RobsReefs
01/25/2007, 11:21 PM
Well I have had a passion for saltwater/Reef tanks for a long time now. I am currently planning and building my 55g acrylic reef tank. It will be my 3ed reef tank, and the one that will have the most time, planning, and money in it. It has been in process for almost a month now, and will take about one more month until it will see water. Not because I’m slow, I’m on a budget that is kind of tight to say the least.
Now I have to ask for some advice on my flow plan. I am looking to build a mixed reef with SPS, LPS and 6-7 fish mainly a SPS tank though. It is a 55g 48’’ long acrylic tank with two, one inch drains with a built in overflow. Sump is a 13g acrylic with an ASM G2 protein skimmer with recalculating and mesh wheel mods. Lighting is 2 ARO electronic 250w ballasts with 2 XM HQI 10k Retro’s and 2x 65w PC actinic 03 bulbs. The part were I am stuck is the flow.
I have a little giant external pump 3mdqx-sc 1150gph at 1 foot witch I plan on running as my return pump. I have to run an external pump because the skimmer is all that fits in the sump after all the baffles and intake. Right now the pump is ran through 1 inch PVC up to a ¾’’ lock-line with a Y and 2 adjustable sprayers. I also have 1 Seio 620. I know I need more flow than that and got to thinking about a closed loop with the little giant and a new 700 or so GPH sump return pump (like a mag 9.5, head loss would put it at 750 or so right) .
So my question is should I use the little giant as a closed loop and get a new sump pump. I don’t care for the mag pumps much is there a good external pump that I could use for my setup and not need the powerhead. Or should I just use it as the return pump and do a maxi jet with the mod or something like that. Will post some pics this weekend, Thank you, Robert
Now I have to ask for some advice on my flow plan. I am looking to build a mixed reef with SPS, LPS and 6-7 fish mainly a SPS tank though. It is a 55g 48’’ long acrylic tank with two, one inch drains with a built in overflow. Sump is a 13g acrylic with an ASM G2 protein skimmer with recalculating and mesh wheel mods. Lighting is 2 ARO electronic 250w ballasts with 2 XM HQI 10k Retro’s and 2x 65w PC actinic 03 bulbs. The part were I am stuck is the flow.
I have a little giant external pump 3mdqx-sc 1150gph at 1 foot witch I plan on running as my return pump. I have to run an external pump because the skimmer is all that fits in the sump after all the baffles and intake. Right now the pump is ran through 1 inch PVC up to a ¾’’ lock-line with a Y and 2 adjustable sprayers. I also have 1 Seio 620. I know I need more flow than that and got to thinking about a closed loop with the little giant and a new 700 or so GPH sump return pump (like a mag 9.5, head loss would put it at 750 or so right) .
So my question is should I use the little giant as a closed loop and get a new sump pump. I don’t care for the mag pumps much is there a good external pump that I could use for my setup and not need the powerhead. Or should I just use it as the return pump and do a maxi jet with the mod or something like that. Will post some pics this weekend, Thank you, Robert