Aquatop 40 Recife upgrades

[bondno9]

Looking to pick up a Aquatop 40 Recife like the title says. I’ve been doing some research and I see people are updating the lights, skimmer and filtration system. I want to know what the general consensus is on what parts people replace what comes with the tank.

 

[lapin]

Build Thread - Setting up a Aquatop Recife ECO 40

Hello everyone! I'm new to R2R and getting back into the aquarium hobby. The Aquatop Recife ECO 40 caught my eye and I pulled the trigger on ordering one last night. I did some reading on what others have upgraded so I've already ordered some add-ons. My plan if to keep coral and some fish. When...

www.reef2reef.com

Aquatop Recife 40g build

First ever saltwater tank and I am loving it! Picked up my tank a few months ago and so far so good! I have been making changes here and there to the tank and trying to upgrade all the stock equipment(recommendation much appreciated!). So far for the third chamber I removed first box and the...

www.reef2reef.com

Build Thread - Mike's Aquatop Recife 40G

Hi everyone....decide to finally jump in and get my build thread started! Equipment Aquatop Recife 40g AIO w/Stand Aquaillumination Prime 16HD Reef (Bought this used missing the skimmer, which after several attempts at installing "other" skimmers turns out only the original Aquatop skimmer...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[bondno9]

Build Thread - Setting up a Aquatop Recife ECO 40

Hello everyone! I'm new to R2R and getting back into the aquarium hobby. The Aquatop Recife ECO 40 caught my eye and I pulled the trigger on ordering one last night. I did some reading on what others have upgraded so I've already ordered some add-ons. My plan if to keep coral and some fish. When...

www.reef2reef.com

Aquatop Recife 40g build

First ever saltwater tank and I am loving it! Picked up my tank a few months ago and so far so good! I have been making changes here and there to the tank and trying to upgrade all the stock equipment(recommendation much appreciated!). So far for the third chamber I removed first box and the...

www.reef2reef.com

Build Thread - Mike's Aquatop Recife 40G

Hi everyone....decide to finally jump in and get my build thread started! Equipment Aquatop Recife 40g AIO w/Stand Aquaillumination Prime 16HD Reef (Bought this used missing the skimmer, which after several attempts at installing "other" skimmers turns out only the original Aquatop skimmer...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks lapin. I saw 2 of those already, waiting for OP to respond . I know people upgrade the light and skimmer and add a fan, but what about the filtration? Do I saw one of those guys buy a media basket and filter floss holder. Do they use different media or what comes with the tank? Sorry if its a stupid question.

 

[X-37B]

Checkout my aquatop 20, 18×18×18 for some ideas. No skimmer, 2 16hds, eheim substrate pro in baskets, floss in overflow, jebao ow 25. 2g water change a month. Simple and effective.
Thread '18" AIO Nano Cube Stag System' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/18-aio-nano-cube-stag-system.883090/

 

[ZoaGrowa510]

I’ve been looking for an upgrade to the 3rd chamber where the individual baskets go. I’d like a media basket that will allow me to use filter bags for better flow. I’m new to the hobby so I’m still learning but my LFS recommend I get rid of those baskets….

 

[kingranch2003]

I’ve been looking for an upgrade to the 3rd chamber where the individual baskets go. I’d like a media basket that will allow me to use filter bags for better flow. I’m new to the hobby so I’m still learning but my LFS recommend I get rid of those baskets….

I'm not exactly sure if this is what you want. They have several cool pieces for the recife 24 and 40 gallon cubes.

inTank Chamber Two Media Basket for Aquatop Recife ECO 40

inTank Media Baskets greatly improve and increase the filtration of your aquarium while making it easy to maintain

intankaquatics.com

 

[bondno9]

I’ve been looking for an upgrade to the 3rd chamber where the individual baskets go. I’d like a media basket that will allow me to use filter bags for better flow. I’m new to the hobby so I’m still learning but my LFS recommend I get rid of those baskets….

Someone I met online who has our tank said he doesn’t run anything back there. Only uses filter floss. I bought the inland filter floss holder and ditched the baskets.

 

[kingranch2003]

Someone I met online who has our tank said he doesn’t run anything back there. Only uses filter floss. I bought the inland filter floss holder and ditched the baskets.

I'm interested in the floss holder as well. Do you like yours? Also, the same site offers a skimmer attachment for the over flow area. I think it's supposed to help with better surface runoff. I always have this wicked film on top of my water. It's a new tank with just a few hermits.

 

[bondno9]

I'm interested in the floss holder as well. Do you like yours? Also, the same site offers a skimmer attachment for the over flow area. I think it's supposed to help with better surface runoff. I always have this wicked film on top of my water. It's a new tank with just a few hermits.

I just started cycling my tank so I’m waiting to add stuff. Floss holder is fine, does its job. I didn’t like the black sponge it came with.

 

[kingranch2003]

I just started cycling my tank so I’m waiting to add stuff. Floss holder is fine, does its job. I didn’t like the black sponge it came with.

