Fowlr Wet dry

Miller Aquatic

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So I am setting up a 180g predator fowlr and I have a wet dry that I was planning on using 7 gallons of bio balls in. Since it is a fowlr I don’t care about nitrates as much and more focused on ammonia, which it’s good for. I was wondering if it would be better to place an oversized skimmer in the bio balls compartment and shove live rock all in there.
How would you set this up?
 

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So I am setting up a 180g predator fowlr and I have a wet dry that I was planning on using 7 gallons of bio balls in. Since it is a fowlr I don’t care about nitrates as much and more focused on ammonia, which it’s good for. I was wondering if it would be better to place an oversized skimmer in the bio balls compartment and shove live rock all in there.
How would you set this up?
I would go with the protein skimmer for two reasons: removes ammonia before it breaks down and performs excellent gas exchange.

I especially like the idea of a cryptic zone with diver collected live rock that encourage cryptic sponges as a consumer of nitrates and DOC as well as POC.

What predators in the display with your live rock? There again, your live rock can be a biological filter depending on rock biodiversity. Consider ornamental seaweed as a consumer of nitrate.
 
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Miller Aquatic

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I would go with the protein skimmer for two reasons: removes ammonia before it breaks down and performs excellent gas exchange.

I especially like the idea of a cryptic zone with diver collected live rock that encourage cryptic sponges as a consumer of nitrates and DOC as well as POC.

What predators in the display with your live rock? There again, your live rock can be a biological filter depending on rock biodiversity. Consider ornamental seaweed as a consumer of nitrate.
I’m gonna have tangs angel and puffer most likely
 
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GARRIGA

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Perhaps ceramic balls vs plastic bio balls. Stays moist longer should power get interrupted. Too bad DLS plugs as that was the best.

Personally, I'd stick pumice underneath the bio balls which will quiet the dripping noise and let nature decompose everything then add carbon to solve the excess nitrates. Assuming I'd even bother using a wet dry at all.

Could add a refugium in the center section but that's more lights and more hassle and dosing carbon much easier plus lower pH not a concern.

Berlin method was effective mostly because of the skimmer. Never bought into the idea that porous rock in the display or sump was replacing those effective bio balls and success because mechanical filtration in the form of skimming solved most of it. Today we have Purigen which to some extent replaced that skimmer.

Would still consider using a skimmer because as mentioned for aeration because large fish produce a ton of co2 and gas exchange benefits that however not 100% sure since lots of monster tanks in FW can't use one and those work just fine. Could just point a wave maker at the surface and promote gas exchange there. Keep It Simple

Nice part about filling a sump with pumice being it's cheaper than rock, more void crevices for biological and considerably lighter. Placed in baskets can be removed periodically and rinsed quickly to dislodge detritus although I just let that decompose and have one less maintenance concern.
 
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I cracked it:face-with-spiral-eyes:
I cracked the center brace on a 30” deep 150G tank by using a 1000W MH on the glass brace and you could see the front glass bow out. It was an ordeal to drain 1/3 of the water and replace broken glass brace. I eventually gave that tank away because it was too deep to do aquascaping without getting armpits wet.

I perused your threads and agree with your use of a cannister filter on a marine tank. While bioballs would be acceptable for nitrification bacteria removing ammonia, I suggest reef rubble to bring in biodiversity of sponge filtration.
 
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GARRIGA

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I especially like the idea of a cryptic zone with diver collected live rock that encourage cryptic sponges as a consumer of nitrates and DOC as well as POC.
Now that's new info. Wasn't aware sponges removed nitrates. Plausible they then also remove ammonia and nitrite? Could one not just build a monster Sponge BOB cryptic zone filter and solve most of this post area for decomposition of solids? Paint that sump black and put a lid on it with occasional pruning or fed to tank inhabitants such as angels

Am I onto something or over simplifying and over expecting :thinking-face:
 
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Subsea

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Now that's new info. Wasn't aware sponges removed nitrates. Plausible they then also remove ammonia and nitrite? Could one not just build a monster Sponge BOB cryptic zone filter and solve most of this post area for decomposition of solids? Paint that sump black and put a lid on it with occasional pruning or fed to tank inhabitants such as angels

Am I onto something or over simplifying and over expecting :thinking-face:
As in most things, it’s a question of balance and details matter. Different ecosystems require different solutions.

I always go to the macro level to see the big picture, because the devil is in the details.

Cryptic Sponges and ornamental sponges process nutrients differently and there are many differrent species.

Because my systems include diverse filter feeders my focus on cryptic refugiums is to provide an incubator for the microbial food web as well as a processor of both DOC & POC and cryptic sponges do both. However, cryptic sponges will grow on the dark side of live rocks in display tank.
 
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Subsea

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So I am setting up a 180g predator fowlr and I have a wet dry that I was planning on using 7 gallons of bio balls in. Since it is a fowlr I don’t care about nitrates as much and more focused on ammonia, which it’s good for. I was wondering if it would be better to place an oversized skimmer in the bio balls compartment and shove live rock all in there.
How would you set this up?
In your display tank, consider a reverse flow undergravel filter using 2” of aroggonite. You maximize nitrification bacteria colonization surface area and provide passive alkalinity buffering and trace mineral addittion. Then place the largest rectangle tank you can fit in cabinet under display and provide intense lights to drive photosynthesis that consumes nutrients. Use a seaweed that fish eat like Gracilaria.
 
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GARRIGA

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I'm going to be running an undergravel filter as well but adding a plastic mesh netting after first inch to keep diggers from disturbing the flow although in the grand scheme of things likely doesn't matter. Old school thinking was exposure made the plate inoperative but that's not the case since all the water isn't getting through that space although flow will be greatly reduced where covered and why I'm taking that extra space.

Only modification being I'll be drawing water from the plate via a canister which later allows me to stir the bottom and get detritus dislodged and driven to the canister. Last I'm doing is any gravel vacuuming. Let the canister perform that.

Not feasible as a means to feed water to a sump and why not mentioned. Yet can be placed in a sump to drive a refugium and I'm guessing a cryptic zone. Power head attached to plate will cause needed flow so detritus doesn't settle where not wanted and allowed to be captured and decomposed.
 
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