Need help with ecosytem setup

[ynot]

Hi folks, I have an ecosystem 2410 (sump and 10 lbs mud)and am about to purchase the tank for it. Likely ~ 65 gallons. I am looking for 600-800 gph, as ecosystem recommends. I'm thinking that 800 gph would be better than 600gph. What has your experience been?Would you think a quiet one pump would do the job okay?

Also, is anyone using sand in their main tank? Ecosystem says you can, but, only 3/8" max. I'd like to have some sand, but, I'm wondering if I would be better off without the sand, in terms of removing the detritus,as recommended. I also read that any more than 3/8" sand dramatically reduces oxygen in the tank.

Finally, is there any danger in overflowing this sump. There doesn't appear to be alot of room for error in there. I've never done plumbing before and I'm wondering what would be the best way to plumb this system.

 

[JennM]

Lord thunderin' geezus! (nobody here in GA understands that phrase, but I bet you do!

)

I've had some limited experience at work with Ecosystems. Haven't seen them overflow, but I've only looked at the hang on one that closely, and I think there was hole to break the syphon just below the surface....so in the event of power failure it wouldn't drain your tank onto the floor.

I realize Ecosystem says you don't need a skimmer but we always ran skimmers on tanks with 'em and they pulled enough skimmate to justify it, and then some. I've also found that water takes on a very YELLOW tinge using this system, not sure if it's the mud that's doing it or what....

I like Mag drive pumps, I have a 500 gph on my 37 seahorse tank. Have no personal experience with Quiet One....but the 600-800 gph is a good guideline, I'd agree with more is better and go for 700-800 gph.

I haven't seen anybody use the mud in their main tank, just in the refugium/ecosystem.

Jenn

 

[Sue Truett]

ynot, good choice going with an ecosystem. I have a 180g. ecosystem reef and am very, very happy with it. It is now 9 almost 10 months old and the reef is an sps tank. I have a 65g custom sump and I also do have some sand in the tank. It is ~1" depth. On my sump we plumbed a Velocity T-4 pump. It is the quietest thing going and have not had any problems. I think the only thing you have to plumb is the return to the tank and the lines to the sump. You should do fine, I also have not had any problems with overflow. The caulerpa is growing like crazy as are the sps.

my 120 sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html www.marshreef.org/members

 

[ynot]

Jenn, not sure bout the "thunderin" part, but, yes, the "lord geezus" sounds real familiar! hahahaha. Thanks for your response. I finally understand what is meant by breaking siphon. This would apply with the hang on overflow, right?

Sue, yes, I think that it was the right move and I managed to get an introductory deal on it here. I visited your site and your tank looks fantastic. Is this the same tank that uses the ecosystem? Glad to hear you are doing alright with the sand since I am planning on using some as well. Do you clean your sand when you do water changes, or, just leave it alone? Velocity T4, I haven't heard of..where can I read up on that?

 

[Sue Truett]

ynot, the Velocity pump is available at petwarehouse. I know of no other info on them. I liked it so much that we even put one on the 120 sps tank. The website is my 120 and it isn't an ecosystem tank{yet}.

I finally have some pics of the 180g ecosystem tank. It is almost 10 months old. I run 3 250w iwasaki's and 2 160w vho actinics.
My 180 eco. tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/

my 120 sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html www.marshreef.org/members

 

[blownalcohol]

Sue, what sp. of caulerpa do you have in your system?Ynot what are your caulerpa plans?

 

[lil_ol_me]

JennM,
The Ecosystem runs crystal clear water, without a skimmer. Check out Sue's link for an excellent example of an Ecofilter in action.

Dave.

 

[kyguy]

We have a 75 which started out with a 330gpj, but moved up to a 500gph on a 20gallon sump. I actually liked the 300gph pump better. We have other powerheads in the reef for water movement. I figure increased contact time with th algae helps breakdown of wastes, and unless you are using a spray bar, that's a lot of water coming out in one spot. The only other thing I don't like about a pump with that high an output is that you really have to keep an eye on the water level. The sump compartment with the pump will REALLY empty fast if the water level ever gets low enough to hit the inside wall.
We have a sand in our tank (approx 1/2 -2" depending on where all the fish move it), and have never had any problams.
Reefs are hard to keep in a 65 with regular flourescent lighting, with all that excess water, you might consider a 58 instead, or upgrade to power compacts, or something else. Most mainstream power compacts that you buy from local stores still suck, perfecto had to pull it's line because it was catching on fire. Check out ahsupply.com to get good ones, or if you wanted to go with halide (might be overkill on a tank that size), check out your local lighting store, they should have a commercial lighting department where you can get all the parts, and end up spending a third of what you would pay reom a fish store or magazine

 

[ynot]

Dogue, I'm hoping to add caulerpa sertuloides about two weeks after setup if I can get that type of caulerpa here. I also plan on cutting/thinning it regulary as this apparently will help prevent any yellowing of water that might occur.

