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

[SPR1968]

So today 15th of December is my birthday, so happy birthday to me! Lol

Its wet, it’s full and it’s ready.......

And it’s virtually silent. The only way I know the Abyzz A200 pump is on, is because the water level stays the same, and I can just hear the noise of the Radion fans. The skimmer isn’t on yet, but everything else is silent.

The skimmer will stay off until we start to get some Nitrate/nutrient readings in the water, although phosphate will be locked down from the very start

All systems are fully operational, tested and working and in place so I’m just going to get the salinity stable and then the other water parameters over the next few days ready for the first fish additions. The calcium reactor will be put online in the next few weeks as and when needed.

I've also put 500ml of rhowaphos in to remove any silicate etc from the water as I’m going to try and avoid any diatoms or the like

I had to make a few modifications to the return pipe as it was originally a 90’ elbow installed by the builders into the display. When the Abyzz was turned on it was making the water ripple to much that you could hear water noise. So I removed this 90‘ and added a 45’ elbow so the return water is pointing more downwards. I originally tested a vertical pipe but that just messed the sand up which is why it’s a little cloudy in the pictures.

The 45’ also means I can run the Abyzz a200 at higher power settings if and when required. It’s currently at 81% and it feeding a UVC and Deltec FR512 Rhowaphos reactor and is currently around 3 x tank volume as far as return sump flow.

The display has massive circulation if needed and in particular the sand can handle 2 x MP60’s and the MP40 at 100% power if required without issue.

So here you go.....

 

[najer]

So happy for you.

 

[Mortie31]

Nice one fella, and a nice bday prezzie to yourself...

 

[SPR1968]

So happy for you.

Nice one fella, and a nice bday prezzie to yourself...

Thanks guys.

If you’d heard the sort of noises I’ve being hearing all day, gurgling, water rushing, enough to cause uncontrollable ‘cheek clenching’, you will understand while I need a birthday drink!! Lol

 

[Mortie31]

Thanks guys.

If you’d heard the sort of noises I’ve being hearing all day, gurgling, water rushing, enough to cause uncontrollable ‘cheek clenching’, you will understand while I need a birthday drink!! Lol

I did some replumping last week and every new noise got me up looking for leaks... never mind a whole new system lol.... but it’s all worth it

 

[najer]

Thanks guys.

If you’d heard the sort of noises I’ve being hearing all day, gurgling, water rushing, enough to cause uncontrollable ‘cheek clenching’, you will understand while I need a birthday drink!! Lol

Hoppy birdy, leave your wellies by the bed just in case!

 

[Fudsey]

Happy Birthday Shaun ! ! !

Tank looks great ! !

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Happy Birthday! And man its gotta feel good to hear the water splashing around in the beast!

Are you planning to QT the new fish as they come in?

 

[mta_morrow]

Happy Birthday Shaun! The system looks fantastic! Very happy for you!

 

[PanchoG]

The tank looks awesome Shaun and happy birthday !

 

[Crabby48]

What a great birthday. Congratulations it looks great

 

[SPR1968]

I did some replumping last week and every new noise got me up looking for leaks... never mind a whole new system lol.... but it’s all worth it

I can tell you for sure, I was like a nervous wreck with some of the noises during the commissioning of the beast The gurgling, the testing the sump volume capacity with the Abyzz turned off, more sounds of ’running flowing‘ water !

Every new noise I heard I was like whats that, and when my wife kept turning the sink taps on or washing machine or dishwasher! Lol

 

[SPR1968]

Hoppy birdy, leave your wellies by the bed just in case!

Funny Simon, you are not! Lol

Happy Birthday Shaun ! ! !

Tank looks great ! !

Thank you Keith, and now I’m just ‘older’!

Happy Birthday Shaun! The system looks fantastic! Very happy for you!

Thanks Mike!

The tank looks awesome Shaun and happy birthday !

Thank you Pancho!

What a great birthday. Congratulations it looks great

More like a very nervous birthday! Lol

i didn’t go out so think we may be going for a beer and curry tonight

 

[SPR1968]

Happy Birthday! And man its gotta feel good to hear the water splashing around in the beast!

Are you planning to QT the new fish as they come in?

Thanks Rich, and no, it makes me nervous hearing ‘water splashing around’ in the beast! Lol

Am I planning to quarantine, that’s a very good question, but before I answer you need to remember I’m based in the UK. Also I run a very powerful 80w DD UVC system, with a slow flow rate, to kill any floating parasites in the water column 24/7.

I have never quarantined in the S650, and there should be no more additions to that system, but originally I did intend to quarantine for the new system

My main LFS only buys stock from certain suppliers who they trust , and then when they receive new stock, treat them themselves and keep them for at least 7 days to make sure their feeding etc.

So my thoughts are, would the fish be more stressed going through further quarantine procedures with me, can I add any benefits, and what are the potential risks. Well of course there are risks, but there is also the whole fish ‘immunity’ argument which we don’t need to go into, but it sort of makes sense to me.

And the other point is I don’t really want to, so it’s sort of a risk, but maybe a considered risk taking into account several factors.

But I might change my mind on this

 

[Blutspitze]

Actual footage of @SPR1968 turning on the new tank equipment (ca. 2019).

