Mission Impossible: Reefer 250, 3 reactors, refugium, skimmer, lights, action! Pic heavy.

NanoDJS

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Messages
1,153
Reaction score
1,403
Location
NNJ /NYC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ok, guys, completing few last pieces for extended absence. Since I am using 100ml of each AquaForest 1,2,3, my dosing containers only last me about 15 days. So, I bought an extra set of these and turned caps to accept my dosing line. Will switch to these containers whenever travelling for longer than two weeks.

34C53119-FB38-46B6-929B-73B21D8C59EC.jpeg
All the guys I know that doses this stuff , are 1000% happy and never switched back lol . I have to try it out myself soon
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
All the guys I know that doses this stuff , are 1000% happy and never switched back lol . I have to try it out myself soon

Yes, very happy too. I check alk every week and calcium and mg once a mos. alk consumption goes up with everything growing, but I havent had to adjust CA and Mg, both stay rock solid given Balling method. The obly problem is that it isnt that potent. I have 65g total volume and dosing 100ml daily of each.
 

powers2001

started reefing 1999
View Badges
Joined
May 2, 2013
Messages
5,812
Reaction score
5,508
Location
LIVING WELLS MONTANA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ok, guys, completing few last pieces for extended absence. Since I am using 100ml of each AquaForest 1,2,3, my dosing containers only last me about 15 days. So, I bought an extra set of these and turned caps to accept my dosing line. Will switch to these containers whenever travelling for longer than two weeks.

34C53119-FB38-46B6-929B-73B21D8C59EC.jpeg
@Butuz is there any mixing with this AquaForest Component 1+, 2+, and 3+?
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
@Butuz is there any mixing with this AquaForest Component 1+, 2+, and 3+?

Yes, I actually recommend you get individual ingredients and mix with RODI water yourself. Waaay cheaper and easier since the mixed solution is typically out of stock. AF website has the elements needed, BRS carries them all. Super easy. My earlier post has the details on ingredients and dose for each.
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Well guys, I cant count how many times I have said “this is the last enhancement as I am out of sump space” ... well, two more changes. I have added Tunze 3155 ATO top off. Like its optics sensor and redundancy controls. I kept my older ATO pump in, to connect if Tunze ever fails. In addition, I bought another auto feeder, filled it with ReefRoids and installed over the return pump. Goes on once a day, very small amount. So between two other auto feeders (once with pellets and flakes, another with frozen mysis), I have corals covered as well. Here are the pics.

29935BD4-CCCD-447C-B89F-4A069150F191.jpeg
FAE69DC6-3CD1-4C14-B49F-F2918AFB2983.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ok, guys a few updates. First, I managed to stop by WWC in Orlando while on a business trip. Brought back a few very nice pieces, but the main one is this UC Amazeballs goni. Got a short tour of the behind-the-scenes facility where this one was in owner’s ”section”. After a few minutes, it got added to mine. Stunning piece, puts the ECC burning man goni in the back to shame.
3CA268EA-4CDD-4F90-945D-F85BCA26C26D.jpeg
65147127-6BFE-4CD3-89B1-05BD03D7E842.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I got sick and tired dealing with a magnetic frag rack in my tank, so decided to get a frag tank built. After a few calls with John at Advanced Acrylics, he is working on a frag tank, matching ATO and dosing containers. I have a perfect space/desk that is not being used. The tape markings show the tanks outline and back section. 24x20x8. Roughly 18g. In the meantime, I mounted the AI Prime 16HD. Going for a clean look, a few holes later, done.

440C34BC-4845-436F-B1AE-EB05F35E963D.jpeg
41EE2908-6095-4645-8FFA-9EE75D65C4DD.jpeg
5622C919-0D75-4EFF-9C93-FE7DB691073A.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Well, the frag tank is up and running now, cycling. John at Advanced Acrylics did a phenomenal job again. Custom 8” deep tank, piano black, museum polish, matching ATO and dosing chamber, plus two racks and mushroom boxes. managed to hide all wiring in the cabinet. Waiting for my eKoral Lite and another doser from @eKoProCS. Got some marine pure blocks I had curing in the main tank for a few weeks as well as siporax stacked in the back overflow. Sicce pump, two Hydor pumps connected to Hydor controller, Aqua Duetto ATO connected to float valve for added safety, overall a pretty simple setup.

AAD96AC4-F1BB-4121-85A9-106DE4B3495F.jpeg
434B87DD-3A86-4011-A70F-4775C7AD6690.jpeg
 

Eight

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 15, 2009
Messages
277
Reaction score
622
Location
Pacific Palisades
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Really fantastic work! I started my own Reefer 250 tank a couple weeks ago and kicked off my build thread. I hope you don't mind that I steal some of your build ideas and aesthetics. :)

I was wondering how you were liking the Biotek Media Reactors? Did you consider the Aquamaxx XS ones at all?
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Really fantastic work! I started my own Reefer 250 tank a couple weeks ago and kicked off my build thread. I hope you don't mind that I steal some of your build ideas and aesthetics. :)

I was wondering how you were liking the Biotek Media Reactors? Did you consider the Aquamaxx XS ones at all?

haha, no worries, go for it. Helping or giving other reefers ideas is one of the main reasons to share the journey! And my build was inspired by others as well. I like Biotek’s reactors a lot. I did look into Aquamaxx, but their size was slightly off (larger diameter, if I recall), so I could not have fit 3 of them in the sump. plus, they dont make them in black and red. :). Looking back, 3rd rector was an overkill, as I only use 2 (GFO and carbon). I am thinking about hooking up the third one just torun siporax on very slow water flow, still thinking about it.
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Quick update. AI Prime 16HD did not work well. It was way too noisy and low PAR and limited coverage for the frag tank. I switched to new AI Hydra 32HD. Measured PAR, great coverage too. Frag tank cycled by now, will be moving frags tomorrow and will post PAR readings.

