gordonzo
Aquarium Advice Newbie
I currently have a 50 gal tank, 4" DSB, 60# live rock, CPR Bakpak skimmer, hang-on refugium, about 170 watts of PC lighting (fairly new bulbs), 3 clowns, 2 4-stripe damsel, 2 pj cardinals, 1 orange spot goby, shrimp, snails, hermits, mushrooms and a few other soft corals. Temp=76, pH=8.2, Ca=410, kH=11 ppm, Nitrates vary from 10 to 20 (a bit high). I know my bio-load is a little high and the skimmer has to be working perfectly to keep up. I was given a larger sump-type skimmer and plan to use a 10 gal tank as a sump below the 55 gal tank. My question is what size/type/specs etc are required for the return pump to lift about 3 feet. My tank is not drilled so is a hang-on type of syphon box with gravity flow to the sump adequate? My tank has been running well for about 1.5 years but if I don't keep the skimmer perfectly clean, etc. I start to get a ton of slime algae. Thanks for any advice.