SereneReyn

i'm getting a used 72g tank that's coming with a lot of accessories, including a 'wet/dry filter'... (she'd previously used it for saltwater)

how effective are these at actually keeping a freshwater tank clean? should i consider picking up a canister or something instead (funds are a small issue, i'd rather put the money toward fish after cycling) ? i don't even know how to use this kind. =x

SereneReyn

well i've read up on them a bit, and basically these seem to just have a huge chamber for bio-balls or something? i'd still love for some first-hand insight... anyone?

Philpig

Hey there. This is a topic I'm going crazy over at the moment. As far as I can work out, wet/dry filtration is typically used for saltwater. Now, the guy who builds the tank/cabinet setups I'm going to buy reckons its perfect for freshwater tropical as well. BUT, a well known LFS told me that the wet/dry system (consisting of an overflow weir going down into a sump through a number of layers of filtration) will dissipate the CO2 from a tank - so its no good for a planted. (I know both of them want to sell me their setups as much as they can so I dont know who to go with on this one). If this is correct, and its not a good system for planted tanks, I'm thinking a good canister. But maybe you could use both hey? Because from what I've read, wet/dry is an excellent biological filter method. So , hopefully theres someone out there who's experienced in salt and freshwater and tried a wet/dry system in a planted freshwater tank!

SereneReyn

thanks, phil... i actually went and priced pumps vs canister filters... and even though i had no idea how big a pump i needed, it seemed like there wasn't a huge difference in price... so i wound up just buying a canister filter. seems simpler. i can always set up the wet/dry filter later... or there's also my husband, who'd never kept fish, but wants a salt water tank. he could use it, but i doubt that'll happen any time soon.

Shaina

Meh I'm in the exact same boat: potentially getting a used tank w/ a wet/dry filter...still trying to figure out whether it's a good filter type or not, and/or how effective it is. Interesting point about the CO2 dissipation though. I think the biological filter is also not as important for a planted tank (since the plants do most of it?), so perhaps they aren't good for planted tanks all-around? This is so complicated!

Philpig

Hi Shaina

Seems to be another good point about the planted / biological filtration. It seems to me its a matter of weighing up the pros and cons of each type of filtration according to what type of tank you want to keep. Does anyone else have any pros/cons? Keep in touch with what you end up going with...I'll also let you know!