SCA 50 gallon cube build *PIC HEAVY*

[kazikage42]

I think we have the same tank. Looking forward to see it fully stocked.

 

[mr70ss]

Well tested the water again tonight, not much of a change (not that I expected one) so yesterday I mixed up 14gal of new water and just now did a water change. will test it again tomorrow.

PH = 8.04
KH = 7.5
NH3/NH4 = 0
NO2 = 1
NO3 = 35
SG = 34
Temp = 78.3

 

[mr70ss]

Here are the test results after the water change...

PH = 8.1
KH = 8
NH3/NH4 = 0
NO2 = .2
NO3 = 25
SG = 35
Temp = 78.8

After seeing these number I'll do one more water change (10 gal) tomorrow. then test 24 hours after the change.

 

[mr70ss]

well just tested my water and here are the results...

PH = 7.96
KH = 8.5
NH3/NH4 = 0
NO2 = 0
NO3 = 10
SG = 35
Temp = 78.3

I talked with my LFS and they said it's time to add a small fish or two.. so i'm gong to swing by later today and pick something up.

 

[mr70ss]

Well I stopped by my LFS, and came home with a pair of fire fish...

They were pretty scared of their new environment, but quickly found a safe place to hide out for a bit.

After a couple of hours they got brave and decided to check out their new home..

Someone else seems pretty excited about our new hobby as well...

On a hardware note, I decided to finally swap out that green 1" return tube. I hard plumbed it 95%, and used about 8" silicone tubing. I think it looks much better. I also got my fuge light (JBJ Nano GLO) installed. I'm going fill the fuge with live rock and chaeto.

More to come...

 

[revhtree]

Bro that's so nice!

 

[mr70ss]

Bro that's so nice!

Thanks, it's been a fun project. One thing I will mention is I have a feeling there may be a skimmer upgrade in my future. It's pretty loud, and I'd like to make it as silent as I can.

 

[mr70ss]

Happy to report the new fire fish are eating well and are spending more time out in the open.

 

[mr70ss]

Well i just pulled the pin on a RLSS r5-i, found a deal i could not pass up.. 279.99 marked down to $140.00.

https://www.saltysupply.com/rlss-r-5i-internal-skimmer-with-dc2500h.html

I used their online chat, as i had a question about the included pump being apex ready, and it turns out that the included pump is not apex ready. The person i was chatting with said all i would need is the new 2500 controller to make it apex ready, and that the motors are the same between the older version (non apex) and the current apex ready version. they did not sell just the controller there, but they do sell the pump and the new controller as a set. It was also on sale for $55.00 down from $109.00. I searched for 2500h apex ready controller and they were $45.00. So i added the new controller and pump set. After i applied a 5% off coupon i was out the door for 185.25 for a rlss r5-i, spare pump, spare controller, spare power supply, and it's controllable via my apex so i wont need to stop and start it once a day to feed, just ramp down the power during the feeding cycle.

 

[mr70ss]

Well I got the chaeto and live rock added to the sump, Here is the JBJ nano glo in action..

and a random fish pic...

 

[Robert Ramsey]

Great tank. I just ordered my 50 PNP this week. I notice you are running 2 heaters in the sump. What kind are they and how is temperature management?

 

[mr70ss]

Congrats on the new purchase, I'm loving mine. The heters are eheim jager 150 watt. i have them set at around 79, but i control the temp with my apex. So low is 77.9 and high is 78.9.

 

[Robert Ramsey]

OK, perfect! I have purchased at Colbalt Aquatics Accu-Therm 250W for the system. I would also control with Apex unit so it's good news that your system is similar since I am looking at your system for guidance....

 

[mr70ss]

Sounds good I went with two just on the off chance one was to fail in "OFF" position. I guess most fail in the "ON" so that's where the apex comes in. I'd love to see a build thread on yours as well.

 

[TechnicalFisher]

Congrats on the tank and great build! Enjoying watching it come together. Just ordered the same setup and looking forward to getting started myself.

 

[mr70ss]

Well I added a couple more small fish last sunday...

I'm now in a diatom bloom, I just tested my water

PH = 8.07
KH = 8
NH3/NH4 = 0
NO2 = 0
NO3 = 2
SG = 35
Temp = 78.7

On my way home I stopped by the LFS, and picked up 3 snails, and they happen to have some frog spawn on sale..

from what I've read it sounds best to let the diatoms run their course, and just watch the water levels. More to come

 

[mr70ss]

Well my first report of bad news.. Got home yesterday to find one of my fire fish dead on the sand bed. I looked over the body and no signs of a fight and it was acting normal and eating fine. On a side not one of my banggai's has tucked itself into the rock work and I fear also may have died... I tested the water again and all levels were the same and i last reported a couple days ago. The 3 new snails, and corals are all fine so I'm not sure what happened. Just to be safe I'm going to do a water change tonight.

 

[mr70ss]

Well I did a water change, and tested the 2 days later and again everything is right on track..

PH 8.03
NH3/NH4 0
NO2 0
NO3 0
DKH 10
SG 35
Temp 78.6

I did have the other firefish die on me, not sure what is going on... On the other hand the last Banggai is doing great. He is eating like a pig, swimming all over the tank and will even come face to face with me when I walk up to the tank. I'm not going to add any more fist for at least a week or two. I did get a package from the UPS man today, my Rlss R5i came in.

Very well packed

Everything unpacked

All Setup and ready to be installed.

Here is the "Apex ready" controller from the extra Waveline DC2500h I ordered.

Here is the Rlss R5i next to the SCA 301.

Got it installed and breaking in.. I'll pretty up the wiring after break in.

My first thoughts on this skimmer is that it's AWESOME!!! It is so quiet compared to the SCA, that also made the wife really happy. It's been running for about 3 hours and it's already pushing gunk up the tube. It also produces very little to no micro bubbles into the sump. I do not have it wired to the apex yet, but i'll get that done in the next day or two.

I hit my LFS over the weekend and came home with a nice green star polyp colony. I did put it on the back rockwork at first, but after doing some reading on it I opted to isolate it on the sand bed to prevent it from taking over.

Here is what it looked like when I first got it moved to the sand bed.

And again after about an hour..

 

[mr70ss]

I forgot to mention that I moved Jebao's closer to the bottom of the back wall, and aimed them at the rockwork and not the glass, and all of the corals have responded well, here is a pic of the frogspawn with the most extension I've seen so far.

 

[Eggyoke]

I have the same setup and you almost made me spend $140 on a new skimmer! It's Christmas time so I decided not to at the time. Please keep me updated on the performance.