Sump/Refugium Setup
As we all know the larger the volume of saltwater within our Reef Aquariums the better we are to guard ourselves from experiencing fluctuations within our water parameters. That was one of my goals within this setup. Being able to create an environement with stability in mind. My sump/refugium is actually a 45 gallon Aquarium that I had from a previous setup which is tall enough to come up to about my waist. I decided that placing it on the side of the 90 gallon Display Aquarium would be more beneificial then placing a standard Aquarium undernearth as with many Sump/Refugium setups.
The Sump/Refugium is currently housing my newly installed ASM GS-2 Protein Skimmer which is rated for a 180 gallon Reef Aquarium consuming only 35 watts of electricity and running virtually silent with no water gurgling. (I had a Corallife Super Skimmer 65 which was rate for a 65 gallon Reef Aquarium and just wasn't performing as it should.) I have two Marineland Visi-Therm 200 watt Heaters which are awesome and have never failed me in 2 years and keep my water temps within the 75 degrees Fahrenheit to 76 degrees Fahrenheit range. I have one Float switch connected to my Do-it-Yourself automatic RO/DI Freshwater Top-Off Kit. Last but not least one Maxi-Jet 1200 Powerhead which is acting as my return pump into my 90 gallon Display Aquarium. (I will be swapping this pump out most likely tomorrow for a Mag-7 or Rio 3200 in order to increase the Turnover Rate.
Benefits of a 45 gallon Tall Aquarium as a Sump/Refugium:
1. Increased 45 gallons saltwater capacity from 90 gallons within the Display Aquarium to 135 gallons for the total system.
2. Ability to place all equipment such as Heaters, Protein Skimmers, etc. within the Sump/Refugium to allow for a more natural looking Reef Aquarium.
3. Water changes are a not difficult being able to syphon water out from the Sump/Refugium and Just lifting a bucket waist high as oppossed to over your head to refill with new Saltwater.
4. Perfect area for dosing chemicals & supplements so that they mix appropriately and are distributed among the Reef Aquarium evenly.
5. Just looks awesome to step away from the normal procedures of a Reef Aquarium and try something new.
Photograph - August 04, 2007 - Size comparison of my new AS GS-2 Protein Skimmer to my 1 year old Yorkshire Terrier Dusty. It's okay little boy..... Daddy is not going to put you inside the Skimmer!
Photograph - August 04, 2007 - 45 gallon Sump/Refugium Setup for my 135 gallon Reef Aquarium.
Photograph - August 04, 2007 - ASM GS-2 Protein Skimmer in action. Performance is that of a Euro-Reef Protein Skimmer just different material construction.
Photograph - August 04, 2007 - ASM GS-2 Protein Skimmer foaming away with virtually zero noise or water gurgling.
Photograph - August 04, 2007 - ASM GS-2 Protein Skimmer foaming away with virtually zero noise or water gurgling.
Photograph - August 04, 2007 - ASM GS-2 Protein Skimmer Collection Cup.