Starting a 180 reef after being away form reefs for 8 years!

FLKeysgirl

New Member
I ONLY HAVE 8 YEARS EXP WITH REEFS BUT ALL MY TANKS PREVIOUS TO THIS HAVE BEEN 125 OR LESS AND HAVE BEEN USED SO THE SETUP WAS ALLLLL THERE FOR ME. I JUST PURCHASED A 180, ITS NOT DRILLED AND DRILLING IS NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE IT'S TEMPERED, I COULD NOT RESIST IT THOUGH AS IT WAS $300 FOR TANK, STAND WITH HOOD, STANDARD LIDS AND LIGHTS, AND TWO POWER COMPACT STRIPS THAT HOUSE 4 BULBS EACH THE LENGTH OF THE TANK BUILT INTO THE HOOD SIDE BY SIDE AND AN ESHOPPS WET DRY SYSTEM WITH MATCHING OVERFLOW BOX AS FOLLOWS
WD-200CS
30" x 12" x 16" H
INTAKES: Dual
MAX FLO RATE 1,000 gph
FOR AQUARIUMS 150-200 gallons

SO HERE LAYS MY DILEMMA. I AM HAVING A PROBLEM FIGURING OUT FLOW RATE VS PUMP SIZE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH PUMP TO PURCHASE.
ITS ABOUT 6 FT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SUMP TO THE TOP OF THE TANK WHERE THE RETURN WILL BE, I'M PLANNING ON USING PVC PIPE 3/4" WITH 2 ELBOWS SINCE THE PUMP WILL BE SUBMERGED. SHOULD I GET THE MAG DRIVE THAT HAS MORE GPH THAN THE SUMP/OVERFLOWS OR LESS GPH? ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS WELCOMED!

THESE ARE THE 2 IM LOOKING AT:
MODEL MD12 - MAX HEAD 15FT - MAX GPH 1200 - GPH @3FT HEAD 1100 -INLET/OUTLET 3/4"
OR
MODEL MD18 - MAX HEAD 21FT - MAX GPH 1800 - GPH @3FT HEAD 1375 - INLET/OUTLET 3/4"


ANYTHING YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE AWESOME!!!!:dance:
 

seabass

Member
Other people might join in but I have a mag12 return pump and it has plenty of power for a 180.I have a tee in my return line and have to dump alot of water back in my sump.If you go with duel overflows and a bunch of reators then you might want to jump up to the 18 but im sure you will be happy with the 12.Hope this helps and happy reefing.
 

BigAl07

Administrator
RS STAFF
Hello :wave: and welcome to RS!

What type of coral do you ultimately want? Or I guess what type of flow are you looking for?

I've got a Mag18 on my 90g with about 6 1/2' of head height. It's only about (best case scenario) about 1250gph and I'd like more but then again I LOVE FLOW!!
 

nanoreefing4fun

Well-Known Member
RS STAFF
welcomefish.gif

to ReefSanctuary, a real Sanctuary of reef forums, with lots of very nice members
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