Seriously, though; very exciting and it looks great. Glad to see it up and running, as well as hearing the plan for nutrients and livestock, as well. Hopefully the skimmer won't add too much in the way of noise, though I can't imagine it'll be TOO bad.

 

[SPR1968]

Actual footage of @SPR1968 turning on the new tank equipment (ca. 2019).

Seriously, though; very exciting and it looks great. Glad to see it up and running, as well as hearing the plan for nutrients and livestock, as well. Hopefully the skimmer won't add too much in the way of noise, though I can't imagine it'll be TOO bad.

Lol! That’s about right!

 

[SPR1968]

Here’s an up date to the full equipment list including a few amendments

The main changes from the original list are that Ive changed the clarisea SK5000 for the new UK built X Filter 1.7 which is an absolute delight and can handle massive flow, up to around 10000lph. The clarisea I think would have caused flow and maintenance issues in my tank, and having had both, this is much better

Product Page | Reefolution

www.reefolution.co.uk

The original Neptune Apex ATK is installed on the S650 and finally working after having a failed pump, failed FMM module, and even the new pump was jammed when it arrived and I had to take it to pieces so there is no way this is going in the new system. Neptune support was excellent but......

Ive always used the Tunze Osmolator and when I discovered the additional outlet socket that will power any pump, that was it, decision made.

So here you go:

Abyzz a200 return pump
Secondary return and backup pump to be decided but probably another Abyzz a200
Ecotech Radion XR30w G4 Pro LED x 4
Ecotech Radion RMS Tank mounts x 4
Ecotech Vortech MP60wQD x 2
Ecotech Vortech MP40wQD x 1 (for the centre of the tank)
Ecotech battery backups x 3
Real Reef Rock Premium x 200kg
NYOS Quantum 300 protein skimmer
Innovitech X Filter 1.7 (replaced the clarisea SK5000) with 25micron 65 metre fleece
Deltec FR512 rhowaphos reactor
DD 80w UVC
Neptune Apex 2016 Fusion (in addition to the one on the S650)
Neptune Apex DOS (for auto water changes) x 2
Neptune Apex Vortech WXM Module (to control/monitor Radions and Vortechs)
Neptune Apex Magnetic Probe holder
Neptune Apex Auto Feeder
Neptune Apex FMM Module x 2
Neptune Apex 2’ flow sensor (to monitor flow from return pump)
Neptune Apex 1’ flow sensor x 2 (UVC and Chiller)
Neptune Apex optical sensors x 2 (RODI/saltwater containers) with magnetic mounts
Neptune Apex Advanced leak detection system with 2 probes
Neptune Apex Energy Bar x 2 (1 is still o/s)
Tunze Osmolator ATO with modified pump below
Tunze Osmolator outlet socket powering Eheim CompactON2100 for ATO
Red Sea Activated Carbon to be used in media bags
Purigen 500g to be used in media bags
Eheim 400 e heaters x 2
Teco TK2000e heater/chiller
Deltec Twin Tech 1500 Calcium Reactor
Rowalith W (chunky version) 6kg reactor media x 4
2 x 425 litre water containers for RODI and automatic water changes
Osmotics fully automated RODI production system including booster pump
ATM Colony x 5 946ml (no I’m not using dead shrimps!! Lol)
Red Sea Reef Pink Live Sand x 70kg
Red Sea Standard salt x 6 22kg buckets
8 litres Seachem Matrix in one large media bag to be installed when needed
32mm PVC pipe throughout other than 2 x 40mm downpipes

 

[emvanburen]

Thanks Rich, and no, it makes me nervous hearing ‘water splashing around’ in the beast! Lol

Am I planning to quarantine, that’s a very good question, but before I answer you need to remember I’m based in the UK. Also I run a very powerful 80w DD UVC system, with a slow flow rate, to kill any floating parasites in the water column 24/7.

I have never quarantined in the S650, and there should be no more additions to that system, but originally I did intend to quarantine for the new system

My main LFS only buys stock from certain suppliers who they trust , and then when they receive new stock, treat them themselves and keep them for at least 7 days to make sure their feeding etc.

So my thoughts are, would the fish be more stressed going through further quarantine procedures with me, can I add any benefits, and what are the potential risks. Well of course there are risks, but there is also the whole fish ‘immunity’ argument which we don’t need to go into, but it sort of makes sense to me.

And the other point is I don’t really want to, so it’s sort of a risk, but maybe a considered risk taking into account several factors.

But I might change my mind on this

Am wrestling with the same question. BRS recent video is motivating me to take the plunge.

 

[SPR1968]

Am wrestling with the same question. BRS recent video is motivating me to take the plunge.

What UVC or quarantine?

 

[SPR1968]

I’ve installed the amended extension brackets onto the X Filer 1.7 which moves it around 1.5 inches away from the edge of the sump glass. This was making me very uncomfortable, and although at the current flow rates I think it would have been fine, for my own sanity I’ve done this and now I can relax.

Because of the expert plumbing design (he says! lol), it only took a few minutes and just meant loosening 2 union connectors on the down pipes and moving the angle slightly

The first picture shows how it’s was originally, and you can see it’s touching the sides of the glass sump, so any slight rise in water level and over it would go.

The subsequent picture show how it is now with the gap, which is much better.

The X Filter is extremely well designed and built, takes into account what’s really needed in aquariums, and I believe that’s as a result of all the beta testing done. And it’s just so easy to use.