and use mollies already acclimated to saltwater there is no stress. the macros absorb ammonia preventing the spikes.

my .02

Hmm. I never knew that plants could use ammonia as a nitrogen source. Do you have a reference for this or is this anecdotal? They can use ammonium. Don't mean to flame just want to learn

 

[recess62]

Just did a Google search and learned something about ammonium and ammonia. My bad

 

[beaslbob]

Just did a Google search and learned something about ammonium and ammonia. My bad

actually your good. I didn't know that for decades. Just knew my planted FW ran for years and year with a heavy bioload. and both fw and marine cycles seemed much less to no stress to the fish.
so you found out much faster than I did.

 

[beaslbob]

And fwiw

when the wife wanted to setup a reef tank we went to a new store and one of the things I asked the owner was if macro algae consumed ammonia (before nitrates).
He answered no so I immediately suspected his knowledge. He still doesn't know.
But he actually doesn't care and has excellent tanks and has done great maintaining the wife's tank.
One thing he added was a 10" tall mechanical filter with a 9w UV section. It cleared up cloudiness in a few days and the water is crystal clear and has been for months.
And corals are doing great.

(we also have a nice led lights from china that were much less expensive than the one he sold us. LOL)