Shaun's 2000 Litre (530 USG) Living Reef & Red Sea Max S 650 LED Design & Build
- Thread starter SPR
- Start date
SPR
Well-Known Member
The S650 has a serious infestation of asterina starfish, and I’m talking 100’s, probably 1000’s!
Interestingly, they keep the back wall of the aquarium clean by eating the coralline algae, I hadn’t noticed it for some time, because I normally needed to scrape it every month or so to keep it clean. As the numbers increased I guess they needed a food source and that appears to be it, because I haven’t touched the back wall in months.
Anyway, I’ve noticed a few of the corals were receding, I’ve seen it before a few years ago with these starfish, so it’s time for action.
Added him yesterday, he’s still hiding in a rock, but this morning with lights still out, very few starfish are out……..
Interestingly, they keep the back wall of the aquarium clean by eating the coralline algae, I hadn’t noticed it for some time, because I normally needed to scrape it every month or so to keep it clean. As the numbers increased I guess they needed a food source and that appears to be it, because I haven’t touched the back wall in months.
Anyway, I’ve noticed a few of the corals were receding, I’ve seen it before a few years ago with these starfish, so it’s time for action.
Added him yesterday, he’s still hiding in a rock, but this morning with lights still out, very few starfish are out……..
SPR
Well-Known Member
To right, there are loads of them!
SPR
Well-Known Member
After a year (well just over) it’s time to change the main return pump in the S650. Just one of the jobs I don’t like doing, but only takes a few minutes, well unless you accidentally catch the built in ATO float valve and snap it!
About 7 years ago, I purchased a spare one, just in case, and today was the day it was needed!
This is a back up ATO, primarily in the system being the Apex ATO
Im going away for nearly 3 weeks for the first time, driving from UK, through France and to my home in Spain with the dog. Couldn’t get him in kennels because of late booking a flight, and I’ve always wanted to drive down since it was build 20 years ago, so I thought why not.
So this tank done, next similar in the big house which I will do in next few days.
About 7 years ago, I purchased a spare one, just in case, and today was the day it was needed!
This is a back up ATO, primarily in the system being the Apex ATO
Im going away for nearly 3 weeks for the first time, driving from UK, through France and to my home in Spain with the dog. Couldn’t get him in kennels because of late booking a flight, and I’ve always wanted to drive down since it was build 20 years ago, so I thought why not.
So this tank done, next similar in the big house which I will do in next few days.
SPR
Well-Known Member
So again, after a year, it’s time to change the Abyss a200 in the big house, and other ‘chores’ that don’t really take long, but I don’t do very often because I’m a LAR!
Changed the pump, cleaned the skimmer, cleaned about 50 litres of Seachem matrix. This was a chore. The media bags had all split/broken so the matrix had spilled out a while ago. So I emptied it all out a week or so ago, but it started migrating towards the return chamber, which isn’t good if it gets sucked into the pump…..
Anyway, took it all out by hand, used 4 new large Seachem zip bags and back in. I did this before changing the pump to bring it back up to the filtration media, as you wouldn’t believe the amount of detritus that comes out. There is another 56 litres of matrix in the filter roll chamber that’s never been cleaned out so heaven knows what that will release!! Best I just leave it were it is…..
I added a refugium to the system a year or so ago, I wanted a funky purple light! Oh and the Twin tech calcium reactor was sold, and replaced with my own chemicals and standard dosing a while ago.
The refugium light was actually partially submerged for a while when I turned the return pump off, which was slightly worrying, so I decided it might be best to lower the water level in the sump by about 30 litres of water, just in case of power failure…. Was waiting for the bangs and fire when the power was turned back on!
Changed the pump, cleaned the skimmer, cleaned about 50 litres of Seachem matrix. This was a chore. The media bags had all split/broken so the matrix had spilled out a while ago. So I emptied it all out a week or so ago, but it started migrating towards the return chamber, which isn’t good if it gets sucked into the pump…..
Anyway, took it all out by hand, used 4 new large Seachem zip bags and back in. I did this before changing the pump to bring it back up to the filtration media, as you wouldn’t believe the amount of detritus that comes out. There is another 56 litres of matrix in the filter roll chamber that’s never been cleaned out so heaven knows what that will release!! Best I just leave it were it is…..
I added a refugium to the system a year or so ago, I wanted a funky purple light! Oh and the Twin tech calcium reactor was sold, and replaced with my own chemicals and standard dosing a while ago.
The refugium light was actually partially submerged for a while when I turned the return pump off, which was slightly worrying, so I decided it might be best to lower the water level in the sump by about 30 litres of water, just in case of power failure…. Was waiting for the bangs and fire when the power was turned back on!
