Review of Eshopps 3rd Generation R-200 Refugium

[reef208]

I just received Eshopps new 3rd generation R-200 refugium last Thursday and since there is so little information/feedback out there about them, I thought I'd post a review and try to give some mores specific details about them. If you have any specific questions that you haven't been able to find answers to I can try to answer them.

Dimensions:
-Overall: 30" x 14" x 16"
-Drain/filter sock area: 8" x 14" ( 2 x 1" bulkheads, 2 x 3' return hoses, filter sock size is 7")
-Refugium: 10.5" x 8.5"
-Skimmer area: 12" x 14" (constant depth of about 8")
-Return area: 5" x 10.5" (suggested water level of 5")

I'll quickly just give a straight to the point list of pros/cons and then get to the pictures.

Pros
-As claimed, it is definitely quiet
-Well packed
-Comes pre-assembled and ready to go right out of the box
-Well built (1/4" acrylic, rock solid feel, no bowing, good seams with no bubbles)
-Massive skimmer section (overflow comb keeps the water level at 8-9")
-Built-in float valve
-Cosmetically it looks very nice - Love the white acrylic

Cons
-There is almost zero visibility into the return pump chamber due to its location in the middle/back of the refugium. I really dislike that I can't easily keep a visual on the water level, float valve, and return pump just as extra assurance that everything is working properly. Once the refugium is installed into the stand, it's a pain reaching back into that chamber to access the pump.
-The return pump chamber is pretty tight, so you will have to pay attention to this when choosing a return pump
-The style of float valve used cuts into what is already limited real estate in the return pump section. Also, this float valve only works by gravity feed, which some may not like (including me).
-You can't access the back left chamber that your overflow drains into. If anything falls back in there or a fish comes through the overflow, that section may be its permanent home.
-Refugiums should be low flow, but I hope the flow isn't too low in this chamber (could become a cyano/diatom trap).
-The should put the return hoses in a bag to prevent them from flopping around. The skimmer section came pretty scratched up due to the hoses being loosely stored there.

Overall

Eshopps new 3rd generation sumps and refugiums scored a home run on noise reduction and the white acrylic is a nice touch. They are built solid and should hold up very well over time. For the refugiums, I question if rearranging the configuration of the sump/refugium/return sections for the "dual channel flow" concept will be of significant benefit to justify what I consider to be a poor choice in location for the return pump section. Personally for the 3rd generation refugium, I would have rather seen them just add the improved noise reducing drain/filter sock area and then left the rest in the traditional skimmer => refugium => return pump configuration. If the return pump section doesn't bug you, I'm sure you'll be very happy with Eshopps new refugiums otherwise.

 

[mnkykng77]

It's nice to see that eshopp has switched to a standard 7" circle filter sock. Wish they had done this to their 2nd Gen refugium, which I have.

 

[Wetfooted]

My version

My version

I built my own version

 

[moondoggy4]

So I guess it would be better to have the return pump section in the front.

 

[crabbydan]

If you turn it around you can see the return pump but then you can't see into the refuge and filter sock section. I too look at my return pump section constantly but rarely ever go in it. Maybe once every 6 to 8 months i remove the return pump and clean it.

 

[crabbydan]

Pretty sure I am picking up this sump later this week.

 

[Wetfooted]

WOW! I really feel welcome here, Thank You!

 

[tony73]

@reef208

Can you show updated picture now how is it working?

 

[Scorpius]

Hmmm.... I like my older version of this same sump/fuge. I can see and get to everything from the front. This new design looks overly complicated.

 

[u4ick]

Love this newer design, but it has a flaw in it.
The cut out where the water flows after going through the sock......well the filter sock gets sucked up against that and causes it to act as though the sock is clogged up.
It will need some sort of guard there to prevent this.

