Cornishlass
New member
Can't wait. I'm hoping to get this tank in the next few months. Your videos are fantastic.
Devoted Reefer 250
- Thread starter pelphrey
- Start date
pelphrey
New member
E-marco 400 mortar rock work complete! This is 2 structures, they are pushed back pretty much as far as I can possibly get them. I originally had the larger piece on the right, but the way the back of the structures are they fit better this way.
The Reef Octopus VarioS-6 return pump outlet is 1 1/4" I reduced this down to 1" out of the pump. From there the plumbing is routed in a manner that will allow me to add gate valves later. I still haven't glued any of the fittings together, I am beside myself on the red PVC. I do have black 1" PVC in my garage from a previous project. I also have 2 unions, I may end up only using 1 I'm not sure yet.
To connect this to my return line I reduced the 1" PVC to 1/2" and will connect the soft tubing. I still need to cut the PVC to line up the barbs and I do have a plan to hide the soft tubing, stay tuned!
The Reef Octopus VarioS-6 return pump outlet is 1 1/4" I reduced this down to 1" out of the pump. From there the plumbing is routed in a manner that will allow me to add gate valves later. I still haven't glued any of the fittings together, I am beside myself on the red PVC. I do have black 1" PVC in my garage from a previous project. I also have 2 unions, I may end up only using 1 I'm not sure yet.
To connect this to my return line I reduced the 1" PVC to 1/2" and will connect the soft tubing. I still need to cut the PVC to line up the barbs and I do have a plan to hide the soft tubing, stay tuned!
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pelphrey
New member
I am anxious to see how well it performs, I think it will do well. I got a MUCH larger pump for this very reason. Well that and to run valves off the return! I do plan to hide the soft tubing so it will match the rest of the colors, but I am still beside myself on the red PVC.
I have 2 unions, I may only end up using one. Placement of the union will be as close to the bottom of the plumbing as possible allowing me to remove the pump easily. Since I am using soft tubing to connect to the reefer return I don't know that another union is needed?
I could have very well plumbed the pump straight up into the return and added a valve or 2 off of it. I decided to run it this way to keep it out of the middle of my cabinet. The way it is ran it looks like I will be able to add 3 gate valves and the tubing coming out of those valves shouldn't be very intrusive. Working with such a small platform I am trying my best to conserve as much space as I possibly can!
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Cornishlass
New member
Hi. What are the Watts on your heater? I was considering two 150w in my 250. One heater set a couple degrees lower as a back up.
pelphrey
New member
I am using 2 eheim heaters, one is the 150 watt, the second is the 100 watt.
pelphrey
New member
OxyLED T-02 PLUS 36 Bright LED Light
I went with the 36 LED light ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HO1FK52/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). I bought 2 of these LED's, below I have only one installed.
I went with the 36 LED light ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HO1FK52/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). I bought 2 of these LED's, below I have only one installed.
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pelphrey
New member
I ended up changing the red PVC to blue! I may very well hard plumb directly into the reefer connection, for now I am using the soft tubing. I also built the PVC in this fashion to add gate valves down the road.
I cut a piece of PVC down the middle and used a heat gun to warm it up. I used this piece of PVC to cover up the soft tubing.
Reef Octopus VarioS-6 controller mounted -
Tank was filled and salt mixed in the tank. I am using two sunsun 800gph pumps in the tank, I got both of them on eBay for $13 shipped! These are temporary until I figure out what direction I am going in.
One of the Kessils over the tank, I have another A160 on my other tank that will be moved over to the reefer. I know I won't be using this Kessil arm, I am still undecided on the more expensive kessil arms or using 8020 again for the light mounts
For now I am using the Red Sea ATO, this will be addressed later in the build!
I cut a piece of PVC down the middle and used a heat gun to warm it up. I used this piece of PVC to cover up the soft tubing.
Reef Octopus VarioS-6 controller mounted -
Tank was filled and salt mixed in the tank. I am using two sunsun 800gph pumps in the tank, I got both of them on eBay for $13 shipped! These are temporary until I figure out what direction I am going in.
One of the Kessils over the tank, I have another A160 on my other tank that will be moved over to the reefer. I know I won't be using this Kessil arm, I am still undecided on the more expensive kessil arms or using 8020 again for the light mounts
For now I am using the Red Sea ATO, this will be addressed later in the build!
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pelphrey
New member
Moved the media bag of pond matrix out of my 20 gallon tank into the sump of the reefer on Monday night, last night ran an ammonia test. Ammonia read .04-.08 I did add about 10 drops of ammonia to the tank. I'll test ammonia again on Thursday or Friday evening. I had about 2.5 hand fulls of matrix in my 20 for months now so it should be well established. The rock in my 20 just recently started growing coralline algae, I don't have any plans to move all of this rock over into the reefer, but I will probably move a piece or 2 over in the coming weeks.
pelphrey
New member
I've been buying items off BRS a lot recently so I decided to use some of my points on a 8x8x1 Marine Pure block. Between 60lbs of rock a ton of pond matrix and now this block I should be good on surface area!
