Review of Eshopps 3rd Generation R-200 Refugium

[zooman72]

I just picked up a pair of the R-100 refugium sumps for my pair of 40B's, and while the return section is a bit small and inconveniently located, I think that is a fair compromise overall for the nice refugium section (flow seems fine to me) and simple sock changes...

I do like the mirror idea too, and was contemplating that very solution!

 

[Beldarr]

I just bought this system. Was wondering why I cannot run a 1/4 in line to the float switch from a water supply line under pressure? A few of you said it was gravity only, curious as to why?

 

[gottalikesharks]

Would not want a float valve to stop pressurized water, when it fails big mess!!! I replaced my float valve with a Reefkeeper float switch in the up position, along with the Tunze ATO...

 

[gottalikesharks]

Shot of the mirror trick, not perfect but will work. I also decided to raise the sump level about an inch or so that is why you can see two water level lines...

 

[Zirco]

Been using the R-300 for a couple of months now.

- I find I need to use some plastic clips to shorten the filter sock so it doesn't rest on the bottom.

- In order for my BeanAnimal overflow to restart automatically, I had to cut the pipes that are connected to the bulkheads where the water enters the sump, from about 6 inches to more like 2 inches. Without doing that, the system was unable to purge the air from the main siphon line. Works perfectly now.

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.

- This worries me a lot, so I made a mesh fence to go around the intake pipes in the overflow as shown in the attached photo.

- I have a gravity feed ATO that works with the built-in float valve. It's been working perfectly.

Refugiums should be low flow, but I hope the flow isn't too low in this chamber (could become a cyano/diatom trap)

- Well, my tank is still quite new but I definitely have diatoms and a bit of cyano growing in the refugium. Is this a bad thing?

 

[Sidwayz]

I switched from a Sicci 2500 pump that fit into the return to the Fluval SP2. I had to install the SP2 into the actual sump area due to the size. I also was not able to use the factory supplied float valve and had to order a new one with the 5 gal. Water storage tank. It has an acrylic adjustable bracket with a new float valve. I just left the original in place, it's under water. I also have a Eshopps 100 Skimmer in there with a MJ1200 power head for flow, Chemipure Blue x2 bags. It all fits and runs great. The SP2 really made no difference over the Sicci 2500 other than its a "little" quieter. The reason I switched is the p-1000 overflow with dual tubes. One of the tubes always looses suction so I figured a more powerful pump would stop this. It did not. I now just run one tube and everything works fine. Also built 2 Stockman Standpipes for the overflow which actually work great. The flow in the Refugium seems a little slow for my tastes but we will see long term. To the above post. I have a tremendous amount of undesirable things(algae) in the Refugium. I have added 4 Snails and they seem to be chomping down. I run the Eshopps LED light on it 12 on 12 off due the algae growth.

 

[Greybeard]

Despite it's drawbacks, mentioned above, I find that I really like my 3rd gen R100 sump. It's been in place for over 6 months now...

I'm actually using the built in float valve. Works fine. There is little play between full to the marked water level, and sucking air into my pump, even with a 90 on the pump intake facing it down. Using a Eheim 4000l pump. As long as the ATO reservoir isn't empty, it's fine. If I let the reservoir go empty, it's sucking air in a day. No big deal, I suppose... and it let's me know that it's time to refill the ATO.

Pulled the sock and tossed it... never liked 'em. I cut a length of 3" PVC to hang in the opening, just to quiet the splash.

I drilled the 5g Eshops ATO Reservoir and mounted a float valve near the top, plumbed it direct to my RO/DI, with an in-line valve. When the reservoir is low, I open the valve, and let it fill. The float valve keeps it from overflowing, should I forget to turn the valve off right away. Not a perfect solution, but it's fairly safe. Oh, I do have a water alarm under the ATO reservoir, and another at the rear corner of the sump. Just cheap battery powered alarms I picked up on amazon.

Reef Octopus SRO1000sss skimmer. No macro algae in the refugeum section, I use it for the original purpose of a fuge... a refuge for copepods, gammarus and mysid shrimp, worms, other critters to reproduce without pressure from the predators in the main tank. Working out pretty well for that.

I'll eventually be adding a GFO/GAC reactor, probably one of the cheap ones that BRS is selling. No rush, not enough critters in the tank to need it yet. Heck, I just added the skimmer last week.

 

[Joeb1983]

Old thread I know, but I figured I'd share my experiences with the 3rd gen R-300.

The first run of the 3rd gen sumps just had a flat piece of acrylic for the filter sock lid and as we all know acrylic absorbs moisture so bowing was a bad problem for that piece. (there is a YouTube review video that really highlights this)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnWpsQvjF4Y

They since now braced the lid with some square bar around the lids parameter, however mine still has a slight bowing.

The chamber where the overflow dumps in the sump as said before is a pain to clean/access and it does accumulate a lot of debris.

The refugiums inlet is not filtered as the design has it bypassing the sock so it is a huge detritus trap.

Thankfully I have a shop vac and it makes life so much nicer with this sump.

The return chamber is pretty small and I also have a Vectra M1 in there as well. (great ideas for the bulkhead and mirror)

Even though it is filtered through the sock I find detritus building up in the passage flowing under the refugium chamber.

I added a mp10 to the the filter sock chamber to aid in flow. Seems to be working pretty well as the passage no longer collects debris.

This being a refugium sump I take it is designed for lower flow as it does not like the Vectra ramped up as it overflows through the overflow weir into the return chamber.

Another thing is I personally wish it was was constructed out of thicker acrylic. Its not even 1/4".

All in all the sump was the perfect size for my setup and it does look amazing.

The price point is somewhat attractive as well.

It also is pretty quite.

 

[newreefer92]

3rd gen variations

3rd gen variations

So this is very interesting the teeth you measured going from your skimmer section to your return section are measuring about an inch. Mine is a 3rd gen r-200 as well and it is measuring 2 inches which is a large variation from yours which is odd to me. I just looked and the 3rd gens now have an adjustable acrylic piece to control the water level. I am concerned that my you will not be able to use the skimmer section effectively as most water level recommendations are in the 8 inches and above range.