EZTimes

Chip it looks like I just got the afternoon off. Please send directions from Fairfax area. Thanks!

55g reef 180g reef 100g refugium Regards, Dennis

Thanks, the "free50ship" also worked on smaller IO orders and Coralife salt as of 8/8/03. After all the combination testing I ended up splitting a 400 gallon order late Friday afternoon. Dennis :D

Very sorry to read about your experience - temporarily takes some of the fun out it. I have a similar setup with my 180 and recently setup a remote sump (about a 30' run) powered by an Iwaki 70 and "assumed" the extra 100 gallons would minimize any downtime problems. How big was your sump? Also, I ran 5 separate GFI lines from the fuse box to the fish tanks because I had an occasional GFI trip (power surge?) for no apparent reason. No problems since then. I tried to balance the load to keep water moving if one tripped, however, I see no way around the Iwai 70 going down short of putting in a second return pump. Two smaller pumps might be a good idea if the big pump ever quites. Do you know if a remote sump pump really needs to be on a GFI circuit? Please post any solution you find, as I am sure others are in ,or might be, the same situation. Best regards, Dennis

:p Let me know if you still need more help and when. I also live in Fairfax area (near George Mason Univ.) and being semi-retired scheduling time is usually not a problem. Dennis

Jamie, I just finished setting up a Refugium in the utility room for my 180 (with future tie in to other tanks) using a 100 gal stock tank and 1 1/2" PVC from the tank and 3/4" from the Refugium. Mine is a 30' run and uses a 70 Iwaki pump. No problem with water flow / backpressure - refugium is below bottom of tank level - with tees, ball valves, etc... However, overflows are at capacity with the pump wide open. If you want to see it next time you go to TRT let me know as I am only 5 minutes away. It might help you design yours. It has produced a lot of benefits and to this point no drawbacks. As to your using the garage and potential summer heat problems, if you can stand the electric bills a chiller out there might work ok. Also, to reduce exposure to summer heat/winter cold & car flumes could you frame it in to it's own little mini insulated room/box? Bottom line is from my limited experience you should try to work something out to include a good size Refugium for the 180. Dennis a.k.a. EZTimes (703) 732-1448 cell :p

:D Craig, noticed that your profile has you in NOVA. I am not far from TRT and have a 10" radial arm saw that you can use for the big cuts. Being semi retired it would be easy to arrange a mutully convenient time. Also, if you need a template I have a large one (from a 180) currently not being used that you could check out. good luck, eztimes djayre@attglobal.net