Powerheads & Protein Skimmers

[lljdma06]

Over at Planted, members mention the Hydor Koralia nano powerheads a lot. Do you all use these here? I like the ability to move it around and really customize the flow. I could go with a regular-sized powerhead, but again, would rather have 3-4 smaller powerheads over one large powerhead. They are a bit pricey, though. Right now in my planted tanks, I use Rio 50 powerheads, which are about $13 each, not as elegant as the Koralias, but my planted tank looks great, and they do come with attachments to allow for some positioning. They are not rated particularly high with regard to gph. Their highest unit, the Rio 180, only is rated for 120gph. It is built the same as the Rio 50. I've also got an extra Marine land powerhead lying around somewhere...

This is what the Rio 50 looks like in my planted tank...

Was also looking at the Hydor slim skim or even the nano skim?

http/www.marinedepot.com/Hydor_Koralia_Nano_Slim_Skim_Internal_Protein_Skimmer_In_Sump_Venturi_Needle_Wheel_Protein_Skimmers-Hydor_USA-HD00771-FIPSISNW-4-vi.html

I think the slim may be too tall for my tank, especially after I add the DSB. The nano may be very nice, though, as with rock and substrate displacement, I won't have 36g of water in the tank, but significantly less.

Thanks in advance... Haha, you know I'm close when I'm talking powerheads and skimmers.

Liz

 

[bae1994]

With regards to the power heads sun suns are great I'll link to them If you can het them were you are

They look like koralia just bigger

http/cgi.ebay.com/WAVE-MAKER-POWERHEAD-AQUARIUM-PUMP-REEF-800-GPH-3000L-H-/370521209793?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5644c8fbc1

 

[demasonisrule]

With regards to PH's, koralia's are great, though they don't work well with wave makers, which is their biggest disadvantage IMO (they blow backwards half the time when on wavemakers...), other than that they are fantastic though. Having magnets over the suction cups is a really nice feature as well. I get the feeling that you are looking to save a buck on the PH's, but also look into vortech's and tunze's...both are REALLY pricey, and I have yet to try either, but they come fully equipped with controllers, and they for the most part are heavenly for a reefer, unfortunately they can run $300+ for a single pump

As far as skimmers go, I've never tried either, but have heard nothing but good things about both.

 

[lljdma06]

With regards to PH's, koralia's are great, though they don't work well with wave makers, which is their biggest disadvantage IMO (they blow backwards half the time when on wavemakers...), other than that they are fantastic though. Having magnets over the suction cups is a really nice feature as well. I get the feeling that you are looking to save a buck on the PH's, but also look into vortech's and tunze's...both are REALLY pricey, and I have yet to try either, but they come fully equipped with controllers, and they for the most part are heavenly for a reefer, unfortunately they can run $300+ for a single pump

As far as skimmers go, I've never tried either, but have heard nothing but good things about both.

No, not looking to spend $300 for a pump. Sigh of relief, they are not available either! I'll price the Koralias. How many do you think I'll need for my 36g bowfront? Everybody here is saying 20x turnover, so for a 36g, 720gph. Divided between 3-4 powerheads?

Yes, looks like those Hydor skimmers are brand new and have been getting positive reviews. I wonder if I'll even need a skimmer, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I don't want to make an unnecessary purchase, but I'm seeing this as a longterm investment. Eventually, I'll have to go on holiday with a SW system and a skimmer will help keep things clean.

Liz

 

[seffieuk]

The dark Lord has a hydor slim, he loves it

Re: powerheads, many use the Koralias on here, for your tank I would go with two, one on either side. Also consider second hand tunze. Newaves are nice as well but imo stay away from cheap sunsuns, you get what you pay for.

