 » 3reef Navigation | | | | » Forum Menu | | | | » Aquarium Ads | | | 
And here too!
|  | | 
12-23-2006, 11:17 AM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 69
Karma: 39
 |  Advise on my skimmer
I am currently running a CPR dual bakpak. After discussing my water quality issues in previous threads I have decided to build a sump/refuguim out of a 20 gal tank and get rid of my Eheim canister. My question is will the skimmer I am currently using get the job done or should I upgrade to something better? If upgrading is the better option what is a good sump skimmer to use? There are SO MANNY to choose from and I am not sure which would be best.
The setup I am going for is an overflow box into the tank below which I have devided into three sections- skimmer/refuguim/return.
_________
Since 02-04, 125 gal with 150 lbs of live rock, 100 lbs of live sand, 2-175 wattt MH, 4-65 watt acintic compacts, Coralife skimmer, 20 gal sump/refugium, 25 watt UV, Fish 1 Royal Tang, 2- Hawiian Tangs, 1-Flame Angel, 1-Emperor Angel, 2-Watchman Gobies, 1-Marron Clown, 1-Percula Clown , 1-Manderan goby, 1-6 line wrass, 6 stars, 1- sand siffting , 1-royal gramma. Corals 1-bubble coral, 3-bubble anemone (was one it split), White Xenia, button polyps, mushrooms, zoos. | 
|  | | Reef Links |  | |
12-23-2006, 12:08 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct
Posts: 4,359
|
if you are going to use a sump I'd get a good skimmer.. on a 100 gal tank good skimmer is a must ..Like a Berlin Classic or the coarlife a Turboflotor something along theses line will do you just fine and will take you to a larger tank if and when the time ever comes . _________ Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible (Doug Larson) | |
| | |
12-23-2006, 05:39 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | Fire Worm
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 168
Karma: 98
|
First of, congrats on choosing a much better filtration option. I have two suggestions:
1. Make your sump/fuge bigger than 20 Gal. If that's all you can fit, then that's all you can do. But, bigger is better. You'll have more space for your mechanical devices and more room for the fuge.
2. I second what Tangster says. Buy the best skimmer you can get. Skimming is so critical to good water quality. The difference in price is not great.
Have fun with it and good luck.
_________
46 Gal bowfront - 350W MH - 65W PC Actinic -CS90 Skimmer - SQWD with locline outputs - 18G refugium RDP- 1/4 HP chiller - 2x96W PCs on sump a fuge for coral frags and macro.
It's an overcrowded home with a little of everything and 5 fish. Thank good the fuge and sump were built for something bigger. | |
| | |
12-23-2006, 07:25 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Torch Coral
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St. Paul/Woodbury, Minnesota Age: 50
Posts: 1,181
|
Get an octopus 150 skimmer=ASM. The problem with a 20g sump is that an in sump skimmer will take up at least 9" of space depending upon which skimmer you get and its foot print. That doesnt leave much room for a refugium. You might want to consider a 20g long or a 30g. _________ 75g reef with Nova Extreme 8 bulb HO T-5 lighting, refuge, Remora skimmer, DSB, Seio powerheads, Acro's, LPS corals, assorted zoo's & mushrooms, Yellow Tang, Maroon Clown, Blue Cleaner Goby , Cleaner, Fire and Sexy Shrimp, Coco Worm, T.Crocea Clam, Derasa Clam
120g FOWLR, 260w Orbit power compact lights, Remora Pro skimmer, 30g DIY Sump/Refuge, DSB,Seio Power heads, Powder Blue Tang, Purple Tang, Flag Fin Angel, False Eye Puffer, Copperbanded Butterfly and a Moorish Idol  | |
| | |
12-23-2006, 11:48 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 69
Karma: 39
|
Thanks guys,
I did get a 20 gal long (12"x12"x30") so I have about 18" for the refugium (cabinet space llimited, wanted a 30 gal). I left an 8" space for the skimmer so the Coralife will most likely be the one I go with. Its foot print is 8"x6" so it should fit fine. The other end is baffeled and I will probably go get it drilled for a bulkhead to save room and have the return (Quiet One 4000) on the outside.
What do you recommend for the refuguim? (sand or mud, typs of algae, lighting)
One more thing, I have been really looking into the Wave2K so I can get rid of the powerheads. Does anyone here use one and if so how do you like it? | |
| | |
12-24-2006, 04:37 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | Torch Coral
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St. Paul/Woodbury, Minnesota Age: 50
Posts: 1,181
|
Sounds like you have a good plan! I use a combination of chaetomorpha (which is slow growing) and Ulva or lettuce algae which is very fast growing and does not go sexual. It grows in thin dark green sheets like lettuce and fish love to eat it. IMHO, in a refugium you want some fast growing algae for faster nutrient export. I've experimented with various algae types and the faster growing algaes keep my nitrates and phosphates lower. I use a 1" sand bed with live sand and live rock rubble and loaded it up with bristle worms, pods, a few Nassarus snails and scarlet red hermits. I have a 30g fuge and use an 18watt 10,000K power compact on for 12hrs/ day. | |
| | |
12-24-2006, 11:34 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 69
Karma: 39
|
Sounds like a plan to me.
Thanks for the advise and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!
MIKE | |
| | |
12-26-2006, 02:30 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Carpentersville, IL Age: 52
Posts: 874
Karma: 137
 
|
Since you have 100 pounds of live sand in the display tank, you might consider moving a mess of it to the fuge. Maybe as much as 3" to get a good anaerobic section going.
_________
300 Reef; 325LR, 1/2" sand bed in tank, 3" sand bed in 215 gal sump/refugium and Berliner PowerPro SS twin becket skimmer. 210 Reef; with 225 lbs of LR, 300 lb DSB, Large W/D and Jebo 520 skimmer modified to accept a becket. 90 RR FOWLR; tied into the 300's sump with a closed loop for extra circulation. 55 hospital. | |
| | |
12-26-2006, 04:35 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | Fire Worm
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Charleston,WV Age: 34
Posts: 169
|
To Blade Runner...
In your signature I noticed that you have a Jebo 520 on your 210. Before you mod it, did it work pretty good and why(how) did you mod it? I have a 90g and was thinking about it.
Thank you | |
| | |
12-27-2006, 10:10 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Carpentersville, IL Age: 52
Posts: 874
Karma: 137
|
I bought it as a DIY project. I've never run it without the becket. That said, I don't see why it wouldn't as visually the venturi looks sound. As an in sump skimmer the body, quality and basic design are good. For under $100 off E-bay with a pump it is tough to beat. I had a spare becket and thought why not. I like the becket for cleaning more than the foam production. It handles my 210 office EZ reef, so it will probably handle a 90 and adding a becket is a snap if you want to upgrade. | |
| | | Reef Links |  | | |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | |
|
