Melatonin's Max Nano G2 XL

[melatonin]

Hey all, I've been reefing for 6 yrs now in a Reefer 250, but had a tank crash and lost almost everything. Took this opportunity to downsize to something a little smaller: a Max Nano G2 XL.

My Reefer 250 V3 never had any seam issues (it was even a little slightly off level for the last 6 years), so I'd say I've had a positive experience with Red Sea. Enough to get the Max Nano AIO. I chose this mainly due to the included protein skimmer and ability to add the Red Sea NanoMat. Also, I just wanted something a little more compact and something that my DOS auto water change system could keep up with.

Also going Red Sea makes it easy to just buy into their ecosystem, which thus far, has been pretty painless. It's nice to just buy something and have it fit all nicely, even if the ReefBeat app isn't the best.

I'm probably going to run this as an LPS forward, mixed reef, with some smatterings of SPS and Zoas, a clam, and an anemone.

Also if anybody has any good ideas on how to level on carpet, let me know! I just filled it up an hour ago and am going to give it a couple days to settle on the carpet before attempting to level it again.

Equipment List:
- Max Nano G2 XL
- Reef LED 50 (will be upgraded to Reef LED 90, since it's a drop in replacement on the mount)
- RSM Flow 1550 (Probably keep this stock until I do some modifications to the skimmer cup. Will be replaced with whichever Sicce pump fits in the chamber)
- Stock Protein Skimmer (Will mod this to have a barbed fitting and a silicone tube to a larger container in the cabinet, hooked up with Smart Skimmer Security plug)
- BRS 100W Heater
- ReefATO+
- ReefWave 25 (Might add an MP10, but wanted to try a gyre out for the first time)
- ReefCan 10gal
- ReefDose 4 (No additives yet, but will be looking into a solid two part, 4 heads for space to grow if needed)
- Apex + EB832
- Trident
- DOS for water changes

Fish List:
These are leftover from my Reefer 250
- Domino Clown
- Snowflake Clown
- Timor Wrasse

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I have the exact same Red Sea Tank (white stand) and love mine!

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Looking great, friend!

 

[Kweezy12]

good luck! nice little nano setup

 

[kevgib67]

Looks to be a very nice tank, happy reefing!

 

[Flameback Pair]

@melatonin I loves to see what plug & play Red Sea can do!!! Subbed.

- Mitchell.

 

[OfficeReefer]

Funny @melatonin I did the same thing but in white, with an adaptive reef mini cabinet, nanomat and kraken reef cover. :) I also still have a Max Nano from 2020 as a holding tank and went all out with a Reefer 250v3 in 2022. This was not my first 55g but rather the first in my new place and office. It added a bit of space for better fish. I agree, the DOS water changes were only 7g and had to be done over 12h. I had a good setup going to add salt to an extra 10g ATO reservoir but ran into challenges on larger changes when I got an outbreak of valonia.

I will admit the larger Nanomat 500 lasted almost three months on first and only use, but was a bit big with a full size UV and a Trident with skimmer in the back. There was no way I was going to fit the newer NP version and I barely was able to squeeze a COR15 in the back and the Apex GRO for fuge in the front.

Too much going on there but was a blast doing it... my recommendation to most people that have other things in life going, to stick with 35g or less. I did see the MAX G2 XXL, which at a true 55g and not 69g like the Reefer 250v3 with sump, is a good 2nd choice, offers a 2nd return for redundancy but still requires space and the ability to mix up water in larger volumes than 10g. I did read of heat issues with the pump but could be addressed with a subsitute pump or chiller. I did opt for the ReefDose2 this time... going to stick with AllForReef as before. I find that keeping it simple gives best results for most things. Happy reefing and thanks for sharing your images!

 

[Noobreefer84]

Have you upgraded to the ReefLED90 yet. Curious if you can just but the new light and it will screw into the existing mount the ReefLED50 uses. Or if you have to buy the swing mount with it.

 

[OfficeReefer]

To my knowledge @Noobreefer84 I don't think it's a direct replacement. I have ReefLED90 on a Reefer 250 and those are connected differently, weigh more and are adjustable only upwards. The ReefLED50 was originally on the MAX Nano and was originally an AI HD16 model, if I recall correctly.

This model uses a ReefLED50 that is on a fixed arm that moves to each side. It is wired to a main switch that is for both skimmer and light.

 

[Noobreefer84]

Thanks for the info. I’ll eventually upgrade the light I think. I’ve scaled back the intensity as my LPS didn’t seem to like 100% blue and 35% white. But I will need to scale it back up once I get sps in there. Gotta find that good balance

 

[Reefing.with.Rich]

Hey all, I've been reefing for 6 yrs now in a Reefer 250, but had a tank crash and lost almost everything. Took this opportunity to downsize to something a little smaller: a Max Nano G2 XL.

My Reefer 250 V3 never had any seam issues (it was even a little slightly off level for the last 6 years), so I'd say I've had a positive experience with Red Sea. Enough to get the Max Nano AIO. I chose this mainly due to the included protein skimmer and ability to add the Red Sea NanoMat. Also, I just wanted something a little more compact and something that my DOS auto water change system could keep up with.

Also going Red Sea makes it easy to just buy into their ecosystem, which thus far, has been pretty painless. It's nice to just buy something and have it fit all nicely, even if the ReefBeat app isn't the best.

