Denise's Halcyon Red Sea Reefer Protobuild 3/25/17

[dmw913]

dmw, I've got a RSR 250 also and I'm following your thread. I love your sump!!

Thanks! The folks at Synergy Reef (@mixer911) did a fantastic job! They built me the stock version of their sump but let me choose the acrylic color (for the same price) and had the thing to me lightening quick! @mrvn also had them do a beautiful custom sump for his 250 build. You should also check out his build thread. We did things slightly differently in that Mrvn used the entirety of the sump space for the sump itself while I did the smaller sump and left room for the matching ATO. Both seem to be working quite well although Mrvn has more real estate for hardware than I do. He had them shorten the sump slightly and reverse directions - both smart ideas. I honestly would have considered reversing direction had I thought about it but I just shifted my sump to flush right instead of flush left.

You doing a build thread for us to check out?

 

[Flameback Pair]

I was thinking of doing a 3rd party sump and liked one of the Eshopps. I'm glad I didn't though because I have room for my external recirculating Skimz skimmer.

 

[mrvn]

Thanks! The folks at Synergy Reef (@mixer911) did a fantastic job! They built me the stock version of their sump but let me choose the acrylic color (for the same price) and had the thing to me lightening quick! @mrvn also had them do a beautiful custom sump for his 250 build. You should also check out his build thread. We did things slightly differently in that Mrvn used the entirety of the sump space for the sump itself while I did the smaller sump and left room for the matching ATO. Both seem to be working quite well although Mrvn has more real estate for hardware than I do. He had them shorten the sump slightly and reverse directions - both smart ideas. I honestly would have considered reversing direction had I thought about it but I just shifted my sump to flush right instead of flush left.

You doing a build thread for us to check out?

Thank you for the shout out @dmw913 ! Flipping the layout of the sump was suggested by Synergy Reef, they mentioned that a lot of customers with Red Sea tanks request that and it can be done at no additional cost. Smart idea to shift the return to solve the problem! As you mentioned I'm using all the sump space for my sump but sometimes I just wish I could fit an ATO reservoir in there, I still have to figure that out, maybe a small IKEA cabinet...?? BTW how are your Marine Pure spheres working? I got some for BRS this week and I just threw them on my sump

 

[dmw913]

Thank you for the shout out @dmw913 ! Flipping the layout of the sump was suggested by Synergy Reef, they mentioned that a lot of customers with Red Sea tanks request that and it can be done at no additional cost. Smart idea to shift the return to solve the problem! As you mentioned I'm using all the sump space for my sump but sometimes I just wish I could fit an ATO reservoir in there, I still have to figure that out, maybe a small IKEA cabinet...?? BTW how are your Marine Pure spheres working? I got some for BRS this week and I just threw them on my sump

Hmmmm, I like the idea of the cabinet for the ATO. What about finding a piece that would accommodate both the ATO and whatever controller you decide on? Most ATOs are fairly airtight so I wouldn't worry too much about evap damaging the controller components.

MarinePure spheres are working well. I'm actually dosing nitrate at this point and have to buy a new ball of chaeto because it has slowly been shrinking. The only thing I can surmise is that there has not been enough nitrate to keep it growing. It's been fascinating, really.

 

[dmw913]

Need to get that salinity and nitrate up...

 

[pelphrey]

Your build came along nicely! Did you ever decide on a light, I know back a few pages you had thought about a few different options.

 

[dmw913]

Your build came along nicely! Did you ever decide on a light, I know back a few pages you had thought about a few different options.

I took a pause on the light because I was sorting out the errors I caused with salinity, etc. Once I got the salinity up to proper levels, I have been working on getting all other water params where they should be. So far, the original light has been performing acceptably now that the water quality is better. I also wanted to wait until I saw what was new/improved at MACNA.

After all of those things, I would have to say I am keeping the current light for the time being as I see progression. Should I upgrade, I would strongly consider AI Hydras. The folks from AI where were at MACNA suggested 2 x Hydra 26 HDs. I asked about 2x Hydra 52 HDs and they said that was way, way too much (so of course that's what I want)! Lol

 

[pelphrey]

I took a pause on the light because I was sorting out the errors I caused with salinity, etc. Once I got the salinity up to proper levels, I have been working on getting all other water params where they should be. So far, the original light has been performing acceptably now that the water quality is better. I also wanted to wait until I saw what was new/improved at MACNA.

After all of those things, I would have to say I am keeping the current light for the time being as I see progression. Should I upgrade, I would strongly consider AI Hydras. The folks from AI where were at MACNA suggested 2 x Hydra 26 HDs. I asked about 2x Hydra 52 HDs and they said that was way, way too much (so of course that's what I want)! Lol

I've not used those lights or seen them in person. If I wasn't so "Stuck" on kessil I would look into the AI fixtures for sure! Being able to control them over WIFI without any extra hardware is a great option! I think with your rock work 2 of those fixtures would work great for you! With my tall rock structure I would probably need 3, or I would want 3 I'm not sure! haha

You've made a lot of great decisions on this build and research, I can't wait to see what is next!

