Hang on Back or Recirculating?
- Thread starter aznt1217
- Start date
Go with a recirculating type. I had a hang on back and wasn't happy with it's results. The recirculating type is better IMO .
Recirculating skimmers offer the best configuration for the highest possible organic extraction per pass through. Their design allows you to control the flow rate through the skimmer. They have foam generating pumps that work on a loop that takes water from the body, mix it with air, shred it and pump it back into the body.
Recirculating skimmers offer the best configuration for the highest possible organic extraction per pass through. Their design allows you to control the flow rate through the skimmer. They have foam generating pumps that work on a loop that takes water from the body, mix it with air, shred it and pump it back into the body.
fernandokng
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Manhattan, New York
Ted, dont get a undrilled tank. They're not worth the trouble, unless you love equipment hanging off ur tank.
Actually... for some reason I find sumps are a hassle. I know I am going to get flamed for this lol.
I want the 125 with no sump for the following reasons:
- Cost
- I absolutely hate topping off. I can't stand the fact that my skimmer won't operate unless I keep a top off regimen. I know an ATO would "solve" the problem but I have no room anywhere for a bucket full of RODI water.
- If I go with this 125, I want undrilled because I can get a hang on back/recirculating skimmer and my skimmer will work for a longer time before I have to top off. This will come in handy if I go away for vacation.
- I can get circulation in an undrilled 125 to 57x without a return pump. This avoids the hassle for me to hook up plumbing and do all that stuff.
- I am no much of a Coral guy and don't need to have SPS or the ultimate reef tank. I am fine with softies, easy to keep stuff with A LOT of fish.
For the 120-125 tank. I would have equipment in there that would turn over the tank about 57x with three directions of flow that intersect. A denitrator on there and a skimmer built for a 180 gallon tank. It'll also have a top so evap would be less of a problem given that there is no other area for the water to evaporate.
I am perfectly fine with wires. I always find ways to do it cleanly. I'll just treat it like a home theater system.
I want the 125 with no sump for the following reasons:
- Cost
- I absolutely hate topping off. I can't stand the fact that my skimmer won't operate unless I keep a top off regimen. I know an ATO would "solve" the problem but I have no room anywhere for a bucket full of RODI water.
- If I go with this 125, I want undrilled because I can get a hang on back/recirculating skimmer and my skimmer will work for a longer time before I have to top off. This will come in handy if I go away for vacation.
- I can get circulation in an undrilled 125 to 57x without a return pump. This avoids the hassle for me to hook up plumbing and do all that stuff.
- I am no much of a Coral guy and don't need to have SPS or the ultimate reef tank. I am fine with softies, easy to keep stuff with A LOT of fish.
For the 120-125 tank. I would have equipment in there that would turn over the tank about 57x with three directions of flow that intersect. A denitrator on there and a skimmer built for a 180 gallon tank. It'll also have a top so evap would be less of a problem given that there is no other area for the water to evaporate.
I am perfectly fine with wires. I always find ways to do it cleanly. I'll just treat it like a home theater system.
- Location
- Westbury L.i
chief is right...you cant fight the ATO...its here to stay...
i dont know of any HOB skimmer that will be enough for a 125g..
and for a recirculating skimmer...your gonna need a stand so the return pipe drains back down to the tank....with all that fish...you'll want a oversized skimmer...and that will look like a cannon hovering above your tank....
i would drill it...add a sump sized large enough where you can also fit a 10-20g rodi reservior for top off...which will make things alot eaiser...plus you can go on vacation with peace of mind.
i dont know of any HOB skimmer that will be enough for a 125g..
and for a recirculating skimmer...your gonna need a stand so the return pipe drains back down to the tank....with all that fish...you'll want a oversized skimmer...and that will look like a cannon hovering above your tank....
i would drill it...add a sump sized large enough where you can also fit a 10-20g rodi reservior for top off...which will make things alot eaiser...plus you can go on vacation with peace of mind.
Hmmm.. Understandable. Thanks for all the input with regards to the topping off and my main "issues"
Quite frankly, I'd do Top off every 3-4 days. Forget daily...sorry guys but although I know top off is IDEAL daily. Existing water volume versus amount of evaporated water would only change the tank negligibly.
With regards to skimmer, IF this tank upgrade occurs, I would be buying a recirculating skimmer. It's just a question of which one. I'll also be running a denitrator on this tank as well. This will definitely help in terms of filtration. I'll probably also run carbon on this tank through a canister.
Quite frankly, I'd do Top off every 3-4 days. Forget daily...sorry guys but although I know top off is IDEAL daily. Existing water volume versus amount of evaporated water would only change the tank negligibly.
With regards to skimmer, IF this tank upgrade occurs, I would be buying a recirculating skimmer. It's just a question of which one. I'll also be running a denitrator on this tank as well. This will definitely help in terms of filtration. I'll probably also run carbon on this tank through a canister.
If I get this new tank it'll have closed top on it. And I am not running anything too crazy in terms of lighting, everything would be fully operational (skimmer and all equipment).
I know I am going against all the "rules" here, but hey... sumpless has been done before... look at mark lol
I know I am going against all the "rules" here, but hey... sumpless has been done before... look at mark lol
- Location
- Upper East Side
Here is my suggestion -
Fine, don't use a sump. Plenty of people have gone sumpless without any problems. Personally, I do not like the look of all of the stuff hanging off of the back of the tank, but that is an aesthetic choice.
The top off issue is a big one - you really should top off of the tank as soon as the water evaporates. Remember that the biggest thing we drive for in a reef tank is stability - stable temperature, stable light cycle, stable position (hence gluing down the corals) and stable salinity. You will have the healthier ecosystem if you can manage that.
Since you have decided to go sumpless, why not put a top off reservoir under your tank? You're going to have all of that space ... you could easily fit a 20g or larger tank underneath a 120 or 125g. Hook that up to an ATO - you can DIY it pretty cheaply - and then you would only have to change out your top off water once every 2 or more weeks, depending on the size of your reservoir. Problem solved.
Fine, don't use a sump. Plenty of people have gone sumpless without any problems. Personally, I do not like the look of all of the stuff hanging off of the back of the tank, but that is an aesthetic choice.
The top off issue is a big one - you really should top off of the tank as soon as the water evaporates. Remember that the biggest thing we drive for in a reef tank is stability - stable temperature, stable light cycle, stable position (hence gluing down the corals) and stable salinity. You will have the healthier ecosystem if you can manage that.
Since you have decided to go sumpless, why not put a top off reservoir under your tank? You're going to have all of that space ... you could easily fit a 20g or larger tank underneath a 120 or 125g. Hook that up to an ATO - you can DIY it pretty cheaply - and then you would only have to change out your top off water once every 2 or more weeks, depending on the size of your reservoir. Problem solved.
you might also want to check out the tunze reefpak 500. you get a good skimmer (a comline 9005) , a powerfilter (not a huge fan, but you say you are going to run a cannister anyway, and it will at least skim the surface of the water) and it comes with an osmolator (ATO) built in. i had one and really liked it but i hacked it up for a few diy projects.
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
