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

[SPR1968]

I’ll let the picture speak !

As you can see my patience held firm...!

 

[SPR1968]

Firstly how did I ever live without this system. It’s simply magnificent!

This is the new WiFi version but you are also supposed to be able to hard wire it which is how I started setting it up using an Ethernet cable. But it couldn’t connect to the Apex although I could see it.

So after an hour or so scratching my head, I thought I’ll try WiFi, and it worked straight away then.

So set up was very easy from there. I new the black shelf I saved from the cabinet would come in handy some day and it did, to mount the system on. I screwed the energy bar into place but all the other sensors and base unit are fastened with heavy duty Velcro.

So far I’ve connected my new sump light, the skimmer and Tunze ATO. I’ve just got to get a couple of extension cables as the large transformers that come with the ATO are large so block another socket so I’ll plug the transformer into the extension and then the extension into apex.

I haven’t put the heaters in yet as again I need a extension cable (2 gang) as I have 2 heaters and don’t want to waste a socket and then I’ll add these on next few days.

I don’t think, certainly at the moment, I’m going to put the main return pump, or rear circulation pumps onto Apex, as they are on all of the time, apart from water changes, so at the moment these and the UVC Rocket Launcher of Death,
arnt connected.

The leak detector is in place, tested and working and sends an alert. It’s the low profile detector and it’s on the floor at the front of the tank in the middle, just under the lip for those with the Max S Series systems. I might get another one for a different location.

I’m going to order some float switches and set up some extra water level monitoring and I have to say the stuff this thing can potentially do......

Anyway a few build pictures:

 

[GoVols]

I’ll let the picture speak !

As you can see my patience held firm...!

Alright... Hardware!!!!

Shaun,

Love it... and get them DOS pumps!!! ​

​

 

[3mm3]

looking really good!

 

[SPR1968]

I’ve just added the Apex Auto Feeder to the system and it’s a very nice piece of kit.

It’s sat at the back of the tank on its feet with Velcro on the underneath at the back as it didn’t seem safe using the bracket due to the width and style of the glass at the top were the light trim is on the tank. It comes with the feet and Velcro as an option.

Fully programmable to do whatever you want as far as feed cycles go.

 

[revhtree]

Dang looks great!

 

[SPR1968]

I’ve had the Apex installed now for just over a week.

I’ve been playing around with the salinity probe to try and get it dialled in. I followed the instructions using their calibration fluid and then when I put the probe into the tank Apex was saying the salinity was around 37-38ppm which is wasn’t.

So I got my trusty Red Sea Refractometer out and used that, and the salinity was around 34-35 which is were it is normally. It did take me around 3 goes recalibrating it each time and I thought there must be an easier Refractometer to use than this so I ordered the DD version for comparison. That was reading 2ppm less than Red Sea!

Anyway, after tearing my hair out i did some research (including reading the instructions!!) and my conclusion is that you add the RO water or 35ppm solution to calibrate, but you leave the water/solution on the Refractometer for 20-30 seconds so it reaches the correct temperature before you take the reading and adjust for calibration.

Then you take the saltwater, and again when you test it you wait 20-30 seconds before taking the reading so it can adjust to the correct temperature. I did this with both Red Sea and DD and they were within about 0.5-1ppm of each other. Well today anyway!

So back to Apex. I thought I’ll ignore the instructions on using calibration fluid and use my tank water instead. I won’t bore you, but basically the part of the calibration were it says put into calibration fluid, I put the probe into the tank. And today it’s reading 35ppm in line with the Refractometers.

So far I haven’t added my 2 heaters, just because I have a Simply Aquaria controller on line already, but I may attach this into Apex over the next few weeks as triple failure backup. I’m also going to add in my UVC and feeder pump. It’s the only thing outside of my sump which has always made me nervous, but one of the excellent things with Apex is that if the leak detector detects water, it will (when ive programmed it shortly) turn off the UVC and feeder pump. I’ve already programmed this onto the skimmer. Bare with me all you experienced Apex’ers it’s new to me!! Lol

The other things it’s been interesting to see with Apex monitoring, is the Ph changes at different times of day from around 7.8 - 8.2 due to the biological changes within the tank during the day. It’s something I’ve never noticed as when I tested ph around the same pm time it was always 8.2. Infact I hadn’t tested it for ages as it was always the same and everything was thriving.

Anyway a few up to date photos...
And look at the size of the Regal Tang. He was only 2 inches when I got him about 18 months ago!

 

[GoVols]

Shaun,
Your 650 just keeps getting better and thanks for the detailed update

(lol)
Still... ;Drool ing over your Regal Angel ;Woot ;Woot

Freddie

 

[SPR1968]

Shaun,
Your 650 just keeps getting better and thanks for the detailed update

(lol)
Still... ;Drool ing over your Regal Angel ;Woot ;Woot

Freddie

Yes the Regal Angel is very sweet indeed and he or she has grown since I got it, is feeding well and well, basically minding it’s own business.

 

[SPR1968]

For reasons that will become apparent from the pictures below, I am currently very bored!

So I thought, I’ll put a live post on my build thread and I know what I could do, I’ll look at my fish tank. So with the powers of modern aviation, and from the comfort of my Upper Class seat with Virgin Atlantic I hooked up to my video camera at home and can see my fish tank along with its parameters via Apex. All is well.......!! Lol

Anyway only another 5 hours to go.....

Sandals here I come!

