Sump, wet/dry, refugium or filter....Help

J

joyze1

AC Members
Apr 29, 2004
19
0
0
Wausau, WI
Visit site
I also posted this in reefkeepers.

I have a 46 gal bow front tank (not a RTR) and am looking for advice in the sump, wet/dry, refugium or filter? I plan on keeping fish as well as corals and invertabraes.

I have read that I would not need this if I used 2 lbs of live rock per 1 gallon of water. Currently I do not have that much but would like to slowly acquire it in time. Until I do what would you recommend I use for filtration? Would a refugium work? or should I go with a wet/dry or sump? What is the difference between a sump and wet/dry? Any ideas or comments?

Does the sand make a difference?

I have lots of crushed coral (100 lb bag). I read that I could use old Kastle paver sand? Where would I get this and could I add it slow over time and mix it with the crushed coral or would that not be a good idea?
 
If you use a sandbed, that will help out the live rock. I would avoid crushed coral, because it tends to collect debris and become a source of nutrients for algae. Finer sand, like oldcastle, or even regular playsand works quite well.

A refugium will help, assuming it is big enough and you have sufficient macroalgal growth.

If your fish load is low at the start, you may not need supplemental filtration at all.
 
Fish load and filter

I currently have in a 35 gal hexagon:

2 Sebia Anemones (one large-Annie (size of a big plate) and one small-Anna)
1 maroon clown-Speedy
Lots of snails (they keep multiplying)
2 Nassarius snails
1 turbo snail
Lots of white brittle stars (they multiply too)
5-6 hermit crabs
1 bar goby-Friendly

25 lbs of live rock (maybe more-have not weighed it lately)
1 power filter
2 inches crushed coral


I am getting rid of the whole 35 gal hex setup (except the contents listed above- I did not list the other equipment as I do not plan on using them) and upgrading to a 46 gal. Is this over stock for a 46 gal? From what I have read I don't currently have enough live rock so should I use a filter of some sort until I do? And what anyone could recommend? or have worked for them.

One of my problems is that I am moving and don't have 3 months to reestablish the 46 gal from total scratch. I have 6 weeks from today and need to purchase all pumps and filters if needed soon. I am confused as to what would be best for the fish and would work for now and maybe in the future.

Per your advice and what I have read up on, I plan on switching tanks and using the established crushed coral (it has been in there for over 2 yr. and the stars and bugs live in it right now.) in the new tank but slowly convert it to sand. Trying not to mix it up. It is too hard in the hex right now because there is not enough bottom space.


Thank you for your help.

~Joy~
 
Hitchhikers

I just found a black and White thing. I think it is a flatworm. It is the size of a quarter and all black with a white line in the middle of its back. The edges are ruffled and it has 2 small antennae. It does not like the light of the flashlight very much.

Thanks again.

~Joy~
 
The stocking looks good for a 46 gallon. I don't see a protein skimmer listed, and that is something that would help the system a lot.

The system should tranfer pretty well, if you put down a few inches of finer sand before adding the crushed coral and rock. If you could add another 10 lbs of cured live rock during the transfer, that should be enough to avoid needing additional filtration.
 
skimmer

I had another post and have decided to get a cpr bak-pak 2r skimmer for it. I currently use the bak-pak 2 with the media but have realized that the 2r would do better.

Let me understand, you recommend I put 2 inches of sand in and then the crushed coral (when I do my water changes weekly I hope to take small amounts of coral out and replace with sand), 10 lbs more LR and I would not need any filter? no refugium? Hmmm

I do have about 15 lbs of limestone I was going to use as a base for some of the LR. Would that still be ok in addition to the 10 lbs more of LR?

Thank you again.
 
The plan sounds pretty good. If the limestone is porous enough, it will eventually become live rock. A refugium is always nice, but not necessary.

The 2R is basically a bakpak 2 with a bubble trap instead of a biobale. I wonder if there is some way to modify it, rather than replacing it.

Your hitchhiker may be scutus, a fleshy limpet. Generally a peaceful grazer, but occasionally nibbles on soft corals.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom