jeeze..lol.

[billyocean]

Here I am...reading and reading again..ha. I have my 60"x18"x18" corner overflow and ran into a quandry. I am going to set the tank up for mostly live rock, sps, and inverts. Here is the problem..I will have a couple of fish..nothing major..I am seriously considering ditching the refug and going with an oversized protein skimmer with a uv on the return...possibly a Ca reactor added sooner or later. I could use the wet/dry it came with for extra filtration...instead of bio's i could add some LR to that area..but IMO from what ive read...with the same results..either way im thinking of scraping the refug all together...with a DSB and good water turnover...am i making a mistake here? Understandably, it would probably be better with both..but if skimmer only will suit my needs it will make care much easier (i know...we dont do it for time saved if we love the hobby). I would just like some opinions from those with more knowledge than myself on this subject. This seems to be a hotly debated topic across the web..so im at a loss..thank you!
ryan

 

[dawgface]

Properly sized skimmer (quality) and weekly water changes is more than adequate. Add filter socks if you wish (change weekly) and drop in carbon as needed. Honestly anything else is just user preference and usually geared more towards the hobbyist need to tinker than any real need of the tank.

Of course all of this is on the assumption your stocking level is normal and feeding is on point for your tank and it's residents.

UV is not a need, is not filtration and has no impact on what is in question here.

 

[acroholic]

Jesse is right here. You do not need an oversized skimmer for your system. A too large skimmer does no good except go for periods without producing foam, sucking down electricity the entire time. Much better to get a skimmer matched for your system, so you have consistent skimmate production. Bigger is not necessarily better in this case.

I repeat myself a lot on this, but there are many ways to a successful reef tank. You can do a fuge if you want and have a great tank. You could do a DSB if you want. I have never used a DSB. I use a sulfur denitrator. Is a refugium necessary? Not in my experience, but it won't hurt to have one either.

Never let anyone tell you there is only one way to do something in a reef tank. Be very skeptical if you hear anything resembling dogma in this hobby.

And like Jesse said, the question of a UV is not pertinent to your decision in this case, and probably not needed if you are only going to have a couple fish in the tank in the first place.

 

[billyocean]

Yeah..just going to have a goby, blenny, perhaps a clownie for my daughter...other than that were talking cleaners/inverts. Mostly LR..LS (perhaps)..and sps/lps depending on what I can do. Turnover rate will be as needed. How about the wet/dry that came with the tank? Should I convert it to a "somewhat sump" (has bios for now..looking to not use) in conjunction with my skimmer? I do understand that even LR or LS can still lead to a bio load that can spike...any advice is awesome!

 

[billyocean]

by the spike of the LR I do mean in sump

 

[billyocean]

>http://www.myfishtank.com/ProductImages/197.jpg</a>

basically what came with it

 

[billyocean]

or should I just buy an in sump skimmer...use my wet dry for a skimmer only app...that way if I want a refug later I at least have a skimmer that will by symbiotic with what I may choose to do later? Sorry for all the questions and multiple posts...I just feel like I have read for 6 years and still feel like I know jack shnit..lol. Im sure it's a matter of try and fail...but still...

 

[dawgface]

It's all up to you.

Personally I'd start simple with a game plan for those extras should you want to add them on. Like I said, what you need and what people have is entirely different. Those added things certainly have a purpose and help in different areas but usually just complicate it overall, add more maintence and what have you.

Full disclosure, I say this from the perspective of someone who's always ran those extra things. I do have a refugium, UV, reactors, controller.... I like to tinker.

 

[billyocean]

DawgFace;939984 wrote: It's all up to you.

Personally I'd start simple with a game plan for those extras should you want to add them on. Like I said, what you need and what people have is entirely different. Those added things certainly have a purpose and help in different areas but usually just complicate it overall, add more maintence and what have you.

Full disclosure, I say this from the perspective of someone who's always ran those extra things. I do have a refugium, UV, reactors, controller.... I like to tinker.

My point exactly..agree totally. Which brings me to my point of doing things more simple but effective as well. I would really like to know if anyone has taken one of these wet/dry sumps and converted them to a half a ssrefugium. What I would like is to avoid taking steps backwards...so even if just for an in sump skimmer whilsT using my wet dry alone would save me from wasting money on an external skimmer then deciding to add a fuge later then needing an in sump skimmer. Would it be worth my time/money getting an in sump...stripping the wet/dry (just for an in sump skimmer)? Things like this are what I am interested in knowing...the right baby steps so to speak. Plumbing work is no problem for me..basic wiring is no problem...but apparently having the confidence taking my knowledge/studying/learning is not so easy..haha. I'm sure everyone has experienced this in their endeavors as well. In no way am I looking for a "one size fits all" answer from anyone...just a conglomerate of individual ideas on these question. I can't explain how helpful this has been already!

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Don't know if anyone pointed this out but retail UV systems will not run we in line with a return... It is too fast of a flow. You would need to T off of the return to control the flow. You need SLOW flow through a UV... SLOW!!

Next, a large skimmer on a invert tank is a waste. But you still should have a proper volume skimmer for your sps. You are still going to have NO and phyto to feed those corals. So you need to remove that waste some how. Then again it might be a perfect set up for a wet/dry or canister.

 

[cotton101]

Also on a tank that size, the size uv you would need for it to be effective in killing "parasites" is enormous. 90% of people run a uv that is way too small, check out the flow and uv requirements per gallon in order to kill 100% of whats going through a uv=- it will shock you.
Ill check to see if i can find the article i read in depth on proper uv sizing and flow. Ill post it when i find it here shortly/

 

[dawgface]

cotton101;940237 wrote: Also on a tank that size, the size uv you would need for it to be effective in killing "parasites" is enormous. 90% of people run a uv that is way too small, check out the flow and uv requirements per gallon in order to kill 100% of whats going through a uv=- it will shock you.
Ill check to see if i can find the article i read in depth on proper uv sizing and flow. Ill post it when i find it here shortly/

Proper flow and quality unit is more important than size. Point being, as long as what is exiting the uv has in fact killed all Protozoa running that UV will eventially cover the tank. However along with what you said, you can't go wrong going bigger. Unless you go so big the unit adds to much heat to your system. And last, like the veteran gentleman here with the most confusing name on the boards said lol, low flow is key. Emperor makes the only unit that I would use and do. For you system the 40w will work just fine, no more than 250-300gph flow for protozoa.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/emperor-aquatics-smart-uv-40-watt.html?gclid=CLjF48n4-7wCFS1p7AodGCcAsg">http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/emperor-aquatics-smart-uv-40-watt.html?gclid=CLjF48n4-7wCFS1p7AodGCcAsg</a>

(Sorry for the grammar here. I'm typing this on my phone in between lights.)

 

[billyocean]

This has been extremely helpful everyone, can't thank you enough!

 

[jennm]

Personally I'd skip the deep sand bed. In the long term they are more trouble than they are worth. Shallow (3/4" to 1" of sand, keep it vacuumed) works well.

I'd put Seachem Matrix in the sump instead of traditional bioballs OR live rock. You'll likely get more surface area out of Matrix, and it's cleaner.

Again - there are plenty of ways to do it 'right' those are just my 2 cents' worth

Jenn