Eshopps R-100 refugium/sump 3rd Gen. - dilemma

[ms32795]

Good day all, I left the hobby almost 10 years ago for a number of reasons (starting a family, moving, etc.), about 9 months ago I decided with the support of my wife to get back in "slowly". I'm going with a 90 gallon setup, because that was what I had when I left and it was the perfect size for us. Two weeks ago I picked up a used 90 gallon AGA drilled setup at a great price. It came with Stand, canopy, lights (AI SOLS) which I'll be selling I'm going to use two Hydra 26 HD's, wet/dry sump, cheap unknown brand return pump, and a Bubble Magnus NAC 6 skimmer).
Ever since deciding to get back in I've been doing my reading and research to try and do things right the first time, also during these past 9 months I have been slowly picking up equipment at various sales and deals that I knew I wanted to be "brand new" when it came time to set it up. One of these pieces of equipment was the R-100 refugium/sump. I got this brand new at a local LFS moving sale, it was the only one left and at $115.00 was kind of an impulse buy.

Here is where the dilema is. I did read at numerous sites that the return pump chamber is fairly small(3-1/2" wide), so when it came to ordering a return pump I made ever effort to find a small enough yet powerful enough pump to fit. I ended up going with a Jebao DCP 10000 and wouldn't you know it, its a 1/4" to wide. No matter what I do there is no way for it to slide down easily, I have read people stating they kinda force the pump down into the chamber because at 13" down into the chamber it widens to 4-1/2" wide. I'm not sure I want to do that, with my luck I'll get it in there however when I need to get it out I'll end up cracking or worse shattering the acrylic.

With that said I would like to get everyone's input and opinion and any pros and cons on using the refugium chamber for my return pump since it is much larger, and the return pump chamber as the refugium. Basically flip flopping it or running it backwards.

One final thing to finish with, I know I said I want to do things right the first time and there has been a lot of debate about Jebao pump reliability. The reason I went with it is because I'm waiting for a sale to come along to pick up a good reliable brand of DC pump. Once I get my hands on one I will then keep the Jeboa as a backup and if the pump I buy is small enough to fit into the "return pump chamber" I switch it back to the way it was designed to work.

Thanks

 

[tupes]

Welcome back to the hobby. Congratulations on the family.

This is disappointing to hear about the equipment. I'm not familiar with this sump and personally I wouldn't want to force anything especially with equipment. Squeeze through baffles can make the seems to stress and everyone knows what can happen to a stressed seam.

Good luck with this .. I'm sure once more people strat waking up you'll get some more helpful responses.

 

[ms32795]

Welcome back to the hobby. Congratulations on the family.

This is disappointing to hear about the equipment. I'm not familiar with this sump and personally I wouldn't want to force anything especially with equipment. Squeeze through baffles can make the seems to stress and everyone knows what can happen to a stressed seam.

Good luck with this .. I'm sure once more people strat waking up you'll get some more helpful responses.

Thanks tupes, I hope I can get some opinions or other experiences with this fuge/sump, as I really like it. Its put together really well with the exception of the returm pump chamber being little small.

 

[Kristonenicolas]

Sell/return that pump and get a new one.

Im currently running the same sump and I use the RO Varios2. Super quiet, simple to use, and fits perfectly.

 

[Rivfan]

I have the cube sump and ended up drilling and mounting my pump externally.

 

[ms32795]

Sell/return that pump and get a new one.

Im currently running the same sump and I use the RO Varios2. Super quiet, simple to use, and fits perfectly.

Thank you
Do you think the varios 2 will work for me? Max flow is 792 at 0’. I have a 90 gallon with 4’ of head and I plan I’m running a manifold with three 1/2” outlets.
I was trying to go a big a pump possible to not have to run it wide open, thus not running it wide open and at max watts. Let me know what do you think

Thanks again

 

[Kristonenicolas]

Thank you
Do you think the varios 2 will work for me? Max flow is 792 at 0’. I have a 90 gallon with 4’ of head and I plan I’m running a manifold with three 1/2” outlets.
I was trying to go a big a pump possible to not have to run it wide open, thus not running it wide open and at max watts. Let me know what do you think

Thanks again

You'll probably want to look into the Vectra S1 or the Neptunes Cor20

 

[ms32795]

You'll probably want to look into the Vectra S1 or the Neptunes Cor20

Thanks I’ll look into them. I appreciate all your help.

 

[jd371]

I have an eshopps sump also and the return section is the same size. I ran a Jebao DC6000 in that section until I switched to a Vectra S1 and now using the Jebao as a back up.

 

[mch1984]

I have the r-200 and like the above would suggest getting a different pump and running it like it's intended. I think you'll get more benefit from the larger fuge. I run a various 4 but my return chamber is a little bigger. You wont be dissapointed if you go varios 2 as suggested above, great pumps.

 

[ms32795]

I have an eshopps sump also and the return section is the same size. I ran a Jebao DC6000 in that section until I switched to a Vectra S1 and now using the Jebao as a back up.

Have you had any issues with the S1? I’ve seen some instances where they have overheated.
Do you it would work with my setup I mentioned above. I see the gph is 1400 at 0 head.

 

[ms32795]

Thanks for all of the suggestions and help, however I ended up returning the R-100 and will purchase the R-200 once I’ve saved up for it. For the mean time I will use and old wet/dry that was retrofitted into a sump by the previous owner. I will start posting pics of the build soon.

 

[madweazl]

For what it's worth, the 3rd gen Eshopps sumps have tiny refugiums compared to the previous generation. I'd look into something like the Trigger's layout if you want a refugium with decent dimensions (30-36).