Reef Escape - WestOz Cade S3 1500 (5x2x2ft)

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Hello R2R,

I've kept a variety of freshwater and saltwater fish and corals over the years, and I've always loved being in or on the ocean. I've been out of the reef-keeping game for about five years now — in that time, I've worked away, gotten married, and had a child. But now that things have settled down (somewhat), it's time to jump back in with my biggest and best build yet!

I'm hoping to create a "Reef Escape" in our family home — something that brings the ocean to us when we can't be out there ourselves. I want it to serve as a calming focal point in our lounge room where the whole family can relax and enjoy watching the tank. That said, I know all too well the effort that goes into maintaining these environments at home, so I'm planning to incorporate some automation to help keep things manageable.

Looking to keep a mixed reef of maybe 60% SPS and 40% LPS using the triton method (mostly) but keen on some feedback on this based on my equipment decisions.

The plan so far. . .which I am sure will change:

Tank and Stand

Cade S3 1500 c/w Black Stand - I was a bit torn between going the S2 or S3 mainly due to loving the rimless look but based on the longevity of the euro brace, improvements to the cabinet and sump design I have opted to go the S3. Slightly poorer due to this decision .

Light and Heat

Water Flow

Filtration

Dosing and Testing

Control System

Salt Water
I will have a 300L water mixing bin out the side of the house for initial and then emergency water changes. Will be a manual setup if I can manage with out regular water changes but if not I will look to automate this.

RODI Water
The tank has a built 54L RODI water reservoir with gravity fed ATO. I plan to keep an RODI unit under my kitchen sink and run tubing to the reservoir with ATO for those holidays where the 54L just won't quite make it. Keen to hear how others have done this and whether it was internal or external to the house.

Anyway that's the plan so far. Still lots to figure out but I will get there with some assistance from the community I am sure!

Until next time

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

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Lots of pics to come too!

Equipment wise I have ordered some of the ecotech gear because there was an EOFY sale. Tank to be ordered in a few weeks.

 

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Pulled out the old RODI unit today to see if the filter cartridges needed to be changed. Was reading 1ppm on the output so might need to do a few back flushes and see how it goes when I cure the rock. Will order up some spare cartridges just in case.

Some photos of the space too:

Hope to spend a fair bit of time watching the tank on that couch!

 

[Goonsack Steve]

Following along. Desperately want a cade tank one day

 

[diggers]

Following along. Desperately want a cade tank one day

Your tank looks like its coming along nicely. My last tank was a red sea max nano too!

 

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Some gear turning up now and rock curing.

 

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More goodies

 

[SlothMartin]

Have had the s3 1200 running for around 6 weeks now and love it. Only regret is not going 1500!

 

[diggers]

Have had the s3 1200 running for around 6 weeks now and love it. Only regret is not going 1500!

I was going to go the 1200 cos with 1500 the doors on the sides wont fully open. Decided to just make it work and maybe leave the door off on the electronics side. Question, to take the doors off do you have to open them to 90 degrees or could you do it at 45 degrees? Do you open the door on the left side much?

 

[xxoczukxx]

I love my 1500 s2 and i love seeing more cades on here!

Soon youre gonna wish you got an 1800 like i do haha

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Looking forward to seeing this one come together!

 

[diggers]

For the cade owners out there. How much space did you leave behind the tank?

 

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Managed to drill the holes for the light hanging kit over the weekend. My OCD made it take a fair bit longer than i expected but want to make sure it lined up right with the tank.

 

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Some updates from the last couple of weeks:

- RMS bar hung from hanging kit
- Nearly finished RODI controller
- Picked up a 40L / 10g QT

 

[Clayknight]

Some updates from the last couple of weeks:

- RMS bar hung from hanging kit
- Nearly finished RODI controller
- Picked up a 40L / 10g QT

I'm curious about your RODI controller.

Are you making it so it auto-flushes before it commences filling up the tank/vessel? if so how did you go about it as I'd love to do it too!

 

[diggers]

Some updates from the last couple of weeks:

- RMS bar hung from hanging kit
- Nearly finished RODI controller
- Picked up a 40L / 10g QT

I'm curious about your RODI controller.

Are you making it so it auto-flushes before it commences filling up the tank/vessel? if so how did you go about it as I'd love to do it too!

