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

[SPR1968]

Nice! Lol. Do you think Emperor and Blueface will outgrow the tank?

Well the Emperor is getting bigger, but worst case I have another house for him, much bigger if need be. He hasn’t touched any corals as far as I’m aware, well so far……

 

[Janci]

Well the Emperor is getting bigger, but worst case I have another house for him, much bigger if need be. He hasn’t touched any corals as far as I’m aware, well so far……

Much bigger, another house,... looks like another upgrade?

 

[SPR1968]

Much bigger, another house,... looks like another upgrade?

Mmm, NO! Lol

 

[flagg37]

I’ve wanted to keep an emperor but I also like clams. Do you have any clams? I’ve seen them in other systems with clams but I don’t know how big of a risk it really is.

 

[SPR1968]

I’ve wanted to keep an emperor but I also like clams. Do you have any clams? I’ve seen them in other systems with clams but I don’t know how big of a risk it really is.

Hi, no I dont have any clams, so cant help with that unfortunately

 

[SPR1968]

Ok I know I’ve been missing……

All is well, I’ve just been a bit distracted by other projects and stuff. Building my own castle and several other things! Lol

I have taken some of the equipment off line, UV-C, calcium reactor (got sick of it! Lol), not using rowaphos anymore, installed a refugium in the big tank, haven’t changed activated carbon for about 6 months….. so I will give reasons etc in a bit of an update later

So yes I will update, but I’ve been using the S650 as a sort of experiment for the large system. I stopped the UVC in that years ago when it needed a new bulb. And it’s never made any difference.

Im also using X Filter media rolls at 25 micron in both and that means the skimmers are hardly producing anything anymore as these take out most of the dirt etc. I only clean the cups every 2 months or so when I feel I should! Lol

These two are still happy….

 

[GoVols]

These two are still happy….

Yep…

Question Shaun:
Are you still running the original leds over your S650?

 

[SPR1968]

Yep…

Question Shaun:
Are you still running the original leds over your S650?

Yes Freddie, they are the 4 originals although I did have to replace the power supplies on each of them

The power supplies all failed one at a time, after about 5 years, within a few weeks of each other. Like they had timers in them!

 

[crusso1993]

Looks like either life has gotten busy or you have grown lazier due to lack of postings for months-at-a-time. Whatever the case, don't wait to drink the good whiskey. Drink it today!

I hope all is well with you and your loved ones.

 

[pshootr]

Your tank looks amazing! I just stopped in after a four-year break from The forum. Nice to see you're still here, and the tank looks amazing.

 

[SPR1968]

Looks like either life has gotten busy or you have grown lazier due to lack of postings for months-at-a-time. Whatever the case, don't wait to drink the good whiskey. Drink it today!

I hope all is well with you and your loved ones.

Yes all good and Welcome back! I’m around most days just don’t have much to say and been busy building things over summer.

 

[SPR1968]

Your tank looks amazing! I just stopped in after a four-year break from The forum. Nice to see you're still here, and the tank looks amazing.

Thank you, and yes I’m still here.

I will try and get some up dated pictures but all is well!

 

[SPR1968]

Every Englishman should have his own castle….

I have been a little busy and built this over the summer. Well I didn’t build it, but designed everything

 

[crusso1993]

Every Englishman should have his own castle….

I have been a little busy and built this over the summer. Well I didn’t build it, but designed everything

I dare say that something of this nature is not reserved for Englishmen only. Well done, mate. I love it!

 

[SPR1968]

I dare say that something of this nature is not reserved for Englishmen only. Well done, mate. I love it!

No your right

It originally started as a log cabin, with a fireplace, but then my imagination took over! Lol

 

[SPR1968]

I might get a bigger mop....!!!

Giant aquarium home to 1,500 fish bursts at Berlin hotel

Two people were injured by flying glass as the sea life attraction, which was the biggest of its kind in the world, exploded this morning.

news.sky.com

 

[pshootr]

Yikes!

 

[SPR1968]

The S650 has been running for nearly 6 1/2 years now, it’s an established system and although I test weekly for the main 3 foundation elements, I rarely test for nitrate and phosphate

I was running rowaphos in a reactor and changing it every 6-8 weeks so never bothered, and I’ve just cleaned the skimmer for the first time in 3 months (on both tanks!)

Now some may say Shaun, you’re a lazy bottomed reefer, maybe they would be correct.

But I’ve been doing a bit of an experiment, leaving the S650 to do it’s stuff, to learn for the big tank, I know what to watch out for, so I just monitor, with minimal water changes. It looks no different to be honest. Throwing some Red Sea coral colours in every week or so, also adding some Seachem Strontium every week as I’m dosing my own made foundation elements that don’t contain it. It was low on an ICP test in the big tank.

I knew the phosphate level would be raised because of the haze on the glass that needs cleaning every 2 days or so. But everything looks fine. Remember this is not a new tank.

So I tested phosphate and guess what, it was 2.19!! And that’s not 0.219 that’s 2.19! But all is well……

Anyway, the only reason I tested phosphate is that I knew it was high, because of the glass cleaning, and I’m fed up with changing rowaphos (because Im a LAR!) so having trusted ATM products before (now the Blue Shark Trading) I thought I would try Agent Green phosphate remover

Theres very few reviews of it that I can find, only the normal ‘ramblings’ with little evidence on certain forums (not here-the other side!). So we shall see what happens

Ive added 10ml’s over 30 mins or so and everyone seems fine, waters a little hazing which it’s supposed to be, so we shall see.

This is what we are talking about, it looks no different other than it’s grown out some more….

 

[SPR1968]

Ok ATM Agent Green phosphate remover (Blue Shark Journey now I think)

I added it to the S650, first addition phosphate went from 2.19 (yes!) to 1.5 and I’ve added 3 doses now in total of around 10ml each.

When you add it, the water goes like a ‘smokey’‘ effect which it’s supposed to and then clears after a short period of time, I’m using 25-32 micron filter roller media (in each tank) and leaving the skimmer running.

My unscientific conclusion, but using the naked eye, after 2 days the glass remains crystal clear (it normally needs cleaning) and the system looks cleaner. No adverse effects or even reaction by fish (including many tangs) or corals.

Ive also added it to the large tank, although that system has a refugium so phosphate was 0.2 so raised from an ideal of less than 0.03, but again no issues. That system also now looks ‘cleaner’

So I now ask why the heck didn’t I use this years ago instead of rowaphos which I hate changing………..

So in summary, it does exactly what it says on the label…

 

[SPR1968]

The emperor is all grown up in the new coat, about 7 inches long. These are just quick shots so don’t think I’ve lost the ‘fancy camera’!