[apw63]

I’m setting up a 55 gal acrylic tank. I will have a sump with a refugium and return sections. I plan on this to be a reef tank. I plan on starting with fish and inverts, working my way up to corals. I will be putting in around 60 lbs of live sand and 85 lbs of live rock. I also plan on building a close loop circulation system using

Oceans Motions

I will also have a protein skimmer. My overflow will be made of 1” pvc (stand pipe design) contained in an overflow box. The close loop will have 1” inlet and ¾” outlets. The return from the sump will be ¾”

Now that you have some background the questions.

I need to know about my flows. Do I need to run about 1100 gph through the sump/refugium system? Is this flow adequate? I figure 2/3 will go to the skimmer and 1/3 to the refugium.

Now what about the close loop system? What kind of flow should I put through it? Do I need to break up the flows between the closed loop and the sump system?

Any info is welcome and thank you. If anyone has better ideas on plumbing size please let me know.

Andy

[Brians125]

every thing i read says to go with 3/4" plumbing and to complete the loop...from what i understand run pvc pipe all the way up to the back to the trim....i dont have a closed loop system but i know someone who can help you go here.....www.wet web media.com....Bob Fenner will help you out....
G/L Brian

[apw63]

Here is what I plan on putting in my tank. I have known what type of fish I wanted for a while. I did not know which corals I wanted. I will start off with easy to take care for species.

Wrasse
Dartfish
Goby
Clownfish
Damsel

Misc cleaner inverts along the lines of these

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=1944
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=482


For coral I like these 2 packs

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=714
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=2140

I believe all these species are compatible and reef friendly.

Andy

[Brians125]

Yes but scratch the Damsel....There mean and aggressive...
G/L Brian

[volitan_fa]

Yes, you will be a lot happier in the end if you lose the damsels now

[apw63]

Ok dansel is gone before I ever got it.

Andy