Wet/dry filter or refugium

[kavatica]

I have a 75g tank and im just wondering which is better a wet/dry or refugium?


thanks

[HTFoods2]

Do you have a fish, fish with live rock or reef? Really, the wet/dry and refugium kind of serve 2 different purposes. The problem with wet/dry is it can be a nitrate problem in the long run.

[kavatica]

I currently have fish and live rock atm and plan on going reef.

[HTFoods2]

Personally, I would definately go with a refugium if you are planning on going reef. I think it'll be the best for the tank in the long run.

[OneDummHikk]

Neither. Just a huge sump with a honkin huge skimmer, lots of water and equipment. No need to try to grow algae to control algae.

[Loverotties]

I'd take the wet/dry and make it into a sump.

[kavatica]

Why would a sump be better than a refugium though is it because of the flow of water, i was thinking refugium for its eco system.

[Seamore]

Skip the wet/dry (nitrite factory), that competes with the aerobic bacteria in the live rock and does not house enough anaerobic bacteria to digest the nitrites. Both a sump and a fuge create more water volume which is very good, the more volume the better. If you are planning on a reef with SPS corals you are going to want to skimm like mad. For that you need a sump.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by Seamore

If you are planning on a reef with SPS corals you are going to want to skimm like mad. For that you need a sump.

Maybe we should discuss skimmers/skimmerless (natural) tanks in TTT instead of here? Needless to say, I disagree with the notion have "need" a sump and skimm like mad.

[scoop]

Regardless of opinions on skimmers, you don't want a wet/dry on a reef and you probably don't need a refugium. While the fuge can provide some benefits, it is not necessary. With or w/o a fuge, a sump can be a smaller tank or even a rubbermaid container that sits below the tank and house some of the 'stuff' (skimmer, heater, fuge, if you want) that doesn't look good in the tank. Your local local fish store (LFS) may try to sell you an expensive sump or wet/dry that isn't necessary. For my 75 I have a 30 gl long tank underneath that I put some baffles in to separate the skimmer section from the return pump - the baffles eliminate the bubbles from the skimmer going back in to the tank. I also keep the heater in the sump and that is where I add chemicals whenever I need to. Do you have a skimmer? If not, you don't have to have one if you do very consistent water changes (probably weekly). Most reefers run their tanks with the best skimmers they can afford. skip the wet/dry and the fuge, buy a simple sump and a very good skimmer and imho you will end up much happier in the long run.

[scoop]

Randy, I do absolutely agree that you can run a good sps tank w/o a skimmer, but most people new to reefing may not have the knowledge or the time to understand the needs of the system, so a skimmer can be a very effective 'back stop' to help keep the tank clean. We could probably have another discussion here about sand beds and refugiums, but I believe these issues are more relevant to experienced reefers. Maybe if kavatica is interested he will respond in kind and we can help him w/ much more detail.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by scoop

Randy, I do absolutely agree that you can run a good sps tank w/o a skimmer, but most people new to reefing may not have the knowledge or the time to understand the needs of the system.

Give that a good thought about what you are saying in that sentence. Sounds like you advocate not knowing what you are keeping and simply having a way to limp your way through it until you figure it out.

[Elegance Coral]

Originally Posted by kavatica

I have a 75g tank and im just wondering which is better a wet/dry or refugium?
thanks

If these are your options, go with the refugium. You never want to put a wet/dry on a tank with LR in it. Just remember to keep the refuge clean.

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

Neither. Just a huge sump with a honkin huge skimmer, lots of water and equipment. No need to try to grow algae to control algae.

Why?
When man comes up with a better way to target algae nutrients than algae, I'll quit growing it. Until then, my algae will help keep problem causing nutrients like nitrate and phosphate from causing problems in my systems. Controlling these nutrients with macro algae has bennifits other than controlling problem algae.

Why does he need lots of equipment?

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by Elegance Coral

Why?
When man comes up with a better way to target algae nutrients than algae, I'll quit growing it. Until then, my algae will help keep problem causing nutrients like nitrate and phosphate from causing problems in my systems. Controlling these nutrients with macro algae has bennifits other than controlling problem algae.

Why does he need lots of equipment?

I didn't say he did, it can be read that way though. "Lots of water" and "equipment" instead of lots of "water and equipment".

As for growing algae to control algae, do you have an ant farm at your house to control the ants? Do you have a roach farm to control the roaches? No, you limit the food available to them enough that they don't want to be there from starvation.

I just prefer to try to starve it than feed it, thats all.

[firsthesitation]

Randy - You're a real jerk, I've not read a single thread where you weren't disagreeing with someone. You preached at me before about the differences of reef keeping and the different ways that a reef can be kept. But in every instance you advocate your way to be the only right way and butcher the ideas of others. After almost 7000 posts you'd think you would have figured out that the whole precedence behind these kinds of sites are so we can help each other not so you can boost your ego.

Kavatica - In response to your question, a lot of people steer clear of the wet/dry because the bio-balls typically found in them over time will start to produce nitrates and leach them back into your system, I have however seen some people substitute live rock in that section instead and that seems to work for them.

In my sump though I have a skimmer section and a refugium, with the reverse lighting on my fuge it is taking over when the display tank lights go off. The macro algae does have its benefits for filtering certain things out of the water and replenishing O2. I however also believe that a good skimmer is an essential part of filtering your biological load out of the tank.

Point being, there are a lot of ways to do this. Research your options and do what you believe to be best based on what you've found. We can all give you ideas but you'll get different opinions from all of us depending on our experiences.