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

[Daniel@R2R]

The temperature probe on the Apex in the S650 has been going haywire for the last few weeks or so and it also affects the salinity probe, so having spoken to Neptune, a replacement has been installed yesterday.

I was going to leave it, but the monitoring especially of salinity is so helpful for piece of mind. The actual temperature in both tanks is controlled by DD Temperature Controllers as I just don’t trust Apex to do it (several failures) Apex just oversees the DD‘s with autoswitch off if and when required.

Ive also cleaned the rear circulation pumps in the S650........ but no I haven’t because I took those stupid pumps out and installed 2 MP40’s. So cleaning involved lifting it out, soaking in citric acid for a few hours, lightly scrubbing and then reattaching. It was an absolute delight compared with what I used to have to do!

Anyway here’s a few pictures and one of the S650 so it isn’t forgotten as it’s still a beautiful tank.

The reef is looking great, sir!!

 

[SPR1968]

The reef is looking great, sir!!

Thank you Daniel!

 

[SPR1968]

Thanks for sharing all the info!

I cannot say I know much about brewing beer as I have never done it. A number of friends got into it pretty heavily before the big boom of craft beers. One of them turned it into a business in the late 90s selling his and other custom beers and ales into small bars around Chicago. He didn't get rich or hit it bigtime but that was never his intention. He did do okay though and, more importantly, got to make money doing what he loves. Another high school friend, who designed and developed guidance systems for nuclear missles, won a number of prestigous brewing awards. He walked away from his high paying job to open a brewery with another friend several years ago. I think they now have three locations and are doing pretty well. Although I am unsure how things are going now with all of the craziness created by the Coronavirus.

Clouds Brewing

Craft brewery, bar, and restaurant with locations in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina

www.cloudsbrewing.com

The beer they make on their web site looks fabulous!

 

[SPR1968]

Here’s a picture close up of a torch coral in the new system

 

[SPR1968]

Pips been a naughty puppy dog, but hey with a face like this I forgive him!

The picture doesn’t show he’s actually tied to a tree!

 

[SPR1968]

One of the final decisions to make on the new tank, it a second return system. I’ve been debating this for a while, mainly due to a concern with flow reduction once the Teco 2000e chiller is brought online. The chiller is the new eco version.

Of course there is always the potential for a failure, and the benefits of a secondary system, but it’s something else to maintain, and fail, so I’ve decided not to install it, certainly for the time being anyway. The Abyzz pumps are supposed to be super reliable and come with a 10 year warranty so I’m hoping so.

We had some warm weather a few days ago so I switched on the chiller and tested the system. There was a small leak from one of the hose connectors which I fixed and then opened the ball balve just a little, and set the flow to around 700 lph which is midway between the recommended flow rate.

For those who can’t remember, the whole system is powered by a single return pump, the Abyzz a200 and this powers the main return pipe, a UV-C, Deltec rowaphos reactor and now the Teco 2000 chiller.

Its taken some flow from the main return but I’ve adjusted the UVC down a little and we are still around 3 x turnover trough the sump or thereabouts. The flow sensors on Apex are quiet useful here.

I was sat watching the TV in the evening, fuelled by some ‘light refreshments’, when I heard a bizarre noise, like humming. Now both my tanks are very quiet, especially the new one. I turned the TV down and though what the heck is that noise, and after a few minutes realised it was the chiller. So these chillers are not silent by any means, but I guess it’s only a few months of the year when their needed.

 

[crusso1993]

One of the final decisions to make on the new tank, it a second return system. I’ve been debating this for a while, mainly due to a concern with flow reduction once the Teco 2000e chiller is brought online. The chiller is the new eco version.

Of course there is always the potential for a failure, and the benefits of a secondary system, but it’s something else to maintain, and fail, so I’ve decided not to install it, certainly for the time being anyway. The Abyzz pumps are supposed to be super reliable and come with a 10 year warranty so I’m hoping so.

We had some warm weather a few days ago so I switched on the chiller and tested the system. There was a small leak from one of the hose connectors which I fixed and then opened the ball balve just a little, and set the flow to around 700 lph which is midway between the recommended flow rate.

For those who can’t remember, the whole system is powered by a single return pump, the Abyzz a200 and this powers the main return pipe, a UV-C, Deltec rowaphos reactor and now the Teco 2000 chiller.

Its taken some flow from the main return but I’ve adjusted the UVC down a little and we are still around 3 x turnover trough the sump or thereabouts. The flow sensors on Apex are quiet useful here.

