MCC's Red Sea Max 250 Reef Paradise

[MCC]

A little background on my fourth attempt into saltwater reef tanks. I been keeping coral reef tanks on/off through out my college days until now. They were usually low-tech tanks as I was on a limited budget, therefore, I never really ventured into SPS/Acans/Ricordia coarls due to low funds.

As I got older now, and with stable job I decided to go all in for a high-tech tank. Initially I was planning on a mixed reef tank in mind while aquascaping my tank. The tank I picked up was a Red Sea Max 250 used from a local reefer here in Vancouver, B.C. Every piece of equipment is to keep the tank as quiet as possible as I live in a studio and the fish tank is 6 ft from my bed. Overall I can't hear much noise except for the bubbles in the skimmer and occasional water trickle from the overflow box at night time, but during the day the light fans are loud which I don't mind.

The tank was set up last year in August of 2014. It has went through its ups and downs. I went through a battle of byprosis, GHA, cyano, red flatworms, Marine Velvet which wiped out all my fish at once, and even a semi tank crash when I was trying to set up my doser. Unfortunately I was using the Salifret test kits wrong and all three of my parameters were off the charts. Chaos ensued and I lost all my colonies of Acans, Rics/Mushrooms, and most of my euphillyas corals except for two as well as all my shrimps. My SPS stopped growth and browned out. Three frags died as well. But with patience over the next 3 months I focused mainly on zoas, some LPS, and dedicate the whole tank to SPS. Eventually I decide to fill the sand bed with Acans and plate coral again. I can't do rics/mushrooms anymore as the flow in my tank is too strong. I rather have a big current with good growth from my SPS than keeping softies.

The tank is still stabilizing, but doing a lot better. I dose MB7, Cal/Alk/Mg only with weekly water changes of 10 gallons. I experimented with food supplements only lead to GHA and cyano out breaks.

Display Tank: Red Sea Max 250 - 65G
Overflow Box: Lifereef Overflow Box
Sump: Full 30G custom acrylic sump with 3 sections
Light: Custom DIY RapidLED controlled by APEX (White/Blue/RBG/UV) built into the hood with the original stock T5s removed.
Controller: APEX w/ temp & pH probes
Skimmer: Bubble Magnus Curve 5
Return Pump: Tunze 1073.040
Circulation Pump: Ecotech MP40qd with Reeflink
Doser: GHL doser
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3155
Heating/Cooling: No heater is used / Clip-on Fans
UV Sterilizer: Emperor Aquatics Smart UV 25 Watt
RO Unit: Vertex Puratek Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filter - 100GPD
Refugium Light: Coral Compulsion Par38 bulb
GFO: Rowa Phos in a bag
Salt: Instant Ocean with weekly WC of 10 gallons
Feeding: Mysis soaked in garlic/selcon daily. Occasional veggie flakes.

 

[markalot]

Looks good MCC!

 

[M007]

^+1 :thumbsup:

 

[MCC]

Bought a couple new plate corals, but one of them not doing so well in the tank

 

[PederP]

Very nice!

 

[cugly]

Looking good

 

[MCC]

Finally learn how to use my camera. Here are some better pictures :dance:

 

[markalot]

Ahh, nice pics, keep us updated as it grows in!

 

[MCC]

Ahh, nice pics, keep us updated as it grows in!

Thanks! I will !! But now I m trying to look for more blue and yellow SPS. The couple i got isn't really colouring up. I wonder how long does it usually take?

 

[markalot]

Thanks! I will !! But now I m trying to look for more blue and yellow SPS. The couple i got isn't really colouring up. I wonder how long does it usually take?

I have one that may turn blue, I would say 2 months maybe, though I think faster in a well balanced tank. I have a bad habit of buying cheap mostly brown frags and seeing what they do. A lot of disappointment and a few gems.

 

[Canuck007]

Can you post pics of your sump, overflow and LED lights that are built into the hood? I've had the RSM 250 for a few months now and looking to do some mods.

thanks!

 

[MCC]

Can you post pics of your sump, overflow and LED lights that are built into the hood? I've had the RSM 250 for a few months now and looking to do some mods.

thanks!

Usually I have only one fan (the white one), but the summers are too hot!! The previous owner cut the middle brace to fit the sump. He had it like this for 2 years before selling the tank to me, but I put a couple 2x4s in the back to support just in case, but then the middle brace is still supporting the overall tank in the middle.

As for the overflow box, I have had lots of trouble with it. I don't think the product is bad, its just didn't work well. It can work well for a few months then the water levels in the tank will 'magically' either be too high or low.

I don't recommend the LEDs. I wish the tank (i bought used) were kept at stock T5s. After researching I wish I had T5s as it gives the best growth for corals. The LEDs after using it on this tank and the last tank just didn't give me the same growth as I had on prior tanks with MH/T5s.

All in all, I would of go for another set ups if you haven't chosen the tank yet.

The GHL doser and the ATO tank is in the TV cabinet beside the tank in my living room.

 

[MCC]

I have one that may turn blue, I would say 2 months maybe, though I think faster in a well balanced tank. I have a bad habit of buying cheap mostly brown frags and seeing what they do. A lot of disappointment and a few gems.

Well i got a fiji strawberry shortcake I really want it to color up. The picture the guy sent me of the 'good size' frag was gorgeous. it has been brown every since arrived from the island.

I don't think i will want to buy sps corals online anymore, but not many choices locally here in Vancouver :sad2:

 

[koral_lover]

great red sea setup...looking forward to watching this one grow in!

 

[MCC]

great red sea setup...looking forward to watching this one grow in!

Thanks!!

Hey fellow forum members. I would like to ask what do you guys think about skimmer upgrade? I was wondering is my bubble magnus good enough? The skimmate is more on the 'wet' side and I can't seem to get it dial to be 'drier', but each time it smells very bad and there are some chunks floating around in the skimmer cup. I have to empty it every 2 days as the wet skimming takes out a lot of water. If i dial it down even <1mm on the dial it won't even skim much. (see post #12 of the sump from above posting. The skimmate is that color and texture. That was from 2 full days of skimming before emptying)

What should I do? I am a big believer in 'if its not broken dont fix it'. the tank been doing well so does that mean the skimmer is doing its job? But I been reading a lot on skimmers this past weekend and people who upgraded to better more $ skimmers always say 'wow never knew so much crap still left in my tank from the old skimmer'

What you guys think?

 

[rburns24]

-
I think the Curve 5 you're running is adequate to the bio-load you have now. If you we're to add
a fair number of fish, I would look at a Curve 7 or something similar, but from your description of
the how the Curve 5 is skimming, I'd say it's more than up to the job.
-

 

[MCC]

-
I think the Curve 5 you're running is adequate to the bio-load you have now. If you we're to add
a fair number of fish, I would look at a Curve 7 or something similar, but from your description of
the how the Curve 5 is skimming, I'd say it's more than up to the job.
-

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I cant fit a curve 7. I was looking at more compact high end skimmers.

I do have fair amount of fish and sps corals, therefore, I am afraid it can be improved on. I do change 5 gallons of water with mb7 every week and rowa phos every 3 weeks.