cajen
08-04-07, 13:27
Equipment glossary
Here we will describe and illustrate some of the rather daunting equipment lists that you will see mentioned on UR. The items in each post are in alphabetical order.
Please note that examples of manufacturers' models are suggestions and are not intended to be recommendations nor a comprehensive list.
The red italics refer to equipment described elsewhere in the glossary.
Closed loop
A closed loop is a way of keeping unsightly pumps out of the display tank. The tank is drilled with a weir and a pipe leads to an externally mounted water pump (see also return pump). The outflow from the pump is then piped back to the tank. A popular choice is to have the return exiting under the live rock to avoid areas of low flow.
Alternatively the pump is fed from a slotted pipe under the live rock which exits through the tank base or up and over the tank side, and it returns to the front of the tank. Again either through the tank base or up and over the side.
Metal Halides, T5s, Actinics
See the lighting thread (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=190122) in the Advice Library.
Overflow box
A syphon device for people who want to add a sump to a tank which is already running without having to drill holes. Once primed, water is sucked out of the display tank and runs down into the sump tank. A pump is used to return the water from the sump back up to the display tank.
Models available include the Schuran (about 2000 lit/hr) and the Tunze (about 1700 lit/hr). Check the flow rating to match it to the return pump.
The Schuran flowbox:
http://www.aquaristic.net/out/1/html/0/dyn_images/z1/292030_z1.jpg
The airline is to allow for bubbles which can accumulate inside to be sucked out. This is easily done by attaching it to the venturi of a powerhead.
Powerheads and Streams
These are pumps designed to move water around the display tank (a requirement for the bacteria colonising live rock to work efficiently).
Older and smaller designs, such as the Maxijet range, produce a narrow jet of water. This is not ideal, as the idea is to move larger volumes. Consequently, many modern pumps are 'streams', with a wider outflow.
How much flow do you need? This depends on what kind of corals you want to keep: tanks for soft corals, mushrooms and zoas will need about 20 times the tank volume while LPS and especially SPS tanks have 40 times or more. As an example, a 300 litre softy tank could be equipped with two streams of 3,000 litres each.
Positioning of the pumps can be a matter of opinion but many reefers have a pump at either end of the tank, pointing towards the front centre glass. This creates a chaotic flow which benefits many corals. Avoid any position where corals are close to the outflow, as SPS especially can be damaged or killed. Some of the more expensive streams can be connected to a timer system so that they can be turned up and down, or on and off, replicating sea currents. Note that most of the cheaper pumps can't be turned on and off regularly and so are unsuitable for timers.
Popular makes include Tunze, Seio and Hydor.
A Tunze 6080 stream:
http://www.shopsolution.nl/clients/seameuk/prod_images/stream6080.jpeg
Protein skimmer
This is a device which removes organic wastes from the water, thus lessening the load on the biological filtration. It works by creating a fine-bubbled foam, which the wastes adhere to. The foam collapses at the top and is collected in a cup.
Most reefers consider a skimmer to be an essential piece of equipment, though some who run mud-based systems don't use one. Some very small nano tanks have no room for a skimmer and frequent water changes are necessary instead.
Modern skimmers are run by one or more water pumps; the old air-pump-driven skimmers were just not efficient enough.
Before buying a skimmer, decide where you can put it. Some are designed to hang outside on the back of the tank ('HOB'), while others can be housed in the sump. Only a few models can be used in both positions.
Popular makes include Deltec, Aquamedic, Grotech and v2.
Deltec MCE600 (HOB): Aquamedic Turbofloter 3000 (in-sump design):
http://www.thelivingseas.co.uk/ekmps/shops/livingseas/images/deltecmce600.jpg . http://www.atlantisaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/turboflotor3000.jpg
Return pump
This is a pump which is housed inside a sump to return the water to the main display. Check that the flow is suitable for your setup and allow for the reduction in flow caused by the head (the vertical distance between the pump and its outflow in the main tank). Most manufacturers publish details of head loss on their websites.
Also consider whether you will be submerging the pump in the sump or running it externally (not all pumps can do both). Running it in the sump can be quieter but may increase water temperature. Some makes have adjustable flow.
Example makes: Newjet, Eheim, Ocean Runner and Sequence.
An Eheim 1262:
http://www.thelivingseas.co.uk/ekmps/shops/livingseas/images/eheimhobbylarge%286%29.jpg
Ultra-violet Sterilisers
An issue which tends to divide aquarists is the use of UV sterilisers, with some swearing by their effectiveness and others condemning them as useless or even harmful.
Ultra violet radiation has the ability to destroy micro-organisms. A UV steriliser is a unit through which water is pumped and is exposed to an ultraviolet lamp. This can destroy or affect the DNA of micro-organisms, including the pathogens such as white spot trophonts. Opponents of UV say that beneficial organisms will also be affected, or that hobbyist units are not powerful enough.
The unit should be situated after a filter, as dirty water will absorb UV and reduce its effectiveness. An ideal setup is via the outflow from an external canister filter which contains carbon to reduce yellowing.
The maximum lamp life is usually 8000 hours, but it is a good idea to replace lamps every 4000 hours (about 6 months) as efficiency tends to drop over time. Check the manufacturers’ recommendations for unit size and through flow.
Note: UV setups for ponds are not suitable for marine tanks.
