Checking with board about what lfs said.............
- Thread starter clamchops
- Start date
fshhub
Active Member
power heads, i would go wiht either aquaclears(by hagen) or maxijets (by aquarium systems), they are bothe good pumps and reliable, the maxi jets are a bit cheaper and a little less bulky
as for everything else, what type of lighting, adn can you give more detail than 260 watts, like 4- 65 watt pc's or something, but the rest sounds like a good start
HTH
as for everything else, what type of lighting, adn can you give more detail than 260 watts, like 4- 65 watt pc's or something, but the rest sounds like a good start
HTH
fshhub
Active Member
i am not sure aboutthe pump rating, but, it sounds adequate, you can control things if too strong, with a ball valve some, which i would add just for safety reasons anyhow
for many things(except some corals, especiallly hard)
the lighting should be fine for most things, the only thing i would is get the pc's in 10,000 k daylight bulbs, and get a 40 watt flo light with and actinic for the actinic color , but for most things you may want, what you have should be fine
for many things(except some corals, especiallly hard)
the lighting should be fine for most things, the only thing i would is get the pc's in 10,000 k daylight bulbs, and get a 40 watt flo light with and actinic for the actinic color , but for most things you may want, what you have should be fine
clamchops
Member
Thanks for all the help fshhub I just wanted to make sure the lfs done me right..... any other takers on the return pump question, is a mag 7 to much power in this setup, the overflow standpipes have holes all over so if im thinking right the water will be coming down fast...........
broomer5
Active Member
You will have a set up very similar to mine, except the internal overflow which will be very nice.
I run a Mag 9.5 on my new 75 reef tank, although I have some of the water diverted over to refugium, not enough to really count.
A Mag 5 would be way under rated in my opinion.
I'd get the 9.5 or live with risk of problems with the 7. I've never used the 7 so I can't add anything to that delima.
You may want to add a ball valve or tee under the ball valve with another valve coming off that tee. This will allow you to not only throttle back on the return to tank, but allows some water to be recirc'd back to sump. This may help with backpressure issues and keeps the sump moving pretty well too. Not a must - just a nice.
SR4 up to 120 gallons 7.75" x 7.75" 4" diameter 24" height - nice CPR protein skimmer for the price - make sure you have enough room under tank. But a fair unit - I've seen one, but don't use it. I've used Bak-Pak and SR-2. Both under rated for much over 55 gallon tank - but they do work. I would imagine the SR4 would work equally if not better.
IMO - there are no other powerheads worth discussing besides MaxiJets. They are a great design, quiet, put out a lot of water for their size ... and flat out work well. Nuff said, but do as you see fit.
The lighting - again like mine. I currently have 260 watt PC's in a hood, 2 day 2 blue. They are okay in my opinion - not the greatest my any measure - but do allow for a decent number of medium to low light corals. I plan to supplement these lights with MH in the very near future. But they work - and depending on the price, they are not a rip off as far as performance - not the greatest - not the worst.
I agree 100% with what fshhub and golfish
have said - good advise from a couple good reliable members here
I run a Mag 9.5 on my new 75 reef tank, although I have some of the water diverted over to refugium, not enough to really count.
A Mag 5 would be way under rated in my opinion.
I'd get the 9.5 or live with risk of problems with the 7. I've never used the 7 so I can't add anything to that delima.
You may want to add a ball valve or tee under the ball valve with another valve coming off that tee. This will allow you to not only throttle back on the return to tank, but allows some water to be recirc'd back to sump. This may help with backpressure issues and keeps the sump moving pretty well too. Not a must - just a nice.
SR4 up to 120 gallons 7.75" x 7.75" 4" diameter 24" height - nice CPR protein skimmer for the price - make sure you have enough room under tank. But a fair unit - I've seen one, but don't use it. I've used Bak-Pak and SR-2. Both under rated for much over 55 gallon tank - but they do work. I would imagine the SR4 would work equally if not better.
IMO - there are no other powerheads worth discussing besides MaxiJets. They are a great design, quiet, put out a lot of water for their size ... and flat out work well. Nuff said, but do as you see fit.
The lighting - again like mine. I currently have 260 watt PC's in a hood, 2 day 2 blue. They are okay in my opinion - not the greatest my any measure - but do allow for a decent number of medium to low light corals. I plan to supplement these lights with MH in the very near future. But they work - and depending on the price, they are not a rip off as far as performance - not the greatest - not the worst.
