MCC's Paradise Reboot --> Red Sea RSM 250

[chironerd21]

Since my tank crashed from Oct 2013, and a final shut down in end of March, I been itching to start another tank. I was devastated at first and after some time away from this hobby last month I started browsing forums again. With encouragement from others I decided to start over. I was contemplating between several set ups. From custom tanks to pre packaged systems like Cadlights. Due to area constraint (I live in a studio condo), I couldn't custom make my dream tank (48x24x14), so I had to look elsewhere. I never thought about all-in-one tanks, but then a very modded RSM 250 came about on the local forum. The previous owner upgraded to the RSM S650!!!

 

This was my previous tank before it crashed and torn down.

 

 

I know its not as amazing as many of the tanks here, but I was very happy and satisfied with it, but then it all crashed down and the lost of thousands of dollars and inhabitants was too sad, so I had to tear it down.

 

Here is the specs for the Red Sea RSM 250:

 

Tank: RSM 250 65 gallons

Stand: RSM 250 Original Black Stand

Sump: Custom Acrylic 27 gallons (30x14x15) - I had this custom made and shipped from USA

Light: Modded LED with white/blue/green/red/UV + Excotica Stunner Stripes

Controller: Apex Controller to control the LEDs and other equipment

Skimmer: Bubble Magnus Curve 5

Return Pump: Eheim 1262

Powerhead: 2 x Tunze 6055 with Multi Controller 7095

Overflow Box: Lifereefer RSM 250

Reactor: CPR Tumbler

Heater: Fluval 200w

Cooling: Clip on Fan

 

The sump going have an area for a frag tray. I would be using a Coral Compulsion 20k Par38 bulb. I am still deciding on which light to use for the refugium section with liverocks; maybe the JBJ light. I need something internal or lower since i won't have room to hang another light, as the cooling fan is in the way.

 

I have saved the liverocks from the previous tank, but unfortunately the rubbermaid cracked, so I was forced to kill the rocks that evening. So I bleached them and reused them again.

 

Here is what the tank looks like for now. I m still waiting for the RO water to be made, and the sump to be made/shipped.

 

 

 

[best3175]

Sounds like some nice upgrades.

[TJ_Burton]

Looking nifty!

[kimberbee]

I like the way you have the rocks set up.

 

Good luck this time around!

[Paandemonium]

Love your rockwork!

As for the LEDs I wanted to try it but never got around to it

[chironerd21]

Here is what the plumbing looks on the bottom. The picture was taken before the frag tray + CPR reactor was added. After everything was added, I realized I won't have room for a refugium as planned. I am going stuff as much LR as possible as I don't have too many in the DT. I will grow some macro algae attached to the LR instead. The par38 bulb is still in the mail

 

 

Added 2 strips of 36 inch cheap China blue LEDs for blue accent. What do you guys think of the color now?

 

 

Got a hiccup setting this up after playing with the new plumbing set up (Took out both return pumps of the RSM 250) realized the return pump Ehiem 1060 wasn't strong enough and the overflow box outer box water wasn't high enough so made a huge waterfall sound. I installed a strainer now with hard tubing in the back (not shown in picture) Going pick up a Ehiem 1262 tonight, and hope that will solve the problem.

 

Also the AutoTopoff.com switch had a bad relay, so my 'safety' return pump float switch couldn't be installed yet, but knowing Lifereef overflow box safety record, I should be 'safe' for the next week or so .. knock on wood

 

So far I am really happy, only thing I hear is the 'waterfall' which will be address with new pump, and the skimmer. Hopefully it will quiet down as there are more waste in the tank (cycling) at moment, and breaks in (it was vinegar cleaned). I need a whisper quiet tank as this is in my studio and my bed is 6 ft beside it

[chironerd21]

More bad news. The Deltec MC500 I find it too loud for my studio, so I switch back to my silent Cadlights PLS-100 which is throwing lots of bubbles into my sump. Luckily not so much into the main tank. I will see how it skims/performs later when I have more livestock, and see if the microbubbles will die down. Also my Blues on the LED broke. It can't power on to 100% anymore, its stuck at like 10%

But on the other hand the China LED stripe wasn't doing a good job anyways, so I ordered two 24inch Ecoxotic Stunner 12-watt Blue/Magenta. The colors of these in pictures were amazing. Hope it blends in well with my whites and RGB.

Can't wait till everything comes. Hope this is the last of my troubles and I can finally stock my tank in a month

[chironerd21]

Here is what the sump looks like now

 

 

I will be adding more LRs later. I have it at my friend's house but he is out on vacation till end of this week.

[chironerd21]

Its been a while since I updated, as the tank went through lots of transformation with equipment and livestock. I got two Tunze 6055 on a 7095 controller in place of the Jebao WP-25. I m planning on maybe switching to Maxspect Gyre XF150 when I comes out, and I will see how people's reactions are to the new product as well as sound it produces. Also I am fed up with the Cadlights skimmer, and upgraded to the Bubble Magnus Curve 5. As you can see my frag tray portion of the sump there are some frags being held there at the moment. I have put in a Jebao WP-10 in the frag section as the previous pump was getting loud and old.

 

 

Unfortunately I got hit hard with marine velvet and lost all my fish. I lost my two year old clownfish, red flamehawk, and coral beauty. The yellow midas ended up in the pump a couple weeks prior. The marine velvet was introduced into the system by the coral beauty. It looked flawless at the store and they had it for over a week.

 

So now I read on the forums that to eradicate the free spores of marine velvet the best way to do it without tearing down the tank is leaving it empty for 3 months. This is what I am planning to do, in the mean time I can focus on stocking this tank up with corals.

 

Here is what the tank looks like now (poor camera pictures). I still got ORA Pink Milli colony, Red Planet colony, and a Bonsai colony on hold at different people's houses as I deal with the fish lost and get my parameters in check. Goal is now to focus on SPS mini colonies to fill up the rocks

 

 

 

[chironerd21]

Here are some updated pictures of the tank at almost 1 years old

 

Since then I have upgraded my return pump to a Tunze and switched out my tank powerheads to one Ecotech MP40qd w/ Reeflink. I have added a GHL doser and Emperor UV sterilizer.

 

The tank been through couple of semi tank crashes, but now its been stable for a couple months since the beginning of the summer.

 

Enjoy !

 

[markalot]

Very nice, show us more!

[chironerd21]

Very nice, show us more!

 

thanks! when I add more things to my tank. I did lost a birdsnest as it fell on to the frogspawn. I added a green acro. I will wait for more additions or colouring up of couple pieces of SPS before I take more pictures =)

[BRN]

Awesome coral and tank!