My next setup: 90G Sumpless Skimmerless LPS & Softy Setup

[SMS76]

Well, was planning this setup for a while, not sure when i will start but here is what i am thinking of. I am going against the norm and trying skimmerless to see how it goes. If it doesn't work out, i might add CSS125 skimmer if needed.
Trying to make this setup simple.

Tank, Stand & Canopy
-> 90G Standard AGA Tank
-> 90G Sedona Stand
-> DIY Canopy

Flow
-> Two Seio 620 Power Heads
-> Return flow from Aqua Clear 110 DIY Refugium
-> Aqua Clear 110 Power Filter

Lighting
-> Tek 4x54W HO T5 Retro Lights (2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Aqua blue 12k)
-> 20Watt 6500K CF lighting from HD for Refugium Lighting

Refugium
-> Aqua Clear 110 DIY Refugium
-> 3” Dia Black ABS PVC for surface skimming

Filtration
-> Aqua Clear 110 power filter with sponge, carbon & poly filter
-> 2-3” Shallow sand bed
-> Around 120 lb of Live Rock & Dry Rock


Fish
-> Pair Green Chromis
-> Pearl Jaw fish
-> Pair of Oscellaris Clowns
-> Orange/Red Spotted Blenny
-> Royal Gramma
-> Pair Fire fish
-> Pair of Yellow Tail Damsel


Planning to add fish slowly. Will do 10% biweekly water chagnes. Planning to get good cleaning crews and lot of filterfeeders (sponge, clams , feather dusters etc...)

Few Pics:
1) Possible Setup

2) PVC Surface Skimming

Thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=894704

3) DIY AquaClear Fuge:

Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=726185


Questions:
-> Will i have enought flow?
-> Is DIY AquaClear110 refugium enough for this size tank? I will be feeding mininal and won't have any big fish. Should i get Aquafuge large or medium HOB refugium?
-> Is lighting going to be ok for softy and LPS setup? Not planning much SPS other then just orange and green caps.
-> What do you think about this setup?

 

[Cesar357]

Very cool. I would like to see this tank in action. That's an awesome size.

 

[Bcollins111900]

I really like the idea of the surface skimmer. Never even crossed my mind.

 

[Justin74]

Ya, I agree. A major major boost to those filters efficiency. Thats gonna be a sweet LPS tank I can just see it now
Dont leave us hanging once you get this bad boy up and running please share some pics!

Excellent diagram btw

-Justin

 

[SPStoner]

Very nice! I am currently running a Perfecto 70 corner tank with a Whisper 40 HOB filter and a Seaclone. 4x36"T5's. Mix of softies and a few LPS mixed in, it is doing great!!

Here's a picture I took in February:

One note: You should either go with a Perfecto tank, or ditch the Sedona and go with an AGA stand. Neither manufacturer will honor their warranty if you don't use their stand.

 

[SMS76]

Thanks guys for replies and kind words. Setup is still months away but i will revisit this thread with lots of pics and keep you guys posted.

Do you think flow and lighting is ok for lps and softy setup for this size tank? Also do you think DIY aquaclear 110 refugium will be enough for 90g tank?

I just wanted to picture it how it will look so i come up with diagrams, not bad haa...


Good suggetion on warranty. Typically how long tanks are warrented for? Wife wants nice furniture look so i decided to go with sedona. Do AGA has nice stands as well? This one was not that expensive from bigals and i am planning to build my own canopy with most likely more moldings.

 

[SMS76]

spstoner, you have very nice setup. What fish you have in this setup?

 

[SPStoner]

Thanks. Currently there is:

Pair of True Percs
3 Green Chromis
1 Purple Firefish
1 Sailfin Tang
1 Coral Beauty
1 Diamond Goby
1 Lubbocks Wrasse




I know with Perfecto tanks, if you use their stand, the guarantee is 30 years, if not, it is either nothing , or 90 days. Not sure, but it was significantly less coverage.

I'm pretty sure AGA is similar.

 

[RayD]

Awesome concept. Good luck!!

 

[DragonFish]

The SEIO 620s don't put out nearly as much flow as you would think. I have BOTH a 620 and an 820 in a 30 cube and I still get some slow/dead spots. You would be way happier doing a maxi-jet stream mod or two.

 

[SMS76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8089362#post8089362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RayMartini
Awesome concept. Good luck!!

Thanks

 

[SMS76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8089895#post8089895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DragonFish
The SEIO 620s don't put out nearly as much flow as you would think. I have BOTH a 620 and an 820 in a 30 cube and I still get some slow/dead spots. You would be way happier doing a maxi-jet stream mod or two.

I considered maxi jet stream but i read many threads where it says, performance is not guranteed and if it does work, it might be too much flow for softy and LPS tank.....unless i go with mj900???