I agree 100% with what fshhub and golfish
have said - good advise from a couple good reliable members here
clamchops
Member
Thanks Broomer for some more good info, I just got back from the lfs 3 maxijets (1200) it will be. I still have a question on the mag 9.5, if I dont use a ball valve what will the consequences be if any??? Will there be to much flow back to the top of the tank and a chance for an overflow. Nice to talk to a Shark from Ohio, thanks again
broomer5
Active Member
Ah yes ... Reynoldsburg Ohio
I bought a banjo from a guy down in Reynoldsburg years ago. Yes I said a banjo - no jokes please.
I am not one of the cast members off of the set of HeeHaw and do have indoor plumbing to boot !
Anyway Clamchops - nice choice of powerheads !
And yes you are right about the consequences of having too much flow from your return pump to your display tank.
The biggest thing you need to watch for with going with too large a return pump is exceeding your overflow's water capacity. Most likely you'll not have a problem - then on the other hand - always best to be sure. Check out with the lfs person that you bought the tank from - and see if he has any spec's on the RR tank you are getting ( got ). Get the scoop from that guy/gal and find out for sure what the tanks overflows can safely handle. May be much more than what a Mag 7 would put out.
Also look into what the sump is rated for, if it has a biofilter of any kind. Wouldn't hurt to know this too.
Without this info - it would only be a guess - and a guess that could lead to a mess - know what I mean <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />
See ya chops !
I bought a banjo from a guy down in Reynoldsburg years ago. Yes I said a banjo - no jokes please.
I am not one of the cast members off of the set of HeeHaw and do have indoor plumbing to boot !
Anyway Clamchops - nice choice of powerheads !
And yes you are right about the consequences of having too much flow from your return pump to your display tank.
The biggest thing you need to watch for with going with too large a return pump is exceeding your overflow's water capacity. Most likely you'll not have a problem - then on the other hand - always best to be sure. Check out with the lfs person that you bought the tank from - and see if he has any spec's on the RR tank you are getting ( got ). Get the scoop from that guy/gal and find out for sure what the tanks overflows can safely handle. May be much more than what a Mag 7 would put out.
Also look into what the sump is rated for, if it has a biofilter of any kind. Wouldn't hurt to know this too.
Without this info - it would only be a guess - and a guess that could lead to a mess - know what I mean <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />
See ya chops !
clamchops
Member
Thanks for the help golfish, here is what oceanic had to say, they said that the overflows will handle up to 800gph but I should run it around 600gph to make things less noisey. broomer , golfish, and fushhub any final thoughts???? I might just do what golfish said as it makes good sence, Thanks
fshhub
Active Member
like i said earlier, i would use a ball valve too, i would have them on both the return adn overflow lines, if for no other reason a safety precaution as well as the control factor, if need be
what if you loose power, have a leak or need to do maintenance?? it would be great, if you could do something about it, with out having to tear things apart of partially drain your system, or soemthing(ball valves are not expensive and definitely worht every penny for a sump system)
what if you loose power, have a leak or need to do maintenance?? it would be great, if you could do something about it, with out having to tear things apart of partially drain your system, or soemthing(ball valves are not expensive and definitely worht every penny for a sump system)
Z
zainsreef
Guest
ooooooo
broomer5
Active Member
Hey Clamchops !
Disregard what I said earlier about going with the Mag 9.5 - way too much flow - you'll have a mess on your hands and floor.
The 7 seems like the best overall pump - aside from some quality issues that have been mentioned - that I can't address. Never had a 7.
Regarding the whole ball valve issue. If you do use them, over size them. These valves in PVC are not considered FULL PORT ball valves. In other words, the hole in the ball as you look down the valve body, is normally reduced. Many times these types of valves do not have the same internal diameter that a piece of same size pvc pipe will have.
Decide what pvc pipe diamter will give you least resistance I.D. wise .... and then up size your pvc ball valve by a 1/4 or 1/2 size. This still allows control, but will not cause near as much flow restriction/pressure drop across the valve.
One valve on the return line from pump to tank is not going to kill ya anyways - but if you get into more elaborate piping schemes, it all adds up and can cause problems.
I do not install ball valve or any tees or restrictions on my drain from overflow. This is one area I want unrestricted flow, and as far a maintenance, it's a 3 foot length of flex hose. Once I turn off the pump and the overflow drains what it has - it's basically empty piece of hose.
