Hi everyone,
Just started a 55 gallon reef tank. I have had marine tanks before but haven't had one in years. I bought everything on craigslist and it seems to be working great. Here are the specs:
- 55 Gallon Acrylic tank drilled on bottom with overflow
- 60 lbs live rock from an established tank
- 40lbs aragonite
- two Hydor Koralia in DT
- 48" Aquatic Life LED lights
- Eheim 3000 return pump
- 20 gallon sump/refugium with light, live rock, and chaeto algae
- currently have 2 clowns, 5 turbo snails, 8 hermit crabs, 5 nassarius snails, 2 emerald crabs, sand sifter starfish, a few rocks with polyps and mushrooms
I recently got a great deal on a MRC MR-1 protein skimmer with pump. It's probably overkill for my tank but I want to set it up but want to do it right. I've had hang-on and in-sump protein skimmers before. I want to operate this one externally. I have the following specific questions:
- My sump has a refugium compartment and a return area with baffles separating them. Where should I run the plumbing to minimize microbubbles?
- Should I use pvc pipes or flexible hoses?
- How do you start it dry if there is no water in the pipes/hoses?
- Once set up, how do I adjust the skimmer to control water level, output, etc?
Can anyone offer any advice or if possible, come over to help me set it up? I live in Alexandria.
Thanks
