reef rig or just sump

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #1 12-28-2006, 05:07 AM

I also prefer having a sump/refugium. In-sump skimmers tend to be more efficient than HOBs & you can solve the micro-bubbles problem more easily. I hide my heater & extra live rock in there, as well as lots of macro algae. A couple of simple clip on CFL screw in bulbs (27w Phillips Daylight bulb) is plenty of light for that setup. Or if you go with a Metal halide or PC, then you can change it into a frag tank.

Anthony

draco · #2 12-28-2006, 05:52 AM

When filling the tank and the sump for the first time what should the levels of the water be ? Should the tank be full and the sump at the max level or what?
please help

demon666 · #3 12-28-2006, 06:38 AM

when i filled mine for the first time i filled the tank all the way up first.... including the overflow.... then filled the sump to where i figured the water levels would be..... then i turned on the return pump..... i had to keep adding water till the water levels evened out to where i wanted them as the pump filled the return pipeing and the remainder of the tank to get that perfect turn over........

Ruth · #4 12-28-2006, 11:54 AM

Well you learn something new every day. Reef Rig it is

I prefer to have a refugium as well.
When I was trying to determine how full to have my sump/fuge I like to fill it so that the water is about 1/2 to 2/3 of the volume of the sump with everything running. Then I turn everything off - simulating a power failure to make sure that there is enough room for the back siphon of water without overflowing.