JRaquatics
New member
Most companies like AGA use 1" for the drains and 3/4 for the returns. This safely handles about 600gph through a 1" drain. I say the larger the drain the better.
JR Aquatics 180 Gallon Nano Reef
- Thread starter JRaquatics
- Start date
Perfecto is a nice tank but cheaply packaged and is why it is cheaper. They save on shipping costs by using only bubble wrap. May not be an issue for the smaller tanks but will be an issue for the larger tanks, I had to return my first 220, which took months, and the second was not that much better. Gouges and chips. Some you can live with and some you cannot. Their customer service is horrible at best.
yankee26th
New member
Thanks Nickts40 --- I appreciate the advice, but I'm would be purchasing it from a local fish store and I deal strickly with the store owner. They told me it would take 2-3 days to get it. I would be sure to inspect it before I take it home. If their are any problems I would leave it with the store owner and have them get me a replacement.
Thanks again ---
Chris
maxxII
Super Housemonkey!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13578758#post13578758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRaquatics
The AO smith motor on a reeflo 250 will run between 140-150 watts. Unless you are getting a super deal on one I suggest getting a new one because they come with better motors (baldors) on the pumps and drains on the skimmer. For a 180 a Reeflo 250 would be overkill IMO otherwise I would be running one on my system.
You are fine with 3 Vortechs. I just purchased my 3rd one last weekend for my tank. Thanks Mike (reefspecialty.com), it was nice seeing you again.
A kalk reactor will not stand up to a full blow SPS tank alone. I would suggest looking into a calcium reactor or some sort of continuous two part dosing system. A kalk reactor defiantly doesn't keep things simple. thanks for the comments.
I just found and read your whole thread, very impressive! I'm in the research stage of a new system. You, the fun part where you try and figure out how you're going to do everything and what equipment you're going to be using...
I'm very curious about your skimmer. I read some reviews about the Reeflo Orca 250 and one complaint in particular was a lack of drain for the skimmer base. Have the rectified this problem? Can you post some more detailed pics of your skimmer? Is there anything you dont like about the skimmer? I'm planning on either a 6 foot 180 gallon display with a total system volume of about 250 gallons, or one of the new Marineland 250 gallon tanks, (60Lx36Wx27H) and a total system volume of about 300 gallons.
The tank will be SPS primarily, with some clams and an H.magnifica anemone I've had for 3 years now. The fish list will be:
(1) Indo Pacific Regal Angel, (had it for a year now)
(1) Imperator Angel, (will be Juvi when introduced to the system.
(1) Purple Tang, (had it for a year now as well)
(1) Tomini Tang, (also had for 1 year)
(1) Powder Blue Tang, (as small as I can find a healthy one)
(1) Regal/Blue/Hippo Tang
(5) Percula clowns
I'm aware of the potential territory issues regarding the tangs, so I intend to stagger the introduction of the fish so that the PBT and the Purple are introduced at the same time, (after the PBT has been through a solid QT process).
My concern is the skimmer right now. I have a 120 gallon tank with about 150 gallons total system volume, (estimated) being skimmed by an H&S AF150-2001, which is rated for a 220 gallon system. Currently in that system I have:
(1) 4 inch Indo-Pacific Regal angel
(1) 2.5 inch Purple Tang
(1) 3.5 inch Tomini Tang
(1) 2 inch Convict Tang
(5) Percula clowns
The H. Magnifica anemone, various acros/montis etc, a large Derasa clam and a large-ish Crocea
The skimmer isnt pulling out anything really nasty, and I feel it could be pulling out more. I've done a mesh mod on the impellor and that helped, but I'm still not wild about the skimmer....
So I'm looking for the next best thing...
Thoughts?
Nick
JRaquatics
New member
I really like my Reeflo 200 pro. It is truly a skimming beast.
This is how it is packed
Set up in its cabinet
Shot of the skimmer as a stock Reeflo 200
about 5 days worth of Skimmate
the two cups side by side
Skimmer with the Pro kit (upgrade wheel and cup)
maxxII
Super Housemonkey!
Thanks Jeremy. I'm glad to see that the skimmer is working so well in your system. I started looking at skimmers and stumbled across them first here.
From there I went to this site and read their review.
Thats where I saw the comments about the bottom box drain. Have they addressed that with new versions? Where did you get the pro upgrade?
What is your current fish list in your tank?
Nick
From there I went to this site and read their review.
Thats where I saw the comments about the bottom box drain. Have they addressed that with new versions? Where did you get the pro upgrade?
What is your current fish list in your tank?
Nick
Last edited:
JRaquatics
New member
The reeflo 200s always came with the skimmer drain. The absent drain on the Reeflo 250s were fixed in the second generation. The Pro upgrade can only be purchased at Reef Specialty.
Here is some shots of skimmer I took tonight.
Here I am pointing out the water level
Head of foam, Nice and thick.
Air pull is reading between 68 and 78scfh. Sorry I was unable to get a steady shot but in this shot you can see it bouncing between 75 and 70scfh.
The wattage bounces between 98 and 99 watts
Here is some shots of skimmer I took tonight.
