Let the Journey Begin - Red Sea Reefer P650

[Tmcgoo13]

Talking sumps!

Honestly love the Ted Sea sump, lots of space, big refugium, so lots of space for marine pure and brightwell blocks, big skimmers and a big space for the return pump as well. Wish Red Sea had put cable ties in the cabinet and left a tiny bit more space around the edge of the sump in the cabinet, but those are really minor.

In our roughly 35 gal sump we have today;

The return pump
The Pump for the dual BRS reactor (carbon, GFO)
The skimmer
2 large marine pure blocks
Marine pure rubble
Cheats and 2 other algae plants
Brightwell large block
APEX probes (PH, Salinity, ORP, Temp)
2 heaters
ATO reservoir with Neptune ATK
4 Red Sea socks

Everything is working great, skimmer is nearly broken in, pumps seem to be be. Only having 2 issues:

Neptune Apex ATK won’t break siphon after the PMUPturns off, so the float keeps stopping it
Salinity probe isn’t working. Takes to Neptune at Reefapalooze and seems they had a batch of salinity prob,es that were bad, so just need to get a replacement for that.

So left with the siphon isssue. Honestly using the ATK because we have it from our previous tank. could use the Red Sea float and the Neptune float sensors and really still have the same information, but it bugs me we can’t get this siphon issue solved. Seems some have used the solenoid valve to stop the siphon. So question is, how many use the Red Sea float that the system comes with, how many use something else?

 

[Tmcgoo13]

I'm figuring I'm still a month out. Is have everything besides substrate, lighting and a lid.

Mama Bear keeps throwing curve balls into the build. now she wants a new floor beneath the aquarium so that's going to slow it down a bit...

We have a wood floor, but we also have the house on a crawl space, this tank has a lot of weight, nearly 2000lbs, we ended up putting supports under the house as we noticed a slight bit of sag after we filled the tank. Really curious what the wood floor under our old tank will look like when we tear in down in early May. What type of floor you gonna put under it?

 

[Rob.B.]

We have a wood floor, but we also have the house on a crawl space, this tank has a lot of weight, nearly 2000lbs, we ended up putting supports under the house as we noticed a slight bit of sag after we filled the tank. Really curious what the wood floor under our old tank will look like when we tear in down in early May. What type of floor you gonna put under it?

She wants a vinyl flooring on a cement slab, and painting they walls greenish/teal.... This started as a 80 gallon Nemo/Dorry tank for my boy whose almost 3. Previously I had a Marineland 300DD Starfire, had to give it up due to the baby coming 3 years ago.. So the 80 changed because she wanted a room divider.... It's never ending [emoji6]

But I never wanted to get rid of the 300, so I wasn't gong to argue with her about a Peninsula...

But thank god I always buy equipment so I can eventually upgrade...

 

[Rob.B.]

Talking sumps!

Honestly love the Ted Sea sump, lots of space, big refugium, so lots of space for marine pure and brightwell blocks, big skimmers and a big space for the return pump as well. Wish Red Sea had put cable ties in the cabinet and left a tiny bit more space around the edge of the sump in the cabinet, but those are really minor.

In our roughly 35 gal sump we have today;

The return pump
The Pump for the dual BRS reactor (carbon, GFO)
The skimmer
2 large marine pure blocks
Marine pure rubble
Cheats and 2 other algae plants
Brightwell large block
APEX probes (PH, Salinity, ORP, Temp)
2 heaters
ATO reservoir with Neptune ATK
4 Red Sea socks

Everything is working great, skimmer is nearly broken in, pumps seem to be be. Only having 2 issues:

Neptune Apex ATK won’t break siphon after the PMUPturns off, so the float keeps stopping it
Salinity probe isn’t working. Takes to Neptune at Reefapalooze and seems they had a batch of salinity prob,es that were bad, so just need to get a replacement for that.

So left with the siphon isssue. Honestly using the ATK because we have it from our previous tank. could use the Red Sea float and the Neptune float sensors and really still have the same information, but it bugs me we can’t get this siphon issue solved. Seems some have used the solenoid valve to stop the siphon. So question is, how many use the Red Sea float that the system comes with, how many use something else?

As far as the ato on the Red Sea revisor going some people love it and others hate. It seems simple enough, but I think I’m going to put a separate ato in the cabinet. I would like to put a Bio Pellet Reactor in the fuge and with the current ato it’s going to take up some of he room I need. And I would like to used the main fuge area for frags.

 

[Rob.B.]

And as far as equipment...

Return - Vecrta M1
Circulation - 2 MP40QD (overflow end)
2 Tunze Stream 6105 in Tunze Rocks at far end of the peninsula.
Skimmer - ATI - Powercone 200i
ATO - Elos
JBJ - 900 watt Heater
Rock - Caribsea Liferock
ICECAP RO/DI - Spectrapure Prefilter
Testing - All Hanna

Needs -
lighting will be 4 Ecotech XR15PRO with filters.
Controller - APEXof course [emoji6]
Substrate - 6 bags of Caribsea Agra-alive Pink Figi
And one Acrylic Creations mesh top.

