Posted by ArkansasGem on February 21, 2003 at 10:12:06:
In Reply to: Re: new setup...berlin system with Ho skimmer? posted by Mark024 on February 20, 2003 at 14:54:38:
I have the lifereef overflow syphon.. rated at 700 gph, they make a double, that is just two of those together, and thats what I am using for my 125. Also a 1200 gph submersible pump to return the water to the tank. I also had them send me a valve that I could adjust flow, as I will not be pumping the full 1200gph.
As far as sump, I am going to use an old aquarium, because I will not be having any sort of wet/dry system. A 15 gal sump probably will not be big enough.. I guess it will depend on what skimmer you decide on, and what kind of pump for the return water. If you have a submersible pump, then you will need room for it, and also if your skimmer is to go into your sump, you will need room for both. If you are having a reef, you also will not want a wet/dry, or any sort of bio balls or such in your sump. As far as a sump, you don't have to buy one premade, any container will do. It just has to hold water and fit where you want it to.
As far as adding liverock or sand to the sump, or both, I have also thought about it, although I will probably not do all this at first, I will get all I need for the tank, and then as money permits I will add to the sump.
Again lighting I am ignorant about. But I do know you need to also take into consideration tank depth. Example, my 125 is a long 125, it's no deeper than my 55 gal(18 inches) But you could get a 125 that is shorter in length and 24 inches deep, for the deeper tank your going to need more watts to reach the bottom. So if you see some tanks with higher watts on them.. check the depth and see if thats the reason. Kerrie
:Thanks for the input, I had thought that I would need a sump as well but it didnt hurt to ask. A couple questions about your sump and overflow, first off what kind of overflow are you getting? I have been looking at the CPR model that goes up to 600 gph, that should be fine for my 75. Are you planning on adding live sand or rock to your sump? Its another idea that I've seen thrown around, of course you have to light the sump then as well. Most people I have seen reccomend the Lights of America brand fluorescents sold at walmart and home depot for sump lighting. As far as my tank lighting goes, I want to have mainly soft corals and mushrooms so I supose that lighting it won;t be too much of a problem. Still, I have to wonder what is considered "low" and "high" lighting anymore. Originally I had read that 3-5 watts per gallon was ideal, with the upper end being for hard corals. When I figured my original plan was going to be 6 watts a gallon, I figured it was too much. But recently I have seen tanks with as much as 2000 watts of metal halides for hard corals, and not very big tanks either 9even a 58 gallon with 2200 watts of MH which reported that its hard corals were thriving). so I assume that reefers are throwing the traditional 3-5 watts per gallon out the door? Anyway thanks in advance for any input in advance, and Kerrie I'd like to keep in touch with you and see how your tank does with the Berlin method as well.
: Mark