I cut the block (this block cuts VERY easy with a hacksaw blade) and put it in the baffle between my skimmer and return section -
I also took this opportunity to try out the Kessil A Series mount. I never did like the gooseneck even with the 90 adapter. I really wanted to use 8020 to mount the lights, but I always wanted a way to easily remove the mount. I am up in the air on the lighting, the reason why I went with A160's is because I have another one running on my 20 gallon. Once the reefer is cycled that light will be moved over. Later next year I need to revisit my lighting. Either add a third A160 or go with two 360's.
I haven't talked to the wife about it yet, but I really would like to build a cabinet to sit on the right hand side of the tank. The white shelves at home depot are pretty cheap and I could build one for less then $30. The purpose would be for my ATO, I would like to not have it in my stand. If I can get it outside I can use a 20 gallon container. I'll be using the GFCI outlet on the right hand side of the tank once everything is finalized and that cabniet would serve to cover that outlet up as well.
I cut the block (this block cuts VERY easy with a hacksaw blade) and put it in the baffle between my skimmer and return section -
I also took this opportunity to try out the Kessil A Series mount. I never did like the gooseneck even with the 90 adapter. I really wanted to use 8020 to mount the lights, but I always wanted a way to easily remove the mount. I am up in the air on the lighting, the reason why I went with A160's is because I have another one running on my 20 gallon. Once the reefer is cycled that light will be moved over. Later next year I need to revisit my lighting. Either add a third A160 or go with two 360's.
I haven't talked to the wife about it yet, but I really would like to build a cabinet to sit on the right hand side of the tank. The white shelves at home depot are pretty cheap and I could build one for less then $30. The purpose would be for my ATO, I would like to not have it in my stand. If I can get it outside I can use a 20 gallon container. I'll be using the GFCI outlet on the right hand side of the tank once everything is finalized and that cabniet would serve to cover that outlet up as well.
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pelphrey
New member
I seeded the reefer with pond matrix from my current tank a few weeks back. I then dosed ammonia up to 2ppm. This past weekend I added the marine pure block, on Monday I added a bottle of Bio Spira to the tank when my ammonia still sat at or about 2ppm. I tested the water last night and my nitrites weren't off the chart but they were high. Today I tested nitrite and nitrate, as you can see in the picture my nitrites are nearly gone and my nitrates have appeared!
Now to give the tank another week or so to settle in, do a water change and move my current tank over!
Now to give the tank another week or so to settle in, do a water change and move my current tank over!
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pelphrey
New member
Quick update on the tank. I seeded the tank with the pond matrix that was in my 20 gallon, after a week I dosed Dr Tims ammonia into the tank up to 2ppm. After another week and no nitrite or nitrate readings I used a bottle of Bio Spira. A few days after the bio spira nitrites were visible on the tests with a slight amount of ammonia. After a few more days ammonia tested zero, nitrites tested zero and nitrates were at about 10. I did 2 5 gallon water changes on the reefer and moved the coral and clowns from the 20 into the reefer.
I tried to move my MP10wQD onto the reefer but the glass was just a little to thick. I couldn't get the wet and dry side to work, so I picked up a MP40wQD. I also picked up an Apex from a buddy who bought someone out of the hobby (I was going to get an apex at some point anyway, glad I have it!). Since this is the Apex classic it does not have WIFI built in, I updated the firmware on an older linksys router I had with DD-WRT so that wireless router now acts as a repeater bridge and the apex is fully accessible from anywhere via fusion.
Aside from that I custom ordered an ATO container, I am still waiting for it to be made and shipped. A few more pieces of hardware and then all funds allocated to the tank will be spent on livestock!
2 Kessil A series mounts are on the tank.
Apex setup, I need to work on cable management a little more! I do have a breakout box I need to see what I can do with it!
Linksys WRT54 "Jail broken" if you will to act as a repeater. Instead of spending $30 plus on a gaming adapter!
I tried to move my MP10wQD onto the reefer but the glass was just a little to thick. I couldn't get the wet and dry side to work, so I picked up a MP40wQD. I also picked up an Apex from a buddy who bought someone out of the hobby (I was going to get an apex at some point anyway, glad I have it!). Since this is the Apex classic it does not have WIFI built in, I updated the firmware on an older linksys router I had with DD-WRT so that wireless router now acts as a repeater bridge and the apex is fully accessible from anywhere via fusion.
Aside from that I custom ordered an ATO container, I am still waiting for it to be made and shipped. A few more pieces of hardware and then all funds allocated to the tank will be spent on livestock!
2 Kessil A series mounts are on the tank.
Apex setup, I need to work on cable management a little more! I do have a breakout box I need to see what I can do with it!
Linksys WRT54 "Jail broken" if you will to act as a repeater. Instead of spending $30 plus on a gaming adapter!
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pelphrey
New member
Thanks!
