My RMS 130D (8 months into it)

[Nhjmc]

Always wanted a reef tank had 55 gal saltwater yearssss ago came across a used RSM 130D for decent $ so scooped it up......I must of been drunk cause my god there is ALOT to this hobby. Legit most of my free time is researching online and watching youtube videos on reefing. Still need an ATO and cover for back to hide skimmer as the Tunze 9001 and intank media basket didn't work out for me that skimmer sucks (and I gave it over 5 weeks and still couldn't get it tuned in) my water level I keep on point I add RODI water daily water level indicator on this tank. For a 34 gal tank I'm thousands into it I can't fathom how people have those huge amazing reef tanks either rich or broke from spending all their $ on tank stuff. Wish I'd glued my rock work when I started tank cause still not happy with it just can't find those "perfect pcs" to complete the look I'm trying for.

 

[Big G]

Very nice tank. You are one of us now LOL

 

[Nhjmc]

Very nice tank. You are one of us now LOL

Thank u!! It’s getting there slowly and ALOT more to go but unless I hit the lottery gotta do it over time. Next purchases this week finally ato and the cover for back to hide ugliness and will also be a more secure fixture for my hydra 26 hd which I must say is AMAZING. Def impressed so far and still in acclimation period but blows T5’s outta water in my opinion anyway. Glad I didn’t cheap out on my lighting upgrade.

 

[Big G]

Going slow is perfect. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby. It's an old saying but so true.
What ATO did you decide to go with on your tank?

 

[Nhjmc]

Going slow is perfect. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby. It's an old saying but so true.
What ATO did you decide to go with on your tank?

LOL I hear that! Well glad you asked because I am having a hard time deciding. Initially I was going to go with the Tunze 3152 nano ATO but after the bad luck I had with the Tunze 9001 skimmer (gave it a chance 6 weeks almost to "break in" but for the life of me couldn't get that thing to skim anything put cloudy greenish brownish water I even contact Tunze customer service for help and they were great but still didn't skim. I tried all their suggestions and nope, so long story short I put the loud as heck bulky as heck stock red sea skimmer back in but at least it skims great. Back to the point lol leaning towards the Ice Cap ATO. Do you have any suggestions?

 

[Big G]

LOL I hear that! Well glad you asked because I am having a hard time deciding. Initially I was going to go with the Tunze 3152 nano ATO but after the bad luck I had with the Tunze 9001 skimmer (gave it a chance 6 weeks almost to "break in" but for the life of me couldn't get that thing to skim anything put cloudy greenish brownish water I even contact Tunze customer service for help and they were great but still didn't skim. I tried all their suggestions and nope, so long story short I put the loud as heck bulky as heck stock red sea skimmer back in but at least it skims great. Back to the point lol leaning towards the Ice Cap ATO. Do you have any suggestions?

No real suggestion. I use a Tunze on my 90. Hated doing manual top offs. The Tunze has been pretty good for a couple of years now. The pump was a bit noisy at first, but it much quieter now. I know some like to manually top off to stay more connected to their tank, but, I must admit the lazy guy within really like ATOs. Have heard very good things about Ice Cap.

 

[Nhjmc]

Cool thank you Honestly I rather add myself daily like I've been doing for months and save myself the $123.00 I just thought I needed it going by the articles and such I've read online about ATO and evap causes salinity swings. It's tough because online there are so many opinions and everyone has something diff. to say. Lately I've just been sticking to BRSTV and of course they say should have one but they also say should have/buy ALOT of things. Thanks again for your pointers and such I really appreciate it

 

[Rattzreef]

nice set up.. I have a 130D also been set up 10 months now at my new place. I went with the XP Aqua Duetto for my ATO. its a nice little unit and affordable.. I had a Tunze nano when I first bought this but it was kinda loud IMO. this one is super quiet has a photo eye and it alerts me when it takes longer to fill than normal operation.. the pumps are super small too so they fit in just about any container.. may be an option worth looking into.

 

[Rattzreef]

InTank.com sells some really cool accessories for these tanks too.. I picked up the filtration cover and media basket for mine..
https://intankaquatics.com/shop-by-tank/red-sea-max/red-sea-max-130-130d/..
Here is a link.

 

[Nhjmc]

Nice! Lol that’s the ato I ordered.

 

[Rattzreef]

I have 3 of them two with the internal overflow on my fish/coeral QT tanks and a Duetto for my 130. I'm very happy with them.. I run Kalkwasser in my ATO and the replacement pumps are only $20 from XPAqua if I ever need it.. Win win.

 

[Nhjmc]

InTank.com sells some really cool accessories for these tanks too.. I picked up the filtration cover and media basket for mine..
https://intankaquatics.com/shop-by-tank/red-sea-max/red-sea-max-130-130d/..
Here is a link.

I just ordered the cover should arrive any day from intank I can’t wait. Hoping I can mount my AI hydra on it. Me too except I had to take the media basket out because I don’t like the Tunze 9001 skimmer. Five weeks that thing still wouldn’t skim right I also don’t like how low it sits in water. I put the stock Red Sea skimmer back in its bulky and loud but skims great but won’t fit with media basket in which I really like the media basket. I couldn’t return the skimmer so going to give it another try eventually.

 

[Rattzreef]

im using the Reefglass skimmer.. Its an wood airstone skimmer from Marine depot.. it works for what I need it for..

 

[Rattzreef]

Nano Protein Skimmer

The Reef Glass Nano Skimmer is a high quality air pump driven protein skimmer specially designed for nano reef aquariums. It is based on the traditional air-driven method using limewood airstone with many improvements. The unique design is very simple, yet elegant and functional. Features...

www.marinedepot.com

 

[Rattzreef]

I get the white filter pad material from Petco for like $6 and cut it into 2" x2" squares large enough to fit in the top of the media basket then peel them in half to make two thinner filter pads. they don't foul out as quickly and catch a lot of the larger particles in the water before reaching the skimmer. one pad will give me about a months worth of daily or bi daily filters( just watch the water level). It seems to help it work more efficiently.. its not the most powerful solution but it does skim stuff and also adds with air addition the tank.. easy to clean too.

 

[Nhjmc]

About to hook up my new ato this should be fun. So completely off topic but I gotta mention it.....lfs told me his anemones bubbly because they require a lot of light up to 3000 par. Maybe I’m missing something here but 3000 par!?

 

[Nhjmc]

hi hoping you can help because I’m feeling really annoyed and frustrated at the moment I too went with that same auto top off which I like minus all the cords and hoses I have to hide but I’ll figure that out later. Also I got the cover from intank today. Not what I was expecting very flimsy and trying to figure out how the ai hydra light gets mounted centered like in the picture on the box how did u mount yours? I’m running the stock Red Sea skimmer which is huge not looking like there’s a way to mount the light centered . Thanks!

 

[Rattzreef]

I have 2 Kessil A80s mounted to the back of the tank with the flexible mounting arms. They just fit over the plastic hinge area th at the good connected to.. the filtration cover isn't really meant for mounting your lights to. It's just made to cover the back section. I just slide it up to the light mounts and it covers most of it up.

 

[Nhjmc]

Hi all,
Not sure where I am supposed to mount the ATO sensor? Picked up an Aqua Duetto XP and can't seem to find much on the red sea max 130D mounting location. Sump? Main Display? Heater/skimmer chamber? Return pump chamber?
Thanks!

 

[Rattzreef]

It will go into the same chamber that your return pump sits in.. the water level in that chamber will be the one effected by evaporation. Place it so the pump will be submerged fully at all times. I fed the sensor and the fill hose through the small cutout in the back by the return section.