My first saltwater tanksetup

This is a 180 gallon tank I purchased off of craigs list. The CPR filter is in the basement and will dump into a 55 gallon sump/refugium that I built.

This is going to be a long process to get ready and any comments will be welcome.

 

very nice, thanks for sharing

 

wowsers that looks like a really sweet set-up. Welcome to 3reef!!

 

one question. How will you keep the water level constant in your sump? If it will drain out that bottom hole then that will be your water level unless there is another that I am not seeing.

 

Im not sure what you mean should it not be the same volume of water comming from the HOB overflow?

 

sorry I didn't specify, it was still early for me. Im talking about the bulkhead on your skimmer tank. I noticed it is near the bottom of the tank and would flow down into your sump. Well, if that is the case then your water level in the skimmer compartment would be stuck at the height of the bulkhead and make the skimmer less efficient. I mean, in reality you could have the water height higher than that bulkhead but you would be playing a fine line on trying to match in flow and outflow which could lead to an overflow or run low and damage a pump or two..

 

The water from the overflow comes down into a separate compartment with the skimmer in it then overflows into the bio bale chamber then out the bulkhead into the sump. The water level of the skimmer is controlled
by the adjustable gate in the 1st compartment of the filter.

 

thanks, I was just curious about it all and hoping to help if any. I cant wait for you to get some water in there..

 

nice craigslist find! thats alot of filtration... FX5 + a full sump/skimmer/etc awesome

 

Thank you folks. Your ideas are very much appreciated. I will 1st finish the plumbing and then fill with tap water for a couple of day test run.
Suppose thats a good idea?