Dixie's RSM C-130 mixed predator reef

Dixie_reefer · Jan 16, 2018

Hey hey! It's been a while since I've posted a build thread but life kind of happened lol. I have moved to different states twice and we now have a 2 year old daughter! Now that things have calmed down, I've decided to document my Red Sea Max again. You can find the original build in the link below!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i-have-mts.178832/

Now we are in Maryland and I have been DYING to get another dwarf lion and decided on a fuzzy this time. I have had her for almost 2 weeks now and she's giving me a hard time getting onto frozen but we'll get there. I grabbed a serpent star last night to help clean up after the lion and eat the frozen krill and mysis that the lion doesn't take.

There's no mechanical filtration. I ditched the skimmer that came with it because I could never get the darn thing to work. The back compartment is now filled with extra live rock for bio filtration. I also have so macro algae and do water changes weekly. Super easy and simple!

Bob Escher · Jan 16, 2018

Nice setup so it’s a All in one tank

JoshH · Jan 16, 2018

Definitely following along here, looks great!

Dixie_reefer · Jan 16, 2018

Bob Escher said:
Nice setup so it’s a All in one tank

Thank you! Well technically the RSM are AIO tanks, I just took everything out of the back lol. And there is no sump.

Dixie_reefer · Jan 16, 2018

JoshH said:
Definitely following along here, looks great!

Thank you! Glad to have you!

JoshH · Jan 17, 2018

I have the same tank and love it, struggling with some algae issues right now so holding off on the coral

Dixie_reefer · Jan 23, 2018

JoshH said:
I have the same tank and love it, struggling with some algae issues right now so holding off on the coral

It's a nice tank for sure! Explain the issues you're having, I might be able to help.

Dixie_reefer · Jan 23, 2018

This chick, she's trying me right now. I am having THE hardest time getting her off of frozen ghost shrimp. She won't touch krill or pe mysis.

JoshH · Jan 23, 2018

Just a little cyno and dino cocktail but I think I may have it licked chemiclean and peroxide along with a good CUC are finally getting the upper hand. Just need to wait for some time off to get some coral now

And that's never good when there being stubborn. I'm sure she will eventually come around though, have you tried soaking in garlic at all??

Dixie_reefer · Jan 31, 2018

Hey hey, it's a good day! Te Fiti is FINALLY taking jumbo mysis!

Dixie_reefer · Jan 31, 2018

Picture tonight after feeding and a current FTS

JoshH · Jan 31, 2018

Dixie_reefer said:
Hey hey, it's a good day! Te Fiti is FINALLY taking jumbo mysis!

That is fantastic! Glad she's finally started behaving

jasonrusso · Feb 3, 2018

This is my little guy. I've had him for about a year. Maybe I was lucky, but I taught him to eat frozen in a week now he eats during the regular community feeding. He's a real pig, he tries to eat more food while he is still swallowing another piece. I have to make sure the food is all in small pieces because there have been times when he has had a hard time getting something down.

https://youtu.be/OVWAyQpfP6c

Dixie_reefer said:
There's no mechanical filtration. I ditched the skimmer that came with it because I could never get the darn thing to work.

I read this all the time. I allowed 2 weeks of break-in before I started messing with it, but I got it dialed in really well now and it works fabulously. The thing that got it working was lowering the sump level. At the "optimized" level, the water level is actually higher than the gate on the skimmer so you can't adjust it. I now have the level about 3/4" lower than optimized (this is about 1 quart of water). Then you can use the gate to slowly make adjustments. I have to clean out the cup every day (not empty out water, but clean the gunk in the neck) because it works so well.

Go with your current setup, but if you start to have issues and need to tune the skimmer let me know.

Dixie_reefer · Feb 3, 2018

jasonrusso said:
This is my little guy. I've had him for about a year. Maybe I was lucky, but I taught him to eat frozen in a week now he eats during the regular community feeding. He's a real pig, he tries to eat more food while he is still swallowing another piece. I have to make sure the food is all in small pieces because there have been times when he has had a hard time getting something down.

https://youtu.be/OVWAyQpfP6c

I read this all the time. I allowed 2 weeks of break-in before I started messing with it, but I got it dialed in really well now and it works fabulously. The thing that got it working was lowering the sump level. At the "optimized" level, the water level is actually higher than the gate on the skimmer so you can't adjust it. I now have the level about 3/4" lower than optimized (this is about 1 quart of water). Then you can use the gate to slowly make adjustments. I have to clean out the cup every day (not empty out water, but clean the gunk in the neck) because it works so well.

Go with your current setup, but if you start to have issues and need to tune the skimmer let me know.

Cute little guy! She's on day 3 on eating mysis without the need for ghosties first so I think we're over the hump. I'm trying to fatten her up at the moment and plan on mixing in a little variety. She is a pig for sure, she even chases down the food I drop in for the serpent, I have to chase her away to give him a chance lol. Thanks for the info on the skimmer. I still have it in storage, I am going to see how well this extra rock works and go from there. I need to find the little dial piece that goes into the top of the air intake. After 2 cross country moves, that thing is long gone lol.

Dixie_reefer · Feb 3, 2018

JoshH said:
That is fantastic! Glad she's finally started behaving

Thank You! Me too! She was frustrating for a second but she makes up for it with her cuteness!

jasonrusso · Feb 3, 2018

Dixie_reefer said:
Cute little guy! She's on day 3 on eating mysis without the need for ghosties first so I think we're over the hump. I'm trying to fatten her up at the moment and plan on mixing in a little variety. She is a pig for sure, she even chases down the food I drop in for the serpent, I have to chase her away to give him a chance lol. Thanks for the info on the skimmer. I still have it in storage, I am going to see how well this extra rock works and go from there. I need to find the little dial piece that goes into the top of the air intake. After 2 cross country moves, that thing is long gone lol.

I tossed the air valve after 3 days. It caused more problems than good. You need air to make it work, the valve just choked down the air intake