New 125 set-up advice

[Mason]

OK, I'm brand new to all of this, but am interested in starting a 125 gallon (long) reef. I'm going to get the AGA with dual overflows, and want to put a sump and refugium underneath.

My first question is what size protein skimmer do I need? I like the Euro Reef, but the footprint for the better models is too big (19"). I also am considering a AquaC EV model, but don't know how large I need to go.

Second question: How large a sump and refugium do I need and should I DIY or buy one already set up? I would consider a DIY if it is going to be easy and much cheaper, but keep in mind, I have never done any of this before. I want to make sure they are large enough to house the skimmer and eventually an RO/DI auto top-off and calcium/neilson reactors. I know it's going to be tight, but I would like to fit all of this under a 74x20x36 or so, stand I am building.

Any advice or links would be greatly appreciated (except telling me that I'm absolutely crazy)!

 

[ChrisRD]

If you don't want to DIY a sump, a standard 55 gallon tank would fit under your stand for use as a sump. You could section off part of it for use as a refugium. One of the 6" or 8" model Euro-Reefs would fit into this tank - pick a model depending on how much height you're going to have to work with (height of stand).

HTH

 

[LA-Lawman]

If you want, get a regular tank that you can get into the stand for a sump. or .....

I bought an oceanic sump.. a model 2 and love it. it has a nice baffle that allows you to run a carbon, phospate or any other ttype media in a bag....

see it on my website....

I also have an AquaC EV180 and love it.. I am running it with a mag7 and it is awesome...If i were yuo I would get either a euro-reef or the AquaC EV 240... be sure you get the john guest fitting on the EV240... just n case you want to run ozone or a calcium reactor thru your skimmer...

Hope this helps.. I set up AGA tanks for a lot of people. I am the tank guru in the family....

One more thing...

put durso stand pipes in the overflows... the drop on the standard AGA overlow standpipe makes too much noise ine the overflow.....

let me know if you need any help....

 

[Anonymous]

I have a 180g AGA RR with a 55g tank underneath that's used as a sump/refugium. I have an AquaC EV-240 in the sump, which has worked, IMO, extremely well.

There are certainly many (good) ways to do what you want to do...I just thought I'd share what has worked well for me.

Chris

BTW, congrats on the {squat}, ChrisRD!!!

 

[ChrisRD]

BTW, congrats on the {squat}, ChrisRD!!!

LOL - thanks Chris, I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out...