RSM130D - A potted history of marine reefing

[Whipitup]

Some of you may have seen this thread elsewhere, but for those that haven't:

Well it started today.......setting up my second hand RSM that is (Jan 09) .....

Firstly some pictures of my existing tank, an Orca TL-450 (58 Ltr Nano) which has been running for about 8 months:


This was when I first bought it, about eight months ago.


About 3 months ago.


And as she stands today.

OK, the RSM:


This is her late last night after a "dam good clean up".....which included stripping all the pumps and hood (the fans needed a good clean).


This morning our bloody nosey Bengal decided she wanted to join in!!!


The Korilia 3 that came with the tank after I cleaned all the coraline of it.



A couple of shots of the tank in it's final position, I had to shorten the shelf next to it to get it to fit. Dragging a nano full of 58 Litres of water (the Orca) out of the way wasn't much fun either!!!

Tomorrow I need to get 100 Litres of RO, add it to the tank and salt it. I'll need a couple pieces of LR and another bag of sand before I can add the LR. corals and fish from the Orca.

It's gonna be a long day.

[Whipitup]

OK......I did the swap yesterday (again Jan 09), started at about 10 am and collected 100 Ltrs of fresh and VERY cold RO from the LFS, and added it to the RSM:



Then added the salt:



Added an extra power head and heater to try to speed things up a bit:



A few hours or so later, and something was emerging from the gloom:




By eight o'clock that evening, I could see the results of my "handy work":





Everything survived the move and fish and corals where eating normally.

I might add some reef bones at a later date to give it some height.

[Whipitup]

OK......some changes (June 09):

Interpet have sent me a new tank due to a few "issues" that could not be resolved with the original one (fantastic customer service).

The new tank arrived on 20.05.2009 (Wednesday) and the intention was to set it up on the Friday, but I managed to bag of sugar my back up so it was postponed until Saturday when Mr Durkin helped with the heavy stuff (Cheers Chris). I'd built the stand and installed the electrics and plumbing (such that it is) on Friday to save time.......It still took 9 hours though)!!!

Piccies:


A box of goodies has arrived!!!



A partially built cabinet.


New and old.



Plumbing (outlet and return for the Phosphate reactor.


The electrics sorted (eat your heart out Mr Durkin!!!)


Quick release fitting for the Phos reactor in the cabinet (Freebie from Mr Northern Monkey - cheers Chris)


Shot of the front of the tank.


Side shot.

Over all I am very pleased with the new "deluxe" version, better skimmer, better lights, room for an extra fan in the hood, deeper top trim, taller stand, plumbing and cooling fan accessories, and lots of other nice touches like the surface skimmer.

The skimmer took 3 nights to break in a stop producing microbubbles and the whole tank seems quieter than the old one.

Only a couple of fatalities during the change over, a Cerith snail (god knows why as the other is fine) and a coral of Chris's that was recovering, but fell apart after the change over.

The tank has been running for three days now and not a sign of any algae of any sort.....I used to have to clean the glass every day before

I don't want to have to do a job like that again in a hurry!!!!

Roger

[Whipitup]

With a pending house move, the chances are I'll be posting yet another series of set-up pictures soon.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[Kev]

Very nice mate. I would be very pleased with that set up. Aquascaping looks really good.

[northernmonkey]

Nice lot of pic's mate . This tank is unbeleavable in the flesh . I see it yesterday and it has gone on a long way since I last see it :--

Oh and cheers for the tank mate one day I'll be running my own red sea max with a sea horses

[Whipitup]

Oh and cheers for the tank mate one day I'll be running my own red sea max with a sea horses

Not a problem Scott.............just look after my frag.....

[cdurkin100]

Looking good as always :--

[Whipitup]

Even more equipment:



And a quick shot of the tank as of tonight (sorry about the crappy picture, my phone takes decent stills, but the tank is a wholly different matter):

[lee]

how r the sps frags doing ?