hang on wet/dry for my new 55 gal

[darklcd]

hey all

I just started a 55 gal build (I will have a thread for it after I get all the pics) and I am using a hang on filter.

its not the best pic but you get the idea. I don't have any sponge or charcol in it yet and I am wondering if added them in to the tank will help clear it up a little. There is a mild green colour when looking at it from the end and i want it gone.

Any thoughts?

 

[darklcd]

I was also thinking of putting something in the first part to help like a sump idea I knwo its not going to be the same at all but I thought it might not hurt. some live sand or something

 

[ajnweb]

Maybe sand and live rock in the first/second chamber, then get rid of the bio balls, will be hard to clean and will become a nitrate factory, and add Chaeto where the bio balls used to be, just raise the water level in the filter to about the level of the first chamber. The chaeto might help out compete the tank algae for nutrients, possibly eliminating the problem, definately won't hurt!

 

[darklcd]

I pulled bio balls out today and i am going to get some sponge and some charcoal for the tank this week.

what else can I put in there?

 

[ajnweb]

By sponge do you mean a mechanical sponge filter, or living sponges? Unless you plan on cleaning the mechanical sponge quite often I wouldn't put one in. As for charcoal, most people just run a small bag of activated carbon about once a month for a few days. Carbon usually only works at pulling things out for a few days, then it not longer is active, so running it longer than a week without changing it does little good. I think I would attempt at putting sand and live rock in the first chamber, and chaeto (macro algae) in the second chamber, with a small light that runs opposite of the main lights.

I pulled bio balls out today and i am going to get some sponge and some charcoal for the tank this week.

what else can I put in there?

 

[darklcd]

I also have the large area where the bio balls where what can I put in there?

 

[Slate]

By sponge do you mean a mechanical sponge filter, or living sponges? Unless you plan on cleaning the mechanical sponge quite often I wouldn't put one in. As for charcoal, most people just run a small bag of activated carbon about once a month for a few days. Carbon usually only works at pulling things out for a few days, then it not longer is active, so running it longer than a week without changing it does little good. I think I would attempt at putting sand and live rock in the first chamber, and chaeto (macro algae) in the second chamber, with a small light that runs opposite of the main lights.

Agreed, Tony is speaking words of wisdom. Be wary of nitrate factories, HOB refugium will have a huge advantage over sponges/carbon and the chaeto picks up a lot that sponges would otherwise. I have to shake mine out in a saltwater bucket when doing my water changes time to time with my HOB fuge.

 

[darklcd]

What else can I put in there I have about 60lbs or rock in my tank I was think of some live sand or something else?

 

[ajnweb]

What else can I put in there I have about 60lbs or rock in my tank I was think of some live sand or something else?

Try sand in the first chamber, with maybe a chunk of live rock so the incoming water does not churn the sand. I don't think you can put any sand where the bio balls were because it looks like the water leaves that area out the bottom. I think I would leave that lower plate where the bio balls came out of, raise the entire water level in the refugium, and put chaeto in there. Like Slate said, Chaeto will do a great job of collecting sand and unwanted nutrients, way better and more natural than any chemicals or additives. Just add a light above where the bio ball were.

 

[darklcd]

What I was going to do is move the pump up in the last chamber so that its closer to the top of the hang on that way it will not suck sand or anything into it and that way I should be able to put something in where the bioballs were.

I was also thinking of live sand in the old bio ball area as well as the reg sand and the rock in the inlet area.

what do you all think

 

[ajnweb]

It looks like the water exits the bio ball (BB) chamber out the bottom. If you put sand in there I am not sure you could get a deep enough sand bed to do you any good, plus it might end up blocking the water's exit route. Could you maybe mod the last baffle, cut it up fromthe bottom so you had about 4 inches clear off the bottom, this would not have to go all the way acrross etither? This would allow water flow under the baffle but above the sand, and would prevent the Chaeto from getting into the pump too easily, since the baffle run all the way to the top. Then you could add about 3 inches of sand, put liverock in the first chamber, and put Chaeto in the chamber where the BBs were, above the sand. Good idea on moving the return pump up!

Just regular sand will become live on its own, especially if you place live rock on it or a small cup of "live" sand out of your display tank or someone elses displaytank/fuge.

I hope I am not missing something on how the sump is set up! Good luck, keep us posted.

What I was going to do is move the pump up in the last chamber so that its closer to the top of the hang on that way it will not suck sand or anything into it and that way I should be able to put something in where the bioballs were.

I was also thinking of live sand in the old bio ball area as well as the reg sand and the rock in the inlet area.

what do you all think

 

[darklcd]

I will be for sure I will have a better pic tonight of what I want to do and i will make a pic of what I think you mean

 

[darklcd]

I might be able to mod the baffel or I might have to buy another piece and put it in. how deep shoudl the bed be the hang on is about 5" wide

 

[ajnweb]

I would think about 3 inches of sand would do the trick. That should still give plenty of room for the macro algae to grow above it. Puting in another piece might be the way to go, and could always be removed or adjusted down the road if needed.

Here's what returnofsid had to say in another post: (I would try to follow what he says)
In the display, go with either a DSB of 3" or more, which will require a lot of maintenance, OR, 1" or less. If you go with deeper than 1", but less than 3", you could run into some issues. I'd recommend 1" or less in display and as deep as you want in refugium. The deeper the better, at least 4". 4"-6" would be ideal.

I might be able to mod the baffel or I might have to buy another piece and put it in. how deep shoudl the bed be the hang on is about 5" wide