408A0C04-43A7-4294-8CCA-7663B772AD0F.jpeg
 

canadianeh

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 28, 2017
Messages
1,611
Reaction score
1,044
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Klir installation took a little longer than expected (or I guess, not that unexpected after I read some reviews on Klir).

First of all, whoever invented the Dremmel tool, God bless him/her. Came in handy. First, lots of reports of Klir fleece getting ripped. I did not take a pic (forgot), but you need to smooth out both sharp corners on the inside of Klir where fleece transitions from the upper chamber to the lower one. When you fold Klir, they are accesible. Dremmel the hell out of those two sharp corners and they are mostly the reason fleece rips. Next, since there are no brackets for Reefer 250, I had to improvise. First, Klir requires 1.5” above the sock tray level, so that water can reach the sensor. So, I used an aluminum powders coated rail used for window framing. Cut it and glued it to the metal bracket that supports red sea sock trays. That gave me close to 2 inches addtl height. Then, the round piece at the base of Klir won’t fit the red sea tray, so I dremmeled both the tray as well as the entire outside of the round piece. Fits like a glove now.

Klir isninstalled, however, the sensor is not working. Water has covered half of the sensor, no motor action. However, when Inpress and hold the controller, the fleece rolls. Lodged a ticket to CoralVue to get advice on this. Plus, the hinge that folds it into two is too lose, so I had to make some mods for a snug fit. This thing came with no instructions. I get the mods required for Reefer 250, not making custom trays for that is their choice, but for $250, I wasn’t expecting to have to dremmel all the sharp edges of Klir that literally every person who bought one complians about ripped fleece. Once I get the sensor to work, it should reduce maintenance. The parts I manually rolled up, look dirty, somits definitely clearing it up.

Finally, installed a bypass cap on the adjacent sock tray, - actually helpful, I just fed reefroids, opened that bypass, and shut down the skimmer, so most of roids will circulate until I close the bypass and direct it to Klir. Btw, I left the cup filled with pond matrix under the bypass cap, so it can continue to do its job.

Enjoy the pics and, as always, if any questions or comments, please let me know.

8428644D-5492-4E53-AD85-5B5A009CD2CC.jpeg
5226FFE8-F7C2-4F34-B16F-651CFB1C9AB5.jpeg
536B56EC-441E-4BB7-8D54-6E06D8E19D9F.jpeg
BA68D0A2-AE90-4E48-9BD7-B05AED539FB4.jpeg
E362C7B5-A0BE-444A-ACD0-65DDFB4C57B4.jpeg
FD98E99A-594A-41C8-B037-500479B8AD0F.jpeg

May I know why you went with Klir filter than Clarisea?
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
May I know why you went with Klir filter than Clarisea?

very simple reason - I didnt want to mess with plumbing and, most importantly, removing filter sock section while the tank is wet. With Klir, I just had to dremmel the tray - 15 min. However, if I were to start with a dry sump, I would definitely go with Clarisea.
 
OP
OP
Butuz

Butuz

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
1,711
Location
The Woodlands, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Quick update. The frag tank setup has been completed! Finally received and setup my eKoral Lite controller and a few peripherals as well as the eK Doser for the frag tank. I know I have said it before, but now with the addition of eK Lite, I think I have every single item offered by eKoral (no paid or discounted advertising here!). @eKoProCS I like having all of them under a single app, makes it easier (screenshot below). All equipment is hidden in the cabinet. Got a few nice Indo sps frags from @YourReef, added to the frag tank over the weekend. Currently just dosing Acropower, but will see where consumption takes it before I start dosing AquaForest 1,2,3. Weekly 5g water change is almost 30% on this tank, so may take a while before I need to dose alk, ca and mg. In summary, all good so far.
7CE9161E-C4A5-43E7-BE7C-F5CCE988E1AB.jpeg
264CF8D3-6661-49AD-840A-3E937F1F0E5F.jpeg
56C28E28-7159-4B1F-AFFE-A88EED9E0B4B.jpeg
F75E98E5-D88E-434A-9649-44CDC4C60D60.jpeg
19CD01DF-A998-4AA2-AF3D-8E8261E448E6.jpeg
 

Espino963

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 27, 2019
Messages
282
Reaction score
190
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Just went through all 19 pages, I could only dream of a build like this. Well done and great work! We need a full tank shot please
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 68 37.8%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 59 32.8%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 13.9%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 15.6%
  • Other.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
Back
Top