New reef tank

LouPhoenix · 12/26/2006, 12:28 AM

I've kept freshwater fish for over two decades, so that's what i've been comfortable with. A friend of a friend had to move away (family emergency) and so he rushedly sold me his 60 gallon Perfecto hexagon tank/wood stand complete with live sand, 30 something lbs of established live fiji rock, a handful of corals, hermits, snails, shrimp, 4 pumps, phosphate reactor, sump, algae filter, in-sump protein skimmer.... all for a cool 300 bucks. I knew this was a steal for a reef tank. so I bought it.

Meanwhile i've done a lot of research and now have a fairly good idea of what I need to run my new tank.... so herein lies my problem: due to the location of the tank (and my less than thrilled wife) I won't be able to run the sump, which is substantial in size (30 gal, I believe).
I've got some of the pumps running in the main tank for circulation, hooked up a canister filter I had (fluval 305), and the phosphate reactor, but need to get a protein skimmer going! I really don't want to hang anything in the back of the tank, so what would you recommend for a good external protein skimmer w/ external pump that can be put inside the stand's cabinet?

Also need to get better lighting going for this tank. So far it has a couple of coralite actinic/natural daylight HO fluorescents (I think). Any advise?

Been testing the water everyday, and so far, everything checks out great and stable. Salinity is perfect too.

I know this is not the right thread to advertise, but I'd be willing to trade the sump with pump / protein skimmer for something suitable for my setup. I'll post it on the appropriate thread later, as I get some pics taken.

Thanks in advance for any help / Advise!

avshockey311 · 12/26/2006, 12:58 AM

To Reef Central

For the skimmer Im not to sure but as for the lighting I would go with a single 250W Metal Halide pendant. Could you go with a smaller sized sump to go under the tank?

LouPhoenix · 12/26/2006, 01:12 AM

Thanks for the welcome!

The area under the tank is literally 20 in. wide, 20 in. deep and 22 in. high.... not a lot of room to maneuver. I've read that the LR/LS would act as its own bio-filter, and I know the canister works well as a mechanical filter, so the protein skimmer remains my # 1 priority.

I've read of minisump systems, but they seem to be risky in the event of an overflow, since there's little room to hold the extra water. Am I correct?

I know this tank won't develop into anything unless I get the skimmer / lighting in check (thanks for your suggestion), so any additional ideas are definitely welcome....

saltycreefer · 12/26/2006, 01:19 AM

You'll need a sump if you dont want your skimmer hanging off the back. Hex tanks are tricky to get proper circulation because of the height. Detritus can really accumulate under the live rock. What i would do if the tank was mine would be pulling the substrate and going bare bottom. I'd then position a strong powerhead pointing downward behind the live rock to keep the bottom clean. Good luck !

LouPhoenix · 12/26/2006, 01:27 AM

Thanks for the idea... something to consider!

I asked about the 'in-stand' skimmer because I saw a picture of a setup (can't remember where) which showed an out-of-sump skimmer inside a stand similar to mine, with an external pump pushing water through it... is this a feasible thing? if so, any suggestions for a good external or HOB skimmer? The local shops have bombarded me with a variety of brands and styles, so I'd rather ask those of you who know first hand...

bertoni · 12/26/2006, 01:48 AM

That size tank is a bit tough for hang-on skimmers. A CoraLife skimmer might be okay. A Deltec would be fine, but very expensive. I don't know of a sump-style or along-side skimmer that would fit into your space off-hand. I guess you could look at the Octopus protein skimmer line.

Shagsbeard · 12/26/2006, 06:58 AM

Consider plumbing the sump into a completely different room. It sounds like a huge job, but it really isn't. Consider that in most houses the hot water heater and the shower are often on opposite ends of the house, and those pipes are often burried. It's a breeze to plumb the sump through a wall by comparison. My sump is going downstairs this summer, leaving my livingroom once again a peacefully silent place (I hope).

LouPhoenix · 12/26/2006, 10:00 AM

That size tank is a bit tough for hang-on skimmers. A CoraLife skimmer might be okay. A Deltec would be fine, but very expensive. I don't know of a sump-style or along-side skimmer that would fit into your space off-hand. I guess you could look at the Octopus protein skimmer line.

-----------------------------

Thanks Jonathan. I've actually looked at the Octopus and Coralife skimmers.... just can't decide which brand is more reliable, cost effective, efficient, etc. (mainly due to my inexperience with Saltwater)...

