Randy's Redsea Reefer 250 and the rest of the Coral Farm
- Build Thread
- Thread starter RandyC
- Start date
- Tagged users None
OP
OP
RandyC
Well-Known Member
Going through a bit of a heat wave, but fans are rocking the garage tanks and still haven't gotten past 81F.
Also, my skimmer pump in the Frag Tank went out. I never really skimmed that much skimmate anyway and was just using it for the gas exchange, so I'm going to try to go skimmerless for a few days and see what it does for pH and NO3/PO4.
Some more progression shots.
BC Cricket Spine is becoming one of my favorite acros. (Aug 7, 2019)
BC Cricket Spine (Aug 13, 2019 - 6 days)
Vivid Confetti (July 30, 2019)
Vivid Confetti (Aug 13, 2019 - 15 days)
WWC Hippie Juice (July 30, 2019)
WWC Hippie Juice (Aug 13, 2019 - 15 days)
RRC Jawdropper (July 31, 2019)
RRC Jawdropper (Aug 13, 2019 - 14 days)
WWC Helios (June 9, 2019)
WWC Helios (Aug 13, 2019 - 67 days)
JF Jolt (Jul 9, 2019 - First day in tank after receiving shipment)
JF Jolt (Aug 13, 2019 - 35 days later)
Also, my skimmer pump in the Frag Tank went out. I never really skimmed that much skimmate anyway and was just using it for the gas exchange, so I'm going to try to go skimmerless for a few days and see what it does for pH and NO3/PO4.
Some more progression shots.
BC Cricket Spine is becoming one of my favorite acros. (Aug 7, 2019)
BC Cricket Spine (Aug 13, 2019 - 6 days)
Vivid Confetti (July 30, 2019)
Vivid Confetti (Aug 13, 2019 - 15 days)
WWC Hippie Juice (July 30, 2019)
WWC Hippie Juice (Aug 13, 2019 - 15 days)
RRC Jawdropper (July 31, 2019)
RRC Jawdropper (Aug 13, 2019 - 14 days)
WWC Helios (June 9, 2019)
WWC Helios (Aug 13, 2019 - 67 days)
JF Jolt (Jul 9, 2019 - First day in tank after receiving shipment)
JF Jolt (Aug 13, 2019 - 35 days later)
NY_Caveman
likes words, fish and arbitrary statistics
Did you just pull the cup to keep the gas exchange, or you took the skimmer offline?Going through a bit of a heat wave, but fans are rocking the garage tanks and still haven't gotten past 81F.
Also, my skimmer pump in the Frag Tank went out. I never really skimmed that much skimmate anyway and was just using it for the gas exchange, so I'm going to try to go skimmerless for a few days and see what it does for pH and NO3/PO4.
Some more progression shots.
BC Cricket Spine is becoming one of my favorite acros. (Aug 7, 2019)
BC Cricket Spine (Aug 13, 2019 - 6 days)
Vivid Confetti (July 30, 2019)
Vivid Confetti (Aug 13, 2019 - 15 days)
WWC Hippie Juice (July 30, 2019)
WWC Hippie Juice (Aug 13, 2019 - 15 days)
RRC Jawdropper (July 31, 2019)
RRC Jawdropper (Aug 13, 2019 - 14 days)
WWC Helios (June 9, 2019)
WWC Helios (Aug 13, 2019 - 67 days)
JF Jolt (Jul 9, 2019 - First day in tank after receiving shipment)
JF Jolt (Aug 13, 2019 - 35 days later)
OP
OP
RandyC
Well-Known Member
Pump busted today so just seeing what happens if I don’t fix/replace it.
NY_Caveman
likes words, fish and arbitrary statistics
LOL, I need to read more closely sometimes. Thanks.
OP
OP
RandyC
Well-Known Member
I’ve been dosing 2ml of ABCD manually twice a week. I’m really only dosing to keep chaeto alive. Have no idea if it’s doing anything for coral.
Barrnone
Community Member
What pump are you using for the refugium? How do you feel about the size? Im thinking about adding a fuge to my reefer 250. Most people seem to repurpose the ato but I feel like it gets in the way and im not sure if its big enough.
