Red Sea Max S-500 build thread

reeftankpdx · Mar 6, 2018

Hey guys,

I am fairly new to reefing.

I finally decided to take the plunge. I decided to go with the RSM S-500 because an all in one seemed like a great place to start, and gives me the ability to replace/upgrade equipment as I learn more. So far I've added a Neptune Apex controller and a Phosban reactor. Have a Maxspec Gyre 250 arriving shortly.

The first tank arrived with a hairline crack between the ATO and display. Red Sea was awesome and sent out a replacement pretty fast(now I just need to figure out what to do with the cracked tank sitting in my garage). While I was waiting for that(and a bit before) I got around 100 pounds of pukani dry "live" rock from BRS. I decided to bleach, muriatic acid, and then rodi soaked it. Then I let it dry out in the sun for about a week. After that I put it in a tub with salt water, heater and powerhead, added some Dr. Tims and let that cook for about 4 weeks.

After that it was time to start my cycle! I decided to go with a hybrid of the BRS ULM cycle and Red Sea Reef Mature program. Got a softball size chaeto, along with some pods and
phytoplankton from Algae Barn, blacked out my display tank and added a light to the sump along with the pods and the chaeto. Added more Dr Tims and caribsea live sand. Let that go for about 3 weeks. I then started the Red Sea Reef Mature Program. And am now on day 21 of the Reef Mature Program.

Added 3 Firefish Helfrichi, 1 Midas blennie, and 1
Mccosker's Flasher Wrasse(all QT'd and added slowly as my parameters leveled out)

Also have a cuc, and I must say I love my fighting conch so far! He is a diatom eating machine!

And that brings us to where I am now!

Any feedback and advice is welcome!!

I will be adding more as we go!

Here is my Firefish trio, Midas Blennie, and full shot of the scape and tank!

SPR1968 · Mar 7, 2018

Hi there and welcome to R2R!

Very nice looking tank and aquascaping, especially the arch in the middle which adds depth to the ‘abyss’ beyond! Very nice.

I’ve got the 2016 Max S 650 which is the same but slightly bigger, so if you need any help or assistance don’t hesitate to ask.

I see you have the small glass cleaner. I can highly recommend the Flipper Max glass cleaner which easily locks onto the thick glass of the S Series and cleans it very well. It’s also a lot faster as it’s bigger.

reeftankpdx · Mar 7, 2018

SPR1968 said:
Hi there and welcome to R2R!

Very nice looking tank and aquascaping, especially the arch in the middle which adds depth to the ‘abyss’ beyond! Very nice.

I’ve got the 2016 Max S 650 which is the same but slightly bigger, so if you need any help or assistance don’t hesitate to ask.

I see you have the small glass cleaner. I can highly recommend the Flipper Max glass cleaner which easily locks onto the thick glass of the S Series and cleans it very well. It’s also a lot faster as it’s bigger.

Thanks Shaun! I will pickup a Flipper!

hybridazn · Mar 7, 2018

Awesome! Red Sea makes some great systems! I look forward to the tank continue to grow

sfairtx · Dec 5, 2018

reeftankpdx said:
Hey guys,

I am fairly new to reefing.

I finally decided to take the plunge. I decided to go with the RSM S-500 because an all in one seemed like a great place to start, and gives me the ability to replace/upgrade equipment as I learn more. So far I've added a Neptune Apex controller and a Phosban reactor. Have a Maxspec Gyre 250 arriving shortly.

The first tank arrived with a hairline crack between the ATO and display. Red Sea was awesome and sent out a replacement pretty fast(now I just need to figure out what to do with the cracked tank sitting in my garage). While I was waiting for that(and a bit before) I got around 100 pounds of pukani dry "live" rock from BRS. I decided to bleach, muriatic acid, and then rodi soaked it. Then I let it dry out in the sun for about a week. After that I put it in a tub with salt water, heater and powerhead, added some Dr. Tims and let that cook for about 4 weeks.

After that it was time to start my cycle! I decided to go with a hybrid of the BRS ULM cycle and Red Sea Reef Mature program. Got a softball size chaeto, along with some pods and
phytoplankton from Algae Barn, blacked out my display tank and added a light to the sump along with the pods and the chaeto. Added more Dr Tims and caribsea live sand. Let that go for about 3 weeks. I then started the Red Sea Reef Mature Program. And am now on day 21 of the Reef Mature Program.

Added 3 Firefish Helfrichi, 1 Midas blennie, and 1
Mccosker's Flasher Wrasse(all QT'd and added slowly as my parameters leveled out)

Also have a cuc, and I must say I love my fighting conch so far! He is a diatom eating machine!

And that brings us to where I am now!

Any feedback and advice is welcome!!

I will be adding more as we go!

Here is my Firefish trio, Midas Blennie, and full shot of the scape and tank!

Thanks for posting and letting us follow. I too have a Max S500 and am just getting started. I want to set a refugium up in the sump. Can you show me pictures or video of your sump? Hope it’s going well!

Sean

sfairtx · Dec 9, 2018

By the way...what do you all use for your ATO system on your Max S500 and 650? Do you use the stock float value (mine doesn't work well at all). Did you all upgrade?

sfairtx · Dec 9, 2018

By the way...what do you all use for your ATO system on your Max S500 and 650? Do you use the stock float value (mine doesn't work well at all). Did you all upgrade?

sfairtx · Dec 9, 2018

SPR1968 said:
Hi there and welcome to R2R!

Very nice looking tank and aquascaping, especially the arch in the middle which adds depth to the ‘abyss’ beyond! Very nice.

I’ve got the 2016 Max S 650 which is the same but slightly bigger, so if you need any help or assistance don’t hesitate to ask.

I see you have the small glass cleaner. I can highly recommend the Flipper Max glass cleaner which easily locks onto the thick glass of the S Series and cleans it very well. It’s also a lot faster as it’s bigger.

Shawn,

What do you use for your ATO on your Red Sea? Do you use the stock float value or did you upgrade?

SPR1968 · Dec 10, 2018

sfairtx said:
Shawn,

What do you use for your ATO on your Red Sea? Do you use the stock float value or did you upgrade?

I have the Tunze Osmolator hooked up to a 100 litre storage container under the power centre

The build in float still works and is full, and will act as a backup

There is a picture of the sump showing the sensors a few pages back on my build thread below