MJ's Resurrected 3 (hundred) Mile Island

[Militant Jurist]

Long time lurker while between reef tanks. I previously did all my reefing over on Nano-Reef, but this tank feels a bit bigger than nano.

This is/will be a SPS-heavy Red Sea 300 XL system. The tank was up and running for a few years and doing quite well. After a move into a newly built house with a brand new (weeks old) water well, the tank did not handle the transfer smoothly. It appears that the RODI system was not handling the substantial particulates and iron very well. It was a meltdown for sure, but at least not of the kind Red Sea apparently has become associated with these days.

Fast forward to now, a new home office is nearly complete and the tank will soon have it's new location. Much like 3 Mile Island, this tank will soon see renewed activity.

The system (existing equiment + plans):
Red Sea Reefer 300 XL
Apex Controller
Apex DOS Pumps for ATO, All For Reef, and Auto WCs
Apex Trident
Radion XR30 (2x)
Reef Octopus Varios-2 Return
Reef Octopus 110SSS Skimmer
Ecotech Vortech MP-40's (3-4x)
Clearwater Turf Scrubber
BRS 200w heaters (2x)
Aqua Ultraviolet 15w UV Filter

The plan is to get 20-ish lbs of LFS wet-rock and a bag of Ocean Direct sand. This will be topped off with 8-lbs of TBS base rock and 20-lbs of TBD live sand. The TBS base rock will likely go in the sump to isolate potential hitchhikers.

The strategy is to use some of the biome ideas from the BRS/Serious Reefs approach. After 4 weeks without tank lights, additional pods and a tang or two will be introduced when the Radions are turned on. I'll start at LPS-level lighting and, if all goes well, I'll ramp up to SPS-levels.

The goal is low-maintenance. The AWC will take the place of manual changes, and All for Reef will handle the base-line dosing. The skimmer and ATS will handle further nutrient export with a target of needing no filter socks.

Thoughts are welcome! Once I make progress on the new tank location and setup, updates will come. Until then, it's just a matter of organizing and cleaning old equipment.

 

[*GAREEF*]

Long time lurker while between reef tanks. I previously did all my reefing over on Nano-Reef, but this tank feels a bit bigger than nano.

This is/will be a SPS-heavy Red Sea 300 XL system. The tank was up and running for a few years and doing quite well. After a move into a newly built house with a brand new (weeks old) water well, the tank did not handle the transfer smoothly. It appears that the RODI system was not handling the substantial particulates and iron very well. It was a meltdown for sure, but at least not of the kind Red Sea apparently has become associated with these days.

Fast forward to now, a new home office is nearly complete and the tank will soon have it's new location. Much like 3 Mile Island, this tank will soon see renewed activity.

The system (existing equiment + plans):
Red Sea Reefer 300 XL
Apex Controller
Apex DOS Pumps for ATO, All For Reef, and Auto WCs
Apex Trident
Radion XR30 (2x)
Reef Octopus Varios-2 Return
Reef Octopus 110SSS Skimmer
Ecotech Vortech MP-40's (3-4x)
Clearwater Turf Scrubber
BRS 200w heaters (2x)
Aqua Ultraviolet 15w UV Filter

The plan is to get 20-ish lbs of LFS wet-rock and a bag of Ocean Direct sand. This will be topped off with 8-lbs of TBS base rock and 20-lbs of TBD live sand. The TBS base rock will likely go in the sump to isolate potential hitchhikers.

The strategy is to use some of the biome ideas from the BRS/Serious Reefs approach. After 4 weeks without tank lights, additional pods and a tang or two will be introduced when the Radions are turned on. I'll start at LPS-level lighting and, if all goes well, I'll ramp up to SPS-levels.

The goal is low-maintenance. The AWC will take the place of manual changes, and All for Reef will handle the base-line dosing. The skimmer and ATS will handle further nutrient export with a target of needing no filter socks.

Thoughts are welcome! Once I make progress on the new tank location and setup, updates will come. Until then, it's just a matter of organizing and cleaning old equipment.

This sounds like fun!!
I’ve only recently seen and heard about all for reef. Seems like a lot of people like it.
However, I’m Leary to try it.

 

[Militant Jurist]

I used in the last setup from 2018 to 2021 with great success. I used the DIY set where you make your own mix from the various components so that I could better adjust the levels of the rather low Alk of Tropic Marin salt. The powder version works well also, but I like the mad scientist vibe. My wife is a veterinarian and I took more than my fair share of biology and chemistry in college. Our young son thinks it is all amazing.

 

[*GAREEF*]

I used in the last setup from 2018 to 2021 with great success. I used the DIY set where you make your own mix from the various components so that I could better adjust the levels of the rather low Alk of Tropic Marin salt. The powder version works well also, but I like the mad scientist vibe. My wife is a veterinarian and I took more than my fair share of biology and chemistry in college. Our young son thinks it is all amazing.

I bet he does! My sons are all grown up now but they each started their own reefs around 7-8 years old and we use to go to coral expos, trade and sell frags.
It was a great experience for the whole family.

 

[Militant Jurist]

I bet he does! My sons are all grown up now but they each started their own reefs around 7-8 years old and we use to go to coral expos, trade and sell frags.
It was a great experience for the whole family.

My little guy is 5 and I knew he had the bug when he asked for a small saltwater tank after his first betta tank. My wife has a 150g at her vet clinic, so he's had lifelong exposure, but it's starting to develop into an interest of his.