Redsea Reefer 170 all the way from a 55 gal

Simply__J · Dec 2, 2018

Recieved the replacement motor unit from Coral Vue for the Gyre 1k. I'm going to sell one of the Hydor Koralia 3Gs and keep one as a back up. Plan on ordering 2 smaller Hydors to move some water behind the aquascape in the back of the tank.

Simply__J · Dec 10, 2018

Updates!

Recieved the "China" dosing line holder. Decent build quality. Seems like glued acrylic. A bit bigger than I expected. Wish it would have come with all black screws but the two blue ones will be behind the aquarium doubt you'll be able to see them.

Also installed some variable flow generators from eBay. Which made me realize not getting nearly enough flow from my Jebao DCS-9000. Which means I will eventually be upgrading the return pump. Either that or replumbing everything I have on the manifold.

Simply__J · Dec 23, 2018

Fixed a small issue I was having with the dosing line holder and the silicone tubing. They were collapsing at the bend. Orderd some 90° barb fittings from two little fishies and added a small piece of the rigid R/O tubing.

Starting to dose Acropower and will be feeding the fish New Life Spectrum Probiotix part of a grab bag of stuff I ordered as well as received from secret Santa at work. Swapped out the bigger Koralia Gen 3 for a small 425 might add a 565 to the back of the tank to move water foward. Trying to resolve some of the flow issues I'm having. Inevataly it will lead me to upgrading the return pump or splitting the manifold running all the reactors on it's own pump to get more flow via the return.

Quick shots post water change.

Simply__J · Dec 27, 2018

I'm parting ways with the green/blue finger leather. Here are some shots before it goes.

Simply__J · Dec 29, 2018

Harvested my very first batch of chaeto...for all the pros out there this may not be a big deal for me it is. Means things are working the way they should.

Simply__J · Jan 2, 2019

Not exactly a new year resolution, however I've decided to create an IG page for my tank. Partially to share my tank with out having to make people follow my (private) personal account. On that note I'm also way more active on IG when it comes to sharing updates. Don't fret Reef2Reef will always be a part of my reefing habits - especially when it comes to longer format shares.

So Happy New Year and please shoot me a follow @morireef45

Simply__J · Jan 16, 2019

Picked up some preowned Hanna checkers localy at a really good price. The reagents came in yesterday, so I'll be using this week as part of my regular testing regiment. Haven't tested phosphates since I switched to the Red Sea kits (was using API previously). The only thing that's bugging me is that the ALK tester measures in PPM not DKH [emoji58] I know I can convert but anyone want to trade lol?

Simply__J · Jan 24, 2019

Traded the leather coral for a Hanna calcium checker. Alk and Cal are probably what I'm going to be checking on a weekly basis. The rest of the tests I'll probably do every 2-3 weeks. Might look into ICP testing as well to get a accurate baseline.

Simply__J · Mar 3, 2019

My PH has plateaued at 7.6 so I decided to run an exterior line to the skimmer. Conveniently enough the previous tenant already ran a hole for his satellite cable about 18" from where I placed the tank. (Lucky for me no drilling)

George Lopez · Apr 17, 2019

I love the thread lots of cool ideas for DIY

Simply__J · Jun 28, 2019

Tackled two really big projects in the last 45 days. The first being a control box to serve as some cable management and keep the control units out of the underside of the stand where it was susceptible to moisture and salt creep. Also to prepare for the second project.

Purchased a small inexpensive wood box from one of the big box stores painted and drilled some holes through it.

Spray painted it brown/black to match the stand as much as possible.

Got it mounted to the wall and ran all the cables through the back of it.

Picked up a wifi power strip to replace a regular-degular one.

Now I was ready to begin the second project.

Simply__J · Jun 28, 2019

Once I finished with the control box I moved forward with a DIY Led T5 Hybrid fixture using my Ocean Revive T247 and 2x 24" Deep Blue 224 T5 fixtures.

The goal was to try to emulate the popularly designed Aquatic Life T5 HO Hybrid fixture. The goal was to do it under $100 in order to make it worth it and not just going out and purchasing a unit.

