Jumping Back In- New Reefer Max 625 G2

[Lostoften]

Well after years of only having a RS Nano, just purchased a Reefer Max 625 G2. Previous tanks were 40g breeder and a 75 gallon. Looking forward to being able to keep a couple tangs! Picked up about 120lbs of dry rock so will get started aqua scaping and then soaking it while waiting for the tank to come in!

Sounds like the app allows for a lot of control with the equipment. Are people still using apex on their setups? I repurposed my apex set up to the nano after taking down my 40g breeder. That was 7 years ago.

Appreciate and tips/advice or pictures of your aqua scaping.

 

[lapin]

Are people still using apex on their setups?

Yes

 

[Lostoften]

Thanks for the reply on Apex, will need to look at the newer systems and what is needed vs redundant with the Red Sea app/interface. Unfortunately, no way to run an aqua bus between the two tanks.

First attempt at laying out the dry rock. I’ve never glued the rock before but going to attempt to for this build.

The boxes are 18.5 inches tall and the tank is about 24”.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Nice looking aquascape!

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

My husband and I had quite an adventure gluing rock for our aquascape... Yours is looking great! Following along!

 

[Lostoften]

Yeah, the aquascaping I under estimated... we will see what it ends up as. Finding that if you move a piece you never seem to get back in the same spot. Equipment list is growing, though.

Ordered a toplids cover with the fusion frame, inkird controller for dual heaters, and APEX Pro w/ Trident.

Switched over nearby outlets to GFCI, outlets.

No ship date on aquarium.

 

[Lostoften]

Well the tanks wet, and so is my cabinet! Struggling to fine the right size of return line to fit the barb adapters. 3/4” ID seemed too tight, tried 1” ID braided nylon with zip ties and was too loose on the PVC pipe connection.

 

[Ky_acc]

I think you can use

Well the tanks wet, and so is my cabinet! Struggling to fine the right size of return line to fit the barb adapters. 3/4” ID seemed too tight, tried 1” ID braided nylon with zip ties and was too loose on the PVC pipe connection.

You should be able to use 3/4 just heat up the end with hot water or a hair dryer (careful it’s easy to burn) and then once the line is heated it should easily go over the barb

 

[Lostoften]

Yep, went with 3/4” and herbie clip and it’s been up and running. Today was day 11 of fishless cycle, ammonia was still ~1.5 and nitrite 0.4. Hoping for it to finish the cycle soon. Uses Dr Tim’s on and Only plus live sand so hopefully cycle doesn’t take too long. Approved design on my top lid so fingers crossed that will arrive in time for when the cycle finishes.

Work in progress on cables, haven’t hooked up apex system yet. Still debating on what to put on the slide out panel. In addition, how to mount the UV sterilizer. Then inlet and outlet are on opposite sides, so limits mounting positions. Not to thrilled about drilling brackets on the sump ceiling but seems the best place to mount.

Happy Reefing!

Working on stocking list, open to recommendations! Thinking first after cycle will be 3 chromis.

 

[Lostoften]

Fishless cycle completed, doing 25% water change then the fun begins!

 

[Lostoften]

Added a bottle of pods, some more bacteria and 2 frozen clowns. Still need to tackle the UV and Alex, the right side of cabinet is still a disaster.

 

[Lostoften]

New fish day! A female leopard wrasse, two spotted anthia and a resplendent anthia. Will likely add more of either to make a group once LFS has enough of either grouping anthia type.

Nitrate and PO4 were only measurements higher, and water change is being made for tomorrow.

Sadly most of my cable management work has fallen down due to Velcro not holding onto cabinet.

Finally got Alex unit to connect, and picked up a second energy bar. With rain in the forecast the next few days, hopefully can have that all set up and running.

Will add pictures once fish come out from their hiding spots. Fingers crossed it’s soon!

 

[Lostoften]

New fish Day. Added a yellow-belly blue morph tang, radiant wrasse and a cleaner shrimp. Know its early to add a tang to the tank, but size will limit any aggression. Will eventually like to add a Tomi tang and another together at some point.

Goals for this weekend: Redo Velcro again under the cabinet as it keeps failing. Ordered a brand off amazon that had good reviews here. Hook up pump for UV sterilizer and start running UV at parasite flow rate. Program automatic feeder on apex system.

