Show Off and Discuss Your Red Sea Reefer Series

[jazzmik]

Finally! Got the plumbing done. Have some cleanup to do, wiring equipment (getting the final piece later this week ) and finish the mixing station.

Hopefully some water in this bad boy next week.

 

[Scurvy]

Came out great!

 

[Sagecritter4life]

Okay any Red Sea E-260 folks out there that have upgraded to cabinet sump or basement sump from the all in one sump it comes with? I am just scratching my head and stumped currently. I installed my sump in basement and ATO in return chamber....but levels staying constant in sump and instead the evap seems to be showing up in the built in sump unit in back of DT daily....

 

[Sagecritter4life]

Anybody....chuckle....E-260...?

 

[ajanicki10]

Does anyone have the interior diameter measurement on the 525 xl reefer silicone return hose? Ordered new M1 and the barb kit (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vectra-m1-barb-screen-kit-ecotech-marine.html) as well and wanted to make sure it fit before the reefer gets here this week.

 

[Rory's Reef]

Okay any Red Sea E-260 folks out there that have upgraded to cabinet sump or basement sump from the all in one sump it comes with? I am just scratching my head and stumped currently. I installed my sump in basement and ATO in return chamber....but levels staying constant in sump and instead the evap seems to be showing up in the built in sump unit in back of DT daily....

I'm not sure if you're going to get anyone other than Reefer owners on the thread. I'm sure there's plenty of Red Sea E owners on this forum though. You might just have better luck starting a new thread however.

 

[Rory's Reef]

Decisions have to be made daily, but this one is going to cost!

Currently running two Kessil A160's with the A Series mounts and extensions on the reefer 250, controlled by the Apex. I think I really want to hang a fixture from the ceiling to "clean" up the look a little. The only lights I've ever ran have been Kessil and I love them, I am really thinking about getting the AP700. I'll be able to offset the costs by selling my current setup.

What would you do and why?

Before I went with my T5/LED combo, I was looking at just LED's so I did a ton of research. Eventually, I thought I would go with the AP700 because of what I read about other people's experience with them. I've not had any personal experience with them, but my LFS uses them on anything they can and I think they're a great fixture. But then again so are the 160's, and they're still controllable from your Apex. Which, unless it has changed in the past couple months, the AP700 is not.

Personally, I would probably switch to the AP700, if for no other reason than to try out a new fixture.

I find mine clogs with salt creep a few times a week or needs to be messed with to get it working, mostly opened more. I can't stand it, have a new ATO container and was waiting on Neptune to release their ATO for the Apex. About tired of waiting so thinking of just getting the Tunze and being done with this stock one. It was nice at first, I just think now it irritates me at least 3 days a week.

I too am waiting for the release of the Apex FMM. But at least the people in the NSI program are testing it right now. I have a tunze currently hooked up, but plan to sell it once the FMM comes out.

 

[pelphrey]

Before I went with my T5/LED combo, I was looking at just LED's so I did a ton of research. Eventually, I thought I would go with the AP700 because of what I read about other people's experience with them. I've not had any personal experience with them, but my LFS uses them on anything they can and I think they're a great fixture. But then again so are the 160's, and they're still controllable from your Apex. Which, unless it has changed in the past couple months, the AP700 is not.

Personally, I would probably switch to the AP700, if for no other reason than to try out a new fixture.

The ap700 is not apex compatible, at least not right now. This doesn't bother me as I'd be able to program is from my phone still. As you stated I want to try something out and I think the ap700 would pack the punch I'll need in a year when the tank is full of coral.

Like you the multiples stores I've been in are running 360's and ap700's. Thanks for your input!

 

[kodo28]

Have you guys noticed the silicon in the corners kind of peeling inside the tank from using an algae scrapper?

When cleaning the corners use the scraper parallel to the silicon and don't let the edges of your scraper touch the silicon. Clean the edge horizontaly and don't go up and down next to the silicon. I use the flipper like this since first day and silicon is still like new.

 

[kodo28]

Finally online with my 525xl. I love the build quality of the tank and stand and how quiet it is. Thanks to everyone for this thread. It really motivated me to get a reefer tank. Lots more planned for my tank. Just glad it is running now.

which Giesmann are you using ? Futura ?

