Red Sea Reefer 250 Build

[powers2001]

Added African Flameback. Centropyge acanthops. Incredibly beautiful! He hid in a rock for about 30 mins. Feeding well after 30 mins!

@Jeffcb101 awesome fish !!!! I love the dwarf angels. What a joy.

 

[Jeffcb]

Added Yellow Stinger Zoas. Opened right up.

 

[Jeffcb]

Added another. Metalic Green Mushrooms. Purple Corilline incrusted rock is incredible! That sealed the deal. Purple is quite a bit less prolific than pink.

 

[Jeffcb]

So, I had a major bac bloom and minor catastrophe. The slime monster took of for a few day. Was having to change filter sock 5 to 6 time's a day. I posted another thread about the issue. Some thought I was Cab dosing. Didn't even know what that is. Some said I crashed tank from dosing what I do dose and others scented soap. I think it was soap. Covid paranoia makes me wash my hands 10-15 times a day. Anyway pretty much cleared up and slime is gone. Unfortunately N03 is also.

I did add these 2 corals last week. More Flame Thrower Ricarda and Bubble Gum Monster Chalice. Bubble gum had to have it! Every thing seems to be ok so far!

 

[Jeffcb]

Back from Cabo San Lucas. What a blast.
Need a baby Mahi Mahi for my tank! Caught a small Stripped Marlin, leader touch and released.

 

[Jeffcb]

Had to remove Bubble Gum Chalice. Flameback picking on it.

 

[Jeffcb]

I have filled lower level of reef with Zoas and Mushrooms over the past couple of weeks. Time to sit back for a while and see if it grows.

Also have a couple of rehab frags. If they heal up things are going the right direction.

 

[powers2001]

@Jeffcb101 awesome Mahi Mahi. I’d love a fishing trip like that.

 

[Jeffcb]

I like having a switch for the Skimmer. Had to open controller switch box and add an extension cord for Skimmer pump so I can remove it for detailing.

 

[Jeffcb]

Tank is looking good.
Parameters.

• Ammonia 0.0
• NO2 0.0
• NO3 2.0
• PH 8.2
• Ca 490.0 ppm
• dKH 12.0 (seems high but Red Sea Recipe says 11.5)
• Mg 1560.0 ppm
• Salt 1.025

I think I will go Fish shopping today!!
Currently stocked. What to get?

• African Flameback
• 2 Ocellaris Clownfish
• Diamond goby
• Canary Blenny

 

[powers2001]

@Jeffcb101 I would definitely go for a Wrasse of some kind. Or a Hawkfisk.

 

[Jeffcb]

Ended up with this little Lawnmower Blenny. I don't have much agea for him to eat but he ate flake food at the LFS. Named him or her Bernie!

 

[Jeffcb]

Added 2 ORA Gonipora. Red last week and the green today.

 

[Jeffcb]

Got a Six Line Wrasse today! Named him Sixty I have 7 fish now. Done for a while.

---

 

[Jeffcb]

I read and have been told canister filters are a no no on a reef tank. The media cup in the sump seems lame being that it is just gravity feed. I have a slight smell to the water. Looking at media reactions I haven't found a viable solution with my small sump. So I installed a Ehiem 130 stuffed with Chemi Pure Elite and Red Sea Carbon. I figure I will have to change and clean foam pads every 2 weeks to keep biological bac from forming. This Eco Pro is super easy to maintain.

 

[Phil D.]

My Skimmer sits to high. Red Sea recommends 6-8 inches and its at 9. It's new and there is nothing in the water to skim. All it does now is over flow. But I think it will operate better at the proper height. Had a plastic shop cut me 3 pieces of 1/4 in acrylic drilled holes and I made a 2 on stand. Know it sits at 7 inches. I wonder how long it will be until there will be nutrients to skim?

You will find even though it sits at 9, it will work ok once you get nutrients and it broke in.

 

[Jeffcb]

Second dose of Pink Fusion and Purple Helix. I am seeing small spots all over the back glass from the first dose 5 weeks ago. Looks like chicken pox as instructions state. I think its is working. Also dosing Red Sea Coralline Algae Grow instead of KH alk foundation.

 

[powers2001]

Second dose of Pink Fusion and Purple Helix. I am seeing small spots all over the back glass from the first dose 5 weeks ago. Looks like chicken pox as instructions state. I think its is working. Also dosing Red Sea Coralline Algae Grow instead of KH alk foundation.

@Jeffcb101 glad to know that coralline in a bottle works. I bought some plastic plates with coralline on them coming from Hawaii and they had a minimum order. I ordered some mini stars and other cool stuff but the shipping was a two day one and I don’t think anything survived. I will remember this stuff in a bottle when I’m ready for it.

 

[Jeffcb]

@Jeffcb101 glad to know that coralline in a bottle works. I bought some plastic plates with coralline on them coming from Hawaii and they had a minimum order. I ordered some mini stars and other cool stuff but the shipping was a two day one and I don’t think anything survived. I will remember this stuff in a bottle when I’m ready for it.

I bet they will make it.

 

[Jeffcb]

Coralline in a bottle works. Just very slow. Thats a little over 5 weeks.