Initially for filtration I set up a DSB in the centre section of the sump, with some live rock rubble to provide additional biological filtration and an Instant Ocean 800 skimmer in the sump ( sounded like a aeroplane taking off at times and it soon had to go - replaced with a 2nd hand AquaMedic Turboflotor 1000.

You will see from the picture that the shimmer had to be fitted into the centre section, with its foot in the sand ! A filter sock was fitted in the left section, along with the skimmer inlet / outlet hose. A Phosban Reactor with app 250ml of Rhowaphos has ben added to help keep the PO4 down. A small circulation pump is used to feed the reactor. The filter was reasonably effective, with very low phosphate / nitrate, however growing cheato proved to be a challenge - maybe the light used was not up to the job !

I was reasonable happy with the set-up, however space was very tight in the sump and finding space for the skimmer proved very difficult. Snails were added to the sand to keep in nicely turned over - however I am not convinced that there was a suitable food supply to support them. Survival rate was not good..

After many hours research and some advice from Jon @ STM I decided to look at changing out the sump layout... KZ Zeo was my chosen solution - removing the DSB and replacing with a ZEO reactor.

The reactor - filled with app 1 litre of Zeovite and rquires pumping on a daily basis and a steady flow, using a small pump .. Before this could be installed the DSB had to be removed very slowly, over the period of a couple of weeks. Whilst the DSB was being removed some Zeovite in a filter bag was added to the return section of the sump. The KZ magic blue bottles ( ZeoStart 2 and Food 7 and ZeoBac ) were administered.

As part of the filteration ugrade I decided to look at the skimmer - my 2nd hand Aquamedic Turboflotor 1000 was getting very temperamental - possibly the pump was no longer up to the job. I am very limited by the dimensions of the sump chamber - taking out the DSB was the best option in circumstances. For a replacement skimmer I looked at Deltec, ATI, ATB and the KZ - Revolution Small. In the end the KZ won as I could source one locally, with good support at STM.

Well here it is, ready to go.. it only just fits into the sump.

As you can see from this picture, it was a tight fit but you can just about get the lid of. You will notice that it's now getting very tight for space in the sump. The 6 socket GHL controlled plug bar, takes up all the back of the cabinet. At first I was concerned about ingress of water into thr plugbar ... but months later and no issues have become apparent.

Another angle - note the water level inside the skimmer... it took several days to rise up into the chamber... and boy is it temperamental ! Any very slight change in water level and it either stops completely, or floods.

Let's hope it soon settles down

The sump, a few months later... so what's changed ? The KZ skimmer has gone - I just couldn't get on with it, and the Nitrates were slowly rising ..... One day it would flood and soak the top of the cabinet, risking damage to the delicate GHL electronics, the next day it would stop skimming alltogther... Really no idea why, the water level was constant. I use a top up pump (AquaMedic Peri Pump) connected to the GHL, with RO supplied from the palstic bin in the left of the picture. Since my last entry, I have also added a GHL dosing pump, this supports my balling light supplements.. As my Corals began top grow I struggled to keep the Calcium, Magnessium and Alk balanced... using the Balling light method everthing is now stable

Daily Dosing ....