Schumanistan’s MAX E 170 Build

[Schumanistan]

So my MAX E 170 is already up and going. (See pictures) When I first started this journey I wanted to do something simple and only grow softies. However after I got everything going the sickness to build something spectacular set in. I’ve spent countless hours on this forum constructing a plan to create an astonishing ecosystem!

I already have -

5 gallon Trigger ATO

Maxspect Jump 2k

Aqua Duetto ATO

Dream Aquscape from a previous build that never happen

Caribsea Crushed Coral

The next step goes as follows. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to do the conversion since the tank is up and running, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

Here’s my plan, let me know what you think.

GHL Profilux Mega Set

Trigger Platinum 20 Cube

Reef Octopus eSsence S-130 Internal Protein Skimmer - (on the controller to run at night only to keep nutrients at a decent level and ph up at night)

Maxspect Jump DC 6K Controllable Return Pump

Convert everything over to standard to hard pipe everything in using a 1" spears gate valve instead of the stock diaphragm. I’ve found the metric slip to standard threaded fittings on a plumbing website so that shouldn’t be that bad.

After I get everything up and running get the KH director and a couple dosers and rock and roll!

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I like it. Looks interesting with the plateaus
Following along

 

[Schumanistan]

I like it. Looks interesting with the plateaus
Following along

I’ll be posting updates as this all unfolds. Ordering all the equipment next week!

 

[Luna Lagoona]

Nice call on the Gyre!

Looks like an interesting hardscape for sure! Good luck!

 

[Schumanistan]

Here are some update photos! The water is a little high because I was filling up the display through the sump. I still have to put all the equipment in but I have everything plumbed and circulating water. I’ll finish everything up tomorrow!

 

[Schumanistan]

More updates! I bought a GHL profilux and two 8 plug power bars. I haven’t gotten it up and running yet. I plan on going to IKEA and getting two cabinet to go on each side so I can hook all the controllers, 2 dosers, ATO, and dosing containers up and have them hidden. The water level in the sump was a little too high so I attached 2” pieces on clear PVC on each corner of the skimmer with some coral glue. I also moved the entire tank to a different location in the house because I feel like it was getting too much sunlight

 

[Schumanistan]

New update! Went to IKEA and bought and Bestas storage cabinet for a control cabinet to house the GHL stuff and dosers. I didn’t like how thin and flimsy the back was so I reinforced it with some ply wood 4 bolts and 8 fender washers. Let me know what y’all think!

 

[Schumanistan]

I think the filtration may be working too well. Nitrates HR 0.0 and Phosphates are 0.01 on Hanna checkers. I may run the skimmer on a 12 hour schedule.

 

[Schumanistan]

Im not sure if anyone is even looking at this build thread or not, but ill keep updating it for poops and giggles. I ordered a UV sterilizer. I plan on hard plumbing it from the return back to the display. thinking I may need a flow monitor so I can match their specs. running the skimmer for 12 hours a day still. hopefully that fixes the nitrate and phosphate situation. Also going bare bottom and moving the sand bed into the refugium section of the sump.

 

[about76gnomes]

Im not sure if anyone is even looking at this build thread or not, but ill keep updating it for poops and giggles. I ordered a UV sterilizer. I plan on hard plumbing it from the return back to the display. thinking I may need a flow monitor so I can match their specs. running the skimmer for 12 hours a day still. hopefully that fixes the nitrate and phosphate situation. Also going bare bottom and moving the sand bed into the refugium section of the sump.

I'm paying attention!! hahaha. Nice build, I love the plumbing and setup so far. What all do you plan on dosing btw? Looking like you're set up to dose 8 separate things if you chose to.

 

[Schumanistan]

I'm paying attention!! hahaha. Nice build, I love the plumbing and setup so far. What all do you plan on dosing btw? Looking like you're set up to dose 8 separate things if you chose to.

I appreciate you keeping up with my build! I actually bought a tiny refrigerator and I’m going to dose some refrigerated foods and AB+. I plan on going kalwasser from the ATO in the future but before then I may dose cal mag alk. I’m going to use one doser for the KH director. I haven’t ordered the unit yet though. I’m still fairly new so I need to do some more research before dosing anything else.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Sweet build. following along. Love your sump. Did the filter roller came with ? Good looking aquascape. Lots of placements for corals.

 

[Schumanistan]

Sweet build. following along. Love your sump. Did the filter roller came with ? Good looking aquascape. Lots of placements for corals.

Thank you! The sump is a trigger platinum cube and came with the fleece roller. I love it too, its working a little too well at pulling out nutrients though. The scape came from Dream Aquascapes!

 

[about76gnomes]

I appreciate you keeping up with my build! I actually bought a tiny refrigerator and I’m going to dose some refrigerated foods and AB+. I plan on going kalwasser from the ATO in the future but before then I may dose cal mag alk. I’m going to use one doser for the KH director. I haven’t ordered the unit yet though. I’m still fairly new so I need to do some more research before dosing anything else.