If i could find a tried-and-true along-side skimmer that could work inside the stand via external pump, it would be an awesome solution. I'll keep looking around, but time grows shorter with each passing day w/o a skimmer. Thanks for the suggestions!

LouPhoenix · 12/26/2006, 10:10 AM

Consider plumbing the sump into a completely different room. It sounds like a huge job, but it really isn't. Consider that in most houses the hot water heater and the shower are often on opposite ends of the house, and those pipes are often burried. It's a breeze to plumb the sump through a wall by comparison. My sump is going downstairs this summer, leaving my livingroom once again a peacefully silent place (I hope).

___________________________________________

Another good Idea. thanks Shagsbeard!

I had actually thought about this. There is a wall alongside the tank that leads to my screened-in patio which could house a huge sump and then some! I looked at this option as more of a long term project, which will require time, $$$, and some thought and effort. At this time i'm more concerned about the immediate well-being of the tank. Once that's done i'll be able to concetrate more efforts into customizing and expanding my newfound hobby!

BTW, good luck with your sump relocation. Let us know how that goes!

LouPhoenix · 12/26/2006, 11:57 AM

You'll need a sump if you dont want your skimmer hanging off the back. Hex tanks are tricky to get proper circulation because of the height. Detritus can really accumulate under the live rock. What i would do if the tank was mine would be pulling the substrate and going bare bottom. I'd then position a strong powerhead pointing downward behind the live rock to keep the bottom clean. Good luck !

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the great Idea, Salty! Since I made sure that my live rock was well isolated from the substrate, instead of removing the LS, I sank a flat slate in the back of the tank, placed a pump halfway down the tank and pointed its nozzle straight at the slate... as a result, there was very little LS disturbance while most of the detritus at the bottom was carried upwards into the filter intake. Awesome!!

12/26/2006, 12:28 AM	#1
LouPhoenix Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kendall Posts: 870	New reef tank I've kept freshwater fish for over two decades, so that's what i've been comfortable with. A friend of a friend had to move away (family emergency) and so he rushedly sold me his 60 gallon Perfecto hexagon tank/wood stand complete with live sand, 30 something lbs of established live fiji rock, a handful of corals, hermits, snails, shrimp, 4 pumps, phosphate reactor, sump, algae filter, in-sump protein skimmer.... all for a cool 300 bucks. I knew this was a steal for a reef tank. so I bought it. Meanwhile i've done a lot of research and now have a fairly good idea of what I need to run my new tank.... so herein lies my problem: due to the location of the tank (and my less than thrilled wife) I won't be able to run the sump, which is substantial in size (30 gal, I believe). I've got some of the pumps running in the main tank for circulation, hooked up a canister filter I had (fluval 305), and the phosphate reactor, but need to get a protein skimmer going! I really don't want to hang anything in the back of the tank, so what would you recommend for a good external protein skimmer w/ external pump that can be put inside the stand's cabinet? Also need to get better lighting going for this tank. So far it has a couple of coralite actinic/natural daylight HO fluorescents (I think). Any advise? Been testing the water everyday, and so far, everything checks out great and stable. Salinity is perfect too. I know this is not the right thread to advertise, but I'd be willing to trade the sump with pump / protein skimmer for something suitable for my setup. I'll post it on the appropriate thread later, as I get some pics taken. Thanks in advance for any help / Advise!

12/26/2006, 12:58 AM	#2
avshockey311 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,643	*To Reef Central* For the skimmer Im not to sure but as for the lighting I would go with a single 250W Metal Halide pendant. Could you go with a smaller sized sump to go under the tank? __________________ Surgeon General's WARNING: This hobby may be addictive, and has also been known to drain bank accounts. Current Tank Info: 90 AGA MegaFlow, 120 lbs. LR, RedSea Berlin skimmer, 20 gallon sump, 2 150W Metal Halide

12/26/2006, 01:12 AM	#3
LouPhoenix Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kendall Posts: 870	Thanks for the welcome! The area under the tank is literally 20 in. wide, 20 in. deep and 22 in. high.... not a lot of room to maneuver. I've read that the LR/LS would act as its own bio-filter, and I know the canister works well as a mechanical filter, so the protein skimmer remains my # 1 priority. I've read of minisump systems, but they seem to be risky in the event of an overflow, since there's little room to hold the extra water. Am I correct? I know this tank won't develop into anything unless I get the skimmer / lighting in check (thanks for your suggestion), so any additional ideas are definitely welcome.... __________________ SELECT * FROM users WHERE clue > 0 0 rows returned Current Tank Info: 65 Gallon hexagon tank. 2 Korali55 gal fw planted acidic amazon biotype.

