I have a fowlr tank, with a few shrimp,snails,crabs. my nitrate level is between 40,60,80
its a 75g tank with a wet dry filter(all glass 3).
I want to get the bioballs out and turn it into a sump,but not sure how.
what do I put in there. do I use mud,or a dsb. what plants

Filter matrix cleaning, higher water changes & less gross feedings. Everything else can remain the same for FO. Except the varience on your testing proceedures, damn brother over what time lapse did you collect those readings lol

you already have a sump, only difference being is your "trickleing" water over plastic medium to cultivate a differnt bactera. Fish can handle a higher nitrate load, however aim to bring it under control at the 20ppm range. Dilution & assimulation are your key areas to focus on. If you want to add in the add on's then by all means do so, however inputs seem to be outstippping your outputs, look at the food source.

thanks for your reply to both my threads veriann.

I have a fowlr tank, with a few shrimp,snails,crabs. my nitrate level is between 40,60,80
its a 75g tank with a wet dry filter(all glass 3).
I want to get the bioballs out and turn it into a sump,but not sure how.
what do I put in there. do I use mud,or a dsb. what plantsHey Wreck Diver,

Here's a link to my 135 thread where I did what your asking about. Amphibious' 135 reef (http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/member-tank-projects/412-amphibious-135-gal-reef.html)

You should find some useful information there.

Dick

The bio-balls are really good at collecting aerobic bacteria that turn ammonia to nitrite to nitrate but it stops there. Do you have LR in your tank? How about sand? Presuming you have them you can start S-L-O-W-L-Y removing the bio-balls, say 10-20% a week. This will allow the bacteria in your sand and rock to catch up with the bioload they now need to handle.

I use an old wet/dry for my sump. I have caulerpa in the area that was designed for bio-balls. Below that I have LR. There is a thin layer of sand under the LR but it it there by accident, my clown likes to dig and it gets in the water column and ends up in the sump. I run the outflow from my skimmer into a 2L bottle to help control bubbles and I have a chaeto ball in there. I really don't have room for a DSB in mine.