Eshopps R-200 refugium questions

[Steve Maxwell]

Hello,

I just purchased and received an Eshopps R-200 refugium for my 75G reef tank I'm wanting to set up, and I have several questions that hopefully somebody can help with:

1) When operating, approx. how much water will this hold. Need to figure it out so I know what size heater to get and to be sure my reef octopus NWB 150SSS is going to be sufficient.

2) What size/brand return pump should I get?

3) What size/brand overflow box should I get? I know most people are going to say to drill the tank, but since it will void the warranty on the tank, I'm not going to go that route.

4) Plumbing...HELP...never done this before! The instructions that came with the refug were worse than useless...the picture and the instructions say the refug has 1 bulkhead, while it actually has 2! How do I set up PVC pipe between the DT, overflow, & sump/refugium? Where should I put ball valves? I read somewhere to drill a hole in the pipe to help prevent flooding?!

Any and all help is appreciated!!!!
--Steve

 

[hipower]

1) My Eshopps ADV100 holds 15 gallons more or less
2) If you can afford one get an Ecotech Vectra L1 or a decent DC pump
3) I've use CPR's before
4) From Overflow -> Union Ball valve -> Eshopps suppled SPA Flex -> Sump it shouldn't matter which opening you use. Later when you get a tank you can drill the second hole may be used for the emergency overflow.
(on the ADV-100 there was only one opening)

 

[Steve Maxwell]

The 2 bulkheads flow into 2 different compartments. 1 flows into the compartment with the bag filtration and the other flows into the refugium. So I'm assuming I need to split the water coming out of the overflow to flow into the 2 bulkheads.

 

[hipower]

Unless the design changed you should be able to use either hole

 

[hipower]

I noticed on the Eshopps web site they have this...

Or try the larger PF-1000

 

[Steve Maxwell]

Unless the design changed you should be able to use either hole

Oops...I'm sorry...for some reason I was under the impression that one went to one compartment and one to another. Guess I should have looked at it better when I unpacked it and after a few more hours sleep :\

 

[skinz78]

How do you like this sump? I'm thinking of getting one myself

 

[chris31759]

The R-200 technically holds 30 gallons. Since it isnt full its about 24 gallons. The vectra pump is a good choice. I have a Sicce in sump Silent 3.0 (714/gph) for mine that runs quite. Buy the CPR overflow with the Tom's air lift pump to maintain the perfect syphon. Don't get the Eshopps one. I love their products for the price but the dual flow overflow has a hard time keeping a syphon on both overflow tubes. CPR is easier to keep quite. If you are using an insump pump like the Rio 1700, you will have to take the cover off the intake and attach a 90 degree elbow to the intake to keep it under water. The float on the new models is not adjustable,The Rio is a nice cheap pump but the Sicce is better as an in sump choice. IF you have room, the Vectra is a great external pump that is controllable with other Ecotech products. If you have any questions just shoot me a pm or post here. I really like the sump. If you need a refgium light the eshopps one is pretty good. The only negative is the cheap plastic bolt to attach it the the sump. If you buy at your local store ask if they have a metal bolt from a Radion light. They are the same size. Another better choice is the Aquaray Mini LED 500 and just a piece of mounting rail. The light will suspend nicely over the refugium section to grow macro algae. Another choice would be to build a cheap algae scrubber. Good luck.

 

[skinz78]

Chris how many gallons is your DT, got any pic's of the sump in action?

 

[chris31759]

The DT is a 90 gallon. That is the largest I could fit in the family room. I couldn't find a picture of the sump that shows the plumbing well. I just installed an algae turf scrubber and it blocks the view of the plumping. After the algae scrubber is broken in, I will probably remove the chaeto algae from the center refugium I am attaching a photo of the overflow and plumbing for my small 40 gal frag/ qt. I am using an R-100 with a second overflow to increase turn over. I know it's overkill. I have switched from the eshopps dual overflow to the CPR overflow. Even eshopps will admit there is a problem on a large flow tank maintaining the siphon on both overflows. I did use pvc versus the flex hose. This can help reduce any gurgling noise. If you do install unions and ball valves, try to find ones that do not reduce or restrict the flow. Both the eshopps and CPR overflow have 1" bulk heads which match the 1" bulkhead on the R-200. A lot of people will use schedule 80 ball valves (grey pvc). These tend to still work even after years of not being opened and closed. When making bends try to avoid 90 degree bends. Use two 45's instead. I hope this helps. Just let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Neo Jeo]

The DT is a 90 gallon. That is the largest I could fit in the family room. I couldn't find a picture of the sump that shows the plumbing well. I just installed an algae turf scrubber and it blocks the view of the plumping. After the algae scrubber is broken in, I will probably remove the chaeto algae from the center refugium I am attaching a photo of the overflow and plumbing for my small 40 gal frag/ qt. I am using an R-100 with a second overflow to increase turn over. I know it's overkill. I have switched from the eshopps dual overflow to the CPR overflow. Even eshopps will admit there is a problem on a large flow tank maintaining the siphon on both overflows. I did use pvc versus the flex hose. This can help reduce any gurgling noise. If you do install unions and ball valves, try to find ones that do not reduce or restrict the flow. Both the eshopps and CPR overflow have 1" bulk heads which match the 1" bulkhead on the R-200. A lot of people will use schedule 80 ball valves (grey pvc). These tend to still work even after years of not being opened and closed. When making bends try to avoid 90 degree bends. Use two 45's instead. I hope this helps. Just let me know if you have any other questions.

What heater size can fit in there? I go the 3rd gen r-200

 

[Brad Cox]

What lightnare u using over the refugium?