I used cut to size aluminum angle to build the frame to save weight.

I braced the exterior and interior corners and contact points zinc L brackets. I also used them to reinforce the holes I used to rivet together.

I then joined all the pieces with rivets.

Here is the frame all put together. (Please ignore the toes of my "lil helper")

I designed it so that both the LED and the 2x T5 fixtures just rest on top of the aluminum angle so that I can easily remove them for cleaning and when the time comes to change the bulbs.

I painted it flat black to match both the Ocean Revive fixture and the 2x Deep Blue 24" T5 lights. Which helped hide some of the imperfections and finish from fabricating. I've temporarily hung them over the cube but will be modifying it in the near future.

dantimdad · Jun 28, 2019

Nice job!

Simply__J · Aug 3, 2019

Go with the flow...added a second Gyre 1k from Icecap as part of a trade. Really helping with the dead spot I had on the left/back side of the cube. It also has improved the surface aggregation a bunch.

Have them both set to automatic running Pulse most of the time at +60% then switching it to Random +50% and at lights out Gradual Pulse mode at +30%.

In between schedules I run one pump in reverse at -100% and the other straight current at +50% for about 10 minutes to stir up the the detritus.

Simply__J · Mar 9, 2020

Did some much-needed spring cleaning on the 45g. Pulled the sump striped all the plumbing and did a deep cleaning. Some spots had about 1/4"-1/2" of detritus and marinepure dust :mad: from it dicintegrating in some of the chambers. Slowly switching to the Maxspect Bio Spheres.

I also pulled apart the return pump and the skimmer. I added an adjustable air tube valve to the skimmer's venturi intake to create better foam (as per @BRS) since this skimmer major overkill for my 45g bioload. Might add more fish in the future don't know yet.

Toyed with the idea of adding a Co2 scrubber however I haven't figured out how to semi-seal the lid on the Magus Curve 5 so it won't let all the scrubbed air out. If anyone has had any luck with a recirculating Co2 scrubber on a Magus Curve 5 protein skimmer please show me how!

I will also be upgrading the flat Curve 5 bubble plate for a custom 3D printed bubble plate with cones similar to the AquaMaxx ones. Stay tuned post to follow. Plan on doing some heavy feeding in the months to come so I want to be sure skimmer is tuned to perfection.

dantimdad · Mar 9, 2020

Looking good!

Simply__J · Mar 15, 2020

Here is a FTS in the midst of fighting GHA due to using bad top off water. Things are in the up and up though.

Simply__J · Apr 2, 2020

Three quick updates!

Added a 3D printed bubble plate to the Curve 5 magus + an airline valve on the intake. Seeing better frothier foam that collects more consistently at the top of the neck.

Added a Lawnmower Blennie to chomp on the GHA, which means I had to catch and isolate the bigger of the two Lemon Damsels which was territorial and harassing the Blennie to the point it couldn't come out to eat. Long time coming as it bullied the other fish too.

Lastly added some stainless steel turnbuckles to my lighting rig. The lights were previously about 16" off the water. The new adjustable turnbuckles will allow me to progressively lower it to a goal height of 10" above the waterline, in hopes of introducing some sticks at the top and see how they do under the OR + 2x T5s. I hadn't had much luck in the past. Lowering about 2" every 2-3 weeks.

Simply__J · Jan 3, 2021

Had a rough few months (pandemic aside) had a HUGE hair algea outbreak - that I only just recently got under control with the help of Luis who serviced my tank while I recovered from brain surgery (I'm good now). Losses were inevitable. Many corals perished most survived though.

GFO in the filter sock, manual removal, 45x blue legged crabs, 2 mexican turbo snails and 3x-4x 100% water changes seem have done the trick.

The worst to come out of all of this is the discovery that my stand has termites. I now have to come up with a plan to remedy this as soon as possible.

Simply__J · Jan 15, 2021

The termites were having a feast! Found a good deal on a Redsea Reefer 170 successfully transfered everything over. I was hoping to treat the stand but it wasn't salvageable.

Took advantage of the transition and switched out the Ocean Revives for an XR30 G4 Pro.