 

[dmw913]

I've not used those lights or seen them in person. If I wasn't so "Stuck" on kessil I would look into the AI fixtures for sure! Being able to control them over WIFI without any extra hardware is a great option! I think with your rock work 2 of those fixtures would work great for you! With my tall rock structure I would probably need 3, or I would want 3 I'm not sure! haha

You've made a lot of great decisions on this build and research, I can't wait to see what is next!

Thanks, @pelphrey !!! Things are coming along. I was overcome with LARS last night and didn't get my testing done so that's on the list for tonight. But I did get all the frags placed and glued from MACNA. As the zoas grow out, they are somewhat grouped by color so I hope it will look a bit like a rainbow

 

[Flameback Pair]

How was MACNA? Was this your first? I almost went but spent the money on tank stuff instead. This was the year to go because I could have stayed with my aunt who's very close to New O. on the Mississippi side. I wouldn't have had to stay in a hotel. Caulk it up to impulse buying again!!

 

[dmw913]

 

[dmw913]

How was MACNA? Was this your first? I almost went but spent the money on tank stuff instead. This was the year to go because I could have stayed with my aunt who's very close to New O. on the Mississippi side. I wouldn't have had to stay in a hotel. Caulk it up to impulse buying again!!

MACNA was really fun! And yes, my very first! Lots of info, swag, frags and fun! Try to get out to LV next year!

 

[dmw913]

SALTWATER AND ELECTRICITY DO NOT MIX! Tank disaster (totally caused by me) story to follow:

So, basically, I'm a moron (or at least not very forward thinking). Doing routine tank maintenance and noticed my carbon reactor wasn't circulating. I juggled the pump and must have hit my return pump somehow. The reactor pump started back up and I went to bed. I woke up at 2:00 am to my return hose having blown off my Varios and water blowing all over in my stand. I obviously grabbed the hose to put it back on the pump and more water blew everywhere including behind the stand as there is a cutout in the back of Reefer 250 stands. Well, that water fell on a power strip and that's when the smoke and electrical popping started...

Keep in mind my husband is sleeping through all of this! I got the power strip unplugged and started to assess damage and begin cleanup. About 5 gallons of water was on the floor. Thankfully, we have the tank on carpet tile and a concrete floor so cleanup for the water was not bad. As for the power strip, that got thrown out. My skimmer and lights were plugged into that strip since I didn't need the Apex for either of them. I got a new strip and tested the skimmer. No problems there. I saw that the power brick on the lights had gotten quite wet so I didn't plug it in at that point. I then made up the new saltwater needed and got the return pump functioning again.

What had apparently happened was that the junction of hose and return pump had loosened over time and when I hit it with the reactor pump I must have loosened it just enough to finally blow off a few hours later. Now, here's the dumb part: I knew this part was weak. I had plastic hose clamps available from BRS. However, for whatever reason, both sizes I ordered didn't fit. The first one was too tight and I couldn't get it clamped and the second one was too loose - I could clamp it all the way down and it was still loose. I knew I needed to make a clamp work before I went back to sleep so I took the larger clamp, broke off a piece of the smaller clamp and superglued it inside the clamp ring to make it clamp down tighter. As I was holding the pieces together to fuse them, I could smell a horrible smell. Something in the plastic clamps was reacting with the superglue. I had also now glued my fingers to the clamp...and it was 3:30 in the morning.

Clamp got fused properly, fingers got unstuck and I got the clamp tightly around the tube to hold things more firmly.

Next night after work I checked the light. The light initially turned on and I thought I had skated by with minimal damage. I went upstairs to get a snack to come downstairs to the light having turned off. The power supply seems to be fried. I am in the process of ordering a new one but obviously had to get some lighting to keep things moving in the meantime so my next post will involve the wholesale change of lighting done to the tank due to my idiocy. It will also detail my electrical rework...

 

[Flameback Pair]

All that really sucks!!

 

[bif24701]

Dang! That's a bad Reef day, but it happens. Learn and Reef on!

 

[dmw913]

All that really sucks!!

Dang! That's a bad Reef day, but it happens. Learn and Reef on!

Thanks, guys! The change of lights gives me something more to fuss with, right?!

 

[North Borders]

What lights did you end up going with?

 

[PiscesPower]

WHO JUST GOT HER RESERVATIONS FOR REEF-A-PALOOZA IN CALIFORNIA?!?!?!

<------------ THIS GIRL!!!!!

This girl too. Just reading your build thread. I have a 250 as well. I really want to change out my sump to a more Triton friendly version. You're giving me good ideas. Thanks

 

[dmw913]

This girl too. Just reading your build thread. I have a 250 as well. I really want to change out my sump to a more Triton friendly version. You're giving me good ideas. Thanks

You are so welcome!!! Synergy folks are great! Just tell them what you need!!

 

[dmw913]

What lights did you end up going with?

Ended up with one Hydra 52hd and one 26hd. I didn't need 8 pucks and felt like 4 weren't quite enough. Doesn't look too funny. Got the idea from BRS video on using AI Primes in a grid. Also using BRS AI replication of the Ecotech SPS AB+ as the spectrum.