You think instead of using seio 620, seio 820 might work better? Also i will have two aquaclear 110 which will also provide flow. Need more suggetions on flow with this setup

 

[SMS76]

Thinking about two Seio 1100's for flow. Do you think it should be fine with this setup or less or too much? Any suggetions please...
Thanks

 

[Large Polyp Dave]

something you might not have considered.....

when water evaporates out of a tank (which it will), the water level inside the tank won't drop. only the water level inside the surface skimming tube will.

eventually the water will evaporate to a point where the hang on filter won't be able to suck out water.

judging by the size of the tank and the volume of the surface skimmer box, you might not be able to even go one day without pouring some new water into the tank?

just making a heads up! =)

 

[SMS76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8109009#post8109009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Large Polyp Dave
something you might not have considered.....

when water evaporates out of a tank (which it will), the water level inside the tank won't drop. only the water level inside the surface skimming tube will.

eventually the water will evaporate to a point where the hang on filter won't be able to suck out water.

judging by the size of the tank and the volume of the surface skimmer box, you might not be able to even go one day without pouring some new water into the tank?

just making a heads up! =)

Dave, You have a really good point and thanks for bringing it up. This is what i was thinking that might hopefully help with this issue:
-> Adding some extra holes couple inches below the teeth on the overflow.
-> Having teeth little bit deeper then originally thought.
-> Add HOB filter tube extension so it might go even deeper.
-> Use wider diameter PVC so overall water volume in the overflow will be more.

Do you think this might work? Do you have any suggetions or changes in this design that will work better?

Also do anybody know if Aquaclear can't suck the water, will pump burn out or it will recirculate the water within filter?

You are right even after doing this, it will give may be almost few days coverage before adding top off water which might be ok then just one day

 

[Justin74]

A suggestion for flow would be better served if we knew how high you were going to build your aquascape and if there will be litle or alot of lps up top. Reason why I ask is with a couple of 1100 circulating your tank the flow may be irrative to some LPS near any defracting flow of rocks or current whips. I would go with just one 1100 and one 620, the wattage and heat transfer is alot more on the 820's for just a lil more flow. Plus the flow coming from your HOB's will push the current down and cause sporatic flow as well.

The only downside to HOB's in my opinion is they can make bubbles if the water is NOT kept topped off, causing alot of salt creep and need for a shield on your lights. And buying the prefabbed filters can be kind of pain after awhile unless you stock up big time. I mod'd mine with a plastic screen to where I can just cut some bulk filter media from the material store and drop it down in a slot I made, so it can be flimsy but with the screen wont flow out. Just some ideas. Being that crafty with your diagram Im sure you'll figure out what works best for you once you get it all goin

-Justin

 

[SMS76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8112169#post8112169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
A suggestion for flow would be better served if we knew how high you were going to build your aquascape and if there will be litle or alot of lps up top. Reason why I ask is with a couple of 1100 circulating your tank the flow may be irrative to some LPS near any defracting flow of rocks or current whips. I would go with just one 1100 and one 620, the wattage and heat transfer is alot more on the 820's for just a lil more flow. Plus the flow coming from your HOB's will push the current down and cause sporatic flow as well.

The only downside to HOB's in my opinion is they can make bubbles if the water is NOT kept topped off, causing alot of salt creep and need for a shield on your lights. And buying the prefabbed filters can be kind of pain after awhile unless you stock up big time. I mod'd mine with a plastic screen to where I can just cut some bulk filter media from the material store and drop it down in a slot I made, so it can be flimsy but with the screen wont flow out. Just some ideas. Being that crafty with your diagram Im sure you'll figure out what works best for you once you get it all goin

-Justin

Justin, Thanks for your recommendations. I am going to have two mountain with open space in the middle kind of aquascape. Also i will have some open room on top of the rockwork.

Good suggetion on HOB. I am going to use them mainly for carbon and polyfilters which i will buy them in bulk and use it as needed.

 

[SMS76]

For top off, here is what i am thinking. My visit to HD today, i noticed the digital timer they had with 2 on and off settings with minimum time being 1 minute.

If i use weak pump and put it in the FW top off container and use this timer, such that it will turn this pump either once or twice a day for one minute each time and it will pump top off water very slowly to the tank. I can also put some valve or restrict the outlet to control the flow.

Has anybody used this timer? I think it's made by Intermedic and it is digital from Home Depot. If this works then it might also create less issues with surface skimming as posted above. What are your thoughts?

http://www.hectorshardware.biz/shop/product.asp?dept_id=606&sku=650450&

 

[SMS76]

Update:
Thinking about doing few changes, let me know what you think

Flow:
-> Two Seio 1100 Power Heads
-> Return flow from Aqua Clear 110 DIY Refugium
-> Aqua Clear 70 Power Filter

Filtration
-> Aqua Clear 70 power filter with sponge, carbon & poly filter
-> 2-3” Shallow sand bed
-> Around 100 lb of Live Rock & Dry Rock

For surace skimming, instead of going with PVC overflow, thinking about going with AquaClear Surface skimmer. Might not look pretty but seems like lots of people are using it with great success and it also works without auto-top off as i will most likely have manual top-offs

AquaClear surface skimmer

 

[blange3]

I'm with Justin on the 2 - 1100's. I think it will be too much for LPS like Euphyllias. I never considered the power factor before, but based purely on flow characteristics I would go with 2 - 820's and you might want to adjust them to the lower side depending on the corals.

To minimize the evaporation impact on your original skimmer design, substitute the smallest AquaClear impeller on the fuge 110 to reduce flow.

You will eventually get tired off manual topoffs! I would start making plans now. I handle my tanks manually and today's surfing mission has been dedicated primarily to a topoff solution!