[stacef]

I was just checking out ebay for price checks basically. What do you guys think of this?? I know it is a larger set up than I need, but I emailed the seller to see if they have any that is more ideal for my size needed. Thanks!

[stacef]

Woops...I forgot to add the link!
Refugium, Sump, Wet Dry, Trickle, Aquarium Filter, Reef - (eBay item 200146514666 end time Dec-25-07 07:40:27 PST)

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by stephaniesquires

I have 2 return pumps each at 1000gph. Each return pump splits into two, creating 4 returns... Then I have 2 Echotech pumps at 3000 each. Gives me a total of 8000gph or about 33x turnover... Biggest advantage - no added heat from pumps!!!! Elliots suggestion of SEIOS is good also - I had those, good pumps, but I was having trouble with heat.

Do you have MH lighting? And I had a pair of SEIO m620's in my 55 and had no heat issues.

Oh, I just remembered, if you want soem REALY flow, Mod a Maxi Jet! I did that and now get close to 1300gph from a moded mj400!!!!

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by stacef

Woops...I forgot to add the link!
Refugium, Sump, Wet Dry, Trickle, Aquarium Filter, Reef - (eBay item 200146514666 end time Dec-25-07 07:40:27 PST)

to be honest, your gonna save loads of money if you just go out and buy a plain empty 100g tank and add the baffles and sifferent sections yourself.

go to home deopt/lowes and get some sturdy plastic material to make the baffles and different sections.

[stacef]

E_baer, I need 100 g. for the sump and everything?? That's much larger than I thought that I would need, but if that's what you all think I need, Then it's done, haha. Thanks!

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by stacef

Woops...I forgot to add the link!
Refugium, Sump, Wet Dry, Trickle, Aquarium Filter, Reef - (eBay item 200146514666 end time Dec-25-07 07:40:27 PST)

Much bigger than you need - and way too much $$$!!. I'm at work, but when I get home I will post the fuge I just got. It's from Precision Marine. Elliott's suggestion to do one yourself will save you $$$. I decided not to because I dont have the time or skill to learn how to put one together. It's bad enough I have to be a plumber and a chemist!!! By the way - my sump is 40"x 12"x 18 and the fuge (I think) is 30x18x12 or so...

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by e_baer

Do you have MH lighting? And I had a pair of SEIO m620's in my 55 and had no heat issues.

Oh, I just remembered, if you want soem REALY flow, Mod a Maxi Jet! I did that and now get close to 1300gph from a moded mj400!!!!

No MH lighting, but I had 6 pumps in the tank - trying to get enough flow through the spray bar (didn't work) and two for general flow.... Big Tanks - lots of flow - lots of pumps - lots of... Love the Ecotech - quiet and out of the tank...

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by stacef

E_baer, I need 100 g. for the sump and everything?? That's much larger than I thought that I would need, but if that's what you all think I need, Then it's done, haha. Thanks!

No, sorry to confuse you. I am in no way suggesting what size sump you should go out and buy. Im just saying it would be much more pocket book friendly to make one yourself. But, on the other hand, the larger the better

[stacef]

So I am getting caught up with all of the lingo... MH lighting means what? I have ample room for my sump, and would love to build it ourselves, rather than buy. How would you do it? I need three sections? Skimmer-->Return<--ref??
Thanks again guys!

[e_baer]

MH= metal halide.

yes, 3 sections. A return section in the middle and then on either side a skimmer section or refugeium.

Basically, lets say a 55g tank as a sump. Only because I know the demensions.

a 55g tank is 48" long.

So, 20" of that may be a fuge.
14" will be for the skimmer and the remaining 14" will be for the return pump/s.

To creat the different sections, plexi-glass is a common material. Then people use silicon sealer to "glue" it in place. There is sturdier more reliable stuff out there but you would have to do your research first.

That is the basic idea behind a DIY (so it yourself) sump/fuge.