 

[Trey302]

I got a week out of the 2nd canister of soda lime on the CO2 scrubber. Better than the first week when it was only 4.5 days. Still considering grabbing a bottle of the BRS soda lime before this runs out and just see if there is any difference in how long it lasts. With the stuff from shopmedvet, got about 2.5 canisters out of a 3lb bag, which puts it in line with the BRS stuff. They say about 7 weeks for their 9 pound container.

It will be interesting to see if the BRS stuff last any longer for you. I've been running my CO2 scrubber for a little over a month and I'm about to start on my third canister. At this rate I should get close to 4 months from the 9lb bottle. Pretty good but still kinda expensive when it's $50 a bottle. Looks like they have it on sale for $45 so at least you could save a few dollars if you order it now.

 

[blkhwkz]

It will be interesting to see if the BRS stuff last any longer for you. I've been running my CO2 scrubber for a little over a month and I'm about to start on my third canister. At this rate I should get close to 4 months from the 9lb bottle. Pretty good but still kinda expensive when it's $50 a bottle. Looks like they have it on sale for $45 so at least you could save a few dollars if you order it now.

Yea I am surprised I am only getting a week out of a line pulling air from the outside. Grabbed a bottle of BRS stuff, I'll use it when this canister runs out so I can compare them sooner.

 

[lake985]

Does anyone have the interior diameter measurement on the 525 xl reefer silicone return hose? Ordered new M1 and the barb kit (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vectra-m1-barb-screen-kit-ecotech-marine.html) as well and wanted to make sure it fit before the reefer gets here this week.

3/4" flex tubing should work fine. That's what I'm using on my 425 while I build a manifold.
http://www.marinedepot.com/3_4_Inch...bing-Plumbing_Parts-FT2405-FIFTTUVTBT-vi.html

 

[pelphrey]

Moved all of my equipment out from under my stand this weekend. Still a mess, but now I can focus on cleanup VS having to move it all into the new cabinet. This is a cabinet I picked up off Amazon -

The back was cardboard, so I cut the bottom out to run my cables through and mounted a piece of plywood to the back -

Due to the positioning I wanted to paint it white -

Second energy bar mounted inside the cabinet-

Need to clean this mess up!

Equipment cabinet in place!

I'll get before and after shots under the tank stand soon! I will be going back and cleaning up the cables inside the equipment cabinet soon. I had to take my system completely down to do this move and I wanted to get everything back up and running quickly!

 

[rerana]

Finally! Got the plumbing done. Have some cleanup to do, wiring equipment (getting the final piece later this week ) and finish the mixing station.

Hopefully some water in this bad boy next week.

Looking very nice. I did something similar this weekend on my 425xl and put in some red plumbing, but still need to hook it up.

I called redsea today to order the barbed fittings, which is one of the last things I need to set up the tank (plus getting a powerhead). Unfortunately they were out. I guess i'll have to wait a couple of weeks until they restock them.

 

[revhtree]

Nice job guys!

 

[pelphrey]

Really thinking about adding some sand to my tank. Looking at the Tropic Eden sand which do you suggest and how much for the 250?

 

[jazzmik]

Looking very nice. I did something similar this weekend on my 425xl and put in some red plumbing, but still need to hook it up.

I called redsea today to order the barbed fittings, which is one of the last things I need to set up the tank (plus getting a powerhead). Unfortunately they were out. I guess i'll have to wait a couple of weeks until they restock them.

Looks good @rerana!

When I called they were out of stock on the fittings as well but the girl who helped me was able to find a few "laying" around.

 

[ksfulk]

Really thinking about adding some sand to my tank. Looking at the Tropic Eden sand which do you suggest and how much for the 250?

If you have a lot of turbulent flow, then mini-flakes and up should be ok (once the sand is settled), if you have lots of laminar flow, then dont get anything smaller than mesoflakes, or you'll have sand dunes on one side of your tank.

I like a mix of the mesoflakes and the reef flakes myself. Ive used everything from miniflakes up through grand select. I used 3 bags of mesoflakes for my 525xL for a 1.5-2" sandbed. You'd likely need 1+ bag for the 350 - so I would order 2.

 

[jazzmik]

Hoping to fill tank this weekend. A few questions...

I have some rock and coral from old tank (leak) that has been in a rubbermaid for last few weeks and a few fish in QT.

How should I go about filling tank and adding livestock? Can only make 35 or so gallons of saltwater at a time.

Should I get enough water in tank to where it covers rock then scape, add sand and fill the rest?