New Saltwater Aquarium - Advice Needed

[cynos]

PLEASE SEE MOST RECENT POSTS

Hi folks
Only new here, currently have a 120l freshwater setup and a small 90l saltwater aquarium
so I'm new to the marine keeping and have very limited knowledge
I'm moving to a new apartment during the summer and purchased a new tank to keep marine fish and maybe a bit of coral in too
Its 4footX2footx2foot
and plumbed for a sump tank<which wasnt included>
So I'm planing on building the sump tank myself and am looking to know if I can salvage any of what I have at the moment as funds will be tight
I've a
redsea prism skimmer hangon or in sump <up to 400l me thinks>

Heres a pic of my new tank, its got two overflow pvc pipes coming up at each corner with a guard at the top of each

Can anyone suggest a sump setup to suit and a quiet return pump to and the skimmer is noisy enough.

Anyhelp opinions much appriated
Thanks

 

[john27]

Hi,
I would sell the prism skimmer and the fluval and get a decent skimmer (Deltec APF600) For the sump use a standard tank and add some baffles. For the return pump i would use a Ehiem 1262.

John

 

[Chac]

The Skimmer IMO isnt worth the box it came in & the external you could use to house Antiphos etc.



I would look at either Aquamedic or Deltec Skimmers

You cant go wrong with them IME

 

[cynos]

The Skimmer IMO isnt worth the box it came in & the external you could use to house Antiphos etc.



I would look at either Aquamedic or Deltec Skimmers

You cant go wrong with them IME

something like this?
http/cgi.ebay.ie/TURBOFLOTOR-1000-PROTEI...1QQcmdZViewItem

or would the berlin one be a better option?
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/BERLIN-PROTEIN-SKIMM...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Chac]

The Skimmer IMO isnt worth the box it came in & the external you could use to house Antiphos etc.



I would look at either Aquamedic or Deltec Skimmers

You cant go wrong with them IME

something like this?
http/cgi.ebay.ie/TURBOFLOTOR-1000-PROTEI...1QQcmdZViewItem

The 1000 is a great skimmer but for a 120l you would defo get a way with a AQUA MEDIC BIOSTAR FLOTOR HANG ON FILTER

 

[cynos]

The Skimmer IMO isnt worth the box it came in & the external you could use to house Antiphos etc.



I would look at either Aquamedic or Deltec Skimmers

You cant go wrong with them IME

something like this?
http/cgi.ebay.ie/TURBOFLOTOR-1000-PROTEI...1QQcmdZViewItem

The 1000 is a great skimmer but for a 120l you would defo get a way with a AQUA MEDIC BIOSTAR FLOTOR HANG ON FILTER

hmm says on all the sites it'll do up to 500l

what about berlin ones?
any use?
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/BERLIN-PROTEIN-%20SK...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[john27]

Hi,
I have never heard anything good about Berlin skimmers. If it was my tank i would use a Deltec first if not then a Aquamedic 1000 or preferably a larger model.

john.

 

[cynos]

Hey guys Ive decieded to go with the aquamedic turbofloater 1000
and maybe this return pump
http/cgi.ebay.ie/SUPREME-MAG-DRIVE-5-Mag...2QQcmdZViewItem
Would it be powerfull enough?
Its roughly a 500litre tank and 90litre sump
Cheers for the advise guys
Cathal

 

[cynos]

Right folks, I ended up buying a berlin skimmer as I couldnt get a deltec or aquamedic in ireland
the prism skimmer will stay on the 20gal nano for now

Just before I start to build the sump is there a minimum size it should be in litres/gallons?

 

[SkiFletch]

As big as you can conveniently fit . Gotta be some room for servicing, but you'll want a large volume too

 

[joel_mcfetridge]

i agree i've the red sea prizm skimmer and find it to be very noisy!

 

[cynos]

Right
I've ditched the prism protein skimmer and have a nice big berlin one for now until funds allow a deltec

I'm currently building something like this around the overflow pipes in each corner to prevent noise

I've someone looking into building me a sump at the moment so hopefully I'll be ready to get filling in about 2weeks

Has anyone any suggestions on how I should/can return the water, Spraybar etc?

 

[SkiFletch]

I'd use dual or quad return lines depending on your flow through the sump

 

[cynos]

I'd use dual or quad return lines depending on your flow through the sump

Any pictures of different setups
I'll do a search of the forums
I'm using a eheim return pump think its a 14something

 

[SkiFletch]

Never heard of the 14 series. what are its flowrate/pressure characteristics?