DarkAsylum

I know in a Freshwater system they use bioballs but one of the things that i saw on the net were sump tanks with refrugiums in them with live sand and rock. What happens to the wastes in the water that mechanical filteration removes? Is everything consumed by biological means?

DieselDog3406

I wondered about the same thing!


I'm building my first 'fuge and have seen more sumps with just a chamber for skimmer, 'fuge area and return chamber instead of a bio tower. Is the bio chamber a thing of the past, or are 'fuges doing double or triple duty? I'm just trying to decide on using space in my 40 gal sump for a bio chamber or for more space for my live sand and live rock.


Please let me know how ya'll feel about it.

Fish_Fanatic

Well in a Saltwater aquarium live rock and sand does all the biological filtration, so you need just minimal mechanical filtration to keep the waste to a minimum in the sump. If your freshwater stick with the bio-ball towers, if not just buy some live sand and get some pool sand. It will convert your regular sand into live sand very quickly.

atlantic reefer

This answer is a little late but just thought i would post my opinion.

The wastes in the water would get broken down into nitrates which would then be removed by the macro algae (caulpera, cheato, etc...) that grows in the refugium.

You are correct. The bio-ball chamber is now replaced using live rock rubble in the refugium. Now-a-days it is known to most that after awhile the bio-balls lose their benefit (along with the bio-wheels) in saltwater and after a few months will release nitrates back into the water which if not controlled can cause an outbreak of nuisance algaes, (hair algae, cyanobacteria - slime algae, etc..) and if high enough the nitrates can kill some of your inverts like the snails, crabs, and starfish.

If i'm understanding the red part correctly, you are saying to put live sand in a freshwater system? If so I wouldn't reccomend this as the freshwater will just kill the live sand then repopulate it with freshwater bacteria. If you are saying use freshwater "live sand" then that is fine.

Although late i hope this helps.

__________________
Shane
Hobby Experience - Saltwater - August 2005, Freshwater - Sometime in 1995
Current Tank - 20 Gallon Saltwater
Search Aquaria Forums - Aquaria Forums Search