I'm probably going to run this as an LPS forward, mixed reef, with some smatterings of SPS and Zoas, a clam, and an anemone.

Also if anybody has any good ideas on how to level on carpet, let me know! I just filled it up an hour ago and am going to give it a couple days to settle on the carpet before attempting to level it again.

Equipment List:
- Max Nano G2 XL
- Reef LED 50 (will be upgraded to Reef LED 90, since it's a drop in replacement on the mount)
- RSM Flow 1550 (Probably keep this stock until I do some modifications to the skimmer cup. Will be replaced with whichever Sicce pump fits in the chamber)
- Stock Protein Skimmer (Will mod this to have a barbed fitting and a silicone tube to a larger container in the cabinet, hooked up with Smart Skimmer Security plug)
- BRS 100W Heater
- ReefATO+
- ReefWave 25 (Might add an MP10, but wanted to try a gyre out for the first time)
- ReefCan 10gal
- ReefDose 4 (No additives yet, but will be looking into a solid two part, 4 heads for space to grow if needed)
- Apex + EB832
- Trident
- DOS for water changes

Fish List:
These are leftover from my Reefer 250
- Domino Clown
- Snowflake Clown
- Timor Wrasse

Since you went with the ATO+ which model did you buy to get the special clip that’s fits in the back on the tank?
I’m also looking at the g2 XL as a new tank build and was curious which ato model you have to get to get that special clip

 

[Noobreefer84]

Since you went with the ATO+ which model did you buy to get the special clip that’s fits in the back on the tank?
I’m also looking at the g2 XL as a new tank build and was curious which ato model you have to get to get that special clip

You only need the ato+ upgrade kit. It’s the slightly cheaper one as the xl g2 comes with the mount pre built and the red clip by default.

I got mine last week.

 

[Reefing.with.Rich]

You only need the ato+ upgrade kit. It’s the slightly cheaper one as the xl g2 comes with the mount pre built and the red clip by default.

I got mine last week.

That’s the answer I was hoping for
Thanks

 

[OfficeReefer]

How's the tank coming along?

I noticed you have the Apex system. If you want to make things more flexible you can upgrade the light, pump and add MXM for true AIO control. You can add the nano mat for cleaner water and to ditch the socks.

I went with Apex and added Trident, Trident NP and DOS, which are now under all one app and replaced the Red Sea OEM hardware with Ai. Finally Red Sea app free!

 

[melatonin]

Hi all,

Been a hot minute, I had a 1.5 week long power outage while I was out of town back in November and lost everything. So it was a little rough to get started again.

I'll come back with pics but I have since added:

- NanoMat - pretty easy installaiton
- MightyJet Desktop to replace the stock pump. I found that the stock pump was putting my water temps at 80F. Not ideal.

I've added an Acro and an elegance, and have a timor wrasse and Hi-Fin goby, and pistol shrimp.

Planned upgrades:

- Think I'm going to drop the ReefLED 90 idea and go with an AI Hydra 26 or whichever their two puck light is. I believe the mounting holes are actually in the same spot, and you only need to ask AI support to get the mounting piece (two screws and a plate) that go into the light. This is kind of expensive, so it might be a little while, as the ReefLED 50 has actually been doing fine for the acro and the elegance.

- LinusTechTips magnetic wire management system - I used to use the stick on cable management for the interior of the cabinet, but it becomes cumbersom when trying to add additional items or tubing, this should allow me to just add tubing easily.

TBD Upgrades:

- I had an algae issue, that I've since solved by cleaning the sandbed/more frequent waterchanges. I may consider a turf scrubber, but It seems a little cumbersome with the rear sump. The TMC Reef Compact pumps however do make a decent starting point for this idea, if only I could figure out a way to remove the algae easily.

I noticed you have the Apex system. If you want to make things more flexible you can upgrade the light, pump and add MXM for true AIO control.

I find the Apex stuff a little expensive, and I couldn't find an APEX pump that fit in the back chamber. I'm actually not sure what the MXM module is, but I also haven't found the RedSea app to be bad, I just set it up once and haven't touched it since.

Too much going on there but was a blast doing it... my recommendation to most people that have other things in life going, to stick with 35g or less. I did see the MAX G2 XXL, which at a true 55g and not 69g like the Reefer 250v3 with sump, is a good 2nd choice, offers a 2nd return for redundancy but still requires space and the ability to mix up water in larger volumes than 10g. I did read of heat issues with the pump but could be addressed with a subsitute pump or chiller. I did opt for the ReefDose2 this time... going to stick with AllForReef as before. I find that keeping it simple gives best results for most things. Happy reefing and thanks for sharing your images!

You're absolutely right. As I started to put less focus in the hobby and wanted it on more cruise control, the tank started to decline. The 33 gallon so far has been very manageable, granted I don't have too much stuff in it. I originally wanted to do two part, but I think I will probably stick with All For Reef. Now I have to find a use for the other 3 heads on my ReefDose 4! It will be interesting to see how I can control nutrients, as I eventually want to move this to a monthly or even bi-monthly water change cadence, unless I can find a good way to get the tubing from my DOS to a waste receptacle or toilet or something :p, but as it stands its in the living room and no nearby spots to dump waste water for an auto water change system