Let's Plan a 120g Upgrade
- Thread starter msn711
- Start date
you could always do a 30 breeder, 4" shorter.
Not sure how exactly your stand is setup but you could do something like this to switch things out
http://www.melevsreef.com/55g/55g_sump.html
Also many of the taller skimmers break down a bit, so you could just resemble once inside the sump. I know its obvious, but I personally sometimes overlook that.
Not sure how exactly your stand is setup but you could do something like this to switch things out
http://www.melevsreef.com/55g/55g_sump.html
Also many of the taller skimmers break down a bit, so you could just resemble once inside the sump. I know its obvious, but I personally sometimes overlook that.
Darkstar04
New member
If you are concerned about emptying your collection cup, consider a skimmer with a remote waste collector. You would still have to wrangle out the main cup now and then, but the collector would reduce that.
There's no way I'm going to take a chance on what melev did to try to get the sump out while the tank is still on the stand. I put the 40 in through the top, so I can't move it right now. What I didn't realize was that the amount of clearance left between the top of the 40 and the top of the stand is only about 6-7". The problem becomes getting the body of the skimmer in there. I know the super skimmer fits, but the diameter of the super skimmer body is only 5". And it's a tight fit getting it through there with the things attached to the skimmer body that don't come out. So the height of a skimmer wouldn't be the problem...it's the body size. And I can't order one and see if I can get it in there because most places won't let you return something once you've opened it. So that's why I started thinking the tunzes, because if it doesn't fit, it can go in the tank. But most of what I've seen about them is only so-so.
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honestly I don't think I've used a finer heater then ebo's, they are dead on when it comes to turning on/off. I've used them the past 6 years on all my freshwater and saltwater tanks, wouldn't consider anything else. What did you hear about them?
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Just wanted to add my 2 cents in on the Ebo heaters. I recently went to purchase an EBO heater and they stopped carring them for now because they were bought out by Hagen. I found another store that sells the new ones which are assembled in China I believe, not exactly sure. But I know the factory where they used to be assembled here in California was shut down. I still purchased this "Hagen" Ebo heater, seems to be just as good so far, but ive only hade it for a a month. Seems just as accurate as my old EBO that i have been using.
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honestly I don't think I've used a finer heater then ebo's, they are dead on when it comes to turning on/off. I've used them the past 6 years on all my freshwater and saltwater tanks, wouldn't consider anything else. What did you hear about them?
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Just wanted to add my 2 cents in on the Ebo heaters. I recently went to purchase an EBO heater and they stopped carring them for now because they were bought out by Hagen. I found another store that sells the new ones which are assembled in China I believe, not exactly sure. But I know the factory where they used to be assembled here in California was shut down. I still purchased this "Hagen" Ebo heater, seems to be just as good so far, but ive only hade it for a a month. Seems just as accurate as my old EBO that i have been using.
I know I'm late, but here are the pics:
The Box:
The Pieces:
In the tank:
FTS, as empty as it is:
The smaller box is basically the controller where you can turn the speed down. The big box is the battery backup.
Close up of the vortech on the tank:
The Vortech with the magnet is about the size of a can of pepsi, maybe wider. I had to adjust it again yesterday, but I think I've gotten the placement right. I only here a slight hum, and with all the noise in the sump, it's not really noticeable.
Gotta find time to work on that microbubble and noise problem. The noise is definitely coming from where the drains enter the sump. I'm not really sure what to do about that. The return pump is just too close to the drain lines, hence the bubbles. That's an easy fix.
The Box:
The Pieces:
In the tank:
FTS, as empty as it is:
The smaller box is basically the controller where you can turn the speed down. The big box is the battery backup.
Close up of the vortech on the tank:
The Vortech with the magnet is about the size of a can of pepsi, maybe wider. I had to adjust it again yesterday, but I think I've gotten the placement right. I only here a slight hum, and with all the noise in the sump, it's not really noticeable.
Gotta find time to work on that microbubble and noise problem. The noise is definitely coming from where the drains enter the sump. I'm not really sure what to do about that. The return pump is just too close to the drain lines, hence the bubbles. That's an easy fix.
I don't see why it wouldn't work on flex tubing, its pretty cheap around 3 dollars so it won't hurt the wallet by experimenting.
Did you figure out yet about the skimmer? Also to update you on the lights, they were finally shipped out yesterday. Its telling me to expect it on Thursday, so I'll post some pics over on my thread on nano so you can see how it looks
Did you figure out yet about the skimmer? Also to update you on the lights, they were finally shipped out yesterday. Its telling me to expect it on Thursday, so I'll post some pics over on my thread on nano so you can see how it looks
Played around with the plumbing last night. Not really sure what I did, but there are significantly less microbubbles making it into the sump. Still some noise issues, but it's really only a problem because I had to put the tank next to my bed. That's what happens when you go upgrade crazy in an apartment! I also noticed last night that my vortech was still making a lot of noises. I took a closer look, and yep, I've already bent one of the spacer pens. The vortech won't run without the spacer, at least not on my tank. (I think it's supposed to on different glass thicknesses). Anyway, trying to order a replacement from Eco Tech. I did noticed that if I turned the pump down, that killed the noise. And its really only noticeable at night because I've been turning off my return pump at night to sleep. The aquarium gets quiet, but then I can actually hear the vortech. Hopefully, this weekend I'll have more time to work out the noise issue. And hopefully, I can get this spacer pin from eco tech and not mess it up again. And I'm going to try really hard to get pics up tonight when I get the rock in. It's hard being a working reefer, as opposed to a student reefer. Never have time to do stuff.
Eco Tech customer service is quick. New spacer pin for the vortech shipped out this morning. They returned my call really quickly. And it only cost $15 plus shipping. I can see why they're not covered under the warranty (not sure that anything really is) because they are super easy to bend.
Did some more measuring this morning to figure out my skimmer situation. I can fit something with a 6"diameter, 26" height. And I have 9" to the right of the sump to possibly run something externally, but I'm not sure how to plumb it, so I'd rather not.
I also know that trying to run something with the full 6" diameter will be a really tight fit.
So I've narrowed it down to the H&S 110f-2000 (only 4" diameter, 20" height, 5.5x11.5" footprint) or the external version of the same skimmer. They're rated for 100g, but it's an H&S and everyone seems to be happy with theirs. Plus, it's better than no skimmer considering this tank will have a heavy bioload.
I also know that trying to run something with the full 6" diameter will be a really tight fit.
So I've narrowed it down to the H&S 110f-2000 (only 4" diameter, 20" height, 5.5x11.5" footprint) or the external version of the same skimmer. They're rated for 100g, but it's an H&S and everyone seems to be happy with theirs. Plus, it's better than no skimmer considering this tank will have a heavy bioload.
Darkstar04
New member
I know you aren't big on DIY, but what if you found a small bed-side table/cabinet sort of thing that you could use to house a larger skimmer? All it might take is a few holes drilled for plumbing to be routed around the back of your stand. Getting a skimmer that is "rated" for more than your system volume would save you a lot of headaches and extra water changes, especially if you plan on having lotsa fish/corals.
I don't know if you can move the bed over any, or substitute something like that for an existing table, but it is thought (without knowing your room layout).
Has anyone else seen a skimmer plumbed remotely this way?
I don't know if you can move the bed over any, or substitute something like that for an existing table, but it is thought (without knowing your room layout).
Has anyone else seen a skimmer plumbed remotely this way?
