Equipment for a 120

[mikej11]

Aloha,

I am setting up a 120 for my neighbor and I will be almost modeling his tank for mine. We got Pacific Coast Imports wet/dry and skimmer.

Wet/Dry - TF400 (Aquarium lighting, aquarium filters, protein skimmers, aquarium pumps, aquarium products)

Skimmer - PS2000 (Aquarium lighting, aquarium filters, protein skimmers, aquarium pumps, aquarium products)

We also are going to run 2 Quiet One 3000 - (1 to tank) and (1 to 40wt UV to tank)

Question: Is this overkill - with both the wet/dry and skimmer rated for 300 gallons?? Could I get away with running the TF300 and PS1000??

I like the idea to run 2 pumps. We are going to replace to bioballs with (live?) rock. Would the bioballs be ok? I have heard not so good things about them.

For my tank - I am looking at the KR100 Kalkwasser setup as well. (Aquarium lighting, aquarium filters, protein skimmers, aquarium pumps, aquarium products)

Any ideas would be great.

Mike J.

[Scouter Steve]

I am thinking dump the wet/dry for a DIY sump built from a 40 gal tank and glass baffles. I don't see how the skimmer works in that wet/dry. Besides bio-balls are a no no.

[michael_cb_125]

Scouter Steve is right about the bio-balls. They are a nitrate Factory. They house the bacteria that "eat" ammonia and nitrite, and then produce nitrate. I would either build a sump as steve said, or look into purchasing one. Ive never used that brand of skimmer, but I would do research before guying one. I just bought an ASM G2 and it is Great. I would look into the Equipment forum, thres information a-plenty in there.

[lcstorc]

I agree with replacing the wet dry with a regular sump. It will save you money and headachs. The problem with the wet-drys is that they do not have an oxygen free environment for the bacteria that preforms the last stage of the cycle. This means that the nitrates are left in the tank until you remove them via water changes. Live rock has the anerobic areas to support that bacteria and that is why it is better for the tank.
Not sure about the skimmer you are looking at since I have never had one, but check out the ASM G series skimmers. They are great and not too expensive. With a skimmer regardless of brand you want to get one rated for double the water volume in your system. Most manufacturers overrate their skimmers.

[mikej11]

My LFS had the skimmer setup on a 125 gallon and it seem to pull a lot stuff out, so I think the skimmer will be fine. (Won't know until we get is up and running.) My idea for the Wet/Dry is to remove the bioballs and place a mix of live rock and dried coral rock in the are where the bioballs are housed.

My other idea is to remove the egg create that holds the rock and place the rock in the bottom of the sump area. With this setup - the water drips down on the rocks and the water has to pass through and around the rock to get to the skimmer area. This could raise the level in the sump to support the Nitrate eaters. Instead of the water flowing over a divider (like normal sump) it will flow under divider.

Any suggestions on this idea.

Neighbor's tank will have around 100-150+ lbs of LR. Very small layer of mixed sand and reef rubble on the bottom of the tank. The tank will be mainly coral and not have many fish. He wants a full reef tank.

I am help setting up his and my will come later.

Thanks,
Mike J.

[DaveK]

I recommend you simply remove the bioballs. Replacing them with other material leaves you with the same problem as you have with the bioballs. If you do need some sort of mechanical filtration there, you could use a filter sock and clean it weekly.

Using equipment rated for a 300 on a 125 is about right. Manufacturers tend to "over rate" their equipment.