AC 500 question

[jeepjon]

Anybody here use a stock AC 500 on a 5.5 nano? I wasn't sure if it would be way too much flow, or if the water would fly everywhere when it hit the front glass. I would love to be able to use my AC 500...maybe as a fuge, but probably just as a filter for purigen and because I have it and it would add more water volume. Does a fuge the size of an AC 500 really make a difference for a tank like a 5.5?

[jdbassin]

The intake tube on ac500s should be adjustable from side to side to decrease water flow. Do a serch for ac500 fuge's here and on reef central there are some good forums on the topic. Shouls work fine although you'll need to cut and glue in some baffles



jd

[jeepjon]

Yeah....I was hoping to not have to reduce the flow, so I wouldn't need a powerhead. It may be enough, even if the flow is reduced.

[jdbassin]

the ac400 has a flow rate of 500gph thus the ac500 part that's a turnover rate of 100 times per hour, even cut in half your turn over rate is more than enough. shouldn't be a need for powerheads at all unless your concerned about laminar flow


jd


jd

[jeepjon]

Yeah, I just want to have SPS...I'm changing my plan. I'm going to save for a mini-bow 7. I'll probably either use the AC 500 or use the 5.5 that I have now as a sump/refugium kind of setup for the mini-bow. I'll focus my monetary efforts on propagating my regular reef with some nice creatures right now....

I was concerned about flow in all parts of the tank with one source..but I guess when I'm only dealing with something as small as a 5.5 or 7 gallon, I really don't have to worry about that too much.

[jdbassin]

Sounds like a cool setup. e-mail me @ jdbassin2003@yahoo.com I'm interested in how this all works out



jd

[Cafe Jeff]

I agree.
It sounds like a very cool set up.
I am just here at the office putting together a 20 gallon nano and am using an scrounged AC150, a couple of powerheads, and about 15 lbs of live rock and 10 lbs of base. As I am using the AC150 with just a pack of purigen (does this stuff do anything) eventually I would like to make it a fuge too so am keen on following this thread.
Inhabitant wise, I have so far about a half dozen tiny little hermit crabs, a brittle starfish and a few snails.
So far, so fun.
Jeff

[jeepjon]

Yeah...for that 20 gallon, you could set up a nice larger refugium...like a CPR HOB refugium. My question is how much do these refugiums actually do? Does the space inside a AC filter really do anything? Or is it more for cool gadget power?

[jeepjon]

I think my ideal setup would be either a minibow 7, or a 5.5, mated to another 5.5 on the back of itself. Like, just butting two tanks back to back, and making the back section a refugium, and the front section the tank...I'm not sure how it would work, but I would like to try....it would be pretty easy to plumb and to add a surface skimmer...I'll have to work with this idea...maybe make a prototype using a 5.5, and then try it with the minibow 7 to really see if it works.