Shaun's 2000 Litre (530 USG) Living Reef & Red Sea Max S 650 LED Design & Build

[SPR1968]

And here are a few different shots of the ‘slightly bigger‘ system

 

[najer]

And here are a few different shots of the ‘slightly bigger‘ system

I love your scape and thanks, you just cost me money!
I was going 6 x 3 x 1.75, it will be 6 x 3 x 2 now!

 

[SPR1968]

I love your scape and thanks, you just cost me money!
I was going 6 x 3 x 1.75, it will be 6 x 3 x 2 now!

Well just go 9 x 3 x 2 then and be done with it! Lol

 

[najer]

Well just go 9 x 3 x 2 then and be done with it! Lol

Who needs a doorway right?! ;Facepalm

 

[Fudsey]

Shaun the tanks look incredible ! ! !

What are you using to dose?

 

[SPR1968]

Shaun the tanks look incredible ! ! !

What are you using to dose?

Thank you Keith

On the S650 ‘frag tank’, I use Red Sea Foundation elements A B and C and also coral colours with Nopox via a Kamoer doser. I dose coral colours once every 7-10 days by hand though

Now in the bigger system, I use the Deltec Twin Tech 1500 Calcium Reactor and it’s an absolute dream to use. It might look like something from back to the future, but all you do is press a button to increase/decrease flow that’s pretty much it. It’s also simple to set up once you appreciate how I works with the CO2 being injected. And I think my CO2 bottle will last a lifetime with the amount it uses

It took me about 2 weeks to dial the flow rate in with testing alkalinity every 3-4 days and it’s now set at 9 litres per day of effluent (out of a maximum I think of 360) and it holds alkalinity at around 8-8.5 and I haven’t touched it in about 5 weeks and counting

I use Rowalith W (chunky version) as media and this also contains magnesium so it holds alkalinity calcium and magnesium were they should be as the coral skeletons dissolve.

For anyone thinking of running a large tank, yes you can dose elements traditionaly like I do on the S650 but it will get very expensive . The Twin Tech is expensive of course, but in the long run will be far cheaper and is so easy to use. I really can’t recommend it enough.

I also add Red Sea coral colours to the larger tank by hand, but not very often at the moment as it’s fairly new

There’s a short video here showing it and also the electrics etc at the rear of the tank

 

[SPR1968]

Sorry I couldn’t help myself. It’s an Acropora ‘light green with blue tips’

And they have others......

 

[Mortie31]

Who needs a doorway right?! ;Facepalm

Move it a few feet lol

 

[najer]

Move it a few feet lol

Why did I not think of that, I'll just buy the other semi attached because I won't block the door and move the twins to have access to the bathroom and bed and at aged 57 I doubt very much that "learn limbo dancing" will be very high on my things to do list!

 

[PanchoG]

I took some pictures of the ‘frag tank’ yesterday

I think the frag tank looks awesome Shaun. Are you going to keep those fish there or are you thinking to move some of them to the new one?

 

[SPR1968]

I think the frag tank looks awesome Shaun. Are you going to keep those fish there or are you thinking to move some of them to the new one?

Thank you Pancho, I’ve already moved 3 of the bigger fish, the Magnificent Foxface, Sailfin tang and regal tang.

The regal who I’ve had since I started out, is missing presumed dead. He was ‘scratching’ against the rocks in the S650, which tangs sometimes do, and I noticed before I went away he was doing it even more. When I got back from Cape Verde he was hiding in the rocks.

I prodded him to make sure he was ok and he went back into the rocks, and hasn’t been seen since so...... My grandson (I’m a young grandad by the way!) keeps,saying were is Dory......

So after this, apart from the Emperor Angelfish who I will move at some point, I’m thinking I’ll leave the others were they are in their home as their all settled and happy.

 

[SPR1968]

You may recall a week or so ago I had an issue with the Tunze Osmolator failing just before I flew out of the country with a tiny piece of detritus on the optical sensor causing it to stop topping up.

I considered all sorts of options, a back up Osmolator, Apex ATK and finally went back to a basic physical system with no electronics to fail. A gravity fed ATO

I couldn’t risk using the 425 litre RODI tank for this because there would be a major siphon issue if the float valve failed. It would empty around 300 litres into the sump before the levels stabilised which is, well not good.

So my solution was to use a 30 litre container which I used to use to store RODI and I have many, so the maximum exposure if it failed would be 30 litres into the sump which would have no affect on the tank. This will last around 4 days during testing depending on temperature conditions etc.

Now 30 litres should be ok, as it would only be used if the Tunze Osmolator failed and for a few days, but what I’m also going to do if I feel necessary, is hook up a pump and hose from the 425 litre RODI tank into this smaller 30 litre container which I can switch on if need be via Apex and refill it manually from anywhere in the world. I could add some float switches but thats just things to fail or cause issues, so I think I’ll just time how long it takes to fill it and use that as a rough guide if I ever need to.

 

[SPR1968]

Helllloooooooo......

 

[crusso1993]

Helllloooooooo......

Wouldn't it be more like,
"Helllloooooooo Grandad!" ;Hilarious ;Hilarious

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

Can we talk about that pump?

 

[SPR1968]

Can we talk about that pump?

Lol!
Sure what do you want to know?

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

All that pump wants to do is perform for you!

The slime-laden guilt of not being able to reach peak performance or aesthetic potential is like the first half of a Hallmark Channel movie before some guy rides in on a white stallion with a bottle of citric acid.

 

[SPR1968]

All that pump wants to do is perform for you!

The slime-laden guilt of not being able to reach peak performance or aesthetic potential is like the first half of a Hallmark Channel movie before some guy rides in on a white stallion with a bottle of citric acid.

Beautifully said! Lol

Ive got another Abyzz a200 arriving in a few days so they can ride on together in perfect ‘pump’ harmony!

 

[hotashes]

June 2017



August 2018

April 2019



June 2019 The Living Reef......

And now for the arrival of the new custom made 2000 litre system. The new and the old. You can see the reflection of the S650 in the glass. September 2019 the big build begins..... Page 70+

January 2019 side shot

Worth a bump with every update you make buddy, a joy to look at. Keep up the great efforts.

 

[SPR1968]

Worth a bump with every update you make buddy, a joy to look at. Keep up the great efforts.

Thanks Ash, and I’ll try!

I’m a bit bored today as some bloke called Dennis is spoiling my golf so I can t play! Lol