First Purchases

[dmccoy26]

Good Evening everyone, Now that I have my 100g tank and my new stand almost finished, I'm planning on buying some equipment in the coming week. And wanted to see what everyone thought. My sump/refugium will approximately be 30 gallons.

1) Euro Reef RS 135 (500gph?) - in sump only. return line will also be in sump.
2) CPR CS100 Overflow (800gph)
3) Mag 9.5 (950gph, but with head loss, it will be closer to 800gph) - Return Pump

Do you think I have the overflow and the return pump balanced enough?

TIA

-Dan

[lReef lKeeper]

sounds good but you may want to consider adding a few BIGGER powerheades to the tank to add flow. i have about 6095GPH flow in and through my 125. i suggest the Hydor Koralias #3 or #4 for a 100 gallon tank, they are the best bang for the buck IMHO.

[Phurst]

I'll second the recomendation on the Hydor Koralias, I love my Koralia 4, need to get another one. The rest of that gear sounds fine.

[dmccoy26]

I was also planning closed loop system, but haven't designed it yet. this initial setup is more for filtration and not circulation. I've seen a lot of people talk about phosban reactors w/ activated carbon and also running UV filters. Do you think these are necessary for water clarity and lower nitrite/ate levels? should I plan to add these units in the future for my filtering system?

[lReef lKeeper]

i run a RDSB for my denitrification. about 15" deep in a 5 gallon bucket in the sump. the trick is to keep the light out of it.

[Phurst]

I run carbon and GFO in phosban reactors. I think they are of benefit, but things were certainly ok without them. I don't think I would run UV personaly, but lots of people do.

[Seahorsedreams]

Originally Posted by dmccoy26

I I've seen a lot of people talk about phosban reactors w/ activated carbon and also running UV filters. Do you think these are necessary for water clarity and lower nitrite/ate levels? should I plan to add these units in the future for my filtering system?

I like to run carbon because it helps remove products of allelopathy from your tank.

[lReef lKeeper]

i also run carbon, because my frag tank is plumbed to the same sump as the display. when you start cutting on corals ... the release of some nasty stuff in inevitable.

[dmccoy26]

Thanks for all your responses, I'll had a phosban reactor into my plumbing diagram.

also

I found a J Tube overflow from aquadirect (much better prices then marinedepot). I've been hearing today that the CPR overflows have a tendency to break suction of create small floods. Does anyone have any opinions between CPR overflows and J-tube overflows? see link below.

Aquadirect :: Overflows :: ADHI U-Tube Hang-on Prefilter Overflow


Also, i found a pacific coast imports recirculating protein skimmer (up to 185g) for the same price as the euro reef RS 135. any thoughts on this manufacturer or skimmer?

thanks
-Dan

[dmccoy26]

Rather then using an overflow to suck water down into the sump/refugium, do you think it would be better to use a pump?

hmm probably not.. you'd have to sync both the return pump and the "overflow" pump...

[dmccoy26]

hmm rather then dealing with a syphon overflow.. maybe i'll get my tank drilled.

[Phurst]

Drilling is by far your best bet. I would not pump water out of the tank into the sump, too easy for somthing to go wrong...

[dmccoy26]

I ordered a pacific coast recirculating skimmer, 2 little fishies phosban reactor (with a maxijet 400), 2 rio 50's for auto top-off and mixing pump. single overflow at 800gph, and a mag 9 return pump.