Others will use ball valves on their drains to sumps and that's fine. I choose not to - but to each their own
Disregard what I said earlier about going with the Mag 9.5 - way too much flow - you'll have a mess on your hands and floor.
The 7 seems like the best overall pump - aside from some quality issues that have been mentioned - that I can't address. Never had a 7.
Regarding the whole ball valve issue. If you do use them, over size them. These valves in PVC are not considered FULL PORT ball valves. In other words, the hole in the ball as you look down the valve body, is normally reduced. Many times these types of valves do not have the same internal diameter that a piece of same size pvc pipe will have.
Decide what pvc pipe diamter will give you least resistance I.D. wise .... and then up size your pvc ball valve by a 1/4 or 1/2 size. This still allows control, but will not cause near as much flow restriction/pressure drop across the valve.
One valve on the return line from pump to tank is not going to kill ya anyways - but if you get into more elaborate piping schemes, it all adds up and can cause problems.
I do not install ball valve or any tees or restrictions on my drain from overflow. This is one area I want unrestricted flow, and as far a maintenance, it's a 3 foot length of flex hose. Once I turn off the pump and the overflow drains what it has - it's basically empty piece of hose.
Others will use ball valves on their drains to sumps and that's fine. I choose not to - but to each their own
fshhub
Active Member
a rr meaning reef ready, don't they have built in overfolw and return lines??
if so, i would still reccommend having ball valves?,since you cannot just unhook the lines and drain them(like you can hang ons), restrictionis a very good point, but your holes more than likely are below the water line in the tank
not trying to be argumentative or debate causing, but just clarify and help
especially since broomer definitely has more experience than me in the use of sumps and overflows,
in ohter words:no offense broomer, i did not know if you did not notice the rr or would still advise that way even if you had(or i may even be wrong all together about them) <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" />
in either case, i would listen to broomer's reccomendation vs mine in this area, which ever he replies with
if so, i would still reccommend having ball valves?,since you cannot just unhook the lines and drain them(like you can hang ons), restrictionis a very good point, but your holes more than likely are below the water line in the tank
not trying to be argumentative or debate causing, but just clarify and help
especially since broomer definitely has more experience than me in the use of sumps and overflows,
in ohter words:no offense broomer, i did not know if you did not notice the rr or would still advise that way even if you had(or i may even be wrong all together about them) <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" />
in either case, i would listen to broomer's reccomendation vs mine in this area, which ever he replies with
broomer5
Active Member
Nope - good point fshhub.
I stand corrected
I'm used to external overflows and did not take time to re-read the post from the beginning.
My error - thanks for catching it fshhub !
Really !
As you get older - memory is the second thing to go ....... I can't remember the first one though <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />
See ya
I stand corrected
I'm used to external overflows and did not take time to re-read the post from the beginning.
My error - thanks for catching it fshhub !
Really !
As you get older - memory is the second thing to go ....... I can't remember the first one though <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />
See ya
indy1
Member
About the lighting... I have 192w PC's over my 55g. Everything on the following list is growing. Frogspawn(at bottom of tank), Monitipora (approx. 6" below waterline), Pagoda Cup Coral, Xenia, Star Polyps, Yellow Polyps, Capnella Tree Coral, Sacrophyton(fragged several times and still growing) ETC... PC's do a great job! I wouldn't hesitate to leave the 4 65's over the tank.. Save your money and stick with the PC's
von_rahvin
Member
just for a thought, i have 2 mag 7's running 2 of my skimmers and as of yet i have not had a problem with them. just so that you are not completely freaked out. i have heard that they are prone to some problems. def get a mag 7 over a 5 though. no issues there.
other thought. if he said that his overflow is rated at 800 gph then a mag 9.5 would work. assume that he has the return pump 5 feet below the top of the tank, he is losing 250gph of flow leaving him with 700gph on a mag 9.5. and that is not assuming that he has any 90's or anything else in his plumbing (hope you are a guy if not sorry)
just my thoughts.
other thought. if he said that his overflow is rated at 800 gph then a mag 9.5 would work. assume that he has the return pump 5 feet below the top of the tank, he is losing 250gph of flow leaving him with 700gph on a mag 9.5. and that is not assuming that he has any 90's or anything else in his plumbing (hope you are a guy if not sorry)
just my thoughts.