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rdbrown 
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Joined: October 16 2007
Location: Kauai, Hawaii
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 Topic: Protein Skimmer
Posted: January 23 2008 at 7:31pm |
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I have a couple of questions. 1st, I have a 215 gallon aquarium 90"x24"x23" drilled with two overflows and returns. I have a 50 gallon sump and a return of 1750 gph. Is my sump big enough? Is my return rate too high? I need a protein skimmer, how big do I need? Any recommendations on style or brand?
Thanks,
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Kauai, Hawaii
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cl2ysta1
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Joined: October 02 2007
Location: Cedar City, UT
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Posted: January 23 2008 at 8:17pm |
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euroreef or asm. the ratings they give you are generally false though. I would go for a much higher rated skimmer for what you need
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I <3 Boxers
Achilles tang lover
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john hill
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Joined: December 19 2006
Location: spanish fork
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Posted: January 23 2008 at 8:43pm |
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will your sump hold all the water when all your pumps are off if so then i would say it is fine
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out with the large and in with the nano
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MadReefer
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Posted: January 24 2008 at 12:20am |
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What they said. And also I would add a separate refugium of 50 gallons just above the sump and run water through it from and back to your sump pump chamber at a flow rate of about 500gph. Add deep sand and chaeto to it.
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Corey Price
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Posted: January 24 2008 at 7:22am |
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I have a different opinion:
1. Flow thru of your system should be 3 to 5 times your tank volume, so 1000 gph is what I'd shoot for.
2. Use a Euro-reef, Octopus, or DAS skimmer. Go for a skimmer that's at least one size larger than a skimmer rated for your tank volume if you intend to have a lot of fish. If not, a larger skimmer isn't necessary. Taylor the skimmer size to your eventual bioload. I think there are skimmers out there that represent a better value than the ASM, honestly.
3. I think your 50g sump is on the small side but could be adequate if you set it up right. I bet you need room for 15 gallons of extra capacity for the power-off, flow back condition.
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