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180g In-Wall Reef
- Thread starter Patriot76
- Start date
Perfect ;D I'd run it like that, if you notice the back pressure that were all concerned about it's an easy enough fix with the skimmer location 
Patriot76 said:how's this?
Lookin good
As you can see, the MRC-2 is skimming!
just need to get a longer drainage hose!
Also, finally got my Fluval FX5 Canister Filter yesterday. I am running SecChem Matrix Carbon & Kent Phosphate Sponge in it. No bio media or sponges.
I am having a bit of a brown algae/diatom outbreak though. I have had this before with new tanks, but I was hoping using all RO/DI water would prevent it! Guess not.
just need to get a longer drainage hose!
Also, finally got my Fluval FX5 Canister Filter yesterday. I am running SecChem Matrix Carbon & Kent Phosphate Sponge in it. No bio media or sponges.
I am having a bit of a brown algae/diatom outbreak though. I have had this before with new tanks, but I was hoping using all RO/DI water would prevent it! Guess not.
Sweet ;D
Try adjusting the skimmer just a tad, so it won't skim so wet.
Try adjusting the skimmer just a tad, so it won't skim so wet.
I added 180lbs of Live Sand and 135lbs of Live Rock to the display tank today. I moved the 90lbs of Live Rock (left over from my previous tank) into my 55g refugium. I will be adding another 135lbs of Live Rock to the Display tank in a couple weeks. As of now the the refugium is bare bottom. What do you guys think of leaving the refugium bare bottom? I am going to keep the 90lbs of LR in there with some Macro-Algae. Was going to use some of the Live Sand I got today in the refuguim, but didnt think there was enough to have a DSB in the display tank and have enough left over for the refugium. I am considering using Miracle Mud in the refugium. Could use some advice. Also, will 270lbs of LR in the main tank (180g) and 90lbs in the refugium (55g) be sufficent filtration? Along with the 180lbs of Live Sand in the display tank. I am also running a MRC-2 Skimmer and a Fluval FX5 with Carbon & Phosphate sponge.
As far as water movement goes, i have 4 Koralia-4's (4800gph) in the main tank, along with a Mag-9.5 for return (prob about 650gph after head loss), plus the Fluval FX5 at 1000gph. I think water movement should be good in the main tank. The refugium has 2 PowerSweep powerheads at 270gph, plus a mag-7 for return pump (prob 475 after head loss). I think this should also be good for water circulation in the refugium.
Any ideas, suggestions, advice?
As far as water movement goes, i have 4 Koralia-4's (4800gph) in the main tank, along with a Mag-9.5 for return (prob about 650gph after head loss), plus the Fluval FX5 at 1000gph. I think water movement should be good in the main tank. The refugium has 2 PowerSweep powerheads at 270gph, plus a mag-7 for return pump (prob 475 after head loss). I think this should also be good for water circulation in the refugium.
Any ideas, suggestions, advice?
your return pump is too small for a return on a 180 IMO. your overflows are rated for 600GPH each. why would you want only roughly 300 returning? You would probably have more water flowing out of the 2 1" drains then coming back in. I would recommend something at least 1200GPH on a return pump after head loss. Just my opinion.
Harry
Harry
Some reefers are going to either bare bottom or shallow sand bed (SSB) in the display and a remote DSB either in the fuge or its own container. DSB's provide for good nitrate reduction along with macro algae. 2# per gallon LR is the rule of thumb but not necessarily a requirement in the display. Aquascaping trends are moving towards the open look as opposed to the wall look. The LR will do it's thing remotely as well. Rule of thumb for flow is 10x but doesn't all have to come from the return pump. The sump is only going to process so much water so cramming more through at a given time isn't going to gain anything other then micro bubbles. Although oxygenation is a good result from alot of flow through the sump it can also be accomplished by the surface of the water in the display being turbulent.
HTH
HTH
harryk said:
Actually your tank will only drain to an extent and then stop until more is water is added back to tank. Overflows are designed so that they do not drain water any faster than it is being put back into the tank. It may flow faster than the input for periods, but total volume, it will be equal or less than your return pump.
As long as the volume of your tank is going through your sump 3-5 times, I'd say it is fine. Use closed loops, and other pumps like koralias and vortechs to achieve the flow within your tank. They are better suited for this than trying to use your return pump for this.
i did downgrade from a 1800gph pump to 950gph for the purpose of removing micro bubbles and like Rich says- the sump is only going to process so much water regardless of the flow. i read on melev's page that 3-5 times the tank size is sufficent for a return pump. i did not feel that a larger return pump was key to water movement inside the tank- thus the 4 koralia-4's. two of those powerheads and the 2 return pumps do cause turbulence of the water surface for oxygenation. plus i like the way the lights shimmer through the water movement. plus both the 180g display and 55g refugium are both draining into the 55g sump, so there there is plenty of water moving through the sump, and causing a lot of oxygenation. there is also a 1800gph pump for my skimmer pushing water through the sump as well.
thanks for the advice guys!!!!!!
i am going to pick up some live sand and macro algae for the fuge tomorrow!
thanks for the advice guys!!!!!!
i am going to pick up some live sand and macro algae for the fuge tomorrow!
Today I added about 110lbs of Live Sand to my Refugium as well as some Calupera as well.
I also managed to remove a couple gorialla crabs and a mantis shrimp from my latest shipment of live rock. but i still at least one mantis in the tank, i can hear the clicking. i will get him sooner or later!
new pics coming soon!!
I also managed to remove a couple gorialla crabs and a mantis shrimp from my latest shipment of live rock. but i still at least one mantis in the tank, i can hear the clicking. i will get him sooner or later!
new pics coming soon!!
