Sump / refugium

USMC4Life

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Hi all,

I need some ideas and advice on how to set this one up. It's an odd duck because this is a small / odd size. I got it from someone that was no longer using it. So I am cleaning it out right now.

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What size tank are you using it on? You can install a filter sock holder and a bulkhead into the hole on the top in the 1st chamber. Or take off the top and have 2 filter socks if you are running dual overflows. The 2nd chamber you will have to decide between a protein skimmer or a refugium, I don't think you'll have room for both. The 3rd section is plumbed for an external return pump, you can run an external or seal up and drop in a submersible. That 3rd section could be used for any other reactor, uv, etc pumps you would want to run if you choose to keep the external.
 
The tank is a 65 tall. Right now the sump / refugium has the external plumbing caped. I was thinking putting the skimmer in that section with the return as no other section will fit anything other than the middle. But I would love to run it as a refugium. I need to find a skimmer that would fit.
 
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I'm not familiar with either, as far as a return pump I'd go with something a little better known. It's not just gph, but also performance under head pressure; heat and noise. You'd be looking at twice the price, I prefer the eheim compact plus pumps; I have them on 3 of my tanks.

If you are going to spend that much on an overflow box, I'd check out the eshopps line; they also make good low priced skimmers. I'm not familiar with any in sump skimmers that will fit that footprint, maybe look into a hob skimmer. I've used an eshopps hob on several tanks that's worked very well.
 
I'll take a look. Can you give me a link or a model number to the pump. The other thing is I have a budget. Just had another kid so $$ is tight lol.
 
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The other problem is that I have a tight budget.
The overflow you posted above is $95.50 with few reviews it seems on amazon.. not really the most reputable place to by an overflow imo, too much potential to go wrong. I love amazon and they are the best for support, just wouldn't buy something that has no reviews, nor have I heard of.

The life reef overflow is $129.00 . For an extra $33.50, you can assure yourself that it wont cause any problems with losing the siphon and whatnot. Imo that $40 would be a better investment longterm, in relation to any sort of cleanup costs you could potentially face down the road. Lifereef works and I can only attest to that based on the reviews it seems to get. I scoured the internet for hours trying to find the best external overflow on the market. Always ended up back on lifereef due to the 18 years they haven't changed a design. If it works, why change it?
 
The overflow you posted above is $95.50 with few reviews it seems on amazon.. not really the most reputable place to by an overflow imo, too much potential to go wrong. I love amazon and they are the best for support, just wouldn't buy something that has no reviews, nor have I heard of.

The life reef overflow is $129.00 . For an extra $33.50, you can assure yourself that it wont cause any problems with losing the siphon and whatnot. Imo that $40 would be a better investment longterm, in relation to any sort of cleanup costs you could potentially face down the road. Lifereef works and I can only attest to that based on the reviews it seems to get. I scoured the internet for hours trying to find the best external overflow on the market. Always ended up back on lifereef due to the 18 years they haven't changed a design. If it works, why change it?

I had that overflow before on another tank and unfortunately it got broken in the move. That aside the overflow is reliable from my experience.
 
I had that overflow before on another tank and unfortunately it got broken in the move. That aside the overflow is reliable from my experience.
I need something that self primes and is modular.

So why are you looking for something else that self primes and is modular? if you are satisfied with that overflow box, why don't you purchase another one?
 
I'm looking for something similar that is rated for more. But I was also hoping for ideas about plumbing and skimmers because I have never had a sump/ refugium like this before.
 
Update time. Let the pictures speak for them self. Lol.

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did not clean the sock out well enough and my sump went crazy.

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IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

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