 

[mikeatjac]

Very poor design. Return area is very small and in the back. Very little volume if you cut off the return pump, had to put a check valve in. In side return filter wall cracked with little pressure. A standard 7" sock is too long so the sock doesn't seat well so I had to cut my socks and sew them an inch shorter. The lack of flow in the refug is shocking. You will have to put a small power head in it too give it any value. The ATO FLOAT IS A JOKE! By the time you put a pump or bulkhead in the return area most will be half out of the water. The ATO float is a gravity fed float valve, so where do you put the ATO container? I had to use a float switch system.


I am sure no one tested this system before they sent it to production. I have had it for a month and a cant wait to get rid of it.

 

[Scorpius]

You'd have been better off just buying their sump. It's the same setup as mine.

 

[Greybeard]

I have one of the 3rd gen R-100 units. I agree with most of the same issues listed: Return chamber not visible from the front, and undersized.

I have to put my head and shoulders into the stand when I want to look at the return pump chamber... not often, but it's something you want to look at once in a while.

The 'splashdown' section, as mentioned, is not serviceable. Shouldn't need to do anything in here, but I managed to drop the nut from the bulkhead in there while setting it up, it was a major ordeal to get it back.

Build quality is excellent... oh, and the return hose was folded into the return pump section when I got mine, no scratches that I can find.

Flow rate through the fuge and skimmer sides seems about half and half, though I don't have any way to actually measure it. Just watching the overflows into the return compartment, they 'feel' about equal.

I'm actually using an EShopps ATO container, with the included gravity float valve. Works fine for me, but yeah, if you were going to use a powered ATO system, or one plumbed directly to an RO/DI, then the included float valve would be useless.

I like mine, going to keep it, we'll see how it works out long term.

 

[Catgirl29]

I have this sump and so far, I like it. Since I have a 60 cube, I have the sump turned so that it sticks out the back of the stand.

I have a question for anyone who has this sump - the return chamber - there's a water line and the float but right now, my water is way higher than the float (the float is totally submerged), making it pretty useless as a means for ATO.

How do I fix this? Do I need a stronger pump that might keep the water line lower? Any suggestions?

 

[oldbones]

I would guess you just need to wait for evaporation to bring your water level down to the float level. In most sumped systems, level should be constant everywhere but your return section.

Of course, you could just remove some water...

 

[Catgirl29]

Yeah - actually though, my tank is what I would call "balanced" right now - but maybe it's not. That's why I'm thinking if I have a stronger pump, it may keep the level a little higher in the tank and lower in the return chamber. Now, if the water evaporates, the tank starts gurgling and I add more. I have a an actual ATO system but was hoping to use gravity feed and the float on this tank after I got the sump installed.

 

[oldbones]

What kind of drain system do you have on the tank? I was guessing you were using a conventional Herbie like I am. With a Herbie, you adjust level in the overflow with the gate valve on the drain line, then set level in your return chamber with your ATO sensor.

 

[Catgirl29]

My tank has the center back overflow and is drilled near the top. I've installed a ball valve to the outflow and I know that's not the best way to adjust. It's also very touchy. One little movement and the tank's about the overflow. Another and it's gurgling. I'm using a Rio something or other pump because my last sump's return chamber was even narrower than this one. It is adjustable and I have the pump's flow wide open - adjusting at the top with the ball valve. It all works - but not ideally. Should probably have one of the awesome club members come over someday and help me figure out a better way.

 

[Zirco]

I'm fortunate that I can get to both sides of my sump area but I did notice how tight the return chamber is and how little water volume there will be once my return pump is sitting inside. And I have the big one - the R-300.

So before I set it up I drilled a hole and installed a bulkhead between the skimmer chamber and the return chamber so that I can try putting the return pump in the skimmer chamber but still have it draw water from the return chamber. Haven't tried it yet but reading this thread I realize that it might also help with pump visibility issue.

That's a Vectra M1 pump in the return section. I had to add the downward elbow on the intake to keep it from creating a vortex and pulling in air.

 

[gottalikesharks]

I thought the same thing about the placement of the return area when I got mine in. Without wanting to put it in the cabinet backwards, I want to be able to see the water level in the return area. Very simple solution seems to be just place a mirror behind the stand!