Next Steps - Establishing a Refugium & Reef Master (or similar)

abclemen

abclemen

Member
My 180 gallon reef tank is approximately 8 months old now and becoming more established. My 2 oscellaris, 1 yellow tank, and lawnmower are all doing well. I have recently added some soft corals and a rose bubble tip anenome. I have increased my CUC and seems to me doing much better.
When I purchased my parts I decided to go with the Eshopps ADV-200 Sump which as a refugium section. See the website below for reference purposes (http://www.eshopps.com/?page=ADV_200). The back-middle section of the sump is designed for a refugium.
This design is different from others that i have seen before where this is more vertical rather than an open, spacious area in the middle and more horizontal.
Currently I do not have anything in my sump / refugium other than the Reef Octopus Protein Skimmer, foam in baffle area, and my return pump. I would like to add a light, chaeto, rubble rock, sand/mud, etc.
Question 1: How should I set up this particular sump / refugium to gain the benefits of it's design?
Question 2: Is the better option to custom build a new sump and sell my Eshopps ADV-200?
I am also determining the best way to set up an auto top-off system with kalkwasser tied to a management system.
Question 1: Does anyone have a recommendation on the best practice for topping off with kalkwasser?
Question 2: Is a Reef Keeper Lite Plus recommended and most importantly beneficial?
Thank you.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
First thing keep your kalk and ATO separate......As far as controllers....IMHO better choices out there than the ReefKeeper......Nothing wrong with them, but they aren't at the top of the game.....Check out the Apex, ReefAngels another, and depending how deep your wallet is Profilux......
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by abclemen http:///t/393693/next-steps-establishing-a-refugium-reef-master-or-similar#post_3502994
My 180 gallon reef tank is approximately 8 months old now and becoming more established. My 2 oscellaris, 1 yellow tank, and lawnmower are all doing well. I have recently added some soft corals and a rose bubble tip anenome. I have increased my CUC and seems to me doing much better.
When I purchased my parts I decided to go with the Eshopps ADV-200 Sump which as a refugium section. See the website below for reference purposes (http://www.eshopps.com/?page=ADV_200). The back-middle section of the sump is designed for a refugium.
This design is different from others that i have seen before where this is more vertical rather than an open, spacious area in the middle and more horizontal.
Currently I do not have anything in my sump / refugium other than the Reef Octopus Protein Skimmer, foam in baffle area, and my return pump. I would like to add a light, chaeto, rubble rock, sand/mud, etc.
Question 1: How should I set up this particular sump / refugium to gain the benefits of it's design?
Question 2: Is the better option to custom build a new sump and sell my Eshopps ADV-200?
I am also determining the best way to set up an auto top-off system with kalkwasser tied to a management system.
Question 1: Does anyone have a recommendation on the best practice for topping off with kalkwasser?
Question 2: Is a Reef Keeper Lite Plus recommended and most importantly beneficial?
Thank you.
An actual pic of your sump would be better to glean some more details on where your refugium will go and how effective it might be.
There are always options - it just depends on what you want to do with them. For a 180g, I would definitely recommend running a 55g sump - and custom build it. But, that is JUST ME - you can certainly have a nice tank without re-doing your sump.
Keep your kalkwasser separate from your ATO, use a drip method. On your size tank, I actually recommend buying a calcium reactor instead of dripping kalkwasser. Calcium reactors are much more hands off - and you don't necessarily have to worry about dosing additional supplements like magnesium and trace elements - because the media provides all of that. For your size tank, and a high calcium demand, a Ca reactor is where I would look. Personally, I prefer Octopus brand products - so far they haven't let me down.
I have a Profilux II controller that I have been using to monitor pH and temperature. It's coming in-handy. I haven't been able to figure out how to program it for lights but that is next on my list. I may be donating it (again) to upgrade to a reekeeper elite or maybe an Apex in the future, but for now I'm happy. :D
 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
I can testify that Apex is the best one in the game. I just helped a friend set up an Reefkeeper Elite and it took us 3 hours just to update each module manually, plus the web interface is garbage. They don't release frequent updates, for improvements and they don't release new modules to support new equipment that is coming onto the market.
Anyone that ever needs help setting up an apex, let me know.
 
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