My Rio 180 - With Sump

[NoFace]

Hi every one first time posting even though I have been reading the forum for a couple of months now. Right here we go... this is my fist marine set-up but I have been keeping fancy gold fish for just over a year now in a vision 180 and decided on a new challenge, so after seeing the next door nabor of my girlfriends Marine tank I was gob-smacked, I have been researching since, I did get hold of my Rio 180 from good old ebay for about 125 Quid, it came with standard juwel filter so that was the fist to go, then after picking up my custom designed sump today I did a little DIY on the cabinet.

There is two return pumps in the sump because I made the n00b mistake of thinking one to pump into the sump and one return so they will both be return.

Return pumps: 2x Eheim Compact 1002 at 1000l/h

I am still at this moment waiting for my overflow box from USA.

Overflow Box: "CS100 Siphon Overflow Box" by CPR Aquatic at 800 gph

I am a little worried about my sump at the moment because it only has two dividers, it did have for but the guy that built it for me placed them in the middle so i spent an hour taking them out, you should be able to see the marks on the sides of the sump from the photo.

Sump: 25" long x 10" wide x 15" high to fit the Rio 180 cab.

Before you point out I will be using a not so good Prism skimmer this is because it came with it (off ebay) so until I can afford a better one its going to have do.

Right I think that’s about it for time being and help or advice at this stage is very welcome. Before I forget I will be coming in again to Marine Tech to see you guys, I came in before Christmas with my girlfriend a couple of time, and lucky me received 100 quid in gift vouchers from my mother for Christmas for Marine Tech (hehe) My names Louis by the way.

[NoFace]

http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/imagehosting/21345b54a4d76688.jpg
http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/imagehosting/21345b54a6152025.jpg

[Tetley]

Hi & Welcome,

Looking good, keep the pictures coming. :)

ATB

[Tangman]

Hi Louis, I see you use MT as your lfs thats good as Chris and his team will keep you on the right track. Keep the pics coming as your setting up the system. Eric

[Blue]

Looking very very nice. You are 1 of the few who seem to be taking it really steady. I shall look forward to seeing you again :) . Keep up the good work.:)

[NoFace]

Thanx guys, I am trying to take my time and get every thing right first time, it was killing me knowing how long i had to wait for my sump to come, but i know its the best way to start, and even when the sump came i had to mod it, I also modded the rio cab in the same day to fit the sump in, still got some shelfing to install in the cab so i can fit some lighting.

So just waiting for my overflow box to arive, and then I will need to get my lighting sorted, plan is to install 4 lights all together in the hood, so still some money to spend on it, O and then the salt and all the other little bits, lol. I just really want my little system to Rock (lol).:D

[Tom2006]

Looking very neat and promising, patience is definitely a virtue in this hobby but it gets tested to the absolute limit. :eek: :confused: :D

[SteveS]

hi Louis, welcome to reefcorals, nice one on the vouchers m8 :)

what lighting are you planning to have? stocking list is a good idea now :D

if you need any advice on overflows, im not your man just ask ray(terrac) lol

take your time, plenty of flow and double your budget and youll be fine m8

steve

[Gillybaby]

Hi Louis, welcome to Reef Corals.

Thats going to be one sweet set-up. Looking forward to seeing it progress.

[NoFace]

Well my lighting will have to be two t8 marine whites for the juwel head unit, and i will fit two actinics on the hood flaps and probs a smaller marine t8 light for the sump, but to be honest i really dont know much about lighting yet, but it think that would be the cheapest way at the moment, I will upgrade in maybe 6 months time.

Stocking wise, when i get my clean-up crew sorted and settled in the system I think my first is going to be a Neon Goby and leave him in for about a month before i think about any thing else goinging in, I would like two clowns not sure between maroon or percula yet, I probs will go with percula pair though because they seem a little more peaceful. I would also like a blenny maybe a bicolor blenny but not sure yet.

[Buster]

Well my lighting will have to be two t8 marine whites for the juwel head unit,

Hi and welcome to the site. Your system is comming on nicly well done.
As for the lighting. If you wanted to keep the original light unit you could always use t6 tubes instead of the t8's, they would give you a brighter and a more intense spectrum while utilizing the original starter unit.:)