Cramming a Roller Mat & Skimmer in Cade 600/900 Sump

[ksliech]

The sump on a Cade 600 and 900 has a pretty tiny area to jam in a skimmer and filter mat. It's 14.8" x 12.36", and I've been making diagrams to scale to see what I can fit in there. According to my diagrams, a Red Sea ReefMat 250 and RSK-300 *might* just barely fit in this thing. I have a 60 gallon Cade 600 on the way that's going to be SPS dominant, so this skimmer should be ok but the ReefMat is borderline. Ideally I'd like to fit the 500 in there. I may have more space than I think, given the ReefMat's hang on the edge, but I really can't tell.

I've been spelunking through folks build threads and have found ReefMat 500's paired with Mantis Tornado 500 and Deltec 600i's, but never with a Red Sea skimmer. Anyone have experience here they can share on what will fit?

 

[Rolliad]

So I fit the RM250 in my 600 along with an RSK 300. It's tight but it does fit along with a probe holder. It takes the whole of the skimmer chamber though.

 

[ksliech]

So I fit the RM250 in my 600 along with an RSK 300. It's tight but it does fit along with a probe holder. It takes the whole of the skimmer chamber though.

Perfect! Do you feel the RM250 is properly sized for the 600? According to the mfg spec's is borderline. Also, how do you like the RSK 300?

 

[Rolliad]

I like them both fine. They do their jobs just fine.

That said, I think I'm going to pull both and just run a refugium in that chamber as I don't have a ton of fish and I'm fighting a pH problem.

I love my 600 except for 1 thing...the zero cabinet/sump space. It's the one thing I absolutely hate about the system.

 

[shadyraro]

Perfect! Do you feel the RM250 is properly sized for the 600? According to the mfg spec's is borderline. Also, how do you like the RSK 300?

I run a ReefMat 250 and mantis 150 skimmer in my 900 no problem

 

[ksliech]

I run a ReefMat 250 and mantis 150 skimmer in my 900 no problem

Good to know that the 250 is doing well on an even larger tank!

I ended up going with the ReefMat 250 and DC 300 skimmer. We’ll see how it goes.

 

[ksliech]

They both fit with tons of extra room, but without the Cade shelf. I suspect the ReefMat 500 would also fit.

 

[shadyraro]

They both fit with tons of extra room, but without the Cade shelf. I suspect the ReefMat 500 would also fit.

I had a Reefmat 500 in my 900 sump which is the exact same size as the 600, it fitted fine but took up too much room for my liking.

 

[erichatesmice]

I have a Reefmat 500 and a Deltec 400i skimmer in my Cade 900 with room to spare and I didn't need to cut out any partitions. Previously I even fit the larger Deltec 600ix and it still fit.

 

[ksliech]

Update: I hadn't put in the actually fleece roll into the roller mat, and when I finally did I found that it's a pain in the butt to get it in the way I have it installed. The return pump plumbing is right where the Reef Mat opens up, and it's really tough to get it fully open and install the roll. Probably going to re-think the layout. Was dumb to not consider how I'd open it up!

 

[shadyraro]

I have mine setup up this way, it makes it so easy to replace the rolls.

 

[PharmrJohn]

So I fit the RM250 in my 600 along with an RSK 300. It's tight but it does fit along with a probe holder. It takes the whole of the skimmer chamber though.

Excellent post. Just had to day it verbally. Or is it Typeally? Is there a word for this?!!