ReefMat 1200 hard plumbing

[jphilip813]

Yeah...the one from Home Depot did, with no issues...see video, in that chamber, I placed a gyre pump that turns on for 15 minutes every hour to prevent stagnation...

 

[mikst]

Yeah...the one from Home Depot did, with no issues...see video, in that chamber, I placed a gyre pump that turns on for 15 minutes every hour to prevent stagnation...

Very cool. Thanks for the info

 

[mikst]

I'm wondering if the top elbow part would work... It'd be nice to have such a tight 90 elbow that was plug and play.

 

[Raptor72]

Every setup is going to be different and there are so many variations of plumbing out there so it comes down to what will work for your setup. I went through several iterations before I came up with my final one. Just make sure to dry fit them until you get your final version.

 

[jphilip813]

I'm wondering if the top elbow part would work... It'd be nice to have such a tight 90 elbow that was plug and play.

If that works for you...try it and see; your setup might be differentfrom mine and others. For me, I know i had to cut one end of the union and glue the cut end onto a 90 degree Elbow to achieve what I have. I followed the steps provided by a YouTuber...here is his short video installing it.

 

[mikst]

Yeah...the one from Home Depot did, with no issues...see video, in that chamber, I placed a gyre pump that turns on for 15 minutes every hour to prevent stagnation...

Great, thanks. And thanks for the yt link. I think I'll get a street 90 elbow to hug it tighter. I'm trying to squeeze this thing into a tight space. I've got about 12 inches of space to work with in the sump section it's going in.

 

[PhilT]

I converted mine (Reefmat 500) as well almost a year ago, after watch a YouTube video of another RedSea 500 user doing it...smartest dyi I think I did, clean-look overall. But I went to Home Depot (El Paso) instead, because the unions at Lowes just was not screwing on...atleast the the three I picked up. Wish they had them in Grey, but this worked regardless.

hi, what sump is this? has the white bracing on top with orange edging? what are its dimensions? did you have to modify it at all like remove sock holders to make room for the input to the reefmat? i’ve been looking at trigger sumps and it seems like i need to use the fuge center section to fit a reefmat because they all assume you have socks.

 

[jphilip813]

hi, what sump is this? has the white bracing on top with orange edging? what are its dimensions? did you have to modify it at all like remove sock holders to make room for the input to the reefmat? i’ve been looking at trigger sumps and it seems like i need to use the fuge center section to fit a reefmat because they all assume you have socks.

Hi, that "WAS" a sump from Synergy Reef, "RM-34" model...the first chamber is designed so that it can hold the Red Sea reefmat 500...It is now sitting in my outside shed, covered up. I have since switched (since JUNE 2025) to a TRIGGER sump (Titanium with Roller mat) 34-inch version, with reefmat and a removable chamber to grow chaeto...see photos

 

[PhilT]

thanks. why did you switch to the trigger? and looks like you are using the trigger roller not the reefmat?

 

[jphilip813]

I wanted to have the ability to grow chaeto, have a reefmat and run a Skimmer all at once, with the limited space I have without getting a new stand....the Trigger gave me that option...even know I like thr Synergy Sump, it was a bit cumbersome to conduct maintenance on the reefmat, because there wasn't too much space to work with in my space.

 

[PhilT]

thanks. i just ordered a crystal 36. looks like the reefmat will fit in the center and skimmer in the first section. i won’t need a fuge .

looks like my new tank is coming this week.

 

[mike_mania]

Looks like this still might be active-

I’m plumbing a 180 with dual overflows. I was suggested to tie both overflows in a wye and then plumb into the flex hose. I am unsure about the drainage. Is this is a viable option or is removing the other side of the Reefmat and plumbing it the best option for flow rates? Or what about having the second overflow dump into the Reefmat chamber?

 

[PhilT]

i have a Planet 120 with dual overflows. i have a reefmat 500. my service guy set one overflow as an emergency which drains into the sump section that has the reefmat, the other overflow goes to the reefmat with a gate valve on it to control flow. at least for the 500, it seems with the valve wide open, there is too much flow and overwhelms the reefmat and advance the floss way too quickly. so i have its slightly closed and we get some output from the emergency that goes in a filter sock that i can also put carbon in if needed.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

i have a Planet 120 with dual overflows. i have a reefmat 500. my service guy set one overflow as an emergency which drains into the sump section that has the reefmat, the other overflow goes to the reefmat with a gate valve on it to control flow. at least for the 500, it seems with the valve wide open, there is too much flow and overwhelms the reefmat and advance the floss way too quickly. so i have its slightly closed and we get some output from the emergency that goes in a filter sock that i can also put carbon in if needed.

I have a 500 on a 240, and it is fine. I have also taken one of my 1200’s offline and run a single 1200 on a 550 with no issue. It really depends on tank turn over. On my 240 w/500 I’m only pushing about 3x turnover. Rolls last about 60-90 days. Try slowing your turnover down. Do you run 100% of your water through it. I currently am, but I am about to run 50/50, which means my fleece will last much longer now too.

 

[PhilT]

i’m running a cor15 at 70% for the return so my turnover is pretty high. there’s a all valve on the reefmat so a little flow is going out the emergency drain but not that much. funny on my old reefer 425xl, i had the cor15 almost 100% but not sure how much the reefer plumbing limited it, but i wouldn’t see anything coming out the emergency on it.

but with 109% open on the ball valve, the reefmat just seemed overwhelmed by the flow into it. i have hard plumbing into the reefmat vs the hose on the old tank but dont think that woul$ have mattered.

 

[Dondante]

So does anyone run two separate full syphons into the reef mat? Seems to be asked many times but nobody seems to actually answer? I have 125 with 2 separate full syphons( overflow on left side of tanlk and an overflow on the right side of the tank, not emergency drains.) i need to plumb into a 1200. Thanks, guys!

 

[mike_mania]

So does anyone run two separate full syphons into the reef mat? Seems to be asked many times but nobody seems to actually answer? I have 125 with 2 separate full syphons( overflow on left side of tanlk and an overflow on the right side of the tank, not emergency drains.) i need to plumb into a 1200. Thanks, guys!

You can. If you have room you can plumb it on both sides if the Reefmat.

 

[Aframereef]

So does anyone run two separate full syphons into the reef mat? Seems to be asked many times but nobody seems to actually answer? I have 125 with 2 separate full syphons( overflow on left side of tanlk and an overflow on the right side of the tank, not emergency drains.) i need to plumb into a 1200. Thanks, guys!

Yes I did on both of my reef mats. I did remove some of the red plastic on the part that holds holds the mat down. I felt it gave a bit more flow than the normal slits.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

You can. If you have room you can plumb it on both sides if the Reefmat.

I have, but depending on flow it slows the drains down. What I have done though is not used the other side, dumped it in through the opening with silicon tubing. No back pressure.

 

[Dondante]

I have, but depending on flow it slows the drains down. What I have done though is not used the other side, dumped it in through the opening with silicon tubing. No back pressure.

I was actually wondering if that would be an option. Thank you.