dustinc Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Hello everyone! I'm starting a new build thread for my new Red Sea Max 250! I picked up the tank yesterday from a LFS and currently putting it together now. I'll be moving much of my livestock from my Solana and also weeding out some of the pieces I'm not too crazy about. I'll post a lot of pictures later today, but I will say, initially I am very impressed. The tank is very HEAVY and you can tell a lot of thought and quality went into this product. I've owned Biocube, Nanocube, and Solana and this is BY FAR the best quality all-in-one I've ever seen. I've also built my own aquarium, which is what I was planning on doing this time, but I just kept being drawn back to this aquarium. The only initial mods I'm planning isn't really a mod at all, and that is replacing the stock bulbs with 3xATI Blue+, 1xKZ Fiji Purple, 1xATI True Actinic, and 1xGE Daylight. The only other mod I'm really debating at this point is popping open the hood and running individual power cords for the lights so that I can have a dusk to dawn atmosphere, but maybe try to do the dimmable lights mod that I saw on youtube. Well enough of the blabbering, but I'll post more later. Link to comment
dmarkham Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 I can not wait to see it. I looked long and hard at these tanks. It is just a little bigger then I wanted at this time. Nice looking set up. Link to comment
dustinc Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Thanks guys. Got sand, water, and rock in it today. I don't expect too much of a cycle as I moved some stuff from my solana. I'm keeping this as a very open aquascape for good SPS growth to fill in the space. Here are some pictures of some of the stuff during setup. Will post pictures tomorrow of the aquascape and tank. Link to comment
JohnOTS Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Following along, looking forward to seeing pictures. Link to comment
StevieT Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 More set up pictures! I need to see the inner workings of this tank. I have added you to the RSM owners super thread Link to comment
DrCooper Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Following this bad boy along! saw one of them at LFS while back and was in love Link to comment
dustinc Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 More set up pictures! I need to see the inner workings of this tank. I have added you to the RSM owners super thread Thanks. What exactly are you wanting to see in the setup process? It was very simple getting everything together and very nicely done. There are designated tracks for your cords to run down so that they are just hanging out wherever, the back chamber are pretty big, remind me a lot of sump chambers, and quiet other than the light fans (not terribly loud, but not quiet). The only thing I'm a little skeptical of this tank is the lighting. I'm coming from an ATI t5 fixture to this one. We will see how it does! Following this bad boy along! saw one of them at LFS while back and was in love They are nice! At this point, definitely recommend it, but we will know for sure in a short time. Link to comment
StevieT Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 I am really really interested in the rear chambers. Link to comment
Lawnman Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Kinda hard to go out and purchase this tank Stevie just to get the demisions of the back chambers. Really looking forward to watching this build. Did you purchase a chiller? Link to comment
kraqus Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 This is the tank that I want to upgrade to...... eventually =) Mo pictures! Benny Link to comment
clownfish14 Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 how much in total has this tank cost you? and more pics Link to comment
StevieT Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Kinda hard to go out and purchase this tank Stevie just to get the demisions of the back chambers. Really looking forward to watching this build. Did you purchase a chiller? Pretty much. I have the dimensions and drawings and ideas. I just want to see if it is even possible to do since there is demand. It isn't a priority project right now I am more curious in seeing what changes Red Sea made from the 130 to 250 Link to comment
dustinc Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Kinda hard to go out and purchase this tank Stevie just to get the demisions of the back chambers. Really looking forward to watching this build. Did you purchase a chiller? Thanks. No i haven't purchased a chiller at this point. I'm going to give a little time and see what happens. I used to have the Nanocube HQI and everyone told me I needed a chiller and my temp never got over 80. I keep my house between 70-72 year round. I will see what my temperatures do when I start running the lights and then I will know if I need one. how much in total has this tank cost you? and more pics Well I got the tank/stand combo for $200 less than the online price (I farm for the LFS where I got it and I'm one of his primary sources so he hooks me up when I need things like this). And the new bulbs were $135 shipped. I'm selling my Solana and equipment for it so that is money going back. After selling my Solana, ATI Sunpower, and spare equipment, I should be out about $500. The next thing I really want to do is test par readings of this light compared to my ATI to see what I'm getting, but I don't have a par meter. Pretty much. I have the dimensions and drawings and ideas. I just want to see if it is even possible to do since there is demand. It isn't a priority project right now I am more curious in seeing what changes Red Sea made from the 130 to 250 As far as what I can remember about the 130, it was much like all the other AIO's with more of a chamber like feel. The 250 is much more like sump baffles. Here is a picture of what it looked like from the top when opening the box. Link to comment
dustinc Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 I'm importing some pictures now of the tank this morning. Link to comment
dustinc Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Here are pictures of the tank this morning. Link to comment
funkoptimus Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Nice!! Very nice. I bought a used JBJ HQI last week. I think I might sell it and move up to a beast like this. Man it is cool looking. Congrats! Link to comment
pineo Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 what are the size specs of that thing? Also what is the stock lighting? Link to comment
kraqus Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 what are the size specs of that thing? Also what is the stock lighting? Everything is available online. http://www.redseamax.com/redseamax/250Temp...X_specs250.html Benny Link to comment
pineo Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 thanks...making me work...to lazy to google search...wow 6x39 huh? Are they individual reflectors? I couldn't tell by looking at the webpage. I've never been keen on AIOs, but this looks like a quality aquarium. good luck! Link to comment
dustinc Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 It is not individual reflectors. At first I was kind of bummed about that but the more I thought about it I'm actually glad. If they would have went individual it might have allowed for 4 bulbs which meant less bulb options and probably the same output. I actually have had problems with my ATI fixture having too much output with 6 bulbs causing bleaching. I think this will be just right. Link to comment
dustinc Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Quick question everyone. Should I keep my mp10 and add another mp10 or sell my mp10 and get 1 mp40. Thanks Link to comment
pineo Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 It is not individual reflectors. At first I was kind of bummed about that but the more I thought about it I'm actually glad. If they would have went individual it might have allowed for 4 bulbs which meant less bulb options and probably the same output. I actually have had problems with my ATI fixture having too much output with 6 bulbs causing bleaching. I think this will be just right. indeed, thats why I like my 6 lamp TEK, I can get lots of blue and not worry about lack of PAR. Link to comment
Lawnman Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 I would get a mp 40 and sell me your MP 10 lol. I really like the scape but will probally want to make it a little taller to get that SPS closer to the top. How is the skimmer sounding. I was going to get one of these but wasn't looking forward to larger water changes. Link to comment
JohnOTS Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Looking good! Sorry if it was already asked but do you plan on more live rock? Link to comment
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