Hi guys,
Started my tank 5 days ago or so and here's a bit of information and a few pictures! Copied of another forum so apologies if you've seen it before.
Tank: White Red Sea Max 250
Skimmer: Deltec MC500
Chiller: D-D DC300 + Eheim Compact 3000 pump
Flow: Vortech MP40w
And random bits: Tunze Osmolater, Salifert Test Kits, CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Live Reef Sand and dosing with Microbactor 7 and Reef Biofuel.
Few pictures of todays work and set up. I will say that I was very impressed with the RSM 250, although I think the lid could fit better though - only a small niggle.
----------------
So today was the day for adding the sand and RO water.
As the sand was 'live' I didn't rinse or wash it - I put the water in over a plate as to not disturb the sand and I'm happy to say the water has been relatively clear from the start.
Vortech (seriously good piece of kit) turned on to get the circulation going and the salt mixed.
Next I installed my Deltec MC500. I wanted to keep the tank looking as stock as possible so new I had to cut out a sections at the rear of the tank. If you have a dremmel use this.... I did but no cutting head so had to use a medium sized hack saw!
This is what you need to cut off into a right angle.
During:
After:
My advise would be to turn off all the pumps as a lot of plastic specs etc will end up in the back of the tank and you don't want them being pumped back into the tank. I fished as much as I could out with a small net and used kitchen roll to suck some up like a sponge. The plastic is inevitable but be as careful as possible. I definitely wouldn't do this with live stock in the tank - running the filter floss for a few days should catch anything that's left over.
Bracket on and filter fitted:
Lid shut flush - no need to cut a hole!!
So temperature getting up slowly and the tank as it stands. I know everyone likes pictures so will try to take as many as possible.
----------------------
Today I fitted the Tunze ATO, fairly straight forward job but did confuse me a little when I first opened the box.
To do this on an RSM 250 you'll need to remove the cooling fans on the back left of the hood. They are actually stupidly loud anyways so it's no bad thing.
25L Water container in the left of the cabinet and running up the back, will be tidying up the cables next week. Sensors on the left, water top up on the right, although it's currently all turned off while I find the right water level to get the skimmer working properly - it's giving me a bit of trouble.
Also my live rock came in the post from Rock N' Critters, I asked for small to medium size and the pieces that came are perfect. Had a crab fall off the rock when I was unpacking it, glad it happened then and he didn't end up in the tank. I think he's a bad guy but stil trying to find out. Have some life on the rock already, no idea what it is though, anyone know?
So FTS as it stands:
Next week I'm installing the chiller and tonight I'm doing my first water tests.
-------------------------
I have actually moved the ATO to the right hand chamber, and then turned it off as it was coming on every 5 minutes and was becoming very annoying - not sure if this is normal?
My params over the past 4 days have been:
Salt - 1.0255
Ammonia - 0.25
PH - 8.1
KH - 15.3 dKH
Nitrite - 1
Nitrate - 75
Ammonia - 0.25
PH - 8.4
Kh - 8.2
Nitrite - 2
Nitrate - 50
Had great difficulty installing the chiller but have another thread up hopefully with a solution!
Many thanks,
Ed.
Started my tank 5 days ago or so and here's a bit of information and a few pictures! Copied of another forum so apologies if you've seen it before.
Tank: White Red Sea Max 250
Skimmer: Deltec MC500
Chiller: D-D DC300 + Eheim Compact 3000 pump
Flow: Vortech MP40w
And random bits: Tunze Osmolater, Salifert Test Kits, CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Live Reef Sand and dosing with Microbactor 7 and Reef Biofuel.
Few pictures of todays work and set up. I will say that I was very impressed with the RSM 250, although I think the lid could fit better though - only a small niggle.
----------------
So today was the day for adding the sand and RO water.
As the sand was 'live' I didn't rinse or wash it - I put the water in over a plate as to not disturb the sand and I'm happy to say the water has been relatively clear from the start.
Vortech (seriously good piece of kit) turned on to get the circulation going and the salt mixed.
Next I installed my Deltec MC500. I wanted to keep the tank looking as stock as possible so new I had to cut out a sections at the rear of the tank. If you have a dremmel use this.... I did but no cutting head so had to use a medium sized hack saw!
This is what you need to cut off into a right angle.
During:
After:
My advise would be to turn off all the pumps as a lot of plastic specs etc will end up in the back of the tank and you don't want them being pumped back into the tank. I fished as much as I could out with a small net and used kitchen roll to suck some up like a sponge. The plastic is inevitable but be as careful as possible. I definitely wouldn't do this with live stock in the tank - running the filter floss for a few days should catch anything that's left over.
Bracket on and filter fitted:
Lid shut flush - no need to cut a hole!!
So temperature getting up slowly and the tank as it stands. I know everyone likes pictures so will try to take as many as possible.
----------------------
Today I fitted the Tunze ATO, fairly straight forward job but did confuse me a little when I first opened the box.
To do this on an RSM 250 you'll need to remove the cooling fans on the back left of the hood. They are actually stupidly loud anyways so it's no bad thing.
25L Water container in the left of the cabinet and running up the back, will be tidying up the cables next week. Sensors on the left, water top up on the right, although it's currently all turned off while I find the right water level to get the skimmer working properly - it's giving me a bit of trouble.
Also my live rock came in the post from Rock N' Critters, I asked for small to medium size and the pieces that came are perfect. Had a crab fall off the rock when I was unpacking it, glad it happened then and he didn't end up in the tank. I think he's a bad guy but stil trying to find out. Have some life on the rock already, no idea what it is though, anyone know?
So FTS as it stands:
Next week I'm installing the chiller and tonight I'm doing my first water tests.
-------------------------
I have actually moved the ATO to the right hand chamber, and then turned it off as it was coming on every 5 minutes and was becoming very annoying - not sure if this is normal?
My params over the past 4 days have been:
Salt - 1.0255
Ammonia - 0.25
PH - 8.1
KH - 15.3 dKH
Nitrite - 1
Nitrate - 75
Ammonia - 0.25
PH - 8.4
Kh - 8.2
Nitrite - 2
Nitrate - 50
Had great difficulty installing the chiller but have another thread up hopefully with a solution!
Many thanks,
Ed.
