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08-27-2004, 05:04 PM
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#1
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 711
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Opinions needed on a protein skimmer and live rock.
My tank (125) has been running for about 2 weeks now. Contents: 2 corals, 4 small fish, a few crabs, and about 80 lbs of live rock.
I'm gonna be needing a protein skimmer soon. I would rather ditch the wet/dry if I can, add another 40 lbs or so of live rock and use a hang-on protein skimmer (or external if one exists).
The problem is that I have VERY little room behind the tank - 3 inches maybe. The skimmer will have to be on the side of the tank (I've already cut out part of the hood to fit a HOT magnum that hopefully a skimmer will fit into), so the width of the unit is important.
What brand of skimmer would you buy?
I remember some here raving about an online live rock supplier. Who was it?
and...
How would I hook up a PH to a UV sterilizer - with the PH on the intake pushing the water through or with the PH on the outlet pulling the water through? Would you necessarily run a UV sterilizer?
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08-27-2004, 05:11 PM
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#2
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Tustin,Ca
Posts: 754
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Here's the place http://www.liverocks.com/
Skimmer depends on Bio load. The more LR and LS you have the better.
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08-27-2004, 08:14 PM
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#3
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Aquarium Advice Addict
Join Date: May 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 2,468
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The UV isn't needed and would be a waste of money IMO.
I don't know of any HOB skimmer that would be effective on a 125. Do you have a sump?
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08-28-2004, 03:48 PM
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#4
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AA Team Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chatsworth, GA
Posts: 4,071
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The only HOB skimmer I would even consider for a 125 would be an Aqua C Remora Pro with a Mag 3 pump. The HOB version of the Turboflotor would handle the job, but I think you'll have space issues with it.
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Logan J
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08-29-2004, 12:42 AM
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#5
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 711
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by loganj
The only HOB skimmer I would even consider for a 125 would be an Aqua C Remora Pro with a Mag 3 pump. The HOB version of the Turboflotor would handle the job, but I think you'll have space issues with it. |
Interesting you should mention the Remora Pro - that's the exact one I was pricing online. The UV came with the tank otherwise I probably wouldn't have it.
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08-29-2004, 02:01 AM
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#6
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Aquarium Advice Freak
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Montana, Billings
Posts: 267
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You should hook the UV sterilizer up so that the PH is pushing water through it, and if possible have the output of the UV higher than the input, this insures that there will be a slight pressure built up, which will minimize air traps. This is ideal for two reasons, first, it's not good for the quartz sleeve to get to hot, which it can without water touching it, and two, the more water the more UV actually hits the water.
HTH, Joshua...
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08-29-2004, 02:11 AM
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#7
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AA Team Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chatsworth, GA
Posts: 4,071
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Actually, you don't want to run the UV at a high flow. If the unit is properly oriented, there won't be a problem with air pockets. The problem you run into, especially with the smaller units, is exposure time. Bacteria and parasites will survive the UV if they don't receive a lethal dose. This means a fairly slow flow to be sure all organisms that pass through are killed.
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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
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08-29-2004, 02:53 AM
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#8
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Aquarium Advice Addict
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 1,757
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What about an in-sump skimmer for your sump? that should work well for you. Plus I dont think you will be able to fit anything else into a 3 inch gap.
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Hardware: 37 gallon SW tank and stand by Oceanic Systems, Magnum 350 Pro Canister Filter (half carbon), CPR Bak Pak 2R skimmer, Maxijet 1200 Powerhead, RenaCal 150 W heater, Compact fluorescent lights with moonlights. 40 lbs of liverock, 3" sand bed.
Software:2 Tank-Raised Ocellaris Clowns, 1 Purple Firefish, 1 Electric Orange hermit crab, 18 Blue Legged hermit crabs, 8 or so Nassarius snails, Xenia, Blue, green, and Green Striped Mushrooms.
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08-29-2004, 03:37 PM
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#9
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AA Team Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chatsworth, GA
Posts: 4,071
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I should have read your post more closely. An external skimmer or an in sump model would be better than an HOB. If it's in the budget, I'd look at keeping the wet/dry as a sump (no media) and running an Aqua C EV 180 externally. Depending on how large your sump is, you might be able to use the Aqua C in sump. A EuroReef or ASM would be a good in sump option as well.
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08-29-2004, 08:07 PM
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#10
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Aquarium Advice Freak
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Montana, Billings
Posts: 267
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by loganj
Actually, you don't want to run the UV at a high flow. If the unit is properly oriented, there won't be a problem with air pockets. The problem you run into, especially with the smaller units, is exposure time. Bacteria and parasites will survive the UV if they don't receive a lethal dose. This means a fairly slow flow to be sure all organisms that pass through are killed. |
I didn't say anything about a high flow rate, just slight pressure to ensure that optimum exposure is achieved???? Sorry If I wasn't clear on that!!!
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08-30-2004, 12:21 PM
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#11
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 711
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Actually, I decided to set up the wet/dry this weekend and hooked up the skimmer (It's just a plain tube skimmer that hangs on the sump and looks like it could very well be home-made). It seemed to work very well and produced gobs of dirty foam all day long. I may just stick with the wet/dry - it'll save me some bucks.
The input hose is presently running through the UV, but I'll probably only use it if I need to.
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125 SW
80 lb LR
330w PC
Euphyllia, Alveopora, Pachyclauvularia (Metallic Green and Daisy), Frogspawn, Torch, Gold Nepthea, Kenya Tree, Galaxea, Pulsing Xenia, various leather (umbrella, toadstool, fingers, devil fingers, lettuce)
Maroon Clown/White tip LT anemone, Powder Blue Tang, Female Swallow Angel, SixLine Wrasse, Solar Fairy Wrasse, Firefish, Fathead Anthias, Blue Mandarin, 3 Chromis, 3 Green Gobies
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09-08-2004, 04:52 PM
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#12
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Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 34
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I have a 125 gal tank also. I have 3 CPR BackPacks and 2 Fluval 404s --I should point out that I also have app 130lbs of live rock. My tank has been set up for about 2 months and so far all is going well. I really like the BackPacks but have some issues with the Fluvals. Good luck --jd
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