Few questions from a newbie :)

Kazzykins · 11/12/2014, 09:18 PM

Hello, all

i'm starting my first reef aquarium and i have a few questions to ask.

1.) is a 220g rated skimmer too much for a 50g DT with a 20g sump?

2.) planning on getting an Evergrow D120, will it be enough for a 50g 36Lx15W tank?

3.) i have two 425gph rated powerheads and a 782gph rated return pump, is this enough for my tank AND 29 gallon sump?

Thank you for the help

edinphilly · 11/12/2014, 09:20 PM

#3 - I have more flow in my 29g. May want to upgrade or add a power head.

Kazzykins · 11/12/2014, 09:28 PM

Okay, going to invest on another powerhed. Thanks

MMacro · 11/12/2014, 09:47 PM

The skimmer would be fine, which one is it? I would check out reefbreeders.com for your lights. Your return pump will add little to no flow to your tank, I would invest into a powerhead with more flow.

Kazzykins · 11/12/2014, 10:07 PM

It's a coralife 220g super skimmer i believe, i got it off of craigslist. I have a 29g sump btw.

Kazzykins · 11/12/2014, 10:14 PM

I believe my turn over per hour is 20-23x with my two 425gph powerheads and 782gph return pump, i might be wrong.

MMacro · 11/12/2014, 10:24 PM

Again, your return pump will add little to no flow to your tank. I would invest in a Hydor Koralia 1150 gph or vortech mp40 depending on your budget.

Miz40B · 11/12/2014, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reeferplax

Again, your return pump will add little to no flow to your tank. I would invest in a Hydor Koralia 1150 gph or vortech mp40 depending on your budget.

Little to no flow from the return? Really? What do you consider little to none?

MMacro · 11/12/2014, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miz40B

Little to no flow from the return? Really? What do you consider little to none?

I mean that you wont see a significant amount of flow in your tank from your return nozzle.

Kazzykins · 11/12/2014, 11:33 PM

Should i get one or two 1150's?

edinphilly · 11/13/2014, 04:30 PM

As cheap as you can get them on eBay etc I would say 2. Eventually one will fail so even if you don't use both initially eventually you will.

Also look into the Jebao WP series. They're much cheaper than Vortech but are decent.

The return will circulate water but is using most of its "horsepower" to move water between tanks not create flow in your display.

You also don't mention what coral you want to keep which determines how much and what type of flow. Do some searching on Google and here about types of flow and how much different types of coral need.

Kazzykins · 11/14/2014, 12:31 AM

Yup! I found good deals on Ebay , just got two 800gph rated powerheads and 1500gph rated return pump for $55

had to return the koralias i got from Amazon.

I'll be keeping mostly SPS and LPS corals, already did some research about it.

MMacro · 11/14/2014, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazzykins

Yup! I found good deals on Ebay , just got two 800gph rated powerheads and 1500gph rated return pump for $55

had to return the koralias i got from Amazon.

I'll be keeping mostly SPS and LPS corals, already did some research about it.

Did you buy sunsun powerheads?

gbru316 · 11/14/2014, 11:03 AM

1. Your return pump will not pump 1500 gph through your display. Depending on the head pressure it sees, it could pump as little as half of that, or less.

2. 1600 GPH is still on the lower end for SPS in a 50 gallon tank. I have that much flow in my 20 gallon tank that's primarily soft coral.

Sk8r · 11/14/2014, 12:39 PM

50 gallon tank: Mag 9.5 pump, output 950 gallons an hour [gph] is pretty well balanced. A 120 skimmer would be about right, though that one will probably do fine. Most people don't keep their skimmer that efficient anyway.

gbru316 · 11/14/2014, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

50 gallon tank: Mag 9.5 pump, output 950 gallons an hour [gph] is pretty well balanced. A 120 skimmer would be about right, though that one will probably do fine. Most people don't keep their skimmer that efficient anyway.

FWIW, you'll get closer to 700-750 GPH out of a mag 9.5 if mounted in a sump, with union (so plumbing can be cleaned), 2x90º elbows to go over rim, 4' of vertical pipe and a foot of horizontal pipe.

