Wet/dry filter idea? WIll it work?

LonersBlaze

HC Specialist
Mar 18, 2005
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what if i set up 3 wood airstones below a group of bio balls completely submerged. i figure the amount and size of the bubbles produced would be enough to provide oxygen to the growing bacteria. sounds flawed. just a thought. opinions?
 
I would say no.. BB's Tend to Float anyways
 
in theory it should work..but I'm not sure how well.
the principle you are suggesting is similar to how a sponge filter works. the rising air should displace water..new water should replace the displaced water.
 
I think that you'd be better off if you used live rock rubble. That way you will have a larger variety of bacteria and critters living in your sump and taking up nutrients. I know that's not what you're asking but, I just had to say that. If you try it you'll thank me you won't have nearly as much work to do maintaining.
Yes, I'm lazy
Max
 
Max said:
I think that you'd be better off if you used live rock rubble. Max

A follow up...in a standard wet/dry sump, can you replace the bioballs with the rubble and that's it? No lights, no nothing else? Just put rubble in the bio chamber and have the critters and such?
 
as far as i am aware, you still need to provide lighting to the fuge area to promote benificial growth, hopefully Max or some-one will pipe in as to how much light you exactly need for it..

Niko
 
Depends on if you want algae for nutrient export or not. If not you won't need to. The bacteria, pods, and various and sundry other critters won't give a hoot. If you do add lights you'll have more diversity. They don't have to be really strong either as they won't have much water to penetrate.
Cheers
Chris
 
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