setup help

i want to run 1 external pump for a return, skimmer, chiller and a canister filter from a refug how would you set it up if you had it, or is it possible?

 

what size tank, skimmer type, and chiller?

 

tank is a rr 90 gal and skimmer coralife ss125. i dont have a chiller yet but was going to go with a 1/10 hp jbj chiller when i upgrade to mh.

 

I don't think it's possible being that the coral life skimmer has it's own pump which needs to be inside of your sump with a water level of about 6 to 8 inches of water for the pump to work good. you would be able to run the chiller with your pump though.

 

Your canister filter should have a pump built in which could be used on a closed loop. You could add phosphate absorbing media and carbon to your canister with bioballs/ceramic media but will require cleaning out every fortnight to remove detritus build up which would lead to nitrates. IMO I would ditch the canister for live rock or porous ocean rock in your sump/refuge.

You can have your return pump, pump water from your sump/refuge to your DT then overflow down through your chiller and into refuge/sump. Then have a separate pump for skimmer in the sump which will equate to only 2 pumps. I would include a small powerhead in your refuge which I would put on a timer to come on at night for a few hours to disturb, suspend and redistribute any food/bacterial aggregations collected in there which will feed sponges/tube worms etc. I add the phosphate absorbing media in a fine mesh bag in my overflow, but it's up to you where you put it...

 

im sorry forgot to add that i don't own the canister and im upgrading my skimmer to a bullet or some other external skimmer. instead of a canister how about two tlf phos filters one with carbon other with phos.

 

Sounds good

 

Anything can be done. You need to make sure you have a strong enough pump then build one of these. Tangster and otty have been running these and I put one on my new setup. Just make sure your equipment will work with it! Sorry for the bad pic if you search otty's build thread he has a better pic.

 

That plumbing looks like a lot of dead ends to me. Potential for anoxic build up and sediment build up. Could do with a better pic and an in action pic...