 

[GoVols]

Shaun,
How long will you be on Holiday

 

[SPR1968]

Shaun,
How long will you be on Holiday

Just 7 days this time Freddie. Quick break before Christmas then off to Sandals Grenada end of January!

 

[SPR1968]

So in my time away, I spent a whole week in the safety of the beach (I have a shark allergy!) with an occasional ‘paddle’ and a slow journey to ‘a relaxed state of mind’’ with the aid of constant/frequent glasses of double Smirnoff Vodka and soda water (for dehydration!!) with a piece of lime. Sophisticated us Brits you know!

Anyway back to reality after a week in sunny Barbados.....

The tank is all fine and I’ve just tested the parameters and all good. The only issue I have is that whenever I go away the nitrates are always up (currently 16ppm from around 5ppm) when I get back, and despite the fact my mother swears she doesn’t over feed them I’m not so sure. To the unwary eye they are always starving and begging for food like they have never been fed!

I also had an email today from Red Sea which some of you may also have seen and I’ve ordered one of these at £59.99 for the large version for the S 650. I’ve been looking around for a while but only wanted to get one if they fit in with the tank so you can hardly notice and this seems to be ok. I’ve only lost 1 jumper a royal gamma so far but this will prevent further incident.

https://www.redseafish.com/customizable-diy-aquarium-net-cover/

A few weeks ago my Foxface disappeared never to be seen again. This is the second I’ve lost and both seemed to be doing ok for several weeks and then started to thin out. I noticed this on my last one just before he vanished. I was reading an article on possible bullying from other fish, in particular Tangs, and I’m beginning to wonder if some of the other fishes took a dislike for the second time and stressed him out to the point of death. If I get another one I might get a larger specimen as the 2 previous were fairly small.

 

[GoVols]

‘a relaxed state of mind’’ with the aid of constant/frequent glasses of double Smirnoff Vodka and soda water (for dehydration!!) with a piece of lime.

 

[SPR1968]

I happened to call at one of my LFS’s yesterday and they have had a major upgrade including many more marine tanks and I’ve seen a few rather nice potential new friends currently being held under quarantine that may well find themselves shortly enjoying themselves in my little piece of ocean!

Anyway here you go....... it should be in HD

 

[SPR1968]

Say hello to my new ‘little friends’ that I happen to come across today.

A Black Leopard Wrasse and a pair of I think there called Purple Anthias/Bartlett’s maybe.

 

[GoVols]

Shaun,
Thanks for sharing and your 650 is always wonderful to gaze into.
I'd like to have some mushroom corals but with not having a QT tank, I just don't want to risk adding some.

Have you been happy with your Apex controller?

Freddie

 

[SPR1968]

Shaun,
Thanks for sharing and your 650 is always wonderful to gaze into.
I'd like to have some mushroom corals but with not having a QT tank, I just don't want to risk adding some.

Have you been happy with your Apex controller?

Freddie

Yes I’m very happy with the Apex and in particular the piece of mind it brings. As most people probably say, how did I manage without it before.

It’s just there monitoring everything and I’ve already added a few fail safe programs for the heaters I’ve just attached, and the leak detectors with skimmer/ATO.

I’ll probably leave the main and rear circulation pumps in the power centre as I can’t see any benefit to plugging into Apex as they are basically on and should be on all the time.

The last thing I’ve got to plug in is my UVC and feeder pump and that’s just a matter of plugging them in.

I’m assuming mushrooms corals may carry ‘bad things’ then ?

 

[GoVols]

Yes I’m very happy with the Apex and in particular the piece of mind it brings. As most people probably say, how did I manage without it before.

It’s just there monitoring everything and I’ve already added a few fail safe programs for the heaters I’ve just attached, and the leak detectors with skimmer/ATO.

I’ll probably leave the main and rear circulation pumps in the power centre as I can’t see any benefit to plugging into Apex as they are basically on and should be on all the time.

The last thing I’ve got to plug in is my UVC and feeder pump and that’s just a matter of plugging them in.

I’m assuming mushrooms corals may carry ‘bad things’ then ?

(lol)
To me anything can bring in bad things and I just don't want to chance it

Glad your happy with the Apex

 

[SPR1968]

I purchased a white anemone a while ago and he stayed in his happy spot for a while but then decided it was time to explore ‘my’ tank and proceeded to march around the live rock stinging and killing everything in its path and in particular my prized corals many of which I’ve grown from small frags.

It moved to a point were it’s foot was well inside some crevices in the live rock so over the past few days I’ve been poking and pulling gently at it so that it’s been moving to a new ‘happy spot’ or so It thought !!!

I came home today and had the perfect moment to strike with my cunning plan!! It had come around to a part of live rock were I could actually see the foot. What I then did was get a long coral feeder which a push syringe and proceeded to blast the foot with tank water by just sucking it in and blasting it out. Surprisingly enough, the foot started to release so that I could get the point of the coral feeder just under and a few more blasts and it just let go without any harm to the anemone or me!

I’d been interested in anemones for ages before I got one, but the sight of it killing corals was just to stressful to bare so that was it.

So there is my top tip of how to remove an anemone from live rock. My other top tip is do not put an anemone in a full blown well stocked reef tank in the first place unless you want to potentially kill your prized corals off!

So off to the shop I went, and it was most peculiar me actually taking them something in a bag!

The last picture shows the coral damage/deaths before I got him out.