12/26/2006, 01:19 AM	#4
saltycreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fairfield,CT Posts: 1,696	You'll need a sump if you dont want your skimmer hanging off the back. Hex tanks are tricky to get proper circulation because of the height. Detritus can really accumulate under the live rock. What i would do if the tank was mine would be pulling the substrate and going bare bottom. I'd then position a strong powerhead pointing downward behind the live rock to keep the bottom clean. Good luck ! __________________ I love being a turtle!!! Current Tank Info: Got out of tanks for a little while.

12/26/2006, 01:27 AM	#5
LouPhoenix Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kendall Posts: 870	Thanks for the idea... something to consider! I asked about the 'in-stand' skimmer because I saw a picture of a setup (can't remember where) which showed an out-of-sump skimmer inside a stand similar to mine, with an external pump pushing water through it... is this a feasible thing? if so, any suggestions for a good external or HOB skimmer? The local shops have bombarded me with a variety of brands and styles, so I'd rather ask those of you who know first hand... __________________ SELECT * FROM users WHERE clue > 0 0 rows returned Current Tank Info: 65 Gallon hexagon tank. 2 Korali55 gal fw planted acidic amazon biotype.

12/26/2006, 01:48 AM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That size tank is a bit tough for hang-on skimmers. A CoraLife skimmer might be okay. A Deltec would be fine, but very expensive. I don't know of a sump-style or along-side skimmer that would fit into your space off-hand. I guess you could look at the Octopus protein skimmer line. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/26/2006, 06:58 AM	#7
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Consider plumbing the sump into a completely different room. It sounds like a huge job, but it really isn't. Consider that in most houses the hot water heater and the shower are often on opposite ends of the house, and those pipes are often burried. It's a breeze to plumb the sump through a wall by comparison. My sump is going downstairs this summer, leaving my livingroom once again a peacefully silent place (I hope).

12/26/2006, 10:00 AM	#8
LouPhoenix Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kendall Posts: 870	That size tank is a bit tough for hang-on skimmers. A CoraLife skimmer might be okay. A Deltec would be fine, but very expensive. I don't know of a sump-style or along-side skimmer that would fit into your space off-hand. I guess you could look at the Octopus protein skimmer line. ----------------------------- Thanks Jonathan. I've actually looked at the Octopus and Coralife skimmers.... just can't decide which brand is more reliable, cost effective, efficient, etc. (mainly due to my inexperience with Saltwater)... If i could find a tried-and-true along-side skimmer that could work inside the stand via external pump, it would be an awesome solution. I'll keep looking around, but time grows shorter with each passing day w/o a skimmer. Thanks for the suggestions!

12/26/2006, 10:10 AM	#9
LouPhoenix Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kendall Posts: 870	Consider plumbing the sump into a completely different room. It sounds like a huge job, but it really isn't. Consider that in most houses the hot water heater and the shower are often on opposite ends of the house, and those pipes are often burried. It's a breeze to plumb the sump through a wall by comparison. My sump is going downstairs this summer, leaving my livingroom once again a peacefully silent place (I hope). ___________________________________________ Another good Idea. thanks Shagsbeard! I had actually thought about this. There is a wall alongside the tank that leads to my screened-in patio which could house a huge sump and then some! I looked at this option as more of a long term project, which will require time, $$$, and some thought and effort. At this time i'm more concerned about the immediate well-being of the tank. Once that's done i'll be able to concetrate more efforts into customizing and expanding my newfound hobby! BTW, good luck with your sump relocation. Let us know how that goes!

12/26/2006, 11:57 AM	#10
LouPhoenix Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kendall Posts: 870	You'll need a sump if you dont want your skimmer hanging off the back. Hex tanks are tricky to get proper circulation because of the height. Detritus can really accumulate under the live rock. What i would do if the tank was mine would be pulling the substrate and going bare bottom. I'd then position a strong powerhead pointing downward behind the live rock to keep the bottom clean. Good luck ! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for the great Idea, Salty! Since I made sure that my live rock was well isolated from the substrate, instead of removing the LS, I sank a flat slate in the back of the tank, placed a pump halfway down the tank and pointed its nozzle straight at the slate... as a result, there was very little LS disturbance while most of the detritus at the bottom was carried upwards into the filter intake. Awesome!!