Im getting ready to set up a 200 g and i have many questions

jsedita74

jsedita74

New member
My first is this.. I have 2 skimmer boxes (1 on each end of the tank.) do i need 2 pumps or 1 bigger pump? Whats better? How big a pump do i need ? I will be setting up a sump and a refugium... Please i need some advice to get this project off the ground.. All i have is the tank and stand and will be purchasing as i learn more about everything.. Please i need advice on a closed loop system a protein skimmer a pump or pumps. Some ideas on a closed loop system? Im lost... Totally lost
 
You need a pump for each skimmer plus a return pump. The pump you pick needs to be for atleast 300 gal. your going to want atleast a 75 gal tank below
 
jsedita74 said:
My first is this.. I have 2 skimmer boxes (1 on each end of the tank.) do i need 2 pumps or 1 bigger pump? Whats better? How big a pump do i need ? I will be setting up a sump and a refugium... Please i need some advice to get this project off the ground.. All i have is the tank and stand and will be purchasing as i learn more about everything.. Please i need advice on a closed loop system a protein skimmer a pump or pumps. Some ideas on a closed loop system? Im lost... Totally lost
Click to expand...

You're taking the right first step, which is to read up :reading: and ask for help here. :confused:
Take it slow - keep your wallet in your pocket until you're really comfortable with what you really need and how it will all fit together. Read up a lot. Find build threads here that look like your setup and then really pour over the details.

How big is your sump?
What kind of livestock are you going to keep?
How much time per week can you spend on maintenance?
Is this your first salt tank?
 
Thanks mike you have no idea how much I appreciate you coming to my aid . Ok so the answer to your first question is : I have a 55g which I will be useing for my sump . I was also thinking about setting up a 30 g refugium as well . As far as maintance goes : not much. I mean what type of maintance are we talking about mike? Lol the next question I would like to go reef but I'm leaning toward fowlr . And last but not least I've had saltwater for a while but never nowhere near on this level. If this is the major leagues ...?i been playing college ball for the last 20yrs like a 30 yr old rookie...
 
Why are you going to run 2 skimmers? You can pick up a great skimmer that can handel your tank with no problem and with one skimmer you will use less power and one less piece of equipment to worry about. Look at the Reef Octopus Extreme's IMO. I'm getting ready to pick up the 5000 cone that just came out. A good thing is you have been in the hobby for a while and is just time to make the move to a larger system. I cant help to much on the closed loop system, doing my own research for a 500 gallon build, but I'm sure there is a lot of people that can help you out. Good luck with your build and take your time.
 
I would just make an area in the sump for a fuge. With the room a 55 offers, it won't be terribly beneficial, but better than none. A 55g is the bare minimum for the size of a sump on tank of that size.

And another tank being used as a fuge, would probably be more trouble than its worth, especially if you're just getting started on a large tank.
 
Aquabison why would a 30g be alot of hassle can you explain a bit further? I'm interested to learn.... I've seen it in other forms where they had it that way I don't see what the problem is but as a rookie you can understand ...
 
I have my 215 set up like this if it will help you out any. 215 main 40 gallon breeder with 3 chambers-1 for skimmer 1-return 1 rock rubble, 20g fuge, 40 frag tank. I have one large return pump that feeds 2 reactors the main tank and the fuge, I have another small return pump for the frag system. My system has been up for a year with a nice mix of sps, lps, softies and 17 fish with 4 being tangs and one of those is a 9" naso(poo machine) My fuge has 3 different types of algea and a small 6500 watt Lowes shop light that stays on 24/7. I have my auto top off split, one line just goes back to the tank the other goes through a pm kalk reactor. I dose 115 ml of BRS #2 mag via a dosing pump. My nitrates, phos, ph, calc, alk, amon, and sg is rock solid day to day week to week. I have been very lucky with my tank. I also have a huge clean up crew to keep everything cleaned up. I run a ASM G 4 for a skimmer and I am getting ready to upgrade to a Octopus Extreme 5000 cone. Hope this helps you out a little.
 
i think he means that he has two overflows? i could be wrong but thats what i think. if so you could use one pump for your return or two. there are benifets to both
 
I think he means two overflows. Just one pump will simplify things greatly.

For Maintenance... how do you plan to do water changes? Where will you mix your new saltwater to make it easy? What is your plan to make sure you dont ruin your floor making saltwater? Where will your fresh water come from for topping off? Will that be automatic, or manual? Are you going to have a sandbed.... or barebottom? Will you use a computer to control your tank? If you do a reef, how will you supply calcium and alk? Are you going to use filter socks? Carbon? Phosban?

Basic plumbing. Make your your sump will be able to hold the water that back siphons when your pumps shut off. Make sure you can plumb your skimmer correctly and service it easily.
 
i plan to do them manually... i have another room where i will be mixing manually in a 50 g plastic garbage pail. i will be purchasing a rodi water purifier for the water changes.. that will also be done manually.. im not sure what u mean by a sand bed??? not sure about computer control units either if u can expand that would be greatly appreciated..... im thinkin of going fowlr so no need for all the reef specific equipment (ie : kalc reactor etc). i will be settin up a sump and refugium system w sock ....
 
OK, for fowlr, that simplifies things!

To turn your lights on and off, a simple hardware store timer might be all you need. For a reef tank, an aquacontroller is key.

For water changes... if you can figure out a way to do them without carrying buckets, you will be very glad for it later.

By sand bed, I just mean sand in the main tank versus bare bottom.
 
an aquacontroller any brand in particular???? also my tank is a 210g what do you recommend 1 pump or 2 ? what are benefits? also what should the flow rate be? is 2500gph enough w 1 pump? you guys are awesome... time to roll a joint ... im anxious for your knowledge!!!! im starting to get pumped as i was totally regretting buying this tank... btw i payed 450$ for it w stand ... was it worth it? its 84 x 24 x 24 reef ready... never used
 
im thinkin about something like this for an aqua controller... what do you think? what probes do i really need????
 
also .... do i really need to spend 800$ on a chiller? is it absolutely nec? im in the basement with the A.C. pumpin alot in the summer
 
you shouldnt need a chiller as long as you do not run halides on your tank. With FOWLR you really don't need to anyway
 
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