New pump

Hey guys, It's about time that I get my 100 gal up and running, but I was hoping to get some pump ideas. The tank is basically a fowlr. I don't know how much live rock I'm going to use, maybe I'll try some diy rock. I'll more than likely get some fish that are messy like triggers are something close to them. Oh yea, I'll be using an under the tank refugium. Thanks.


phil

 

I would shoot more for alot of mechanical and moderate biological filtration with meat eaters....especially triggers that tend to mach thier prey up...spit out...mash it some more....spit it out then swallow. 50 LBS of LR.....and a 30-40 gallon wet dry will cover any kind of fish you want to put in. Refugiums seem to crash with heavily stocked tanks that are fed with meaty foods.

 

Hi Cannon,

I'm using a Pentair Quiet One 3000 on my skimmer and it is quite nice. Not big enough for what you are doing but the bigger ones will handle the flow for sure. Of course "Ye Olde MAG 18" is always sweet. ;D

I picked up a Via Aqua 750 cannister filter for cleanups and it was priced very nicely and has 3 filter trays for the various media you might want. Talk about silent!! I got the 750 at armands superstore ($70) because petsolutions was out of stock.

Sounds like a good project!!! Best of luck and let us know how it's going.

Drew

 

If you are looking for a canister try a fluval 404. I have 2. They move a fair amount of water and have a variety of trays. I used to run my 130 with one before it started to leak and I have one on my 72. I added it about 2 years ago to replace 2 Hot Magnums. Oh, I used it for pure mechanical. I got my biologic from a Rainbow Lifeguard 900 fluidized bed filter. (massive overkill, but for $20 more than a smaller model why not?) I also ran a SeaClone 150 and an 18w UV. I think I ran that basic set up as a FO for 5 years and only lost a queen angel last fall during that period. I got the queen from a buddy when I set up the tank so she was at least 7-8 years old.

 

phil,

If you are really interested in DIY rock, go to garf.org

Throughout this forum, there are comments about sand.

A small piece of real Live rick is all you would need then to innoculate your tank. That is after your initial cycle. With proper light, filtration (you seem to have that under control) to include a skimmer, chemistry, and proper stocking regime, you will have good luck.

But the biggie is the skimmer. Yes, there are people going without, but I have not heard/read that they started the tank that way.

Cheers,
Ray

 

I've used skimmers on all my tanks after I read an article in 1981 when I made my first one out of 1/2 a shampoo bottle, a lift tube and and an air stone. IMO, don't run a tank without one. Especially with triggers.

BTW, the dumb thing worked pretty good as long as I kept a fresh stone in it.

 

What's the topic again? Oh yeah pumps. ;D

Pump ideas:

Internal - Ocean Runner (Aqua Medic) - high flow, low watts. Good quality, low price.

If I had a bigger tank I would have gone with one of those or an external pump for less heat. I went with an Eheim which are expensive, but quiet and durable.

External- Dolphin, Iwaki, Little Giant.

I used to have a Little Giant, had to insulate stand for the noise, but powerful pump. Iwaki are supposed to be good pressure pumps, Dolphins are high flow.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks guys. As all ways 3REEF to the rescue!



phil

 

Talking about pumps... Matt did I ever tell you about my ADHD?

Keeping me on topic is a chore.

 

If it were me, I would look into Blueline pumps. They seems to be as high of a quality as Iwaki, little cheaper and I believer lower wattage. Now of course, this is for an external pump.

For a submerged pump, Matt has a great suggestion. You can go with that or a small MagDrive pump like a 9.5. The 9.5 doesn't have some of the problems as the bigger models, like the 12 and up.

Mike