tunze reefpack 500

[uhuru]

I'm thinking of getting a reefpack 500 to run on a 33g cube, all sps, barebottom and only 10 lbs of live rock. I was just going to hang it in the back of the display tank, so there will be no sump or drilling of the tank necessary. Will this be okay for the skimmer if I have a lot of flow in the tank (like nanostreams on all 4 corners)? Thanks!

Also what are the changes/improvements in the skimmer with the new reefpack compared to the older version?

 

[smatter]

That unit is pretty hefty and a bit obtrusive in a tank that size. I have a 9005 and bought a 3166 separately so I could mount one in each corner of my 37 cube, but ended up selling the 3166 because of the space it took up. I am now using a 3165 that I had previously and it is the perfect solution. The only drawback is that I have to mount the Osmolator sensors in the tank, but no biggie, it still takes up way less room.

 

[smatter]

 

[yeldarbj]

smatter,

I've got a 9010 running in my back left corner of my display tank as well and was wondering about adding a 3165 for surface skimming. Will it mount in any other orientation? i.e. flat against the back wall or on the right side of the skimmer? Also how much media can you fit in it?

Thanks

 

[smatter]

It has to be mounted vertically and you could put it wherever you want it. I had Roger at Tunze USA put a magnet mount on bottom half of the one I had so it wouldn't interfere with the Osmolator float sensor. I also bought the accessory chemical media container which probably held a good cup or more of media. You can deploy chemical media without the use of the accessory, you just roll it up with the mechanical media it comes with like a jelly roll. It was a slick set-up, it just took up too much real estate in my little tank. It would fit much better in a 65.

 

[yeldarbj]

So the float sensor of the osmolator will fit inside? I assume you wouldn't put the optical in though.

Was the magnet mount the only thing holding it in place?

I was wondering if I could install the 3165 on the right side of my 9010 (my 9010 is in the back left corner of the tank). From the picture, it looks like the in-take is on the left side of the 3165, can it be turned around? Or could it be mounted lengthwise across the back?

 

[smatter]

The float and optical sensors of the Osmolator mount inside the 3166, they do not fit inside the 3165. If you got the 3166 you could put it right next to your skimmer as the intake is on the front. The 3165 would have to be placed flat against the back if you wanted to put it on the left side, or you could attach an elbow to the outlet as long as there was enough space in back. I glued one of the Algae Free magnet mounts to the 3165 to hold it in place. The magnet was all that held the 3166 in place too. There are two suction cups above the magnet but they really only acted as a bumper because they were just a tad too far away from the glass to adhere.

 

[yeldarbj]

The problem with the 3166 is that it puts another box the same size as the 9010 in the tank like you mentioned before, not quite as tall though. Even in my 65, space is a precious commodity. I like the idea of the smaller box, but hiding the Osmolator equipment would be nice too.

Did the 3165 do a nice job of surface skimming? I'm currently using a surface skimming attachment to a cannister filter, which works surprisingly well, but am looking at options to not require the cannister, although I'm using an in-line hydor heater with the cannister output.

 

[smatter]

I still use the 3165, it's the 3166 I sold. It does a fine job of surface skimming and I like that I can just throw a bag of whatever media I want inside with no problems. I have thought about glueing the tab that hols the optical sensor to the side of my skimmer to get rid of that bracket. The float will have to go somewhere else because of the magnet on the skimmer.

 

[yeldarbj]

I need to get the magnet holder for my 9010. I just don't like the Tunze brackets all that well. I wish there was another option for the osmolator. Gluing the optical sensor tab to the side of the skimmer sounds like a pretty good idea.