OneArmedBandit
New member
I’m in the process of (very slowly) gathering ideas and equipment for my 145 gal build. I’m building it “kind-of-sort-of†in-wall behind a bar in my basement. When you look at the back bar you’ll see upper cabinets, lower cabinets and the aquarium instead of a backsplash or wall between the cabinets. The aquarium I have is not drilled, so I will be drilling 2 holes to accept 1†bulkheads for the overflow and will bring the water back to the tank by running the returns over the top of the tank.
This will be a FOWLR setup with this tentative list of components…
Sump: 75 gal, 3 chamber
Skimmer: Reef Octopus external recirc. DDNW 200 (or 250)
Return pump: Eheim 1262 (x2?) I’m looking to get about 1500 GPH
Lighting: 36†(x2) Nova Extreme SLR T-5 156 watt fixtures
Heaters: 2-3 Visitherm Stealth heaters (250 watt). I’ve had good luck with these but am
open to other suggestions…
I already know how I’ll be configuring the sump and I realize there is better lighting out there but since this is a FO tank I think I’ll be OK with the NE SLR fixtures.
Skimmer questions… I’ve decided to go with the Reef Octopus recirculating skimmer since I don’t have to house it in my sump, leaving room for more goodies in there. I’d like to run one of my overflows directly to the skimmer to feed it rather than using an additional pump, I see that this is an option when I read up on the Octopus and just want to make sure that the skimmer will get enough water by just running a 1†overflow through it (gravity fed). How many GPH will a 1†bulkhead flow is what it boils down to I guess… Also there will be no more than 200 gal. total water volume in this system, the DDNW-200 states up to 400 gal capacity (light bio-load) while the DDNW-250 states up to 650 gal capacity; I’m leaning toward the 200 but should I be considering the 250? Is there such a thing as “over skimming� I’m planning on keeping a few Butterflies, a small Tang or two and maybe a Boxfish in the future, no predators or super messy eaters so that’s why I’m thinking the 200 is on the top of the list.
Return pump(s)… Even though the aquarium and equipment will be in their own room (well, closet) I still want the return pumps to be nice and quiet. I’ve read a lot of great reviews on the Eheim pumps and thought I settled on them until I just noticed they don’t make a single pump that will push more than 900 GPH. Since I’m looking for about 1500 GPH at about 6’ of head I guess I’d be using two of their 1262 pumps. Maybe a positive of that is that I could run one as a closed loop and the other as the return? Or should I consider a larger pump from another manufacturer? I know I don’t want a ton of flow through the sump…
I appreciate all the help you can provide. -Steve
This will be a FOWLR setup with this tentative list of components…
Sump: 75 gal, 3 chamber
Skimmer: Reef Octopus external recirc. DDNW 200 (or 250)
Return pump: Eheim 1262 (x2?) I’m looking to get about 1500 GPH
Lighting: 36†(x2) Nova Extreme SLR T-5 156 watt fixtures
Heaters: 2-3 Visitherm Stealth heaters (250 watt). I’ve had good luck with these but am
open to other suggestions…
I already know how I’ll be configuring the sump and I realize there is better lighting out there but since this is a FO tank I think I’ll be OK with the NE SLR fixtures.
Skimmer questions… I’ve decided to go with the Reef Octopus recirculating skimmer since I don’t have to house it in my sump, leaving room for more goodies in there. I’d like to run one of my overflows directly to the skimmer to feed it rather than using an additional pump, I see that this is an option when I read up on the Octopus and just want to make sure that the skimmer will get enough water by just running a 1†overflow through it (gravity fed). How many GPH will a 1†bulkhead flow is what it boils down to I guess… Also there will be no more than 200 gal. total water volume in this system, the DDNW-200 states up to 400 gal capacity (light bio-load) while the DDNW-250 states up to 650 gal capacity; I’m leaning toward the 200 but should I be considering the 250? Is there such a thing as “over skimming� I’m planning on keeping a few Butterflies, a small Tang or two and maybe a Boxfish in the future, no predators or super messy eaters so that’s why I’m thinking the 200 is on the top of the list.
Return pump(s)… Even though the aquarium and equipment will be in their own room (well, closet) I still want the return pumps to be nice and quiet. I’ve read a lot of great reviews on the Eheim pumps and thought I settled on them until I just noticed they don’t make a single pump that will push more than 900 GPH. Since I’m looking for about 1500 GPH at about 6’ of head I guess I’d be using two of their 1262 pumps. Maybe a positive of that is that I could run one as a closed loop and the other as the return? Or should I consider a larger pump from another manufacturer? I know I don’t want a ton of flow through the sump…
I appreciate all the help you can provide. -Steve