 

[ynot]

kyguy, ecosystem recommends 600-800 gph on the 2410 filter and apparently it does work better with the higher flow rate. Is your sump an ecosystem sump?

 

[Sue Truett]

Dogue, Hi--ask me any type of sps coral name and I could rattle it off, now on caulerpa I'm not near as well versed. I'll just tell you it's the feather caulerpa and the grape type--not scientific but none the less. HTH...
my 180 ecosystem: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html www.marshreef.org/members

 

[dannyrieber]

Hey. I have the same ecosystem sump on my 75. I set it up about 4 months ago. I went with a Sedra 700 gph external pump and it works great. I had a single external overflow and it got quite loud trying to keep up with the pump. I got a double overflow (w/ 2 U tubes & 2 drain lines) and everything is quiet. Hope this helps!

 

[DaveR]

ynot -

I am currently running a 65 gallon with Ecosystem filtration. It is truly an excellent system. My All-Glass tank with built in overflow uses a DSB as well. I much prefer having all the microfauna in my tank to having any convenience with cleaning the tank periodically.

I use a MagDrive 9.5 (950 gph) and have 3 types of Caulerpa in my sump (grape and feathers). Everything is happy, healthy and growing like crazy! Can't keep the red mushrooms in check, and recently I have discovered a small clump on Xenia that popped up out of nowhere.

I have some pics up from earlier in the summer on the Reefs.org member's tanks forum:
http://www.reefs.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=23&t=000208

Have added a medium Favia and 3 green chromis since then. Next step, upgrade to 250 or 400w MHs!

Enjoy!

- Dave

 

[kyguy]

Our sump is an ecosystm mud system. although we just made it ourselves to their specifications. A 20gallon tank and some plexiglass was s lot cheaper than what they wanted to send us. The only thing I don't understand is the bioballs on the side where the pump is, it's a little odd to me, I'd rather have all that bacteria living in the rock. In the inflow it does a great job to stop bubbles from going across the system. The only thing we had to watch out for was in the first month as the system got settled, we got a lot of cyanobacter growing over the caleurpa, so we just netted it off every couple days, after about a month, it started disappearing on it's own.

 

[ynot]

Danny, thanks. I will keep that in mind. What do you have for substrate in the main tank?

James, I haven't seen ecosystem comment on DSB. Basically, they indicate that the substrate is decoration only and anything > ~ 3/8" can become a detritus trap and lead to algae problems in the main tank. I guess a DSB would alleviate that, though....as DaveR indicated. Also, Michael Paletta indicated in one of his articles that he found oxygen in the system to decline dramatically when a layer of > ~ 1/2" was used in the main tank. He didn't elaborate on that so I'm not sure where he is coming from.

Doug, from reading your post, perhaps a mixture of caulerpa would be a good idea.

DaveR,are you using the 2410 or did you build your own sump? What are the dimensions on your 65g?

 

[ynot]

ky, I always wondered about the live rock instead of bioballs. Now I know where to add the live rock should I wish to do that. Thanks for that!

 

[ynot]

ky, I'm expecting the cyano on startup. Apparently, a higher flow rate in the sump is supposed to help with this as well as ensuring only fully cured live rock is added to the tank.

 

[jamesw]

Does Ecosystem give any reason why they recommend against a deep sandbed?

It sure seems like a shame not to be able to have the benefits of a DSB if you have an ecosystem refugium.

James

 

[dougc]

I am running an Ecosystem filter on my 70 gallon hex tank and also have a DSB in the tank. Scott Passe, who is an admin on Reefland, also uses a DSB with the Ecosystem. I use several varieties of caulerpa. When using a single variety of feather caulerpa, it went sexual at regular intervals. I have not had a crash since adding several other varieties. I now have grape (racemosa), serrulata, and two varieties of feather caulerpa. I also have an algae which looks a bit like green Brillo. This stuff is great because it doesn't anchor to anything, making it easy to pull out without disturbing the mud. The tank has been running this way since 6/2000. I have some pics posted on my web site. The pictures are from a while ago, though. I have some recent ones, but have not posted them yet.

 

[dannyrieber]

Hey ynot. As to the substrate in the tank, I have about 40 lbs. of the live sand you get in the sealed bags (don't remember what it was called). Anyway, it ended up about 1-2" deep. I think it is probably more for 'looks' than function. I have 2 types of caulerpa and some other type of macroalgae in the sump. I also added a few small pieces of live rock and a detritivore kit from Inland Aquatics. The thing is crazy with life now! When I added the ecosystem sump, the tank had been up about a month or two with a wet/dry and skimmer. I was still going through all the diatom and cyano bacteria stuff. Added the ecosystem, took off the skimmer and no problems since. It has been quite maintenance free which is great as I am relatively new to the hobby. Very young tank, but so far so good! Let me know if you have any more questions.

Danny