John’s Red Sea Reefer 250

[Pakman2]

Took a trip to the LFS to grab a few supplies. While I was browsing, I decided to pick up a few fish. I picked up a small pair of Blacker Ice clownfish and 1 Flame Hawkfish. They are in the QT tank for observation and to ensure they are eating well before the QT protocol starts.

 

[powers2001]

Took a trip to the LFS to grab a few supplies. While I was browsing, I decided to pick up a few fish. I picked up a small pair of Blacker Ice clownfish and 1 Flame Hawkfish. They are in the QT tank for observation and to ensure they are eating well before the QT protocol starts.

@Pakman2 always liked Flame Hawkfish as they go around perching and rolling their eyes around to focus on you. Lots of character!!!

 

[Pakman2]

One maintenance item that I definitely hated was changing filter socks and then washing them. Browsing the larger online vendor websites, I noticed there were competitive two brands out there. Klir fleece roller and the Clari-Sea fleece roller. There is a significant cost difference between one and the other. The Klir claims to be a drop in while the Clari-Sea would require surgery (modifying) of the Red Sea pump. I decided to go the drop in route.

 

[Pakman2]

@Pakman2 always liked Flame Hawkfish as they go around perching and rolling their eyes around to focus on you. Lots of character!!!

@powers2001 I agree with you regarding their character. Definitely different than any other fish.

 

[Pakman2]

The Klir 4” fleece filter states easy installation. Simply remove the sock filter and drop the filter unit in. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the Red Sea Reefer systems. It seems that Red Sea sock filter opening isn’t the standard size of 4”. Their openings are 3.5” which means the sock holder area needed some modifications. I’ve attached a picture which shows the bottom sock holder being modified to accept the design of the Klir filter. The top sock opening was not touched.

 

[Pakman2]

The Klir filter slides easily into the sock holder. And then…..another obstruction.
It seems that the guide rails that hold the sock holder plate needed to be modified also. The sock holder plate is sandwiched between the two rails. Only the top rail needed to be modified to accept the Klir filter so it can seat properly.

 

[Pakman2]

Here is a picture of the Klir filter installed and seated properly.

 

[Pakman2]

The Klir filter requires the water to raise at least 1.5” above the top of the filter sock. Why? The optical sensor that is attached to the side of the Klir filter is 1.5” above the filter sock. We have a problem. The lip or edge of the filter sock compartment only goes up 1” above the filter sock which means the fleece filter will never advance when it’s clogged and dirty and the water will just spill over the black edge.

 

[Pakman2]

So now I’m trying to figure out what’s the easiest way to correct this issue without returning the Klir unit and purchasing the Clari-Sea unit. I made a half a dozen phone calls between CoralVue, Bulk Reef Supply, Marine Depot, Saltwater Aquarium and the last call was to Neptune. I was looking for a magnet that would allow me to attach the water sensor onto the sump rather than glueing an acrylic piece to raise the wall area of the sock filter and additional .5”. Thanks Neptune for your assistance and pointing me in the right direction. I ordered 2 sets of these Zoomed magnets from Marine Depot that will fit the sensor. Amazon carried them also but they were twice the price. Once it arrives, I will have to adjust the location of the water sensor to trigger the fleece to advance and we are in business!

 

[powers2001]

@Pakman2 I saw somewhere where CoralVue advertised a adapter bracket that replaces the Red Sea black sliding sock holder. You remove the black tray and fit this thing over and it accepts the Klir. However I also heard CoralVue never made these. It was either a picture on the box of the Klir or on the klirfilter.com website. There is also a thread here on R2R about 10 or so pages on the Klir if you haven’t seen it already. I’ll try to find it for you.

 

[Pakman2]

@Pakman2 I saw somewhere where CoralVue advertised a adapter bracket that replaces the Red Sea black sliding sock holder. You remove the black tray and fit this thing over and it accepts the Klir. However I also heard CoralVue never made these. It was either a picture on the box of the Klir or on the klirfilter.com website. There is also a thread here on R2R about 10 or so pages on the Klir if you haven’t seen it already. I’ll try to find it for you.

@powers2001 I called CoralVue a few days back and they stated that they don’t have any adapters on the market. Doing a search, I did see a handful of members asking if someone has 3D printed an adapter. The only problem is that the adapter is just one piece of the puzzle. You are still forced to grind or cut the plastic plate on top that holds the sock filter slide assembly in place.

 

[Pakman2]

The Marco shelf and reef rock that I ordered just arrived today. The goal is to start testing my skills in the rockscape this weekend. I’ve also ordered the remainder of the plumbing parts that I need to start and finish my plumbing. Lots of pictures to follow.

 

[Scritch]

Be careful with the hawk fish. Mine was a menace!

 

[Pakman2]

Be careful with the hawk fish. Mine was a menace!

@Scritch Really? Was your hawkfish bullying your other fish?

 

[Scritch]

Yes, it killed a watchmen goby as soon as i introduced him to the tank. He also killed every shrimp in my tank.

 

[Pakman2]

Finished up changing over the Red Sea plumbing to a blue pvc with gray fittings. I noticed that many other members threads show them installing 2-3 media reactors to run carbon, GFO, etc.. I decided to not go that route. I believe that you can have a stable and successful tank without the use of media that strips the tank of excess nutrients. I’m only making this statement due to other successful public figures and businesses that don’t use any of this media. I guess we will see as we go along with this tank. I’ve attached pictures of the finished product.

 

[powers2001]

@Pakman2 nice job on the plumbing! I just don’t have much skill at plumbing and have to use soft tubing to connect sections of the hard plumbing or it doesn’t line up correctly. I don’t like how a lot of RS Reefer owners do their reactors hanging from the plumbing above. Takes up too much space. I usually just throw in a bag of carbon to keep yellowing pigments out of the water, clears it up fast. I usually only do this occasionally when the yellow pigments are showing. You can see how I’m doing a reactor this time on this build on the last two pages of my thread. You’re right that reactor media can strip the water and that’s why I don’t run it all the time.

 

[Pakman2]

Decided to purchase and install the Reef Octopus Varios-2 controllable DC pump. Based on my research and the reviews, they are extremely quiet and very reliable.

 

[Pakman2]

Now that the plumbing is completed, I decided to give the aquascape a try. In my previous tank, I purchased CaribSea rock and stacked it and basically built a wall from one end to the other. It looked very basic and plain. This time around, I decided to see if I can build something more appealing. The rock scape will eventually be hidden from the coral…..but I did spend this past weekend building one of the two rock structures.

 

[powers2001]

Now that the plumbing is completed, I decided to give the aquascape a try. In my previous tank, I purchased CaribSea rock and stacked it and basically built a wall from one end to the other. It looked very basic and plain. This time around, I decided to see if I can build something more appealing. The rock scape will eventually be hidden from the coral…..but I did spend this past weekend building one of the two rock structures.

@Pakman2 That’s definitely along the lines of NSA (negative space aquascaping) which is becoming trendy. Are you going to use sand and if so what variety? Personally this time around I’m starting bare bottom but might add sand at a later date.