Still waiting on top-lid to arrive.

 

[Lostoften]

Top lid has arrived! Looks great and happy with the quality. The wait is not for the faint of heart!

Unfortunately have to redo the wiring and Velcro yet again as its not sticking to the cabinet. Need to find a better solution for the power supplies. Next project need to get UV running and the auto feeder programed in apex. Also, the Red Sea ATO lost connectivity to the internet so trouble shooting that currently.

Still only manually running lights, but think its time for corals.

Current Fish: Frozen clown x 2, Bimaculatus Anthia, Tierra Anthia, Leopard Wrasse, Yellow Belly Hippo Tang, Bi-Color Foxface, Yellow Crysus Wrasse, Scotts Greenback Fairy Wrasse, Golden Rhomboid Wrasse

 

[Lostoften]

Couple photos of fish and lid.

 

[Lostoften]

Unfortunately rough couple weeks for the tank. Traveled to work, and the Scotts Greenback Fairy Wrasse became wedged in a rock and perished. Also, the bimaculatus anthia developed pop eye and died. Tried dosing the tank with epson salt (1 tsp/ 5 gallons) but it didn't seem to have an effect. Lastly, the leopard wrasse has been MIA for about two weeks.

 

[Lostoften]

Installed the Apex trident and Trident NP today, currently NO3 has been high. Salifert has been measuring 50, tridents first measurement says 21. Tank unfortunately is battling the ugly stage of diatoms, however corals are doing well.

New additions: Moyers Leopard Wrasse, Helfrich's Firefish, Exquiste Fairy Wrasse and Diamond Watchman Goby

 

[Lostoften]

Well after a very rough September, Lost all my fish, I'm hoping for a fresh start.

Sunday was a local frag swap, so loaded up on some corals and inverts. Now the waiting game of letting the tank go fallow for 90 days.

Qt tanks are ready to go, as I won't be relying on hydropex this go around. Fingers crossed as I have never successfully QT'ed anything. Tried years ago and lost fish while trying, guess in my prior tanks I was lucky to never have experienced a catastrophic loss like this.

Second frag tank on order to get Zoas out of the sand bed.

 

[Lostoften]

Update as been awhile since posting, but QT 1 approaching day 30 of copper with two snow flakes and yellow corris wrasse. QT 2 about 10 days of copper for a flame angel, moyer's leopard wrasse, carpenters wrasse, blue flasher wrasse and a pink spotted watchmen goby.

Picked up a gem tang (deal too good to pass up) and some corals that are in the coral QT tank. Plan to run the gem through the full QT process with other tangs later after a second batch of fish.

Inverts are making good progress on GHA as nutrients have been dropping. Actually dosed NO3 and PO4 a couple of times to prevent reading zero. Also been bosting KH with all for reef to maintain KH closer to 9.

 

[Lostoften]

Keeping the thread alive, been quite the undertaking as the journey keeps evolving.

Currently battling a dino outbreak in the display. Corals and rock flowers were looing pretty rough before i figured out what was impacting them. Raising nutrients and UV seem to be making progress.

Qt 1 only had clowns survive the full QT protocol. They are now in the display tank. Display

Qt 1 has been restocked with a Gem and Magnificent Foxface. Day 2 of copper treatment. QT1

QT 2 has a carpenters wrasse, blue flasher wrasse, leopard wrasse and a goby all through the three doses of prazipro. Blue wrasse was not seen today, fingers crossed these guys make it. I did loose a flame angel from this QT batch. This qt will be flipped to housing a powder blue and a white tail kole tang after the wrasses move to the display.

Qt 3 is seven lyretail anthias, on day 4 of copper treatment. Keeping ammonia in check on this one is going to be the challenge. Anthias QT

QT4 has a flame angel, copperband butterfly and file fish. Nervous about the copperband, as know they are difficult. It's eating frozen mysis okay now and hope it stays that way. QT4

Lastly, the coral/invert tank is experiencing an algae boom. Once done battling dino's in the display, will relocate the temporary UV to that tank to bring into check.

Maybe, one day will have the nice display tank I thought I was at 2.5 months ago.