Andy's Reefer 250

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  • Andy
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Seeing as I had to move out of my house while it was repaired,  I thought it was a bloody good time for a new tank.  So here we go.



I checked the floor and it seemed pretty level. With the tank on though it was obvious it would need a bit of levelling.
I used carpenter's air bags to lift the tank (empty) and packed it with plastic window shims.  It's now about 2mm out front to back and perfect left to right. Think it'll be okay.


Filled it with RO straight from the system:


Rinsed the Caribsea Seaflor Special for ages till it ran clear and dumped it in:


Obviously not enough rinsing as I still have a tonne of dust in the water I can't get rid of.  In person you can see that there are tonnes of little particles floating around 🤦‍♂️I've ordered some super fine filter socks from Swell to try and catch it. Normal floss and 100 micron socks have done nothing.
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TheJag77

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Reply #1

Jul 21, 2020 10:42:49 am
Looking good.
Is that the new sump layout? You’ve got the drain to left as opposed to middle? I assume the weir is still in the middle, right?


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ajm83

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Reply #2

Jul 21, 2020 11:00:45 am
Quote from: marine_newbie on Jul 21, 2020 10:42:49 am
Looking good.
Is that the new sump layout? You’ve got the drain to left as opposed to middle? I assume the weir is still in the middle, right?


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Thanks, yeah it is the V3 layout.  The drains go down from the middle of the tank, then PVC pipes take the water over to the left side where the filter socks are. Looks pretty good but not much room in the fuge so not sure if it's going to be good enough for Triton.
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ajm83

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Reply #3

Jul 21, 2020 11:02:31 am
For the rock work, i fancied using branching LR instead of my usual 'pile of rocks' aquascape.

None of the local shops had proper dead rock available, so I was a bit limited.  Went with Caribsea's life rock branches in the end.  They're okay,  but the branches are too similar in size and shape and the rock is pretty damn hard so a bit of a git to cut or drill into other shapes.

£100's worth doesn't look like much:


I had in my head a sort of bonsai tree shape like this, except covered with SPS instead of leaves:


It was impossible to create though,  the branches are just too heavy to for that kind of structure. 

In the end I settled on this vaguely tree stump like structure:


I'm not happy with it at all, but I was really losing the will to live by this point. It's just so hard to work with.  I think it will look alright in a couple of years when it's got some coral on it and it does leave plenty of space for fish and water flow.

My 5 year old girl told me it looked like Tamatoa the crab from Moana, at this point I'll gladly take that as a compliment!! 👍


Just hope it holds together...
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Toper0

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Reply #4

Jul 21, 2020 11:04:27 am
Are you going to use the water top off tank? I have on my 250 but it can get in the way when you clean the socks out?

ajm83

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Reply #5

Jul 21, 2020 11:06:21 am
Quote from: Toper0 on Jul 21, 2020 11:04:27 am
Are you going to use the water top off tank? I have on my 250 but it can get in the way when you clean the socks out?

Yeah it's not the best.  I'm using it at the moment, and will see how I get on.  The sliding thing to get the filter socks out is really tight on my tank which is a bit of pain.  Hopefully it'll loosen up.

You don't use filter socks with Triton anyway so it won't be an issue for me once its up and running.
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TheJag77

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Reply #6

Jul 21, 2020 11:07:24 am
Quote from: ajm83 on Jul 21, 2020 11:00:45 am
Thanks, yeah it is the V3 layout.  The drains go down from the middle of the tank, then PVC pipes take the water over to the left side where the filter socks are. Looks pretty good but not much room in the fuge so not sure if it's going to be good enough for Triton.
Do the socks slide to the right for changing? You’ll need a fair bit of space for that, which will reduce space in fuge/skimmer area.
I do like the Red Sea tank though. I have an older version and am well happy with it


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ajm83

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Reply #7

Jul 21, 2020 11:09:33 am
Quote from: marine_newbie on Jul 21, 2020 11:07:24 am
Do the socks slide to the right for changing? You’ll need a fair bit of space for that, which will reduce space in fuge/skimmer area.
I do like the Red Sea tank though. I have an older version and am well happy with it


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You do indeed, but as above triton method doesn't use filter socks normally so hopefully not an issue day to day 👍
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TheJag77

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Reply #8

Jul 21, 2020 11:12:51 am
Quote from: Toper0 on Jul 21, 2020 11:04:27 am
Are you going to use the water top off tank? I have on my 250 but it can get in the way when you clean the socks out?
The top off is a bit small I find. Have converted mine to a fuge with diy drain as wasn’t brave enough to try drilling
Bought a white Ikea kitchen cabinet that is 30cm wide and fits perfectly next to the tank. Have a 25L RO container in there to feed the ATO. Works great, although it now provides a platform for the kitten to jump on and then jump on the tank.


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ajm83

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Reply #9

Jul 21, 2020 11:13:30 am
Quote from: marine_newbie on Jul 21, 2020 11:12:51 am
The top off is a bit small I find. Have converted mine to a fuge with diy drain as wasn’t brave enough to try drilling
Bought a white Ikea kitchen cabinet that is 30cm wide and fits perfectly next to the tank. Have a 25L RO container in there to feed the ATO. Works great, although it now provides a platform for the kitten to jump on and then jump on the tank.


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Nice idea,  do you have a picture of it?
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Toper0

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Reply #10

Jul 21, 2020 11:15:01 am
To be honest didn't get on with the filter sock so bought and put another media basket in, put some activated charcoal in media bags and stuffed that into the media baskets and topped off with some polyfill (the stuff they fill cushions and soft toys with), this way I dont need to slide the tray as I can pick out the dirty material from where it is, I only ask cos some people make a fuge from the top off tank

TheJag77

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Reply #11

Jul 21, 2020 11:16:22 am
Quote from: ajm83 on Jul 21, 2020 11:13:30 am
Nice idea,  do you have a picture of it?




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ajm83

  • Andy
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Reply #12

Jul 21, 2020 11:17:27 am
Quote from: marine_newbie on Jul 21, 2020 11:16:22 am




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Guess who wishes he'd left more space down the side of his fish tank now 🤦‍♂️
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TheJag77

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Reply #13

Jul 21, 2020 11:19:39 am
I must admit I was so lucky. Of course this was never by design, but luckily it was just 30cm and it fits like it was meant to be LOL

There was no way I would have be able to move the full tank even a cm or so


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Toper0

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Reply #14

Jul 21, 2020 11:23:03 am
Quote from: marine_newbie on Jul 21, 2020 11:16:22 am




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Hi, is that a variable return outlet in the top of the tank, if so what's your opinion, how much and where from?
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