Less than 2 months away from 180g FOWLR tank build

steveu

steveu

New Member
Hello,
I came to this site about a week or so ago to brush up on some things for my new tank build. I mostly wanted to learn how to build a refugium, and learn a little more about fish compatibility, and LR/LS setups. I researched so much my eyes often ached, also not wanting to waste anyone’s time. I must say there are so many helpful and knowledgeable people here on SWF forums, it has further fueled my excitement – that and numerous trips to the local LFS’s. I have about 15 years experience in SWF, and my last tank was a 120g FO, wet/dry, etc…My last fish, a large puffer, died around 4 months ago.
I have some questions I’m struggling with, and would appreciate any feedback or discussion based on everyone’s experience:
1)What size Mag pumps for 180 pre-drilled tank w/dual returns – thinking of leaning towards low-mid flow rate (2 Mag 5's) due to refugium, if this makes sense, and makeup overall flow with in tank powerheads.
2)Do pumps have to be exactly matched in GPH, or does it matter as long as not big difference and of course total is less than the overflows
3)Would it be very beneficial in the sump to run input water through 200 micron socks first, then 100 micron socks or pad before on to Protein skimmer, then to refugium?
4)Do I want egg crate under rocks for cushioning in case of rock slides? What are positives vs. negatives? Will this hamper burrowing fish / inverts much?
Thanks,
Steve
 
crypt keeper

crypt keeper

Active Member
You want your tank to over turn at more than 10x the gallon an hour hell even 20. so a 180 should be moving 1800 gallons an hour. In my 150 I have about 3500gph movement and flow give or take and my fish are all okay. Your fuge will do better with water moving from it faster as well. I would go with dual mag 9's or a single mag 15ish range then break the piping in half. You figure after a few feet of tubing and gravity the water will not be pumping as hard. You can make this up with power heads. I would place a k5 in each corner pushing water away. Then place a k 3 on each side glass pointing directly straight about 1/2 way down for flow in the middle. No dead spots. This will allow your sand to not grow junk algea's.
Your tank will flow if you have dual overflows at 600gph X 2. So 1200 gallons per hour. Your sump will never overflow if you fill it up correctly with the power off. You want to run a 55 gallon sump or bigger if possible.
For instance my 75 had a single mag 9. My 150 has dual mag 9's. You wont empty or pump water faster to the tank than it can fill unless you place a stupid sized pump in there and it will still be hard to do that. The water in the Sump gets slowed down a lot. The first chamber fills up slows it down gets pumped by the skimmer. Then it flows over a wall. Into the fuge which can slow it down a little even more. Then it hits the next set of walls then off to the return.
 
crypt keeper

crypt keeper

Active Member
Your egg crate questions. This is done to allow fish who burrow to do their thing and wont cause a rock slide. You place in the crate. Place in the rock. Make it sturdy. Then add sand. Most people will place no crates then the sand then the rock. Then a fish will come in and move the sand boom death. Possible cracked tank. Depending on the fish list you choose a 3 inch sand bed is enough.
 
steveu

steveu

New Member
Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3185314
You can make this up with power heads. I would place a k5 in each corner pushing water away. Then place a k 3 on each side glass pointing directly straight about 1/2 way down for flow in the middle. No dead spots. This will allow your sand to not grow junk algea's.
Thanks for the responses crypt keeper. I want to be sure I understand. Assuming you mean Koralia 5's, they are each ~1,650 gph, so 2 of them are 3,300 or 4 are 6,600. Plus 2 K3's, that's another 1,700gph if I'm reading that right. So depending on if you meant 2 or 4 K5's, that's either 5,000 plus about 1,200 for the Mag's or 8,300 plus about 1,200 for the Mag's. That seems to be either 34x turnover/movement, or over 50x. Am I figuring this all correctly?
I even forgot the 2 K3's, so I'm thinking I'm a little lost here

Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3185314
You want to run a 55 gallon sump or bigger if possible.
I'm not sure what I can get under the standard wooden stand, but I'm thinking maybe a 40g tank, but probably just a 30g, I doubt I could get a 55 under there. How do people do this - other than having a 55g DS (Display Sump).
 
crypt keeper

crypt keeper

Active Member
run dual 30's one for your skimmer the other for your fuge return. in 180 you will have bigger fish. The biggest fuge you can run is best.
I had a k 3 and a k4 on the sides of my tank then a k2 one on each side puhsing across. It wasnt that much. Now my 150 I have a k4 in each corner. a k3 on each side and then my returns. My fish swim around like its nothing.
IMO the more flow the better. Ever seen videos of the great barrier reef and that current? Its insane.
may switch to what i have. I feed 4 times a day and my fish grow like weeds. My trates arent bad at all
 
steveu

steveu

New Member
Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3185446
run dual 30's one for your skimmer the other for your fuge return. in 180 you will have bigger fish. The biggest fuge you can run is best.
That's a good idea, I'll have to research that - specifically how to plumb the connection, I assume 2 bulkheads and around a 1 1/2 PVC connection between the two 30's. Seems like I'd have some extra space in the skimmer tank, possibly more fuge space.

Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3185446
Now my 150 I have a k4 in each corner. a k3 on each side and then my returns. My fish swim around like its nothing.
Which corners are your K4's in, I got it on the side ones pointing them to the middle, just not sure on the placement and direction of the K4's since it sounds like you have good tank movement?
Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3185446
IMO the more flow the better. Ever seen videos of the great barrier reef and that current? Its insane.
Good point....Thanks again for all the help.
 
crypt keeper

crypt keeper

Active Member
k4's were on the back wall top left and right pointed inward top half but didnt break the surface. My I had a dual return on each. 1 hitting the surface the other pointec where ever.
 
steveu

steveu

New Member
Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3186463
k4's were on the back wall top left and right pointed inward top half but didnt break the surface. My I had a dual return on each. 1 hitting the surface the other pointec where ever.
Cool, thanks ck.
 
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