The most popular make seems to be Vecton.
http://www.findtheneedle.co.uk/images/products/19459.jpg
Here we will describe and illustrate some of the rather daunting equipment lists that you will see mentioned on UR. The items in each post are in alphabetical order.
Please note that examples of manufacturers' models are suggestions and are not intended to be recommendations nor a comprehensive list.
The red italics refer to equipment described elsewhere in the glossary.
Closed loop
A closed loop is a way of keeping unsightly pumps out of the display tank. The tank is drilled with a weir and a pipe leads to an externally mounted water pump (see also return pump). The outflow from the pump is then piped back to the tank. A popular choice is to have the return exiting under the live rock to avoid areas of low flow.
Alternatively the pump is fed from a slotted pipe under the live rock which exits through the tank base or up and over the tank side, and it returns to the front of the tank. Again either through the tank base or up and over the side.
Metal Halides, T5s, Actinics
See the lighting thread (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=190122) in the Advice Library.
Overflow box
A syphon device for people who want to add a sump to a tank which is already running without having to drill holes. Once primed, water is sucked out of the display tank and runs down into the sump tank. A pump is used to return the water from the sump back up to the display tank.
Models available include the Schuran (about 2000 lit/hr) and the Tunze (about 1700 lit/hr). Check the flow rating to match it to the return pump.
The Schuran flowbox:
http://www.aquaristic.net/out/1/html/0/dyn_images/z1/292030_z1.jpg
The airline is to allow for bubbles which can accumulate inside to be sucked out. This is easily done by attaching it to the venturi of a powerhead.
Powerheads and Streams
These are pumps designed to move water around the display tank (a requirement for the bacteria colonising live rock to work efficiently).
Older and smaller designs, such as the Maxijet range, produce a narrow jet of water. This is not ideal, as the idea is to move larger volumes. Consequently, many modern pumps are 'streams', with a wider outflow.
How much flow do you need? This depends on what kind of corals you want to keep: tanks for soft corals, mushrooms and zoas will need about 20 times the tank volume while LPS and especially SPS tanks have 40 times or more. As an example, a 300 litre softy tank could be equipped with two streams of 3,000 litres each.
Positioning of the pumps can be a matter of opinion but many reefers have a pump at either end of the tank, pointing towards the front centre glass. This creates a chaotic flow which benefits many corals. Avoid any position where corals are close to the outflow, as SPS especially can be damaged or killed. Some of the more expensive streams can be connected to a timer system so that they can be turned up and down, or on and off, replicating sea currents. Note that most of the cheaper pumps can't be turned on and off regularly and so are unsuitable for timers.
Popular makes include Tunze, Seio and Hydor.
A Tunze 6080 stream:
http://www.shopsolution.nl/clients/seameuk/prod_images/stream6080.jpeg
Protein skimmer
This is a device which removes organic wastes from the water, thus lessening the load on the biological filtration. It works by creating a fine-bubbled foam, which the wastes adhere to. The foam collapses at the top and is collected in a cup.
Most reefers consider a skimmer to be an essential piece of equipment, though some who run mud-based systems don't use one. Some very small nano tanks have no room for a skimmer and frequent water changes are necessary instead.
Modern skimmers are run by one or more water pumps; the old air-pump-driven skimmers were just not efficient enough.
Before buying a skimmer, decide where you can put it. Some are designed to hang outside on the back of the tank ('HOB'), while others can be housed in the sump. Only a few models can be used in both positions.
Popular makes include Deltec, Aquamedic, Grotech and v2.
Deltec MCE600 (HOB): Aquamedic Turbofloter 3000 (in-sump design):
http://www.thelivingseas.co.uk/ekmps/shops/livingseas/images/deltecmce600.jpg . http://www.atlantisaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/turboflotor3000.jpg
Return pump
This is a pump which is housed inside a sump to return the water to the main display. Check that the flow is suitable for your setup and allow for the reduction in flow caused by the head (the vertical distance between the pump and its outflow in the main tank). Most manufacturers publish details of head loss on their websites.
Also consider whether you will be submerging the pump in the sump or running it externally (not all pumps can do both). Running it in the sump can be quieter but may increase water temperature. Some makes have adjustable flow.
Example makes: Newjet, Eheim, Ocean Runner and Sequence.
An Eheim 1262:
http://www.thelivingseas.co.uk/ekmps/shops/livingseas/images/eheimhobbylarge%286%29.jpg
Ultra-violet Sterilisers
An issue which tends to divide aquarists is the use of UV sterilisers, with some swearing by their effectiveness and others condemning them as useless or even harmful.
Ultra violet radiation has the ability to destroy micro-organisms. A UV steriliser is a unit through which water is pumped and is exposed to an ultraviolet lamp. This can destroy or affect the DNA of micro-organisms, including the pathogens such as white spot trophonts. Opponents of UV say that beneficial organisms will also be affected, or that hobbyist units are not powerful enough.
The unit should be situated after a filter, as dirty water will absorb UV and reduce its effectiveness. An ideal setup is via the outflow from an external canister filter which contains carbon to reduce yellowing.
The maximum lamp life is usually 8000 hours, but it is a good idea to replace lamps every 4000 hours (about 6 months) as efficiency tends to drop over time. Check the manufacturers’ recommendations for unit size and through flow.
Note: UV setups for ponds are not suitable for marine tanks.
The most popular make seems to be Vecton.
http://www.findtheneedle.co.uk/images/products/19459.jpg