180g FOWLR filtration

[RayAllen]

Experienced reefers and seniors on the site. Let me know what you think of this. Keep in mind this is not a reef it is a FOWLR setup.

Ok folks im thinking about filtration.

Besides the 170lbs of Live rock in the display

What i have now is a sump that I will be running a carbon reactor on and a skimmer. Most likely a Octopus Needel wheel skimmer rated for 180g+.

Now what im thinking instead of a fuge or maybe both is running a seperate 20-30g with live rock and a xenia forest that is plumbed to run into the sump. I know Ping one of our most knowledgeable members IMO is running a xenia sump so maybe he will chime in on this. I would light it with a clamp lamp lit by a 68watt PC bulb
http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Light-Bulbs-Compact-Tube-Fluorescents/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zar0o/R-100676712/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I think this would work well in a FOWLR system since xenia tend to like less than pristine reef water. They would be able to catch any particles floating buy before into the mechanical filtration.

Something like this pic. I drew it with paint so its not the greatest but you get the idea

Updated Pic with Macro Fuge
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/frogguy1/180gfil-2.jpg

Need some thoughts on this.

[Neptune@gabesfish]

Im sure it would work but IMO make the area where the skimmer sits much smaller just enough for the skimmer .. That way you have a much larger actual sump

[RayAllen]

Skimmer section is actually larger, pic not 100% accurate.

[Kristy]

So would your overflow drains be split: one inte the fuge and one directly into the sump? Or would it all go into the fuge and flow over to the sump and toward the return pump? Usually most folks prefer the gentler flow through the fuge and to with the split drains, which seems like it would work well here.

Looks good - curious to hear how the xenia forest works for you.

[Neptune@gabesfish]

When you evaporate water the only area you will lose is from the sump .. That is where the pump sits but Im sure you will have an ATO .The skimmer area only needs to be big enough to keep a static water table for skimmer.

[Kristy]

PS: Have you been talking to Mike? We just set up a stupid old boring FOWLR so that he could have a Picasso trigger. I am moving my angels into it, except for the bellus... she gets to stay in the reef.

[RayAllen]

When you evaporate water the only area you will lose is from the sump .. That is where the pump sits but Im sure you will have an ATO .The skimmer area only needs to be big enough to keep a static water table for skimmer.

As for the sump I will have a ATO and the skimmer section will work, ive kept the exact skimmer I plan to buy before on a larger tank before with a similar sump so im not concerned with that. Mechanical filtration isnt the issue, im more concerned with the xenia forest versus running a typical macro fuge.

[RayAllen]

PS: Have you been talking to Mike? We just set up a stupid old boring FOWLR so that he could have a Picasso trigger. I am moving my angels into it, except for the bellus... she gets to stay in the reef.

No I havnt talked to Mike, lol. To be honest with you fish were the reason I got into the hobby to begin with and have always kept my attention more than the corals. A lot of the fish I like have a ton of personality but there is no way they could ever be in a reef tank.

As for the split drain I hadnt really though of that but I think its a great idea. Thanks!

[Neptune@gabesfish]

Cool It looks good then .. The xenia forest is a good idea and hey if it doesnt work you can always just add macro..

[RayAllen]

Neptune look at the new pic of the filtration. This is actually how the baffels are set up in the sump I bought from penny2cents. The 1st pic was not a correct picture of the baffel system.

Im not sure why I thought it was the other way, maybe because on my last tank thats how it was setup.

[Neptune@gabesfish]

Ohh ok thats exactly what I was saying.. Perfect..

[Gseclipse02]

No I havnt talked to Mike, lol. To be honest with you fish were the reason I got into the hobby to begin with and have always kept my attention more than the corals. A lot of the fish I like have a ton of personality but there is no way they could ever be in a reef tank.

As for the split drain I hadnt really though of that but I think its a great idea. Thanks!


this is the way i have mine ... i just put a ball valve to control the drainage flow from the main tank to the frag tank and then the frag tank drains into the sump

[roscozman]

I could be speaking out of turn here, but the last time we visited Ping he did away with the xenia sump. He now has a DSB only tank with just a little Live Rock amongst his other two or three fuge/sump tanks in his system.

[RayAllen]

I could be speaking out of turn here, but the last time we visited Ping he did away with the xenia sump. He now has a DSB only tank with just a little Live Rock amongst his other two or three fuge/sump tanks in his system.

Hmmm, its been a long time since I viewed his tank. So maybe he did. If anything it may just be a fuge. Im going to send him a pm.

Thanks Ros for the heads up.

[txg8gxp]

Depending on the media used in the reactor, wouldn't you want the reactor before the skimmer?

[RayAllen]

The reactor will just run carbon, so im not sure that actually matters. Its just for water clarification.

[RayAllen]

Im scaping the xenia idea, Going to be a large fuge with a lot of Macro. My thought process on this is that I know it works plus it will be a great copepod source for live fish food.