i don't know if you looked at my thread, but my 3200 gph pump is strictly circulation, does not go through the fuge @ all. This way only the 800 gph goes thru the fuge (porolly less than 800 gph, the pump is a mag 12, running @ half flow, so my overflows work properly).
Anywho, i prefer the look of descreet piping (all pipes are behind my rock, so it looks as natural as possible) over powerheads, so i opted for this. Be aware though, my circulation system has 3 holes drilled for it; an intake, and two returns.
I duno what you could workout with your tank, but drilling was the way i did it. and i am extremely impressed with the clean and natural outlook i got out with./
I did look at your tank thread. You have done an amazing amount of work and your parents are amazingly supportive both emotionally and financially! I hope you are really thankful I am sure you are from reading the thread. I like the drilled look but I dont necessarily want to rish the tank or try to move it again. That tank is SO HEAVY...OMG why didnt they make it out of acryllic? I think I might use my 770 little giant for either a big skimmer or to run as a circulation pump. I have has salt for a bit over a year and they have all been skimmer free. If i use the 770 gph pump on a big downdraft/venturi skimmer (its rated for 900gph pump but I dont have one and I have this) is the water coming out of the skimmer under pressure or does it just trickle out? I think it just gravity flows out but???If not could it be piped back in as powerhead like loc-line directly out of the skimmer?
i get where you are going with this, but it won't work. The more piping you have coming out of your skimmer, the wetter it is going to run (the higher you need to raise it from the water). The skimmer is the one thing you can't really toy with aside from gate valve mods, recirc mods, etc... Im not savvy with ALL of the skimmer types, but from what i know, it mostly just trickles, HTH
(and don't worry, i am VERY thankful for my parents )
btw, there is something on the market in between drillign and a powerhead. Don't know the exact name of it, but its by tunze, and its basically a motor on the outside of the tank, connected by magnet to a prop on the inside of teh tank (u have to see it to know what im talking about exactly....) but its not sooooo clunky that it becomes an eyesore in the tank, and with one at each end you will get HUGE flow.
I believe Jaybedriften has one on his tank (not sure) but u might want to check it out
Here's a thread I made about how to build a standpipe. I don't call it a durso because the idea has been around forever... way before someone decided to name it after themselves.
The VorTech is what I have and I love the thing so much! I'm actually pondering getting another so that I can have them both running at about half their power to minimize stress on one pump. But its a definite plus for any Reef Tank. Just don't put nudibranchs in with it :-(
I was curious if anyone has used sand from a place like Lowes for their tanks. I dont really want to buy 5 bags of $20 a bag sand if I can avoide it. If so what sand can I use for the tank. Someone said something about non silica sand...I was just curious what exactly to look for. Thanks...
I was curious if anyone has used sand from a place like Lowes for their tanks. I dont really want to buy 5 bags of $20 a bag sand if I can avoide it. If so what sand can I use for the tank. Someone said something about non silica sand...I was just curious what exactly to look for. Thanks...
PhotoJohn, there has been much of a debat from buying sand at Lowes or Home Depot that we have come to a definitive answer from the helps of our good friend Veriann. South Down was the name of the company that at one time you could purchase at these home improvements store. But not any more. Carib-Sea is now really the only major importer or Reef Sand for aquariums. Any sand purchased from Lowes or Home Depot definitely contains massive amounts of silicate which as we all know is extremely harmful to our aquatic buddies. So the unfortunate fact is that were are stuck paying $20.00 to $30.00 per bag of Reef Sand for our aquariums. Not a bad price to pay to ensure that we are providing a safe habitat for our little ones.
Actually in Reef Invertebrates (pg 33) it says "Depending on there being other ready sources of biomineral and alkaline reserve, there may be no significant disadvantage to calcite or silica, but aragonite has a distinct advantage of dissolving at a significantly higher pH than calcite (and silica does not impart any buffering minerals by dissolution at all) which makes it a much better buffer in the marine aquarium." This says that aragonite will help maintain alkalinity better but silica is not harmful. If you choose to use silica sand you will have to use more buffer in your tank.
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
I am sure you are from reading the thread. I like the drilled look but I dont necessarily want to rish the tank or try to move it again. That tank is SO HEAVY...OMG why didnt they make it out of acryllic? I think I might use my 770 little giant for either a big 
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