[stacef]

Awesome thanks for the info! I do have a MH light, I scored it with my 90 g tank I bought the total package for 500 got a great deal!! (skimmer, mh, stand of course, everything!) anyways, Ok now I don't know where to start with dimensions..and pumps. Where does the RO come into place?--(as in, where does it come into the system, after the return?? I have no idea!) Should I have an auto top off? I will have plumbing availble to. we are building from scratch and will have a room behind the tank, with sink, drain, plenty and plenty of space...So. haha, Still lost, of course. But you guys are doing a wonderful job helping me to figure it out. I am starting to get it! Thanks so much! If I was confusing at all I can clear somethings up if needed.

[e_baer]

OK, because you have a large tank, I would aim for an RO/DI unit that does at least 100gpd. What I do with my 55g tank, is have the RO water go into a 5g bucket, then when it gets close to being filled add salt and whatnot. Since you wont be doing 5g water changes, you should try to get a Brute trashcan to store water in.

The RO water comes into place right away. Never use faucet water unless it has gone through the RO unit. Fill your tank with RO water and do water changes with RO water.

The RO unit attatches to the faucet, or you can plumb it into a pipe and then it will SLOWLY trickle water into a container or on the floor.....whichever you prefer From that container, you will have pure water to do water changes, fill the tank after evaporation, you name it, the water is there for that purpose.

Since space is no concern, you can have your sump in the back "fish room" and then plumb it to the main tank. It will save a lot of space. Also, an auto top off would be a GREAT idea. I am in the process of making one now, but I would suggest that you buy one.

Any more questions or concerns?

[stacef]

Ok, I am beginning to understand everything. RO is clear now! Thanks for all the help. But, I am lost on the spray bar. I take it that I need one? Where does it go? What connects to it? What is the purpose I guess.. Also, From the sounds of it, I need a total of 4 pumps, 2 @ 3000gpd and 2 @ 1000 gpd. Now the question is..where do they come into the picture? Sorry guys, I am still learning..but coming along.

[stacef]

Ok, so does a calcium reacter have to do with the spray bar.

What is a CR?

Do I need one??

Thanks!

[Rainman69]

How many pumps you have is a matter of choice. The goal is to try to avoid dead spots within the tank. If your going to stick with fowlr 1 pump in the 2000-3000 an hour range for sump broken in to 2 or 3 out flows,and a propeller pump (seio korallin tunze) on each side of tank should be more than enough flow. You wont need calcium reactor. If you dont want pumps In tank you could use 2 2000-3000 pumps and add addtional outflows or sea swirls.

[e_baer]

A calcium reactor, as rainman stated, is not necessary. It is very helful if you have a lot of SPS and LPS corals. The pumps, I would aim for 25-30x turnover with all the pumps.

A spray bar is something (mostly pvc pipe) that has water forced through it. The water is then forced through smaller holes that have been drilled in the pvc pipe and then creating flow in the hard to reach areas. It is most commonly used in the back of the tnak behind all the rockwork.

[plecosword]

im guessing the CR feeds corals some calciam for mighty strong bones lol.

[e_baer]

thats right, they need their milk in the morning too.

[stacef]

Hahaha and how do I supply the milk? A turkey baster.

Hahahahahaha!!!!

[stacef]

Ok so now for more of my confusion.

I am starting to understand the concept on a lot of things. But still lost on a few..

Ok, so I am going to be getting the Ecotech VorTech pump. Which has a max of 3000 gph. I am looking at getting two of these. But do not understand where they fit into the picture.

I understand that the return water gets pumped back into the DT, but does it just drain onto the surface?

I also will be getting two or more of these Koralia 4 powerheads at 1200 gph. Should I get more than 2? I found a good deal on them, and will take advantage of it if suggested.

Ok, for the water going into the sump, does that require a pump? Do you drill for this?

Also, it sounds like several people have 2 return pumps. I plan on doing my sump like this.. skimmer-->return<--fuge. Would I need two returns?

