Very new guy with new tank!

Well I did do allot of research on this thing and I have to say I stool some Ideas from this design. Sump He just used a bubble trap leaving the inlet chamber. I had the bubble chamber in place at the other end so I felt that I didn't need another one. I also like the fact of the fulling water for aeration.I might put a little holder out side the holes for a filter of some kind (floss maybe) to catch the big stuff and it might cut down on the little bit of water noise I'm getting. It's not allot and it will be even less with the panel that I plan on putting on the front.
 
I wont to put my skimmer in the inlet chamber so I don't want to make that any small then it is.
 
Gotcha. I was just wondering what you were going to use that first chamber for. The skimmer is a good idea. It just seemed counter productive to use as a media chamber because the water wont flow through it, just hit the top and come back up.

Along with your skimmer, I recommend getting a Phosban type reactor. They are cheap, and multipurpose. Its just a small cylinder that you put any media in (carbon, phosphate, etc) and the water goes down a tube in the center and then flows back up through all the media. It would probably fit fine in that chamber seeing we have the same size sump and I have my skimmer/phosban reactor in the same section.
 
Yeah I have been hearing allot about those phosban reactors. I'm not sure what they do and if I need one but I am looking into it. If you or anyone else has a good site that might explain what they are/do that would be great and give me something to read.
 
LOL. The name is very intimidating for what they are. The term "reactor" makes it sound like its some high tech thing, but it is so simple.

Tank a clear cylinder tube about 4" diameter. Seal one end, and on the other end have a cap. In the top of the cap there are 2 outlets. One in the center, one on the edge. Now inside the tube there in a small (1/2" tube) running down the center with a plate at the end with a bunch of holes. Ok, this is sounding way more complicated typing it out. It really isnt. So.. you have a tube down the center.. you attach a small pump/hose up to the center inlet, this pumps water into the small center cylinder, all the way to the bottom, then forcing all the water it pumped in to come out the outter area through the holes in the plate. The media, be it carbon, phosphate remover, ammonia remover, etc, is in the outter section and ALL of the water pumped in is then forced through all of the media so every surface of the media gets used. Instead of a bag of carbon that you stick in the sump and hope water goes through it, this forces the water through it. Like supercharging any media you put in it. It makes the media inside look like its dancing because its always in a fluid motion, but not to powerful.

Marine Depot is where I get my media and reactor from.

As far as needing one.. I say ya.. they really supercharge any media you use. Just make sure you get the right pump. In this instance, bigger is NOT better. You probably won't need Phosban media right away, but you can put in carbon/ammonia mix remover.

Wow, I just found this little gem.. sounds awesome!
 
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OK I understand now. S*** I could make one of those. LOL but not for $40. That's cool Ace thanks. I might have to look into that.
 
Dang, should have found this pic sooner. Very detailed, you can see exactly what I was talking about.

2261619359_286a750eb4_o.jpg
 
See what you were saying for sure. That really is simple.
 
We are trying to find a RO/DI filter around here and we can't. We want to try and get this thing cycling asap but it's not looking so good. I can't beleave that none of the LFS around here sell them. You would think they would have at least one setup sitting around for someone like us. It seems like allot of people that own SW fish tanks use these things so why not stock them. I don't get it. We have found the one we want online but it's gonna take like 5 days to get here. THE FILTER SETUP it the one that $199.00. What do you guys think about this one?
 
Wow.. you really are going full steam. I have a couple RO/DI units that I never even hooked up.. mainly because I can get water from the dispenser at the grocery store a block away. I have never used the /DI part either.. all the water I have ever used in the last 12 years has come from just 2 RO dispensers and not once have I had a problem or need to go out of the way to find a RO/DI. I read what you do and some people swear you need DI filtration as well.. but unless someone can show me why, not just quote someone else that quoted someone else... then I may think of looking for some.. in the mean time, it is ocean salt water and RO for top off and so far so good. If it ain't broke don't fix it right?
 
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