The Reef at FernBluff

[FernBluffReef]

Feb 17, 2024 update. 3.5 months since tank first wet. Tank is now fully stocked with fish if not over stocked (18 total).

My plan to pair the Mocha Storm clowns was thwarted when one paired with the standard Ocellaris. So we now have an interracial couple in both tanks. The Scopus now is generally getting along with the new RedSea Sailfin. Introduction was rough, I was hoping it would be not too bad as the Scopus only had a few weeks to get comfortable before the Sailfin appeared, but it did not turn out that way as within a few hours the Sailfin had multiple puncture wounds and would not fight back.

Ritteri (Magnifica) has finally moved to its intended location on top of the structure near the gyre and is doing fantastic. It's reaching for the light but were not able to turn up too fast due to the tank still maturing. The uglies are in full swing. Dinos are starting to wane and are being replaced with some form of green turf algae. Cleanup crew is being stocked up to deal with the situation.

Cycle started 10/28/2023, First fish in on 11/16/2023)

Fish
Ocellaris Clown
Yellow Clown Goby
Jewel Damsel
Coral Beauty
Mocha Storm Ocellaris Clowns
Purple Striped Dottyback
Highfin Goby
Spotted Mandrian (Female)
Spotted Mandrian (Male)
Blue Devil Damsel
Scobi Tang
SailFin Tang - Red Sea (Zebrasoma desjardinii)
Diamond Goby
Lyretail (Sqamipinnis) Anthis Female (x3)
Lyretail Anthis Male

Other
Ritteri Anemone

Corals
Zoa Frag + several firework Clove Polyps
Palythoa - dark green
Blow Pop Zoa - Colony
Birds Nest SPS (Pocillopora SPS)
Japanese Toadstool
Gorgonian sea fan - purple willow / purple plume
Duncan
Joker Coral Torch
Holy Grail torch / Blue Tip Torch (Yellow with purple/blue tips)
Clove Polyp
Ricordea Yuma Mushroom
Zoa frag (red)
Goniopora dark dark red almost black
Zoa (pink diamond)
Rainbow Alcan
Green Leather
Green Acro
Rainbow Pectinia Colony
BRA Pink Jade Acropora
Hollywood Stunner
Cali Kid Electric Daisy Frag
Alvepora Colony - yellow
Red SPS variety unknown
Blastomussa Coral
Rasta Zoa
Zoa green centers
Zoa Colony (tiny frag off of mother that broke off
Merletti Blastomussa
Seafan frag from display tank (peachy)
Red Gonipora - long
Magician Zoa
Dark Red Gonipora - short
Branching Cyphastrea
Green Slimer with a couple zoas
Torch Ultra
Pink Rainbow Alveopora w/barnacle
Rainbow Gonipori

Clean-up Crew
Trochus snails (qty 30)
Large Nassarius Snails (qty 17)
FireShrimp (qty 1)
Emerald Crabs (qty 2)
Astrea Snails (qty 34)
Bumblebee snails (Qty 8)
Scarlet Hermits (Qty 5)
Blue legged hermit crabs (Qty 7)
Margarita Snails (qty 12)
Mexican Turbo Snail (qty 4)
Halloween Hermit crab (qty 1)

Equipment

Tank:
-- Red Sea 525 Max G2+ (143 gallons)

Lights:
-- RS Reef LED 90 in a pendant (Qty 3)

Return Pump:
-- RS ReefRun 7000 (currently @55%)

Filtration:
-- RS ReefMat 1200 (no fleece installed at this point)
-- RS DC 600 Skimmer (not currently running, need to raise up)
-- Sera Siporax Professional 15mm (3 bags in sump, rating 159g)
-- 1"x8" MarinePure to be installed under sump as I have to build a stand
-- MacroRock Base and Shelf (~55lbs)
-- CarbiSea Special Grade Agag-Alive (~60lbs)

Waves:
-- RS ReefWave 45 (10-30% - really messes with the sand bed)

ATO:
-- RS Reef ATO+
-- ATO Reservoir TBD, leaning towards Advanced Arylics Narrow Fix 8.5 Gallon

Heaters:
-- Helio PTC Smart Heater (2 - 350w elements)

UV:
-- AquaUltraviolet 25W classic (not currently running)
-- Sicce Syncra SCD 3.0 (currently @80%)

Dosing:
-- RS Reef Dose 4 (not currently running)

Power:
-- GFCI for most, CRST power strips with individual switches
-- Non-GFCI, 1,350W UPS, Return Pump estimate just under 3 hours run time

 

[zfisk]

Welcome back to the hobby! Running the full flow of the return through the uv is not a good idea. The uv’s have flow rate ranges because those are the only ranges where the uv can effectively do its job. Too much flow and the uv doesn't have enough time to kill off what you’re aiming to kill, too little flow and the uv can’t kill as fast as your potential pests can reproduce. Uv’s are more effective at killing off different pests at higher or lower flow rates depending on what you’re after so I think the controllability is important on a uv.

