New setup, need suggestions

Hello,

I had a primarily fish salt tank setup which i took down about 3 years ago. I am now setting it back up and would like to do coral this time around. I have a question about filtration mostly. I currently have the Pentair Aquatic line of inline filters. I have the AF-94 (mechanical), AF-93 (chemical), AF-92 (heater), and QL-8 UV unit. I also have a CPR CS-50 (300gph) overflow I would like to use. The tank is a 46GAL, and my main question is how large of a pump should I use with this system? The pump will hopefully be hooked into a sump which will be about 3 feet below the tank receiving water from the overflow. It will then push the water through the series of the 4 filter modules and then break out into one output directly into the tank, and a second output which will go to a fluidized bed filter.

I also plan on using 4 96W power compact bulbs. What color arangement is suggested for mostly coral and some reef-save fish (ie, 2 10k bulbs 2 actinic, or all 10k, or half and half, etc)

I have never hooked up an overflow and sump before, so that might be a challenge as well. Thanks in advance!

ED7

 

Anyone? I have a pocket full of cash and am itchin to spend it! Ok maybe not that much cash, but I am anxious to get this all figured out!

 

I'd just make me a sump and not use all the mechanical filtration and from the sump back to the tank a Mag 9.5 as a main pump. To much particle filtering will deprive the system of needed foods and such..a good skimmer and you can make a hang on holder for carbon and some filter floss as needed I run carbon 24/7 myself I run floss a week or so every couple of months I also run phosphate remover poly in there with the carbon also 24/7

 

you could set all up and leave out the media and only add media when problem occur. The AF-92 is nice.

post some pics, i always want to see one of those set up.

 

yeah, the question

good protein skimmer, a lot of live rock and pump from the sump into a wave maker. A Sea Swirl is awesome

 

Yea I will post some pics. The pentair system kept my water crystal clear for the longest time before. I stopped the upkeep for awhile and then had algae problems, but I would really like to use it if I could just match it up with a good pump. Does anyone use a simple rubbermaid type enclosure for a sump? Seems I could get one fairly cheap, and then just drill in a bulkhead fitting into it?

 

Yes you can use rubber maid container as long as it suitable for pottable water

I have seen many pics of people using them

 

Oh hell yes they will keep it crystal clear I ran and oceans clear cannister system on a fish only 280 and it was so clear you could not see water hardly but with corals or a reef thats not what you really want. like mentioned a rubber maid tub will be fine made one and used a small waste can for a wet dry for a friend and its still running strong and that was in 2000 we set him up.. as along as it does not leak is all that matters .. But a 10 gallon tank is like what 12.00 maybe 15.00 ?

 

Yea, but im worried about drilling the glass. I would like to put a bulkhead fitting towards the bottom of the sump, and have never drilled glass before, so it is a bit scary!