Yeah same here it seems pointless when the floss would work just fine without affecting the flow. I pulled out the trays except for one that I filled with eheim bio glass pearl shaped balls. But my tank is new so we'll see how it works! I appreciate your reply.

 

[smoothie7]

I have a pair of of these tanks. I bought the intank media basket and it works great. I have carbon in the chamber along with some filter floss. Outside of that, I upgraded the light to a hydra 32 for my lps tank and a hydra 64 for my sps tank. I removed the 4 media baskets but kept the sponge and put a little filter floss on top of the sponge. Added a couple nero 3 wavemakers and thats my setup.

 

[kingranch2003]

Hey thank you for the reply! I am definitely going to grab the media basket then. I like the idea of the boxes but the basket can be personalized better, like you did. I'm seriously considering the hydra 32 or a cheap light called noopsyche k7 3, that is supposed to be comparable for a much cheaper price. Probably too good to be true lol. Do you like your 32? Does it provide the coverage and par for a fee LPS? I have the recife 40. I appreciate your help.

 

[smoothie7]

Hey thank you for the reply! I am definitely going to grab the media basket then. I like the idea of the boxes but the basket can be personalized better, like you did. I'm seriously considering the hydra 32 or a cheap light called noopsyche k7 3, that is supposed to be comparable for a much cheaper price. Probably too good to be true lol. Do you like your 32? Does it provide the coverage and par for a fee LPS? I have the recife 40. I appreciate your help.

The boxes were nice however once you mount a light using the center of the back glass, you can't remove the boxes which led me to find the media chamber. I'm really impressed with the chamber. Nice quality. I really like the hydra 32. It is great for LPS.

 

[kingranch2003]

The boxes were nice however once you mount a light using the center of the back glass, you can't remove the boxes which led me to find the media chamber. I'm really impressed with the chamber. Nice quality. I really like the hydra 32. It is great for LPS.

Are you able to remove the media chamber that you purchased from that chamber with the light mounted?

 

[kingranch2003]

The boxes were nice however once you mount a light using the center of the back glass, you can't remove the boxes which led me to find the media chamber. I'm really impressed with the chamber. Nice quality. I really like the hydra 32. It is great for LPS.

Can you still use the media basket with the light mounted? I added the xr15 and the brackets covers that compartment pretty well

 

[smoothie7]

Can you still use the media basket with the light mounted? I added the xr15 and the brackets covers that compartment pretty well

No, if you mount the light in the center of the back column then you won't be able to get the boxes that came with the tank out and that is why I went with the intank media chamber and am very happy with it.

 

[kingranch2003]

No, if you mount the light in the center of the back column then you won't be able to get the boxes that came with the tank out and that is why I went with the intank media chamber and am very happy with it.

Gotcha, yeah I meant the intank media basket. I know the boxes are locked out forever. Lol

Can you still use the media basket with the light mounted? I added the xr15 and the brackets covers that compartment pretty well

 

[Reefer Brent]

I have the 40 as well. I chucked the boxes and put the biomedia in mesh bags I bought on Amazon. Just dropped them in the same chamber. Take them out every few months and rinse them in water change bucket. Run a bag of chemipure blue on top of that.

I use inTanks floss holder in the first chamber and change out the floss every day to keep my ato from going haywire.

I also have InTanks surface skimmer weir. It's great but depending on where you place it the water level in the display changes. So if you or your CUC knocks it then your ATO level could suffer. I am thinking of finding the sweet spot and gluing it cause it is nice to have.

I have the Noop kpro3 and it is way more than enough. Tons of light spill so get a shade.

Ioaoi nano 30g skimmer fits great in the second chamber

Jerepet return pump fron amazon is super quiet.

Flow and dosing are the only things I struggle with. Haven't found the sweet spot or device yet.

 

[OrionN]

How are everybody like their Aquatop AIO 40 cube? I got a deal I cannot refuse so I got the last one for my office. I know I need to get better light and a heater with controller. I mainly use the skimmer that come with it as an aerator so no need to change that. I plant to use it for a Rock Flower anemone, Mushroom, Ricordia and Zoanthus with no fish in it so skimming is not really needed.

What kind of pitfall you guys need to warn me about on this tank? Is it well build? I keep reef for many years and fairly handy with my hand.

TIA

 

[Reefer Brent]

How are everybody like their Aquatop AIO 40 cube? I got a deal I cannot refuse so I got the last one for my office. I know I need to get better light and a heater with controller. I mainly use the skimmer that come with it as an aerator so no need to change that. I plant to use it for a Rock Flower anemone, Mushroom, Ricordia and Zoanthus with no fish in it so skimming is not really needed.

What kind of pitfall you guys need to warn me about on this tank? Is it well build? I keep reef for many years and fairly handy with my hand.

TIA

That is the best thing you could do with this tank.

The tank itself is well made and looks very nice. I changed everything in the back section. The skimmer will make bubbles but it will also eventually get very noisy even with cleaning. The lack of a bulkhead is the most disappointing thing to me. There is no reason for a manufacturer to do that but it is what it is.

That being said I love the look of the tank and it has been a good way for me to learn.