House Reefer 525 - ZEOvit reboot

[.Pandy.]

Hi folks,

Welcome to the ZEOvit reboot of my Red Sea Reefer 525.

Over the last few months I've made quite a few changes to the tank and how it's run. I ran into issues when I set it up in December using reef bones and live sand so this past month I have have completely stripped it back to a bare tank and started fresh - this time with Real Reef rock, and dry sand.

The design hasn't changed in that it will be a minimalist SPS lagoon reef, based primarily on species (more so the fish) that are found in the Maldives.

My equipment list is as follows - the are still a few items I want to swap out eventually.

Red Sea Reefer 525 in black
White wrapped sump

EcoTech Radion XR30 gen1 w. TIR lenses x3
EcoTech MP40QD x2
EcoTech Vectra M1
EcoTech Battery Backup
EcoTech Reeflink

Deltec SC-1456 w. Manual cleaning head
Deltec ZA-509 automatic zero reactor

Kamoer Doser
STC-1000 Temp controller
Schego 600w titanium heater

The take care of the chemical side of things I will be dosing Fauna Marin Balling Lite (minus the trace elements) to keep Alk, Calcium, and Magnesium in check, and leaving the important stuff down to KZ ZEOvit :thumbsup:

I have a few fish left in QT after most of them died, so will move them over as and when they are ready, and have a few pieces of coral in the tank as test pieces - all doing well so far.

I'll update with more pictures once my algae bloom has passed

House Reefer 525 v3 by Andy, on Flickr

Andy

 

[Hentz]

Looking good Andy!

Happy I get to follow your build on both Instagram and now ReefCentral!

We've talked a few times on IG. I go by ZackHentz

 

[.Pandy.]

Thanks fella.

I saw your YouTube video, need to check out your build thread too :thumbsup:

 

[Mr.Fishtank]

I would be careful using the real reef rock. People were saying that it sucks up the po4 and then leaches it back later. I thought it was all bull so I started my current tank with it and from the start I have never been able to get a po4 reading on any of my test kits. And now 11 months later I have algae problems. Still can't even get a little to register on my hanna or redsea kits. Just thought you should know.

By the way you have a very nice setup and equipment list.

 

[Chrisq0904]

I can't wait to see this build unfold. I have always loved the colors that a zeo tank produces. Switching to zeo has always been on the back of my mind, just not sure if I'll actually keep up with the daily dosing.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[.Pandy.]

I would be careful using the real reef rock. People were saying that it sucks up the po4 and then leaches it back later. I thought it was all bull so I started my current tank with it and from the start I have never been able to get a po4 reading on any of my test kits. And now 11 months later I have algae problems. Still can't even get a little to register on my hanna or redsea kits. Just thought you should know.

By the way you have a very nice setup and equipment list.

Thanks for the message and the info. I'll be sure to keep an eye on it. ATM my po4 is 0 using an Elos HR test kit, but it's a parameter I'll be keeping a watch on specially with Zeo - hopefully the stones can keep on top of it.

It can't be any worse than my old reef bones though! Famous last words...

I can't wait to see this build unfold. I have always loved the colors that a zeo tank produces. Switching to zeo has always been on the back of my mind, just not sure if I'll actually keep up with the daily dosing.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Thanks.

I find the system really easy in terms of dosing daily, you get into the routine and it's just normal then, takes only a few mins to do it - it's even easier with an automatic Zeo reactor.

 

[Hentz]

Thanks.

I find the system really easy in terms of dosing daily, you get into the routine and it's just normal then, takes only a few mins to do it - it's even easier with an automatic Zeo reactor.

I agree with you Andy. It's such a simple and easy routine. I could only imagine life with an automatic ZEOreactor and a doser that doses under 1ml. Literally would only have to add drops. Every other day... Wow that would be nice :spin1:

 

[.Pandy.]

GHL Doser 2 is next on my list doses at 0.1ml increments

 

[Mr.Fishtank]

I believe that the DOS by Neptune also doses in very small amounts. I have two but never used it to dose that small. But with the apex fusion the increments are in .1mls so I would assume so.

 

[.Pandy.]

I believe that the DOS by Neptune also doses in very small amounts. I have two but never used it to dose that small. But with the apex fusion the increments are in .1mls so I would assume so.

I believe you're right on that one. I think the new Kamoer doser goes that low too - I guess that's what people want and need these days, smart dosers with small dosage volumes.

 

[.Pandy.]

A little update on the tank.

