Euroreef RS-80, now what?

[labrown]

Ok, it is time for me to make the switch from the hanging filter to a protien skimmer. My current filter is getting noisier and I'm afraid it will shoot crap here pretty soon, so I need to get moving on my new project.

I've got a 55 gal long FOWLR aquarium, already occupied by many little fish. I DO NOT want to drill a hole in my tank for the overflow system, even though I know it is a good suggestion, it just isn't something I can do. Maybe next time when I start from scratch...

So I have the RS-80 protein skimmer, I've got plenty of room under my tank, where do I go from here? I don't really know how the sump tank needs to be divided, where the skimmer needs to be placed, and what size of return pump I should invest in. I also don't have an overflow box yet. But I would like to get on putting all of this together soon, and any help will be GREATLY appreciated. I'd be willing to buy parts from other people, or buy parts from stores or online. I just want the better filtration system set up for the happiness of the inhabitants of my tank.

I know I can find answers here, this place rocks! Thanks all!

[erikharrison]

www.melevsreef.com (http://www.melevsreef.com) for sump styles and ideas.
All I did was this....
I bought a 29 gallon
I put about 6 inches of sand from my old tank into the 29
I dropped the spaflex from the overflow into the 29
I put the skimmer in (Euroreef too)
Filled the rest with live rock
I filled the 29 with water, so it was about 7-8 inches high inside the skimmer body.
Dropped a mag5 at the opposite end and sat it about 4 inches below the water's surface.
Ran clear tubing from the mag back up to the tank.
Attached this to the locline return.
Turned it on.

I used no baffles. There are tons of uses for them though, and if I had actually had the time to set the sump up, I would have used them.

To make baffles, here (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i1/Baffles/baffles.htm) is an easy solution.

[Carlos_at_River_City]

To start with you will need an overflow box, some sort of sump, and a return pump. The overflow box will determine how large the return pump can be, or at least how much water you can return to the tank. I wouldn't go any larger than 700 gph and even that might be on the high side. As far as the sump goes you can make something yourself or buy an off the shelf unit. Just make sure it’s big enough for the RS-80 and the return pump. If you go the DIY route you could use a 29 gal or a 30 long and just put in your own baffles. I'm sure there are plenty of people on here with good DIY sump plans.

[aquasport24]

just go and look at somebody's tank to have a better picture of what you want to do..you can look at mine anytime you want to, i am in NE (converse)

[labrown]

Well, I have looked at a lot of tanks and systems, online and at many stores in the area. But I don't know if I need all of the different compartments in my sump (which I'd like to make out of a 20 or 30 gal aquarium), how much the protein skimmer needs to be submerged, where it needs to go in the sump.

Any good sites on building an overflow box? How will I know how much water the overflow box will drain, and can I adjust the pump to match it, or will it only pump at one speed?

Aww man, this is so overwhelming...

[labrown]

Just make sure it’s big enough for the RS-80 and the return pump.

Does there need to be a certain amount of flow through the skimmer for it to function? Is that what you meant by this?

oh, and are baffles necessary if I'm only trying to accomodate my skimmer and extra volume for the tank?

[erikharrison]

la- do like I did. buy an overflow box, and a mag5. Fill your sump so that it's 7-8" high in the body of your skimmer. That is the recommended height for that skimmer I believe. If not, google euro reef and look at the .pdf instructions for your specific model. You don't really need baffles, as long as the skimmer is far enough away from the return, you won't have a microbubble issue in your display.

[labrown]

la- do like I did. buy an overflow box, and a mag5. Fill your sump so that it's 7-8" high in the body of your skimmer. That is the recommended height for that skimmer I believe. If not, google euro reef and look at the .pdf instructions for your specific model. You don't really need baffles, as long as the skimmer is far enough away from the return, you won't have a microbubble issue in your display.

Awesome, thank you!

What causes the microbubbles?

[Fish4life]

I had a euroreef and ran in at 7-8inches. i feel that 7-8 inches is too high. ppl on reefcentral recommend running it just above the elbow going into the skimmer for maximum performance. baffles are used to reduce the amount of microbubbles in the display. make sure to incorporate a refugium into your sump design. it is the quint essential part to nutrient export. don't use an overflow box. drill the tank. the overflow box will only flood onto the floor and drain your sump when you are away on vacation (it has happened to me three times). Might want to get with ACE on the good old sump design.

good luck, you will see a world of difference with the addition of the sump.


cheers,

kurt

[erikharrison]

microbubbles are from the skimmer. Once you see it in action, you'll get the idea. :)

[erikharrison]

OH YEAH, when you set that skimmer up, there should be a red valve that you can turn. It adjusts the water level in the skimmer. I have my water level at about 1/2" below the collection cup. Any higher and it will overflow after a feeding.

[Fish4life]

eric, unless his euroreef rs 80 has an aftermarket mod (gate valve) then he won't see any red valve. my water level was just below the neck of the skimmer.

[brewercm]

You can just get a large rubbermaid container for a sump if you want for the time being. Run you're over flow line into it and pump out of it with an internal pump if you want (Mag 5 or 7 should work fine).

[crossxfire2]

I have an rs 80 and the only red thing I see is the knob to adjust the water flow. The water height is controlled by the riser tube ( on mine at least)

[caferacermike]

CF your red valve controls the air inlet. The riser tube, old models it raises up and down, new school it rotates, controls how high the water sits in the chamber. Adjusting the air will raise or lower the water a small amount as you change it from liquid to meringue. RS80 are to small to have come with a the gate valve from ER, it would be an add on.

[labrown]

I finally got the RS 80 up and running last night. I got a 20 gal long aquarium, placed the skimmer, and then filled it with 2-3 inches of live sand, some dead rock and coral. It isn't attached to my main display yet. Last night I had a tank crash because of a water change, and am taking my time setting it back up. We lost two firefish, a yellow tang, and a hawkfish, but our two false percs have survived thus far. I am thinking of letting both tanks stabilize befor hooking them up, right now the skimmer is only cleaning the sump, so it should be pristine in a day or two. Is this a good idea? Should I go ahead and join the two systems? I don't really have much else to lose, except the two clowns and a ton of snails.

I fell like I'm almost starting over, and I don't really know where to go from here...