Sorry guys, I am still learning asking 100 questions! Only way to learn I guess. Once again everyone, thanks for all of your help! It is very hard to find articles online that are helpful, and by the time you do, you spent 5 hours searching for it!

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by stacef

Ok, so does a calcium reacter have to do with the spray bar.
What is a CR?
Do I need one??
Thanks!

I had a spray bar in my tank and had to take it out, the problem I had was not enough water pressure for the amount of pvc pipe and too much heat from the 4 powerheads I had connected to it. It is a great idea, and several people on here have made them and had them work (not sure if I made the holes too small or the pipe was too long or ???) but it was not successful

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by stacef

Ok so now for more of my confusion.
I am starting to understand the concept on a lot of things. But still lost on a few..
Ok, so I am going to be getting the Ecotech VorTech pump. Which has a max of 3000 gph. I am looking at getting two of these. But do not understand where they fit into the picture.
I understand that the return water gets pumped back into the DT, but does it just drain onto the surface?
I also will be getting two or more of these Koralia 4 powerheads at 1200 gph. Should I get more than 2? I found a good deal on them, and will take advantage of it if suggested.
Ok, for the water going into the sump, does that require a pump? Do you drill for this?
Also, it sounds like several people have 2 return pumps. I plan on doing my sump like this.. skimmer-->return<--fuge. Would I need two returns?
Sorry guys, I am still learning asking 100 questions! Only way to learn I guess. Once again everyone, thanks for all of your help! It is very hard to find articles online that are helpful, and by the time you do, you spent 5 hours searching for it!

The EcoTechs, or the Koralias get placed on either end of the tank, check out pictures of peoples tanks and you will see the powerheads usually on the ends of the tanks. My returns have flexible piping (cant remember the actual name right now) and are pointed in different directions for flow. The water going into the sump comes from the "overflow" your tank may have one built into it, it's a 'box' within the tank with cut outs at the top, allowing the water from the top of the tank to overflow down into the sump. (I'll post pics of mine this weekend) The sump then needs "bulkheads" (holes) drilled allowing for pumps to be placed outside the sump (again - pics will follow!!) and the water "returned" to the tank. In large tanks, 2 return pumps are adviseable to keep up with the overflow... You may consider a separate fuge, the fuge needs fairly low flow to allow the pods to grow etc... the flow from the overflow and return will be pretty high... We need a vocabulary page on this site!!!

[stacef]

Gosh Steph, you are so helpful. You do realize I am hoping for TONS of pics after this weekend! hahaha. Thanks so much, that made it very clear! I am sure when i see your pics I will get a better grasp on it. Thanks!!

[Rainman69]

Originally Posted by stephaniesquires

The EcoTechs, or the Koralias get placed on either end of the tank, check out pictures of peoples tanks and you will see the powerheads usually on the ends of the tanks. My returns have flexible piping (cant remember the actual name right now) and are pointed in different directions for flow. The water going into the sump comes from the "overflow" your tank may have one built into it, it's a 'box' within the tank with cut outs at the top, allowing the water from the top of the tank to overflow down into the sump. (I'll post pics of mine this weekend) The sump then needs "bulkheads" (holes) drilled allowing for pumps to be placed outside the sump (again - pics will follow!!) and the water "returned" to the tank. In large tanks, 2 return pumps are adviseable to keep up with the overflow... You may consider a separate fuge, the fuge needs fairly low flow to allow the pods to grow etc... the flow from the overflow and return will be pretty high... We need a vocabulary page on this site!!!

That's good explaining, maybe you could write a book

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by stacef

Gosh Steph, you are so helpful. You do realize I am hoping for TONS of pics after this weekend! hahaha. Thanks so much, that made it very clear! I am sure when i see your pics I will get a better grasp on it. Thanks!!

I will take pics of everything I can think of!!! It is much easier to understand with visual aides!! If I get done with work early enough tomorrow I will start with the basics. Got my fuge home today, so I have to make a Home Depot run for plumbing and etc.. and get to try drilling 'bulkheads' Should be a fun weekend!!!