So I’m in the home stretch...

 

[Tmcgoo13]

As far as the ato on the Red Sea revisor going some people love it and others hate. It seems simple enough, but I think I’m going to put a separate ato in the cabinet. I would like to put a Bio Pellet Reactor in the fuge and with the current ato it’s going to take up some of he room I need. And I would like to used the main fuge area for frags.

Thats interesting, never thought of using the fuge for frags! Good idea. If the Algae scrubber does work, when we install it, then we’ll have a fuge, to do something with.

 

[Tmcgoo13]

And as far as equipment...

Return - Vecrta M1
Circulation - 2 MP40QD (overflow end)
2 Tunze Stream 6105 in Tunze Rocks at far end of the peninsula.
Skimmer - ATI - Powercone 200i
ATO - Elos
JBJ - 900 watt Heater
Rock - Caribsea Liferock
ICECAP RO/DI - Spectrapure Prefilter
Testing - All Hanna

Needs -
lighting will be 4 Ecotech XR15PRO with filters.
Controller - APEXof course [emoji6]
Substrate - 6 bags of Caribsea Agra-alive Pink Figi
And one Acrylic Creations mesh top.

So I’m in the home stretch...

I bet your boy is excited! We used the Red Sea DIY screen, I’ve seen the acrylic creations they look very nice. The Red Sea works well, but we had to make a place to open for feeding.

 

[Tmcgoo13]

We used Bio-Spira to cycle the tank with Ammonia, took about two weeks with 3, peaks in ammonia to fully cycle the tank. All of our fish from the 90 gal tank were in QT due to the ich outbreak. There were:

2 Chromis,
2 Clowns
1 PJ Cardinal
1 yellow tang

All in a 33 gallon tank, too many fish for that tank, but they all were doing well and eating, after having been treated in a separate tank with cupramine. They had now been in this 33gal tank for about 4 weeks. Tank cycled so time to start moving them. Moved them all over a course of a couple of weeks. Added a Foxface that had been in my Biocube, got him really small with intent of moving him, so now was time. They are all getting along and doing great. Tested all parameters today after two weeks with all fish in tank.
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0.02
Magsium 1280
Calcium 400
Alk 7.8

Mag, calc, and Alk are all lower than expected, since I have no coral in tank, but I think they are close to the tank the coral will come from, so likely will work to increase after moving coral over next weekend.

 

[Tmcgoo13]

For now on, we’re using Biospira for tank cycling, QT, etc. Cycled ours in 2 weeks. We added ammonia 3 times, each time the ammonia went to zero, then we added more. Used Dr Tim’s ammonia and followed his instructions for the amounts. Started adding our fish.

We had 6 fix in QT after our ICH outbreak in the old tank. The fix that survived were:
2 Chromis
2 Clowns
pJ Cardinal
Yellow tang.

Added the Chromis first. Waited nearly a week then added the clowns, parameters stayed near 0, with Nitrates going no higher than 10. Did a water change, then added the PJ Cardinal and Tang. We also had a Foxface that had been in a Biocube, he was very small when we got him so always intended to move him, this was the perfect chance. So now they are all in the tank and have been for two weeks. Tested parameters last night

Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0.02
Calcium 400
mag 1280
Alk 7.8

Odd that with no coral in the tank yet the Calc, Alk, Mag are all low. Will work on increasing those. So here’s some pics of the Happy tank mates.

 

[Rob.B.]

For now on, we’re using Biospira for tank cycling, QT, etc. Cycled ours in 2 weeks. We added ammonia 3 times, each time the ammonia went to zero, then we added more. Used Dr Tim’s ammonia and followed his instructions for the amounts. Started adding our fish.

We had 6 fix in QT after our ICH outbreak in the old tank. The fix that survived were:
2 Chromis
2 Clowns
pJ Cardinal
Yellow tang.

Added the Chromis first. Waited nearly a week then added the clowns, parameters stayed near 0, with Nitrates going no higher than 10. Did a water change, then added the PJ Cardinal and Tang. We also had a Foxface that had been in a Biocube, he was very small when we got him so always intended to move him, this was the perfect chance. So now they are all in the tank and have been for two weeks. Tested parameters last night

Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0.02
Calcium 400
mag 1280
Alk 7.8

Odd that with no coral in the tank yet the Calc, Alk, Mag are all low. Will work on increasing those. So here’s some pics of the Happy tank mates.

Geez you are moving right along, looks great.

We’re a little further ahead today then yesterday. Got the stand assembled last night, will look at picking up the aquarium next weekend.

Going to set up the RO/DI and water change system this week, just waiting on the better half to make a decision on the floor color

 

[Tmcgoo13]

Spent the day moving the corals over from the old tank and the invertebrates, Mandarin Goby and Cleaner shrimp. Then tearing down the old tank. So far corals, and everybody seem happy!

 

[Tmcgoo13]

Geez you are moving right along, looks great.

We’re a little further ahead today then yesterday. Got the stand assembled last night, will look at picking up the aquarium next weekend.

