Wet/Dry Filters/Skimmers

[thomasj]

Does anyone have anything to say, + or - about Aqualine wet/dry filters and skimmers? Just looking around before I spend the money....

[alexwolf]

Get one from Dan, it will be custom and probably cheaper. His username is Dan, PM him.

[NaCl_H2O]

Another vote for Dan - He can build ANYTHING you can draw!

[thomasj]

I talked to Dan about a skimmer for the sump...he doesn't do protein skimmer right now, just surface. Any more thoughts on the Aqualine skimmer?

[GaryP]

I don't think much about wet/dry's. You're better off investing in live rock.

Gary

[thomasj]

Is both over kill or working against each other? I am trying to better understand the whole process of what is best and why....

[GaryP]

A Wet Dry only partially completes the nitrogen cycle (organic waste converted to nitrogen gas). You need the bugs in live rock or live sand to complete the cycle. A wet dry converts the waste to nitrate but can't support a bacteria called nitrobacter that finishes the cycle. Nitrobacter needs low levels of oxygen. Its going to live deep in live rock or in a deep sand bed, or under a plenum. Wet dry's are OK for a fish only tank, but most reefers won't use them for a reef tank. Fish don't mind nitrates but inverts do. If you have enough live rock, a wet dry is superfluous.

Hope that helps,
Gary

[NaCl_H2O]

I run both a Wet/Dry and about 1.5 Lbs/gal of live rock, seems to work great for me? If you can only affford one way or the other, go with the LR. A Wet/Dry alone won't be adequate for a reef tank.