• Welcome back Guest!

    MARSH is a private reefing group. Comments and suggestions are encouraged, but please keep them positive and constructive. Negative threads, posts, or attacks will be removed from view and reviewed by the staff. Continually disruptive, argumentative, or flagrant rule breakers may be suspended or banned.

I'm Back! Red Sea Reefer 250 Build (1 Viewer)

Users who are viewing this thread

Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
910
Reaction score
54
Location
Tomball
So, found myself longing for some Reef Luv in my life once again and found a killer deal on a RS Reefer 250 used that needed some love. The tank was up and running but the front glass was heavily scratched and despite being under maintenance contract with a local fish shop ( wonT nAme that Place ) it was in a very sad state, incorrect flow, rocks heavily built up with sludge, sand bed completely caked in ditritus, aptasia everywhere, a sump full of dead coral skeletons, lights programmed incorrectly and owner informed that the filter socks only needed to be changed quarterly.... So the journey began, I was scared as heck to take on the daunting task but I went forward with polishing the front glass!
PolishFront.jpg
And by the way, this task SUCKED!!!! Took me 3 weeks to complete and it came out pretty darn good, I missed a few spots that I only noticed once it was up and running and lights were put into place.
 
OP
OP
Slayer311
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
910
Reaction score
54
Location
Tomball
Fortunately we found this established Nuvo20 for sale at the same time that worked as a temporary holding tank for the livestock from the RS250 while i got it up and running and each fish took there turns going through Quarantine.
IMG_20220122_094346_95.jpg
 
OP
OP
Slayer311
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
910
Reaction score
54
Location
Tomball
I researched a bunch and having kept reef tanks for many years I always hated sludge buildup under rocks, so went with the NSA scape route and mortered the rock scape and came to this final design, I also upgraded the lights to include T5 supplements and did my classic wall hang mounting using Plywood mounted to wall and Bookshelf brackets as the hanging arms, good $20 mounting solution!
20211229_202552.jpg
 

BigRick

OG Reefer
Supporting Member
Member Spotlight Contest Winner
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
2,758
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Cypress- Bridgeland
Hard to leave once your in... like your code for the contract lol...(y)
 
OP
OP
Slayer311
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
910
Reaction score
54
Location
Tomball
Next up, tackling the sump. The one thing I told myself was, I WILL NOT CHANGE FILTER SOCKS..may I interest you in a filter fleece roller? Why yes you can thank you! Only problem...RS 250 sump is ill designed to fit any drop in solution. So I found the Klir Filter Fleece that drops into a filter sock holder!! Problem #2 RS reefer 250 sumps do not use standard filter sock sizes so will not fit! ARRRGGG. Off to my friends at Houston Acrylics and a HUGE SHOUT OUT to the owner who took the time to sit down and do a custum designed modification to the sump to allow for a drop in filter sock whole slot that would accomodate the Klir!! ALL FOR ONLY $40!! Guys please send some business her way she deserves it!
20211224_081236.jpg
20211224_081352.jpg

20211224_081428.jpg
20220115_003710.jpg
 
OP
OP
Slayer311
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
910
Reaction score
54
Location
Tomball
And that brings us to today, after a short test of coral happiness in the tank after completing the cycle All corals and some cleanup crew were added, still some hair algae left but coming along nicely and phos/nitrates have dropped off a cliff.
IMG_20220122_095933_53.jpg
 

frankc

Supporting Member
Member Spotlight Contest Winner
Build Thread Contributor
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
1,350
Reaction score
1,322
Location
The Woodlands
Welcome back! Looks like quite a project but it's coming along nicely. If you want to quickly fill the tank with elkhorn Montipora, hit me up.
 
OP
OP
Slayer311
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
910
Reaction score
54
Location
Tomball
Disliking the swings in PH, thinking high CO2 in the house is contributing to it, so in goes the CO2 scrubber! Let's hope this balances things out a bit! Added bonus, skimmer is now dead silent! Luv it!!
20220126_195710.jpg
 

soymilk

Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
2,611
Reaction score
1,358
Location
Fresno, Texas
That skimmer is doing good work already. Nice. I recent got a skimmer for my Red Sea 170 and It sucks. Keeps overflowing.
 
OP
OP
Slayer311
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
910
Reaction score
54
Location
Tomball
That skimmer is doing good work already. Nice. I recent got a skimmer for my Red Sea 170 and It sucks. Keeps overflowing.
I just emptied it a few hours ago too, it has broken in nicely! I started with dry once live rock and did the quick cycle with ammonia powder and nitrates sky rocketed, then began nopox carbon dosing and it has helped break in the skimmer fast! Tank fully cycled and through hair algae phase in 2 weeks, now pushing through cyano phase but getting better each day!
 

soymilk

Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
2,611
Reaction score
1,358
Location
Fresno, Texas
i'm thinking about setting up mines for recirculating for the skimmer. Theres a dude that prints little extensions for the skimmer that saves you from having to drill your skimmer cap


I feel kinda stupid.... i connected my co2 scrubber to the top of the silencer vs just directly on like you. oof lol
 
OP
OP
Slayer311
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
910
Reaction score
54
Location
Tomball
i'm thinking about setting up mines for recirculating for the skimmer. Theres a dude that prints little extensions for the skimmer that saves you from having to drill your skimmer cap


I feel kinda stupid.... i connected my co2 scrubber to the top of the silencer vs just directly on like you. oof lol
LOL THANK YOU FOR THAT, I was bummed at work till just now, co-workers looking at me like I'm crazy..don't care! :) I only LOL cause I've done so many similar things like that myself in the past.
 
Top