ReefKeeping

Return pumps are an essential component for many fish tanks. They are used in all-in-one tanks, water changing stations, and in aquariums sumps or refugium sumps. It is the heart of the aquarium and thus the very piece of equipment in your setup that you do not want to fail. You can argue that next to an Aquarium Heater, a failed return pump can be disastrous not only for your livestock, but to your home in the event of a flood or leak.

The goal with this post is not to point you to the cheapest aquarium return pumps or the most expensive ones. I’m going to point you to the highest quality and reliable pumps available today on the market. This is a component of your system that you should not skim on. You want an aquarium return pump to last forever, be quiet, and to be relevantly maintenance free.

There are many overflow boxes out in the market, so what is the best overflow box? In today’s post I will go over the types of overflow boxes, hang-on vs. drilled overflow boxes, the best overflow boxes, hang on overflows boxes versus drilled overflow boxes, and how to install an overflow box on your aquarium.

Discussing the best reef salt mixes is always a passionate discussion among reefers and saltwater aquarists. Some people swear by one brand of salt mix while others will go out of their way to talk about why this salt mix brand is way better than others. The purpose of this post today is to just lay out the facts and finding what salt mix will work for you and your budget. I want to get around all the marketing fluff and just tell you what works for your tank and needs. So let’s get started.