OP
OP
RandyC
Well-Known Member
I just run the fuge off my return pump (Vectra M1) through a manifold on the Reefer 250. Adding a 12 gallon fuge was awesome since it increases total water volume by almost 20%. I just happened to have an old Fluval Edge laying around that fit perfectly.
I originally had repurposed my ATO for a fuge and while it does work to reduce nitates and phosphates, it requires more frequent trimming of chaeto. Also, I noticed the small volume of chaeto in a converted fuge really doesn't do much to raise pH at night like my 12 gallon fuge full of chaeto will. I'd run my fuge lights longer if I could to keep pH up, but it strips too much nitrates and phosphates if I do.
Last edited:
Just had the pleasure of seeing these tanks in person ( and grabbing a few sticks ). I can honestly say Randy's tank are amazing. Everything I saw was happy and healthy
Barrnone
Community Member
Sure makes me wish I had an Apex. It would be interesting to see how much effect ph at night has on calcification. Seems like most of the alk consumption happens when the lights are on. At least thats what I seem to see from guys that have alk monitoring.I just run the fuge off my return pump (Vectra M1) through a manifold on the Reefer 250. Adding a 12 gallon fuge was awesome since it increases total water volume by almost 20%. I just happened to have an old Fluval Edge laying around that fit perfectly.
I originally had repurposed my ATO for a fuge and while it does work to reduce nitates and phosphates, it requires more frequent trimming of chaeto. Also, I noticed the small volume of chaeto in a converted fuge really doesn't do much to raise pH at night like my 12 gallon fuge full of chaeto will. I'd run my fuge lights longer if I could to keep pH up, but it strips too much nitrates and phosphates if I do.
I do dose kalk which would help with the ph but my alk consumption is very low in the system right now. Still undecided on a pump vs building a manafold. The pump is certainly the easier option.
OP
OP
RandyC
Well-Known Member
There actually is a difference seen in the calcification structure of night versus day growth (see https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1047847713001196).
Thanks! Hope I can keep it going until they’re colonies.
OP
OP
RandyC
Well-Known Member
We can probably arrange something!
OP
OP
RandyC
Well-Known Member
I’ve been slacking on the picture posting. Gotta get back on the regular schedule!
Frag/Growout tank has largely been on auto pilot. I have just been keeping up with normal water change schedules, carbon/GFO changes, and dosing trace elements. It just recently hit its six month birthday since getting wet (exactly 185 days today).
Here’s some growth tracking pics of my Tyree Tierra del Fuego. This one is definitely one of my fastest growers (it may very well be the fastest).
April 11, 2019
April 27, 2019 (color loss due to a bout with dinos - see post #57 for dino details)
May 7, 2019
July 4, 2019
August 31, 2019
Frag/Growout tank has largely been on auto pilot. I have just been keeping up with normal water change schedules, carbon/GFO changes, and dosing trace elements. It just recently hit its six month birthday since getting wet (exactly 185 days today).
Here’s some growth tracking pics of my Tyree Tierra del Fuego. This one is definitely one of my fastest growers (it may very well be the fastest).
April 11, 2019
April 27, 2019 (color loss due to a bout with dinos - see post #57 for dino details)
May 7, 2019
July 4, 2019
August 31, 2019
Last edited:
OP
OP
RandyC
Well-Known Member
Some more growth/progression pictures.
BC Cricket Spine (Aug 7, 2019)
BC Cricket Spine (Sept 1, 2019 - 24 days later)
BC Bohemian Table (Aug 7, 2019)
BC Bohemian Table (Sept 1, 2019 - 24 days later)
BC Aquatic Man Table (Aug 7, 2019)
BC Aquatic Man Table (Sep 1, 2019 - 24 days later)
TSA Optimus Prime (Aug 7, 2019)
TSA Optimus Prime (Sept 1, 2019 - 24 days later)
BC Cricket Spine (Aug 7, 2019)
BC Cricket Spine (Sept 1, 2019 - 24 days later)
BC Bohemian Table (Aug 7, 2019)
BC Bohemian Table (Sept 1, 2019 - 24 days later)
BC Aquatic Man Table (Aug 7, 2019)
BC Aquatic Man Table (Sep 1, 2019 - 24 days later)
TSA Optimus Prime (Aug 7, 2019)
TSA Optimus Prime (Sept 1, 2019 - 24 days later)
Similar threads
