My Wet / Dry, What are my options?

padams626 · #1 03/27/2006, 09:03 PM

This is a pic of my wet/dry.

My goal is to establish a FOWLR initially. Then maybe an anenome or two. I may want to go with some soft coral (1 or 2).

Should I add more bio-balls and let it be a regular wet/dry or should I make it into a refugium? If I go the refugium route what do I add and where do I add it?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Emmelemmo · #2 03/27/2006, 09:10 PM

For FOWLR, A wet/dry is great. It does cause a slight increase in nitrates, but most fish are not affected by this. My tank is running a 5 ppm nitrates, which will allow anemones and corals, which I don't have. I keep trying but can't get down to 0 nitrates. If you are going to have corals a refugium is the way to go as it really bottoms out the nitrates.

padams626 · #3 03/27/2006, 09:23 PM

I want to go with a refugium but right now being that I haven't finished buying everything else I need. And that refugium is going to cost me about $250 built. So I figure I may as well us what I got for right now.

bertoni · #4 03/27/2006, 09:26 PM

I would start with it as a refugium. No use in setting it up as a wet-dry and then having to tear it down slowly. I don't see the picture, though. If it's not very big, you could just use it as a sump to hide the heater and perhaps the protein skimmer.

padams626 · #5 03/27/2006, 09:35 PM

I thought I posted the pic, but I guess not. It a slim line wet/dry for a 60 or 75 (not quite sure) gallon tank.

bertoni · #6 03/27/2006, 09:37 PM

That might be a very reasonable size for a refugium, from what I can see.

padams626 · #7 03/27/2006, 09:38 PM

I don't know how to post pics, so I can't show you how it looks.

bertoni · #8 03/27/2006, 09:40 PM

I googled the product. It looks reasonable, according to the given dimensions. I haven't done a wet-dry to refugium conversion, though.

padams626 · #9 03/27/2006, 09:48 PM

I know it can be done, but I'm confused on whether the live rock will have water trickle over it or will it be submerged. And will I need live sand.

bertoni · #10 03/27/2006, 10:10 PM

Live rock should be submerged. My refugium doesn't have live sand. It's not necessary, although a bit of sand might be useful for growing certain sorts of animals.

padams626 · #11 03/27/2006, 10:11 PM

Here is the pic.