 

[FernBluffReef]

Office / Acclimation tank

Cycle started 10/1/2023, First fish in on 10/15/2023)

Fish Critters
CB - Extreme Misbar Black Clown
CB - Orchid Dottyback
Mandrian (Male)
Mandrian (Female)

Clean-up Crew
Trochus snails (qty 9)
Cleaner Shrimp
Astrea Snails (qty 8)
Small Nassarius Snails (qty 6)
Emerald crab (Qty 2)
Astrea Snails (qty 6)

Corals
24K Torch coral
Encrusting Montipora Frag
Encrusting Montipora Frag
Green Favia
Pulsing Xenia
Green Star polyp frag
Blastomussa Coral
Arropora
Rasta Zoa
Zoa green centers
Jasmine Polyps
Zoa
Hollywood Stunner
Cali Kid Electric Daisy Frag
BRA Pink Jade Acropora


Equipment

Tank:
-- RS 170 G2+ (43 Gallons)

Lights:
-- RS ReefLED 90

Return Pump:
-- RS ReefRun 5500 (currently @55%) w/small 500W UPS that was laying around

Filtration:
-- RS DC 300 Skimmer
-- RS ReefMat 500
-- Sera Siporax Professional 15mm (2 bags in sump, rating 106g)
-- MacroRock Base and Shelf (~18lbs)
-- CarbiSea Special Grade Agag-Alive (~20lbs)

Waves:
-- RS ReefWave 25

ATO:
-- RS Reef ATO+
-- ATO Reservoir - Primo 5 Gallon water jug

Heaters:
-- Helio PTC Smart Heater (2 - 100w elements)

 

[zfisk]

I have mine on a separate pump so that I’m able to run it for algae on a normal basis and if I ever run into fish disease I have the option to turn the flow down without sacrificing filtration. I alike you wasn’t super interested in changing the stock tank plumbing and the cost of a little pump seemed worth it to me.

 

[FernBluffReef]

Mixing station assembled as of this morning. Containers are 35 gallons each from Tractor Supply. A bit fancier (more expensive) than I had originally planned but the only place I have space to mix is in my shop hence dirtier space, so went with these vs. something more along a Brute. RO/DI install is next once it arrives. Tanks shipped yesterday

 

[FernBluffReef]

 

[FernBluffReef]

Small tank is ready for water this evening. Aquascape is sparse as I at least initially as planning on using and an acclimation, observation tank for new critters that are destine for the main display.

 

[FernBluffReef]

Main display tank remains TBD. Twice shipped, twice damaged in shipment. Third time to be a charm (optimistic). The small tank needs to be cycled first anyway for observation of critters before going into the display anyway.

 

[TheSharksDen]

What’s the small one? A RS-170? Looks like my old one. Haha

 

[FernBluffReef]

What’s the small one? A RS-170? Looks like my old one. Haha

LoL. Yes a 170 stock save Helio 100W dual element heater. Main DT whenever it gets here is a 525. Both together still smaller than my old tank but 5’ is what fit. I went back and forth between the 525 and 625. Decided on the 525 as being a bit easier to clean depth wise and very overly cautious on weight. Hopefully I do not regret

 

[FernBluffReef]

 

[FernBluffReef]

Current draft aquascape above. Rocks are ground flat on bottom for stability. Will superglue and then probably epoxy some of the less stable rocks. Kept height to 1/2 depth of the tank as a rule which is somewhat limiting but I think it works. My last tank was a pile of real fiji live and the coral’s outgrew the 180g so trying to leave a bit of headroom.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Aquascape looks nice!

 

[FernBluffReef]

Blast from the past - reefing 22 years ago. Towards the end the corals got so large in the 180g and we had to move where a tank could not be... I stopped feeding to slow growth so some of these may not show in the greatest light. I don't have near as many pics as I wish I had. Here's hoping the new tank will exceed these (save for size as the new tank can't handle hammers and anemones 1.5' across. Still TBD on when I will finally get my main display tank but the acclimation tank is cycling now

 

[FernBluffReef]

Today's progress

- Electrical complete - New GFCI outlet beside non-GFCI. Return pump and reef mat will be on a UPS on the non-GFCI. Most everything else on GFCI.