Zer0. · 11/14/2014, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kazzykins

hello, all

i'm starting my first reef aquarium and i have a few questions to ask.

1.) is a 220g rated skimmer too much for a 50g dt with a 20g sump?
i would say depends on skimmer. All manuf. Over rate. Some more than others tho

My 180 gallon with 40 breeder sump has a skimmer rated for 500 gallons. Aquamaxx has really good skimmers just speaking of

2.) planning on getting an evergrow d120, will it be enough for a 50g 36lx15w tank?
depends. Looks like they have 90 degree optics, so i would probably think two but your kinda right in the middle there. 1 might work if you can hang it a bit higher or get wider optic lens for it.
3.) i have two 425gph rated powerheads and a 782gph rated return pump, is this enough for my tank and 29 gallon sump?
depends on what you keep. Lots of people recommend 30-50 softies/many lps being at the low end in favor and 50 being sps favor. I shoot for in the middle. Remember you won't get 782 gph out of your return pump after head pressure loss and bends in the return line
thank you for the help

Np. HTH

11/12/2014, 09:18 PM	#1
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	Few questions from a newbie :) Hello, all i'm starting my first reef aquarium and i have a few questions to ask. 1.) is a 220g rated skimmer too much for a 50g DT with a 20g sump? 2.) planning on getting an Evergrow D120, will it be enough for a 50g 36Lx15W tank? 3.) i have two 425gph rated powerheads and a 782gph rated return pump, is this enough for my tank AND 29 gallon sump? Thank you for the help Last edited by Kazzykins; 11/12/2014 at 10:16 PM.

11/14/2014, 12:39 PM	#15
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	50 gallon tank: Mag 9.5 pump, output 950 gallons an hour [gph] is pretty well balanced. A 120 skimmer would be about right, though that one will probably do fine. Most people don't keep their skimmer that efficient anyway. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/12/2014, 09:20 PM	#2
edinphilly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 333	#3 - I have more flow in my 29g. May want to upgrade or add a power head.

11/12/2014, 09:28 PM	#3
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	Okay, going to invest on another powerhed. Thanks

11/12/2014, 09:47 PM	#4
MMacro Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,442	The skimmer would be fine, which one is it? I would check out reefbreeders.com for your lights. Your return pump will add little to no flow to your tank, I would invest into a powerhead with more flow.

11/12/2014, 10:07 PM	#5
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	It's a coralife 220g super skimmer i believe, i got it off of craigslist. I have a 29g sump btw.

11/12/2014, 10:14 PM	#6
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	I believe my turn over per hour is 20-23x with my two 425gph powerheads and 782gph return pump, i might be wrong.

11/12/2014, 10:24 PM	#7
MMacro Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,442	Again, your return pump will add little to no flow to your tank. I would invest in a Hydor Koralia 1150 gph or vortech mp40 depending on your budget.

11/12/2014, 11:33 PM	#10
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	Should i get one or two 1150's?

11/13/2014, 04:30 PM	#11
edinphilly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 333	As cheap as you can get them on eBay etc I would say 2. Eventually one will fail so even if you don't use both initially eventually you will. Also look into the Jebao WP series. They're much cheaper than Vortech but are decent. The return will circulate water but is using most of its "horsepower" to move water between tanks not create flow in your display. You also don't mention what coral you want to keep which determines how much and what type of flow. Do some searching on Google and here about types of flow and how much different types of coral need.

11/14/2014, 12:31 AM	#12
Kazzykins Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 10	Yup! I found good deals on Ebay , just got two 800gph rated powerheads and 1500gph rated return pump for $55 had to return the koralias i got from Amazon. I'll be keeping mostly SPS and LPS corals, already did some research about it.

11/14/2014, 11:03 AM	#14
gbru316 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,720	1. Your return pump will not pump 1500 gph through your display. Depending on the head pressure it sees, it could pump as little as half of that, or less. 2. 1600 GPH is still on the lower end for SPS in a 50 gallon tank. I have that much flow in my 20 gallon tank that's primarily soft coral.