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

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SPR1968

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Things are progressing brilliantly again Shaun, think I may have to “pop” over to Nottingam one day and have a real life perv... lol
lol! Thank you!
 
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SPR1968

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I ‘happen’ to be near the LFS today and on spec I called in to see if they had any harlequin shrimp in stock, and luckily they had had one retuned at the weekend, a nice big hungry one

I’m fed up of manually removing Asterina starfish in the S650, so back in goes a harlequin. It will be interesting later to see if the starfish start running up the walls , screaming, like they did last time I added one!!

Anyway, my little friend.....

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SPR1968

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So during my visit today to the LFS I started thinking about stocking the beast

I’m thinking ‘shoals’ here, so just to start I’ve asked for a price for these, all to be small juveniles only, I don’t want any large fish as I like them to grow from juveniles to adults in my care, you see I have a nurturing instinct! Lol

15 x Blue Chromis
6 x Yellow Tangs (I love these fish)
15 x Indian Ocean Lyretail Anthias

I might have to increase some of the non Tang numbers but just a start
 

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So during my visit today to the LFS I started thinking about stocking the beast

I’m thinking ‘shoals’ here, so just to start I’ve asked for a price for these, all to be small juveniles only, I don’t want any large fish as I like them to grow from juveniles to adults in my care, you see I have a nurturing instinct! Lol

15 x Blue Chromis
6 x Yellow Tangs (I love these fish)
15 x Indian Ocean Lyretail Anthias

I might have to increase some of the non Tang numbers but just a start
3 interruptus dwarf angels would look stunning in there Shaun..
 

PanchoG

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I ‘happen’ to be near the LFS today and on spec I called in to see if they had any harlequin shrimp in stock, and luckily they had had one retuned at the weekend, a nice big hungry one

I’m fed up of manually removing Asterina starfish in the S650, so back in goes a harlequin. It will be interesting later to see if the starfish start running up the walls , screaming, like they did last time I added one!!

Anyway, my little friend.....

C75E3BF0-FF42-4109-9FAB-B2875221300D.jpeg
Good looking shrimp, the new tank stocking sounds nice.
 

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So during my visit today to the LFS I started thinking about stocking the beast

I’m thinking ‘shoals’ here, so just to start I’ve asked for a price for these, all to be small juveniles only, I don’t want any large fish as I like them to grow from juveniles to adults in my care, you see I have a nurturing instinct! Lol

15 x Blue Chromis
6 x Yellow Tangs (I love these fish)
15 x Indian Ocean Lyretail Anthias

I might have to increase some of the non Tang numbers but just a start
I bet a nice Midas Blenny would camouflage and shoal amongst those Anthias!
 
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SPR1968

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SPR1968

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I quiet like the Chromis as little ‘tank fillers’, when they get bigger their very nice fish. Here’s a couple of pictures.

I think the Chromis I have are actually Blue/Green Chromis as I asked for a price yesterday and these are £6 each. I originally asked for blue but apparently there harder to keep/get and I think there a different kind

The fish possibility’s are endless, but only reefsafe fish as a strict rule, apart from the Emperor if I can catch him! But he won’t go in for a while anyway.

When I’m nearly ready to get ‘wet’ I’m going to put the fish trap in the S650 with a few small rocks etc to get them used to it......

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SPR1968

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Things are progressing and the sheds now been lined with 12mm wood so that parts finished.

Now we just need to cut a hole in the bottom left hand corner for a ducting pipe for any hoses/plumbing/wires to fit through and then install the water supply which shouldn’t take very long and hopefully will be finished in the next few days.

I’m going to install a shelf above the tanks to mount equipment on like the RODI system. Ignore the shelf in the picture (my DIY isn’t that bad! Lol) it’s just a temporary position!

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SPR1968

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Here’s a few pictures of the tank so you can see what’s what.

I was looking at this first picture thinking wow that’s big, but it’s ‘reflections’

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This picture is of the return outlet hose into the tank. Now before you say anything, the straight piece of pipe is just in place as a lever to point the final 90’ bend into the correct direction, it’s a tip from the builders rather than struggling with a small fitting.

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SPR1968

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I now have most of the outstanding PVC pipe work parts, along with the Neptune Apex ATK (V2) and DD 80w UVC so I can start putting things together

The shed has water and I’ve installed the new RODI system along with an auto shut off valve and now I’m just awaiting the ducting hole to be cut out so I can then start feeding pipe work through.

You wouldn’t believe the amount of kit and parts, and tools I’ve had to order it’s endless. Pipe cutters,........

So off we go.......
 
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So today I’ve been exploring my first adventure into aquarium plumbing and solvent welding, which is actually quiet easy once you get the hang of it and know how to do it. I had many tips from the tank builders. The best one of which was don’t glue anything until you know it fits.

Now I slightly hesitate when I say ‘easy’ as of course it’s not been water tested yet!! But I’m quietly confident........

Now there’s a reason for the slightly longer than usual piping from the Abyzz a200 pump. It’s a 40mm output and I didn’t want to solvent weld a 40-32mm reducing bush straight to it (my return pipework is 32mm) in case things change, or I did something wrong. So I’ve installed 40mm union before the reducer which could just be unscrewed if needs be.

Fortunately I also opened up the DD 80w UVC and the quartz sleeve was shattered. I don’t know how as it was very well packed but it’s broken in two places so will need replacement.

Anyway here’s a few pictures and I’ve also installed new sump lights throughout which are screwed to the wooden plinth under the tank, with very short screws

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Coming together quickly. The planing and building is my favorite part
I’m quiet enjoying it actually, I’m trying to do everything slowly and double think everything as I go.

I’ve been staring at the clarisea sk5000 for a few hours this afternoon thinking how to plumb it in. But still haven’t decided yet so I’ll leave it for a while

At least building the system up like this I know how every single system works and is put together

It also makes me realise how relatively easy it would be to modify the S650 to make maintenance easier. I’ve always been frightened to touch any of the plumbing but now I can modify all sorts of things.
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

  • Ball valves.

    Votes: 73 51.8%
  • Gate valves.

    Votes: 72 51.1%
  • Check valves.

    Votes: 36 25.5%
  • None.

    Votes: 31 22.0%
  • Other.

    Votes: 9 6.4%
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