Here I am pointing out the water level
Head of foam, Nice and thick.
Air pull is reading between 68 and 78scfh. Sorry I was unable to get a steady shot but in this shot you can see it bouncing between 75 and 70scfh.
The wattage bounces between 98 and 99 watts
maxxII
Super Housemonkey!
Ahh....thank you very much for that information. Just out of curiousity, is there anything about that skimmer you dont like? I cant recall how you are feeding yours...is it gravity fed? How many gallons per hour are you pushing through your skimmer, and how many gallons does the skimmer hold?
Thank you for your answers to my annoying questions....
Nick
Thank you for your answers to my annoying questions....
Nick
yankee26th
New member
Thats impressive. If my CAT 2 works as well I will be ecstatic.
JRaquatics
New member
My current list is
Spotted Cheek tang
Sailfin Tang
Blue Tang (regal)
Yellow eyed Kole Tang
2 green chromis
twin spot hog
2 orange spotted gobies
fire fish
mandarin
melanurus wrasse
2 squareback anthias
black cap baslet
golden goby
purple Pseudochromis
Royal Gramma Basslet
clown fish
I plan on getting 5-6 more squareback anthias and a few Bartlett's possibly a pair of blue throats a few more firefish, a group of tank bread Banggai Cardinalfish and a scribbled rabbit fish.
Spotted Cheek tang
Sailfin Tang
Blue Tang (regal)
Yellow eyed Kole Tang
2 green chromis
twin spot hog
2 orange spotted gobies
fire fish
mandarin
melanurus wrasse
2 squareback anthias
black cap baslet
golden goby
purple Pseudochromis
Royal Gramma Basslet
clown fish
I plan on getting 5-6 more squareback anthias and a few Bartlett's possibly a pair of blue throats a few more firefish, a group of tank bread Banggai Cardinalfish and a scribbled rabbit fish.
I have the 250 on my system and it has been running for 6 months straight with no downtime. Wipe clean with paper towels every 4 days and forget it. No problem with the venturi either. Never have seen any nuiscance algae in the system and the coralline is growing nicely. The corals are starting to grow pretty good as well, but after seeing Jeremy's growth, mine are not growing!
I have 8 tangs. None under 4 inches and my sailfin is probably pushing 7. 5 wrasses, 2 mandarins, 2 percs, 3 nice sized chromis and I am sure I am forgetting something. I feed excessive like JR and the Tangs are 'fat' and the 250 is not even breaking a sweat on my system. I bought mine from Reef Specialty 7-8 months ago and there was a drain in the box.
Hope that helps.
JRaquatics
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14037961#post14037961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maxxII
Ahh....thank you very much for that information. Just out of curiousity, is there anything about that skimmer you dont like? I cant recall how you are feeding yours...is it gravity fed? How many gallons per hour are you pushing through your skimmer, and how many gallons does the skimmer hold?
Thank you for your answers to my annoying questions....
Nick
I feed mine off of my main pump. It is fed about 300-400gph. It holds 5 gallons. The only drawback with my skimmer is that the old Reeflos came with the AO smith dart motor. Which is a little on the loud side. The new Reeflos come with the awesome Baldor motor. Other than that this skimmer rocks.
maxxII
Super Housemonkey!
Thanks for the input guys. I also went to the sponsor section and looked up www.reefspecialty.com and saw all the skimmers available there and the pro upgrades.
Jeremy,
thats quite a list of fish. I'm guessing that you view my lists above as low bio load?
Nick
Jeremy,
thats quite a list of fish. I'm guessing that you view my lists above as low bio load?
Nick
yankee26th
New member
Hello Jeremy ---
What size hose did Mike use on your returns and your reactors from your manifold?
Thanks ---
Chris
What size hose did Mike use on your returns and your reactors from your manifold?
Thanks ---
Chris
JRaquatics
New member
I used 3/4 on the returns. The calcium reactor was a 3/4 thread to 1/2 inch barb.
yankee26th
New member
I thought so. Did you have to bush down to 3/4" from 1" ball valves?
JRaquatics
New member
yes
yankee26th
New member
If I'm having a tank made you would recommend larger drains, say 1.5", or is it really not necessary?
Does the use of " Durso " tube in the overflow boxes acts as a check valve to prevent the system from draining in the event the electricity should cut out?
Thanks Jeremy ---
Chris
Does the use of " Durso " tube in the overflow boxes acts as a check valve to prevent the system from draining in the event the electricity should cut out?
Thanks Jeremy ---
Chris
mattyparsons
New member
wow
wow
i've been reading this thread over the last two days, and it's probably one of the best i've ever read on this site.
your tank is incredible, and i believe i speak for everyone here when i say thank you for all the great information that you have laid out.
this thread is like a "how to" clinic for anyone with dreams of large reef tanks.
wow
i've been reading this thread over the last two days, and it's probably one of the best i've ever read on this site.
your tank is incredible, and i believe i speak for everyone here when i say thank you for all the great information that you have laid out.
this thread is like a "how to" clinic for anyone with dreams of large reef tanks.
Similar threads
