Best Approach for a Wet/Dry Setup???
 

Seeing as my 55 now only has an Emperor 400 and a protein skimmer, I'm looking toward a wet/dry setup in my future.

My problem is, seeing as I don' t have much expendable income, I'm wondering the best way to accomplish this. Or would a different filtration method be better for my wallet and good for my tank?

I've looked around at LFS and on Dr. Fosters and Smith and I forsee myself spending around $5-700 dollars on the setup.

What is everyone's opinion?

I've you ever considered building your own, which should cost a 1/4 of the price.

I wouldn't have a problem with that at all, just not really sure how to go about it.

What you can do is by a 20gal long or high tank, Next what you can do is by glass that is cut to the wideth of the tank and the hieght(2 pieces) and then you would get aquaruim sealent and attached the glass panels to make sections in the tank. The next thing you want to buy is an overflow box. This is used to get the water to the main tank to the sump. this way the protien skimmer will sit in the first section that the water from the tank is going into. The 2nd section you can put some sand and algea as in calerapa algea in this section this would be the refugium, then inturn the water will flow into the 3rd section which the water should be crystal clear. You would how some kind of pump with a 700gal per hour flow rate or more to transfer the water back to the main tank. I did the same thing for my 120gal and the whole setup cost around $200. Myself or Caferacermike can walk you though the steps do do it yourself if you would like.

If you want speed and good looks, triggerfish systems. It's what I'm running and it's beautiful. falls way below the $500 mark for even the largest.

http://www.triggersys.com/

Or even more precise.

http://www.triggersys.com/sumps.html

I have the TSBR36.
Runs $360 at this site.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...y_Code=CprSump

You can not find a more sexy sump/fuge combo period.

This is mine in operation.


http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery...0/100_1075.jpg

Any more questions?

Thanks for the help guys. Honestly with my wife and I closing on our first house in two weeks, the "do it yourself" version is sounding the best just based on price. Let me do a little more research and I'll let you know what info I need.