Rebuilding my 40 breeder

[diverrad]

In my ongoing quest to spend money i dont have on a hobby that i cant make it back from I have decited to bite the bullet and actually go with a sump. I am getting sick of all the crap hanging on the tank and yea I want a BIGGER Skimmer and a fuge.
so here is my plan
for an overflow I will go with Lifereef slim single 600gph overflow

The sump will be a Trigger Systems Ruby Sump 30x14x15, it will be snug in my stand but should fit.

For a return pump i will go with a EHEIM 1260 Water Pump - 602 gph

Skimmer is a toss up I might go with the ati 160 or the SWC 160

and i will use a Aquarium Currents Sea Swirl 3/4 for the tank return

for the fuge light i am thinking of going with Reef Brite Compact LED Fixture 12in - White

The total cost of my foolish venture is 1,200 or 1,400 depending on skimmer woo hoo

(pictures where added for the benefit of those of you who dont read)

 

[DgenR8]

Konrad,
IMO, you can't do better than the Lifereef overflow you picked out without drilling your tank. It's quality and reliability are unmatched. I have no experience with that sump, but the pic is nice, and really, what you want is just something to hold water.
Eheim makes a fine pump, and for a submersible, there are others that add much more heat to the system. You may find that by the time it pumps up to the top of your tank, it's not delivering 600 GPH though. I'd probably go a little bigger, and use a gate valve to throttle back, if necessary. I'm an overkill type of guy though.
I am not familiar with the skimmers you're looking at, but I wouldn't buy a skimmer without talking to Geo (Geosreef.com) first. As much as I believe in Jeff's (Lifereef) overflow, I believe more in Geo's skimmers and reactors.
I've used Seaswirls before, and they don't swirl forever. As long as you're prepared to replace/repair after a few years, they offer something that is tough to find in any other random current return device. The only other one I know of, which is probably more durable than a seaswirl is the Oceans motions, but they don't last forever, either.
I know absolutely nothing about LEDs other than they look cool, and the ones you can get at your local auto parts store are not going to give you what you want.

 

[diverrad]

Thanks Larry i was thinking of the larger return pump prop the next step up eheim. I have not looked at the geo skimmers but i will check them out, I am def going with the geo calcium reactor so it may make a nice set lol.

 

[anthony27]

stop by my place to see the 40 bro

 

[Turbovr3six]

Sound like a fun build! I would drill the tank instead of the overflow(its really easy to do), but that's JMO. The SWC skimmer rocks. I have seen a couple in use and they create some pretty nasty stuff. ATI makes killer products, but I have never personally seen one in use(im sure it rocks though). I'd also concider a Water Blaster for your return. I love mine so I tell everyone that they should get one. :lol: Maybe im just bias about them....

I'll be tagging along for the build, post lotsa pics and good luck!

 

[anthony27]

drill the tank and get the over flow box from glass cages

 

[BIG L A]

Your getting real fancy on us now buddy... This looks like its going to be real niiice, I'll be keeping an eye on the updates.

 

[DgenR8]

drill the tank and get the over flow box from glass cages

I'm guessing that this tank is already underway, complete with fish and corals and that's why he's not open to the idea of drilling. That's just a guess, though.

 

[diverrad]

Yup tank has been going for 5 months now so i REALLY dont want to rip it all apart and drill it. Thought I am going to PW today so i might freak out and buy a tank. One big problem i am starting to see is my cabinet is too damn small and short for all the stuff i want to fit in to it.

 

[DgenR8]

What you need K, is an apartment with a basement to put your sump in.

 

[richardhmc]

If you can, just lower the water level and drill it. It's risky and creates a mess, but what I did was lower the water level to where the hole needed to be drilled, drill slowly and wipe off the shavings. repeat this. This took me a long time but in the end it worked

 

[Staaan]

If you can, just lower the water level and drill it. It's risky and creates a mess, but what I did was lower the water level to where the hole needed to be drilled, drill slowly and wipe off the shavings. repeat this. This took me a long time but in the end it worked

I think that's way too risky. Especially since Konrad is a fuzzy stick kind of guy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[diverrad]

Well after allot of angst and pricing things and filling shopping carts just to empty them again i am going to go in a whole new direction. I spend 2 hours on the phone today with Jeff from Lifereef and I am going to with his all in one sump/skimmer/fuge. this is the set up i am getting with a few custom things added here and there. In the end the price is actually less than getting things from all over the place. Now all I have to do it wait a month before i get it.

 

[THEDLO]

how much can the built in skimmer support?

 

[diverrad]

250g conservative and it's not a build in skimmer just fits in there, it's a seperate unit

 

[THEDLO]

ooo nice.

 

[diverrad]

here are the details of all that it comes with, thought mine is a bit smaller the lengh is 33in not 37
Overall System Features:
Length: 37" x 13" x 14" high. 22 1/2" overall height with refugium and light fixture.
Drop-in "floating" LifeReefugium: 12" x 12" x 18", 9 gallons, black sides and back, clear front
Light canopy
Lifereef SVS2-24 Protein Skimmer (good for aquariums up to 250 gallons)
MagDrive12 system pump, supplies both aquarium circulation water and LifeReefugium circulation
MagDrive9 protein skimmer pump
System Manifold for water distribution to aquarium and LifeReefugium
Sump foam filter pad
Sump has connections for calcium reactor and r/o input line
Sump cover
All hoses, fittings, bulkheads, and clamps, even the Teflon tape!
Sump Features:
Low profile sump. Measures 37" long x 13" wide and 14" high for easy sump accessibility
Input chamber to accept incoming water flow where bubbles dissipate and reduces noise and splash.
Mechanical/chemical foam filter stage for efficient particulate removal without removing necessary microscopic food particles (as micron bags do)
Safety overflow channel allows water to continue to flow should the foam filter pad become clogged
Central MagDrive9 main pump location provides return water circulation and LifeReefugium supply. Water leaving refugium goes directly back to the aquarium
LifeReefugium sets in right sump chamber
1/4" thick ABS sump cover
LifeReefugium Features:
"Floating Refugium" design places the refugium 1 1/2" off sump bottom. Water leaving the refugium flows down channel on right side of refugium into sump, then under refugium to the middle chamber of the sump.
Main System water pump supplies controlled flow of water to the LifeReefugium
Back and sides are black acrylic to keep light in the refugium and not in the sump to prevent algae growth in sump chambers.
Refugium measures 12" x 12" x 18", approximately 7.5 gallons
Algae retention grid keeps algae in the refugium but lets small copepods pass through
Water overflows weir and then drops silently down through channel into sump flow
Full perimeter rim reinforces refugium top to prevent warping
Top cutout for access into refugium
Light Canopy

 

[seafloor09]

looks nice how much $$$

 

[diverrad]

about $900 for the skimmer/sump/fuge and $100 for the overflow, plus figure another $100 or so for shipping.

 

[Turbovr3six]

Thats a sweet all in one sump ya got there!