It's been running nicely for the past two months, fish have settled in well and getting some nice colour and growth on the couple of SPS pieces I've had in there a while - the pics below will document what I have, plus the new ones I added this week, of which I am already seeing a change in - especially the pink Millipora.

I have some trouble with my pair of Halichoeres Timorensis wrasse in that my female spent so long in the sand when they were in QT that she has started to turn male now she is out and about - much to the dislike of my original male. So I shall be borrowing a fish trap off a friend and removing the changing female :thumb down Last in, First out as they say.

The thing on my mind lately the most is my lighting. I have real concern that the Gen1 Radions won't be able to provide the right light and spread that I need for consistent and uniform growth on my SPS, so it's something at the top of my list once I see how these corals develop.

Hopefully more soon with some new fish additions and more SPS :smokin:

FTS 17-12-16 by Andy, on Flickr


Fish first:


Sid 28-11-16 by Andy, on Flickr

Sid 2 28-11-16 by Andy, on Flickr

Starburst 17-11-16 by Andy, on Flickr

Mr Longpenis 9-11-16 by Andy, on Flickr

 

[.Pandy.]

SPS that have been in from as long as two months to as little as two weeks:


Green Millepora_ by Andy, on Flickr

Green Millepora TD by Andy, on Flickr

Blue Millepora by Andy, on Flickr

Blue Millepora TD by Andy, on Flickr

Green Stylophora by Andy, on Flickr

Green Stylophora TD by Andy, on Flickr

 

[.Pandy.]

The new SPS:


Pink Millepora by Andy, on Flickr

Pink Millepora TD by Andy, on Flickr

Yellow Millepora_ by Andy, on Flickr

Yellow Millepora TD by Andy, on Flickr

Red Planet by Andy, on Flickr

Red Planet TD by Andy, on Flickr

Green Tenius by Andy, on Flickr

Green Tenius TD by Andy, on Flickr

Green and Red Millepora_ by Andy, on Flickr

Green and Red Millepora TD by Andy, on Flickr

 

[Chrisq0904]

Sorry to hear about the wrasse, but on the good side all your corals look pretty amazing. If I had to pick a favorite coral it would have to be the blue millie!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[.Pandy.]

Sorry to hear about the wrasse, but on the good side all your corals look pretty amazing. If I had to pick a favorite coral it would have to be the blue millie!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Me too, absolutely gutted about the Wrasse - they looked so good together

I think I'm with you on the blue Mille, awesome piece that's just getting bluer and bluer. I'm already noticing Zeo colouration on the new SPS pieces, especially the pink Mille so will get some updates soon.

Hoping to add some more fish this weekend too, my LFS has had an Maldivian Exquisite wrasse in for a few weeks now and it's a real beauty, and he picked up a Regal Angel this week too so got my eye on that :spin2:

 

[Griff500]

How are you finding the Deltec zeolite media and reactor and did you previously use KZ Zeolite?

 

[reefmutt]

Nice start. Looking good, so far.
I like the scape!

 

[.Pandy.]

How are you finding the Deltec zeolite media and reactor and did you previously use KZ Zeolite?

I love the reactor. Have it plumbed inline on my Vectra M1 and it just works so well - although I do have some issue with air in the pipe for the flushing pump but that's probably down to my crap solvent weld skills.

At first I used the KZ media in the reactor as I had that running in my Bubble Magus reactor, but it didn't tumble and flush very well, or at least it didn't appear to, mainly due to the size of the stones. The Deltec media I find great, can't see me changing back from that really.

Nice start. Looking good, so far.
I like the scape!

Thanks Mutt, plenty more to come!

 

[.Pandy.]

Popped over to my LFS on Friday and I couldn't resist but to take two new fish home, all helped by the store owner (also a good friend of mine) giving me a little discount for the holiday season

As ever, only Maldivian or at the least Indian Ocean fish, so I went for an Exquisite Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus Exquisitus) and a Regal Angel (Pygoplites Diacanthus)

They have both settled in well, feeding happily, and have brought so much colour and vibrancy to the tank - very pleased with them

Exquisite Wrasse 25-12-16 by Andy, on Flickr

Regal Angel 25-12-16 by Andy, on Flickr

 

[.Pandy.]

I decided to treat myself to a new Sony A68 as I was finding limits with my old A300. Here is the new guy with my 105mm macro attached, and the 35mm my wife bought me for Christmas waiting for its turn

New camera body by Andy, on Flickr


I've also decided that I'm going to ditch the Radions and replace them with an ATi Powermodule 8x80w in the near future, quite a big step but I really don't think the Gen1 Radions will be able to give me what I want for my tank, even if I did add one or two more.