Re: flow, really does depend on what you plan on keeping. At one point I had a massive 65 x turnover, which was way too much for the corals I had but would have been perfect for some sps. But yes, minimum 20 x

136 litres (which will be more water than you will have due to displacement) x 20 = 2720 / 2 = 1360

I would be tempted to have 2 x K nano at 1600 each and your rio pointed to the top for water aggitation

Seffie x

 

[bae1994]

Gotta disagree on the sun suns my 3000 lph sun sun actually makes less noise than my 900lph koralia nano and seems of similar quality but its up to you

 

[seffieuk]

Gotta disagree on the sun suns my 3000 lph sun sun actually makes less noise than my 900lph koralia nano and seems of similar quality but its up to you

I bought one for emergency back-up, used it in the freshwater tank for a week, hated the look of it and the noise, maybe I was just unlucky

 

[lljdma06]

The dark Lord has a hydor slim, he loves it

Re: powerheads, many use the Koralias on here, for your tank I would go with two, one on either side. Also consider second hand tunze. Newaves are nice as well but imo stay away from cheap sunsuns, you get what you pay for.

Re: flow, really does depend on what you plan on keeping. At one point I had a massive 65 x turnover, which was way too much for the corals I had but would have been perfect for some sps. But yes, minimum 20 x

136 litres (which will be more water than you will have due to displacement) x 20 = 2720 / 2 = 1360

I would be tempted to have 2 x K nano at 1600 each and your rio pointed to the top for water aggitation

Seffie x

Yeah, based on the reviews, the slim is a brand new product, but they really did a good job. Will probably go with the nano, which is a bit smaller and will suit me fine.

Here are the corals I plan to keep...

Sessile inverts

Corallimorphs
Ricordea florida
Discosoma sanctithomae
Discosoma neglecta
Discosoma sp. (mushrooms)

Zoanthids
Palythoa caribaeorum
Palythoa grandis
Zoanthus pulchellus

Gorgonians (yes, Lord Sorgan, am considering all options)
Erythropodium spp (Caribbean encrusting gorgonian) - could be cool, doesn't look like your typical Gorgonian and likes brighter light.

Some of the corals only prefer moderate flow. Hehe, you thinking in liters and me thinking in gallons is going to be funny.

Liz

 

[seffieuk]

Hehe, you thinking in liters and me thinking in gallons is going to be funny.

Liz

Indeed but US gallons are smaller than UK gallons, so litres it is for me

Oh hang on, is that right, thought everything in the US was bigger

 

[lljdma06]

Hehe, you thinking in liters and me thinking in gallons is going to be funny.

Liz

Indeed but US gallons are smaller than UK gallons, so litres it is for me

Oh hang on, is that right, thought everything in the US was bigger

I have no clue, tbh. Bigger, smaller, I just use the flat 3.78lt = 1g and I go with the flow. Don't bog myself down with UK vs. USg. IMO, the difference isn't significant when it comes to aquarium keeping and if you overdo the flow a bit, you'll be covered well. I'm looking at powerheads now, where are you getting K nanos at 1600 each? Is that the liters is moves? Hahaha! Nevermind, whipped out the trusty calculator. OK, got ya! The 1600 is the Nano 425. Got it! So two of those & then run my cheapy Rios for spot circulation and surface agitation! Brilliant.

Can order soon, then. Very reasonable and I'm getting good products. Cheers. For all their cheapness, the Rios do a good job.

While I'm here. The quaranteen can be run with LR and stuff, right? Possible put some macro in that as well? I see no reason why you can't make the quaranteen pretty too. LOLOLOL I've got an 8g Finnex that is fabulous for quaranteen

 

[demasonisrule]

You can run live rock in the QT, though if you have to treat for ich or whatever and use a copper medication, it will kill all the inverts on the rock, so most don't use LR for a QT or a hospital.

 

[lljdma06]

You can run live rock in the QT, though if you have to treat for ich or whatever and use a copper medication, it will kill all the inverts on the rock, so most don't use LR for a QT or a hospital.

I get ya. Haha, may use a lousy 10g for the QT then & save my seamless Finnex for something better.