I was sat watching the TV in the evening, fuelled by some ‘light refreshments’, when I heard a bizarre noise, like humming. Now both my tanks are very quiet, especially the new one. I turned the TV down and though what the heck is that noise, and after a few minutes realised it was the chiller. So these chillers are not silent by any means, but I guess it’s only a few months of the year when their needed.

Is there really such a thing as a silent chiller?

 

[SPR1968]

Is there really such a thing as a silent chiller?

Its the first time Ive ever used one so hadn't heard the noise before, but needs must I guess.

The tank is very quiet so when that started up I was like what is that! lol

 

[SPR1968]

Ive modified the spare Abyzz a200 so that it’s ready to do a straight swap out with the primary a200, in 10 years time when it’s time to be cleaned!

The first picture shows the primary pump installed, and basically the pump has a 40mm pvc coupler on the output connected to a 40mm short piece of pipe and then into a 40mm union connector. So this connector will just screw onto the primary union connector when I need to change them over.

If your wondering what’s on the input, it’s a 50mm coupler. I did this because the instructions say the pump is more efficient and silent if it has a straight run of flow into it, and this provides that.

The pump is completely silent, and I mean you can’t hear anything.

These pumps really are a masterpiece of engineering

 

[SPR1968]

So how was my evening with the new Weber bbq that arrived yesterday?

I went to set up my old one last week, an Outback, and it had disintegrated. Then I realised it was probably 12 years old and the last couple of winters hadn’t helped!

The person in the blur and ‘slumped’ in the chair is my son Ben, and he hardly drank anything other than soft drinks!

The beer is my own, Mangrove Jacks Pink Grapefruit which is delightful

 

[crusso1993]

So how was my evening with the new Weber bbq that arrived yesterday?

I went to set up my old one last week, an Outback, and it had disintegrated. Then I realised it was probably 12 years old and the last couple of winters hadn’t helped!

The person in the blur and ‘slumped’ in the chair is my son Ben, and he hardly drank anything other than soft drinks!

The beer is my own, Mangrove Jacks Pink Grapefruit which is delightful

Nice!

I'm wondering if that white picnic set way in the back is for not-so-close friends invited to a BBQ? Or perhaps that's your new "social distancing" layout.

 

[SPR1968]

Nice!

I'm wondering if that white picnic set way in the back is for not-so-close friends invited to a BBQ? Or perhaps that's your new "social distancing" layout.

That's were we have afternoon tea, because were very 'sophisticated' like that, don't ya know!

 

[Marnus]

That looks awesome

 

[SPR1968]

That looks awesome

What the chicken, my beer, vodka or the tanks?! Or everything lol

And thanks for saying hello

 

[najer]

Did I mention I have a City and Guilds level 2 in Green Keeping and Sports Turf Management as well as tank maintenance abilities, can play golf and drink, just saying in case you are adopting hiring?!

 

[SPR1968]

Did I mention I have a City and Guilds level 2 in Green Keeping and Sports Turf Management as well as tank maintenance abilities, can play golf and drink, just saying in case you are adopting hiring?!

lol!

Unfortunately the job requires a city and guilds level 1 in bbq cooking as well!

On the occasion Simon..... you have been unsuccessful!

 

[najer]

FS!

 

[Marnus]

What the chicken, my beer, vodka or the tanks?! Or everything lol

And thanks for saying hello

Mostly the tanks but all of it looks very good.

 

[SPR1968]

So I can’t play golf, because of some stupid virus, my fish are fed up with me staring at them, I’ve cleaned everything I can find, my ‘still’ is brewing away, and I’m going slowly ‘mad’..... So what’s a boy to do.....

Trek Bikes, Components, Electric Bikes | Evans Cycles

www.evanscycles.com

Ive bought myself a mountain bike. I used to go cycling years ago (as a child!!), no seriously, I had a mountain bike before and think I sold it after I started playing golf. But cycling is better for you both physically and mentally especially if you play golf like me!

It will take around 2 weeks to be delivered as they build them up for you, and despite various forms of incentive, they won’t do it any quicker......

I’ve also ordered a helmet and I’ll get the other bits and bobs over the next few weeks.

I live next to the route 6 national cycle route (this is a UK thing) so have access to miles of countryside routes. I don’t like road biking so tend to stick to cycle paths, forest etc.

Whenever I see a cyclist they always were those clothes that make them look really thin, so I’ve got to get me some of those, but in ‘big lads’ size!

 

[najer]

Whenever I see a cyclist they always were those clothes that make them look really thin, so I’ve got to get me some of those, but in ‘big lads’ size!

Why do I have a picture of a flabby Power Ranger in my head now, fs!