Red Sea E260 Build

AthensReef · Oct 21, 2019

Hi All,

My tank has been up and running for about 3 months now and I would like to share my progress. Many thanks to this entire forum for all of the valuable information available!

Red Sea E260 w/ Optional Sump and (2) AI Hydra 26
Icecap K130 Skimmer
Octo Varios2 Return Pump
~30lbs Tropic Eden Reef Flakes
~75lbs of Live Rock (Rock came from a fellow Reefer who was downsizing after 4 years)
Jebao OW-25 (Supplement the stock circulation pumps)
Red Sea DIY Net Cover (Enough said)
Red Sea ATO (Looking to replace soon for added volume)
Various testing kits (Red Sea, API, Salifert)
AquaFX 100GPD RODI
Mixing station (Basically just a 55G drum for prepared SW and several 5g containers for RODI)

Tank Inhabitants

(2) Percula Clowns
(3) Sunshine Chromis
(1) Bicolor Chromis
(1) Firefish Goby
(2) Peppermint Shrimp
CUC (Hermits, Ceriths, various other snails)

My water parameters have been great, nice and stable. I was fortunate enough to avoid the "Ugly stage" and credit that to purchasing Established Live Rock. I have a few small spots of GHA but that's it. Also, the live rock did come with some Aptasia, hence the Peppermint Shrimp who've done a awesome job at eradicating most of it already. I'm hoping to finally add some coral this weekend. Any recommendations for a beginner like myself?

waywardreefer · Oct 21, 2019

Looking great!

AthensReef · Oct 23, 2019

Thanks a lot, appreciate it! Finally going to pick up coral this weekend, get some color in the tank. I’ll add some more pictures once there in.

Jamestown · Oct 25, 2019

Love how clean these tanks look

Jamestown · Oct 25, 2019

Also, is that a UPS or a backup you've got beneath your power station? Bottom right in the cabinet

AthensReef · Oct 28, 2019

Jamestown said:
Also, is that a UPS or a backup you've got beneath your power station? Bottom right in the cabinet

Hi, yes it's a battery backup (x2). It will keep the return pump going for ~45 mins. Luckily most outages by me don't last long.

gmdcdvm · Nov 4, 2019

Hey there,
I have the same tank that I started this summer. I have been thinking of upgrading to the optional sump. How quiet is the sump?
Gerry

buddy. · Nov 5, 2019

You have done extremely well... are you sure you are just a beginner?

I can't fault a thing... Looks great!

AthensReef · Nov 5, 2019

gmdcdvm said:
Hey there,
I have the same tank that I started this summer. I have been thinking of upgrading to the optional sump. How quiet is the sump?
Gerry

Hi Gerry,
The sump is great, provides the extra volume of water and allows for flexibility when adding skimmers, reactors, etc. The only noise comes from a small trickle just before the holder of the first filter sock. I’ll attach a picture. Other than that, once the PITA Red Sea valve is adjusted it’s silent.

AthensReef · Nov 5, 2019

buddy. said:
You have done extremely well... are you sure you are just a beginner?
I can't fault a thing... Looks great!

Thank you for the kind words!

AthensReef · Nov 5, 2019

Hi all,
Quick update. Finally added some coral, BTA and a few more fish.

Coral

GSP
Pipe Organ
Yellow Polyps
Kenya Tree
A few assorted Zoas

Fish

Coral Beauty
Purple Dottyback
(2) Pajama Cardinals
(2) Blue Green Chromis

The (3) Sunshine Chromis and (1) Bicolor have been relocated to the sump in preparation to bring them back to the LFS. They are devils! One more aggressive than the next, didn’t even see my Dottyback until they were removed the other day. All is good in the tank now, everyone seems to be getting along great.

gmdcdvm · Nov 6, 2019

AthensReef said:
Hi Gerry,
The sump is great, provides the extra volume of water and allows for flexibility when adding skimmers, reactors, etc. The only noise comes from a small trickle just before the holder of the first filter sock. I’ll attach a picture. Other than that, once the PITA Red Sea valve is adjusted it’s silent.

I will need to look into the sump as a future upgrade. Thanks for the info.
Gerry

AthensReef · Dec 11, 2019

Hi all,

I wanted to provide a small update. I never really cared for my original aquascape, basically a pile of rocks. So, this past weekend I rearranged everything and much happier with the finished look. Also, switched out the Jaebo ow-25. The whine was rather irritating in wave mode. Installed two aqamai KPS. There great little pumps and silent.