Upgrading my 65 gallon Reef - Sump/fuge

[2quills]

Nice work, Al. I like your cabinet work it looks real clean. What method did you use for joining...pocket holes?

 

[al&burke]

Yes - woodworkers best friend - I have never used this paint grade 3/4" ply before - $50 a sheet - I will use it again. Nothing fancy here - I will put a little trim on the top make some nice plain doors - paint it up

 

[al&burke]

Alright - looking at this new stand - I wasn't really crazy about it at first - I made it longer so I could put a nice sized sump underneath - the stand that the 65 gallon is on is not tall enough for my CL 125 Skimmer - So I am doing a 40 Gallon Breeder for a lionfish. Why not put the 40 B on this stand - buy a new kick @ss skimmer (meowzer/Flower please help) - everything will be on one system 105 gallons of display and hopefully around 20 - 30 gallons sump/fuge. What do you guys think?

 

[2quills]

Sounds good, Al. Maybe you can do a two tank sump (one under each stand) and do a large fuge under the 65.

 

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/383256/upgrading-my-65-gallon-reef-sump-fuge/60#post_3356291
Sounds good, Al. Maybe you can do a two tank sump (one under each stand) and do a large fuge under the 65.
Good idea Corey - Can you help me out with the pump selection - 1000 to 1200 GPH perhaps. I was thinking a separate drain from the main 65 to the fuge - how about the 25 gallon I have for the fuge.

 

[2quills]

I think I have my 120G build set for about 165G total system volume with the sump. I was looking at the eheim compact 5000 pump. Adjustable from 660-1320 GPH. That should give you what you need. Since you live in Canada have you looked into the SWC skimmers at all?

Xtreme 180 conical protein skimmer.
The ORIGINAL Xtreme protein skimmer! Comes with a Sicce psk 2500 pump.
An integrated removable bubble plate to help reduce turbulence within the protein skimmer.
Fully disassemble, due to the removable base plate.
Perfectly balenced body and neck.
Adjustable air intake for fine air flow adjustment.
Gate valve pipe output allows you to adjust the skimmer and have precision control of the water level.
Custom pin wheel impeller. 900-1100 lph of air pull using custom impeller. Air number will vary depending on aquarium set up and testing methods.
These are real numbers not hyped numbers. Draws less than 25 watts of electricity per pump.Quick release neck on the collection cup - requires 1/2 inch of clearance to remove the cup.
In sump skimmers only.
Recommended water depth 7-9 inches.
Foot Print:
LxWxH in inches
9*8*21




Xtreme 180 cone Skimmer



Light Bioload



Medium Bioload



Heavy Bioload



























Tank ratings



250



200



150

 

[al&burke]

That looks really nice Corey - I have 25 inches of clearance under the new stand. Awesome - I am sick and tired of my Coral Life 125. Thanks my friend

 

[al&burke]

I need some more advise, how many totes do you think I need to tear this tank apart so I can drill it install overflow box - plumb everything - there is about 70 pounds of rock, yellow acro large toadstool leather yellow polys 10 headed hammer monti attached to rock 2 anemones acans ricordia elegance (still in bad shape) I want to put all the coral in one tote with cleaner shrimp, emerald and percelain crab. I was thinking 3 or 4 large ones. I will plumb them all together so one drains into another then the last pumps back to first through Fluval FX5. What do I need to look for to make sure the plastic is safe for corals and inverts. Thanks

 

[meowzer]

WOW....what a job....i think 3 will be good....and I am sure rubbermaid will be fine.....You are not going to leave them in there too long anyway.....just make sure you put the corals in one so you can concentrate the light on them

 

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/383256/upgrading-my-65-gallon-reef-sump-fuge/60#post_3356364
WOW....what a job....i think 3 will be good....and I am sure rubbermaid will be fine.....You are not going to leave them in there too long anyway.....just make sure you put the corals in one so you can concentrate the light on them
Thanks meowzer - what do you think of my idea - i will only need one good skimmer - and I will finally get the ATO - tired of adding ro water everyday.

 

[meowzer]

I think you are very brave.....my 225G is not drilled, and there is NO WAY I would empty it to do it....altho I do have ato.....straight from the ro/di to the tank.....a lot of people frown on that though....BUT I check it often

 

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/383256/upgrading-my-65-gallon-reef-sump-fuge/60#post_3356371
I think you are very brave.....my 225G is not drilled, and there is NO WAY I would empty it to do it....altho I do have ato.....straight from the ro/di to the tank.....a lot of people frown on that though....BUT I check it often
Drilling is nothing - 225 tank is a little different than a 65 though. I was going to set up my ATO direct to the RO line - I heard it is not a good idea.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/383256/upgrading-my-65-gallon-reef-sump-fuge/60#post_3356371
I think you are very brave.....my 225G is not drilled, and there is NO WAY I would empty it to do it....altho I do have ato.....straight from the ro/di to the tank.....a lot of people frown on that though....BUT I check it often
Shame, Shame on that ATO line....When you least expect, or when your not home is when it will bite you eventually.....

 

[meowzer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/383256/upgrading-my-65-gallon-reef-sump-fuge/60#post_3356373
Drilling is nothing - 225 tank is a little different than a 65 though. I was going to set up my ATO direct to the RO line - I heard it is not a good idea.
LOL.....I like that little "dig"

 

[acrylic51]

Good skimmer choice, and like the pump recommendation as well!!!!!!

 

[al&burke]

The experts are great help, I almost have the stand built - I have to make the sump fuge and overflow box then i will start to tear down the 65.

 

[al&burke]

I wanted to run this by everyone, I am going to build my overflow box hopefully this weekend. I was thinking of adding a 1" lip or edge around the bottom of the overflow box to add frag pieces or add a coral that will grow on the overflow box. I was even thinking of fragging a monti to it. What do you all think would this work or would it look out of place. I was even thinking of adding an acrylic tude on the bottom so my bi colored blennie could hang out there. Thanks for looking.

 

[acrylic51]

Not a bad idea IMO.....Might stand out a bit at the beginning, but once it starts encrusting should be rather neat.

 

[gemmy]

I think that would be neat.

 

[al&burke]

Remember we talked about a perch for blennies that's what i want to do.