Yeah thats right. Using it to top up my RO reservoir and back flush prior to. One high and one low level float switch and two solenoid valves.

Low level switch activates and then the solenoid valve tee'd off the drain line before the diverter opens. Next the solenoid valve on the feed opens and flushs the feed side of the membrane. 30 seconds later the drain solenoid closes and the tank fills up to the high level and then the feed solenoid closes. Rinse and repeat.

 

[martin.a]

I'm curious about your RODI controller.

Are you making it so it auto-flushes before it commences filling up the tank/vessel? if so how did you go about it as I'd love to do it too!

Congrats on your tank! I splashed S2 1500 on 10 July. Cycling now and I am trying to find a moment to do a proper build thread. BTW I fitted Reefmat 1200, Octo Elite 200-S and x2 300W Schego PTC Heaters in the socks part of the sump (after removing the surplus glass). Tight fit, but it left rest of the sump junk-free.

I love your DIR - Do It Right (yourself) approach to automation. I am too planing this route. Only the time needed... Anyways, I am really curious about your experience with Atlas Scientific. Gosh, their stuff cost real money. Especially in AU. Funny enough, I installed a cheap aliexpress pH meter in one of my tanks at work and its stupidly accurate since March. I am considering dosing pumps with steppers. They are reasonably priced and its so easy to control steppers when you do DIR/DIY ;-) Cheers!

 

[diggers]

I'm curious about your RODI controller.

Are you making it so it auto-flushes before it commences filling up the tank/vessel? if so how did you go about it as I'd love to do it too!

Congrats on your tank! I splashed S2 1500 on 10 July. Cycling now and I am trying to find a moment to do a proper build thread. BTW I fitted Reefmat 1200, Octo Elite 200-S and x2 300W Schego PTC Heaters in the socks part of the sump (after removing the surplus glass). Tight fit, but it left rest of the sump junk-free.

I love your DIR - Do It Right (yourself) approach to automation. I am too planing this route. Only the time needed... Anyways, I am really curious about your experience with Atlas Scientific. Gosh, their stuff cost real money. Especially in AU. Funny enough, I installed a cheap aliexpress pH meter in one of my tanks at work and its stupidly accurate since March. I am considering dosing pumps with steppers. They are reasonably priced and its so easy to control steppers when you do DIR/DIY ;-) Cheers!

Thanks and I look forward to seeing your build! Im leaning towards an Octo Regal 200S atm and was looling at the same reefmat but it wont fit in the S3 sump.

So far I only have one of the Atlas Scientifics large pumps. This is going to be my RO reservoir (internal tank one) top up and water change pump. So i wanted it to be pretty reliable and high volume.

I'm not tied to their sensors just yet but thought they would be more accurate than the cheaper ones you can find. Which PH probe did you buy because i might give that a go?

Have decided to build my own 4-6 head doser with Kamoer KFS pumps. Works out so much cheaper and will be able to add heads when needed. They turn up this week so thatll be the next thing to build!

 

[martin.a]

anks and I look forward to seeing your build! Im leaning towards an Octo Regal 200S atm and was looling at the same reefmat but it wont fit in the S3 sump.

So far I only have one of the Atlas Scientifics large pumps. This is going to be my RO reservoir (internal tank one) top up and water change pump. So i wanted it to be pretty reliable and high volume.

I'm not tied to their sensors just yet but thought they would be more accurate than the cheaper ones you can find. Which PH probe did you buy because i might give that a go?

Have decided to build my own 4-6 head doser with Kamoer KFS pumps. Works out so much cheaper and will be able to add heads when needed. They turn up this week so thatll be the next thing to build!

I bought this one:

The ORP is useless, the salinity seems to be iffy, by the pH is very fine after calibration. I am planning to get a double junction pH probe and try it with a that cheap 2-potentiometers board from aliexpress. I don't trust potentiometers, but maybe?

The fit in my sump looks like this:

It is a very tight fit, all glass in the back was removed, plumbing redone, reefmat is 13mm raised so the handle is over the skimmer's muffler. Heaters are under the reefmat. Access to everything is very good, except to the buttons on the reefmat's drive. I would need to remove skimmer's cup to access them. So far I did not need to touch them. The front of the sump is planed for refugium, either dark or light, life will decide. I need to have a 'copepod farm' for a planned pair of Mandarins.

I forgot: Nice work with the pump! What box did you use?