SPR
Well-Known Member
The 2 pumps I removed each having been in place for just over 12 months, weren’t to dirty to be honest. The black one on the bottom left, is the standard Red Sea return.
The Abyss a200, hardy had any detritus at all in the impeller casing, and that’s after I cleaned loads of rubbish out of the sump through it just before replacing it. I suspect it could handle much longer between cleaning but no worth taking a chance (this year anyway! Lol). I have 2 of both these pumps, so the new ones are in and these are just soaking in citric acid/water for a few days.
The Abyss a200, hardy had any detritus at all in the impeller casing, and that’s after I cleaned loads of rubbish out of the sump through it just before replacing it. I suspect it could handle much longer between cleaning but no worth taking a chance (this year anyway! Lol). I have 2 of both these pumps, so the new ones are in and these are just soaking in citric acid/water for a few days.
StirCrayzy
Well-Known Member
Whoa ! Whats goin on?
SPR
Well-Known Member
The X Filter failed, so needed replacing so I decided it was time to clean the Seachem Matrix that had been in there for 4 years…..
More pictures to follow!
SPR
Well-Known Member
As a clue to the ‘brown’ incident above, the X Filer 1.7 failed on the morning we left for a 3 week trip through France into Spain. I basically left it as it wasn’t a critical piece of equipment and we had a ferry to catch from Dover to Calais. Oh and it was 4am so I didn’t feel like it!
When we got back, after testing various bits, the filter would not work, I assume a faulty optical sensor or motor, but I had a spare so swapped them over.
Underneath the X Filter in the sump, are the primary amounts of Seachem matrix, I think there’s around 56 litres in total in the system, and most if it had been buried for 4 years, so it was ’ready’ I thought…..
So I removed it all, the seachem bags had basically disintegrated so I had to use a sieve (from the kitchen so don’t tell anyone!!) to get it all out, which was a pain due to the amount.
Anyway I washed it all in the sink and this is what some of it looked like, there was about half as much again not in the picture, so a lot
This was the state of the sump water when I started removing it
Anyway I felt it was time to feed the corals so for dramatic purposes….
It certainly tested the new X Filter 1.7, took around 8 hours to clear up, but all is well.
I actually tested the nutrient levels yesterday (about a month from when the above happened) for the first time in probably 12 months, nitrate was 25 and phosphate 0 which is fine (it wont really be 0), and very surprising….!
When we got back, after testing various bits, the filter would not work, I assume a faulty optical sensor or motor, but I had a spare so swapped them over.
Underneath the X Filter in the sump, are the primary amounts of Seachem matrix, I think there’s around 56 litres in total in the system, and most if it had been buried for 4 years, so it was ’ready’ I thought…..
So I removed it all, the seachem bags had basically disintegrated so I had to use a sieve (from the kitchen so don’t tell anyone!!) to get it all out, which was a pain due to the amount.
Anyway I washed it all in the sink and this is what some of it looked like, there was about half as much again not in the picture, so a lot
This was the state of the sump water when I started removing it
Anyway I felt it was time to feed the corals so for dramatic purposes….
It certainly tested the new X Filter 1.7, took around 8 hours to clear up, but all is well.
I actually tested the nutrient levels yesterday (about a month from when the above happened) for the first time in probably 12 months, nitrate was 25 and phosphate 0 which is fine (it wont really be 0), and very surprising….!
SPR
Well-Known Member
Yes plenty, was very cloudy!
SPR
Well-Known Member
The S650 seems to have developed a slight leek, very minor, right at the top left hand corner (fortunately), I’ve put a line of CT1 sealant across it several times and will just have to keep an eye on it.
Its very minor at the moment so although not ideal it’s not a major concern.
I have considered shutting it down at some point and moving the fish to the large system, and I’ve sort of been thinking along the lines of as and when there is a failure such as new lights needed etc. It was set up in 2016 so nearly 8 years old.
Alternatively I might replace it with a new custom made one….
Its very minor at the moment so although not ideal it’s not a major concern.
I have considered shutting it down at some point and moving the fish to the large system, and I’ve sort of been thinking along the lines of as and when there is a failure such as new lights needed etc. It was set up in 2016 so nearly 8 years old.
Alternatively I might replace it with a new custom made one….
SPR
Well-Known Member
It’s only very minor, hopefully I’ve sorted it, but in the event of getting worse I have the large system awaiting anyway.
If it was anywhere else, lower down for example, I would be more concerned, but it’s right at the highest point along the horizontal rather than vertical side part.