Going to set up the RO/DI and water change system this week, just waiting on the better half to make a decision on the floor color

Nice setup! Can’t wait until we get our water change station setup. Still have a Brute garbage can in my closet which is next to laundry room where RO/DI is at. We’re moving the RO/DI and have tanks like yours sitting in a bathroom we never use, just waiting to be set up

 

[Tmcgoo13]

Spent the day tearing down the old tank and moving invertebrates and coral to the Reefer 650P. Long story short, old tank had gotten overrun by GSP, after removing that we had a lot of space for more coral and now we have even more space. Will soon start adding more

 

[Tmcgoo13]

Well moved all the coral, and I verts from the old tank and emptied and have started to sell the parts. Happy to be down one tank. The Red Sea is quieter, and easier to maintain.

Ran out of reef glue, so will finish mounting everything tomorrow!

 

[Tmcgoo13]

A little update on our control center for the tank. We have been using the APEX 2016 since just after it came out. Waited for it to be available to put on our previous tank. Once we decided to upgrade and got the new tank moved it over. But this time we made the installation nice and clean. The recent addition to our configuration was the simple doorbell and breakout box so we could just push a button and put the pumps and skimmer into feed mode. Very useful for the pet sitter especially. Took a lot of planning to put it all in the space in the cabinet and hide all the cables, but our mounting board easily slides out so we can get to cords, yet when in place hides the cords. Love it! Next we’ll add the APEX LED/Pump module so we can better ramp the pump up to full speed, right now it comes on too fast.

 

[Rob.B.]

A little update on our control center for the tank. We have been using the APEX 2016 since just after it came out. Waited for it to be available to put on our previous tank. Once we decided to upgrade and got the new tank moved it over. But this time we made the installation nice and clean. The recent addition to our configuration was the simple doorbell and breakout box so we could just push a button and put the pumps and skimmer into feed mode. Very useful for the pet sitter especially. Took a lot of planning to put it all in the space in the cabinet and hide all the cables, but our mounting board easily slides out so we can get to cords, yet when in place hides the cords. Love it! Next we’ll add the APEX LED/Pump module so we can better ramp the pump up to full speed, right now it comes on too fast.

Your APEX setup looks awesome. Well done.

 

[Tmcgoo13]

We couldn’t find a UV Sterilizer that we liked and that fit, so while at Reefapalooza we got the Clearwater Algae scrubber. We have it installed. No algae yet, but it’s been only since Monday. We still have our refugium in place, but the way the divider is in the sump, not all water goes through refugium, so thinking once scrubber gets going, we may alternate when light on each is on and keep them both. Anyone ever done that?

On the scrubber install we have a Varios 2 pump running it and our carbon reactor. But still might be too much flow for scrubber as it seems to go up and then rapidly flow out the pipe. Had someone suggest it could be a siphon, so we may attempt to break the siphon.

 

[Rob.B.]

We couldn’t find a UV Sterilizer that we liked and that fit, so while at Reefapalooza we got the Clearwater Algae scrubber. We have it installed. No algae yet, but it’s been only since Monday. We still have our refugium in place, but the way the divider is in the sump, not all water goes through refugium, so thinking once scrubber gets going, we may alternate when light on each is on and keep them both. Anyone ever done that?

On the scrubber install we have a Varios 2 pump running it and our carbon reactor. But still might be too much flow for scrubber as it seems to go up and then rapidly flow out the pipe. Had someone suggest it could be a siphon, so we may attempt to break the siphon.

Looking pretty sweet, I have no idea how I'm even going to keep up with you guys... But I do like how you have that ATO pushed to the far end, I did not know that was possible or did you modify it?

 

[Tmcgoo13]

It works either way, the rails go all the way across. They always picture it on the other side and we almost moved it back there when we put the algae scrubber in. But then we had to figure out the pump for it, and that just seems better in the return pump section. So that’s why we we went this direction. Its all in there pretty tight, it starts out looking like there’s a ton of space and then ... Our Apex probes and water level sensors are in the return pump section and so if we have to mess with them, its a pain. Otherwise works pretty well.

I think Red Sea thinks the skimmer is the only thing you worry about in this area and if we had it at the end the ATO would slide away from return pump area. We have a piece of acrylic over the return pump section to put the scrubber and carbon reactor on and its all removeable.

 

[Tmcgoo13]

Was gone for a week, came back, lost a coral, hammer. Had the AI Hydra 26 lights on acclimation setting, but it might have still been too high especially since I tested the parameters and found:

Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0.02
Ammonia 0
Calcium 390. (Yeah that’s low)
Mag 1350
DKH 7

Water might be too clean and the calc and Alk not balanced with the Mag.

Time to start getting the Calc, Alk, Mag in line. Using Red Sea dosed two days ago when we got home. Will test again today and likely bring it up a slight bit more. Once I get to around 1350, 450, 9 will get the doser going.

While gone found that JKS Aquatics had a great BOGO on corals going on, couldn’t resist. Picked up some good stuff.

Photo’s don’t do them justice. Still working on the tank photography