- Pendant lights installed.

- Rough leveling tomorrow and final sheetrock repairs

- Clearly I'm going to need a camera filter

 

[FernBluffReef]

Added more critters to the office display acclimation tank

- 1 - Clown Goby (added 10/26/23)
- 1 - Ocellaris Clown (added 10/26/23)
- 1 - 24K Torch coral (added 10/26/23)

Continue to see some brownish stuff on/in the sand and rock. I assume diatoms. NoPox per Red Sea mature protocol knocked it down before but avoiding too much as phosphate levels remain null

 

[FernBluffReef]

Main display tank is wet as of 10/28/2023 - Yippie

Let the cycling begin

I routed the UV directly from under the reefmat filter to the skimmer chamber. When on at a reasonable flow I think it reduces the flow thru the front part of the sump I intend to use a refugium too much. As such I'll replump the outlet next weekend so that it exists back into the main chamber. The pump and the outlet will be on opposite sides so I don't expect any recirculation of the sterilized water.

 

[FernBluffReef]

To Office / Acclimation
- 1 - Jewel Damsel (added 10/29/2023)
- 1 - Zoa Frag (added 10/29/2023)
- 1 - 8oz bag of copepods (10/29/2023)

Told wife no more critters... Too much too early... for two small of tank.

Critters are eagerly awaiting their new home. No more critters planned for ~3 weeks when transfers will begin. Dosed main display with bacteria this evening.....Need to get the skimmer up and running but water level is too high, building a stand tommorow.

Diatoms now starting to be replaced with green algae or added to anyway.

 

[FernBluffReef]

RedSea. Why do I have to build a custom platform to put a preconfigured / RedSea paired skimmer on???

Skimmer you bundled, DC600 has a recommended water height of 7”-8”. Per your own specs the absolute lowest water level achievable in the sump of a 525 G2+ is 7.9”. Out of the box the level was 10” and per spec max is 10.6”. I was able to adjust the wier and bring the level down to maybe 9”. I might be able to get a 1/2” lower if I lowered the ATO+ sensor in the pump chamber but the recommended 7”-8” is not happening….

Ditto. If I purchased a Max bundle . Why the heck is not all the required plumbing included? Eg. Why do I have to go find some 1” plastic tubing to connect the return pump? It’s less than $3 retail for a foot of tubing and the included return pump is worthless with out it. I understand some may prefer custom, but if I’m buying a Max bundle with the components you configure / design I expect the minimum viable parts required to work are included and as with the skimmer above I expect they will at least fit / offer nominal function without modifications. These are premium systems….. I should not have to deal with the above issues.

Rant off…

Below is my new skimmer platform. Raised the skimmer up by exactly 2 inches. Wier in sump raised back up close to factory setting around 10”. I now have a working skimmer. Err a breaking in over flowing skimmer but that part is to be expected and part of the cycling process.

 

[Simon_M]

Have 625 G2 that has a Sump with same height 407mm and Weir height 280mm that is common to the 525 G2+. The adjustment to lower the Weir is only about 60mm. I changed from 600 Skimmer to 900 DC Skimmer just because this operates within the available Weir height whereas the 600 requires a platform - that I don't like (and shouldn't need).

Red Sea don't document the operation of the Sump - Skimmer and Weir very well. For a long time, I operated the Weir so that the Refugium area flowed through the slots into the Skimmer Section and over the Glass Screen and into the Return Chamber. The correct operation is for three levels (and a RS diagram would have helped explain this) Refugium Level drops down to Skimmer Level that drops down to Return Chamber Level. That makes the flow pass over the Weir, down through the Bubble Trap and entry at the bottom to the Return Chamber. The ATO+ has two heights and the lower one (fully pressed down) sets the water level.

I didn't like using a bought platform because RS with RS recommended Skimmer just shouldn't need one, IMHO, mine was too tall but without sufficient area to easily put the Skimmer down without worrying about the placement of the feet. Your base looks good - would it be good to round of the clear top? It is easy to catch the corners when maintaining a Sump/Skimmer. Putting the Skimmer Cup back on requires a lot of force - I wasn't sure my bought platform would take the punishment very well and the feet had a small area.