It's nice that you have the flexibility to dose basically whatever you want and control each addition individually. No concerns that the food could gunk up and clog the small dosing lines? I've never seen anyone use dosing pumps for supplemental feeding, so I'm interested to see how that works out.

I consider myself new again as well, last reef tank I had was 7 or so years ago so I basically scrubbed whatever knowledge I thought I had and started over since so much has changed.

What made you consider dosing kalk from the ATO as opposed to something like 2-part for controlling calc and alk? Could certainly do it with all the dosing channels you have at your disposal.

 

[Schumanistan]

It's nice that you have the flexibility to dose basically whatever you want and control each addition individually. No concerns that the food could gunk up and clog the small dosing lines? I've never seen anyone use dosing pumps for supplemental feeding, so I'm interested to see how that works out.

I consider myself new again as well, last reef tank I had was 7 or so years ago so I basically scrubbed whatever knowledge I thought I had and started over since so much has changed.

What made you consider dosing kalk from the ATO as opposed to something like 2-part for controlling calc and alk? Could certainly do it with all the dosing channels you have at your disposal.

I’ve taken pretty much everything into consideration including dosing 2 part, however dosing Kalwasser supposedly helps maintain a higher PH in the tank and it takes care of both calcium and alkalinity. I bought the dosers as part of a package deal so I have them by default. The guy I bought the dosers from used them to dose foods and AB+ so I’m hoping it works. It’ll definitely be a trial run. In the early stages I’ll likely hand dose everything so I can keep an eye on my parameters. I’ve finally gotten my Phos and Nitrates under control by keeping the skimmer on a timer. Having the UV installed this weekend because I don’t have time to do it myself. Also moving the sand bed to the refugium in an attempt to keep the biological filtration and clean up the display. I have zero concern for how in natural a bare bottom looks. Since I’m going zoas and SPS only I can use flow however I want and not worry about the sand bed. I appreciate the conversation. It’s stimulating my mind and having me think everything through again.

 

[about76gnomes]

I’ve taken pretty much everything into consideration including dosing 2 part, however dosing Kalwasser supposedly helps maintain a higher PH in the tank and it takes care of both calcium and alkalinity. I bought the dosers as part of a package deal so I have them by default. The guy I bought the dosers from used them to dose foods and AB+ so I’m hoping it works. It’ll definitely be a trial run. In the early stages I’ll likely hand dose everything so I can keep an eye on my parameters. I’ve finally gotten my Phos and Nitrates under control by keeping the skimmer on a timer. Having the UV installed this weekend because I don’t have time to do it myself. Also moving the sand bed to the refugium in an attempt to keep the biological filtration and clean up the display. I have zero concern for how in natural a bare bottom looks. Since I’m going zoas and SPS only I can use flow however I want and not worry about the sand bed. I appreciate the conversation. It’s stimulating my mind and having me think everything through again.

That's awesome that you got them as a package deal! I don't have much experience with dosing, but I just added some corals to my tank yesterday and so far so good. I do weekly 25% water changes and plan to start testing my calcium and alkalinity to see what kind of affect the corals have and decide from there. Odds are I will just do something like 2 part and dose by hand since it's a Biocube 16 and I don't have much need for an ATO to use kalkwasser in.

I dont think the AB+ will be any issue at all I'm the dosing pumps, but I'm super interested to see how the refrigerated food does if you experiment with it. Not something I've personally seen done before.

What was causing you to have phos and nitrate issues? Bad algae issues? I remember you mentioning something about your water possibly being too clean and not having enough due to the skimmer running full bore, but maybe I misunderstood.

I've always wanted to do a bare bottom tank, so maybe one of these days. Would probably be beneficial once the tank matures, easy to clean and you don't have years of gunk trapped in the sandbed just waiting to explode on you one day.

The conversation is great! I love picking people minds with different outlooks and methods of doing stuff, lots you can learn that way!

 

[Schumanistan]

That's awesome that you got them as a package deal! I don't have much experience with dosing, but I just added some corals to my tank yesterday and so far so good. I do weekly 25% water changes and plan to start testing my calcium and alkalinity to see what kind of affect the corals have and decide from there. Odds are I will just do something like 2 part and dose by hand since it's a Biocube 16 and I don't have much need for an ATO to use kalkwasser in.

I dont think the AB+ will be any issue at all I'm the dosing pumps, but I'm super interested to see how the refrigerated food does if you experiment with it. Not something I've personally seen done before.

What was causing you to have phos and nitrate issues? Bad algae issues? I remember you mentioning something about your water possibly being too clean and not having enough due to the skimmer running full bore, but maybe I misunderstood.

I've always wanted to do a bare bottom tank, so maybe one of these days. Would probably be beneficial once the tank matures, easy to clean and you don't have years of gunk trapped in the sandbed just waiting to explode on you one day.

The conversation is great! I love picking people minds with different outlooks and methods of doing stuff, lots you can learn that way!

Thats the plan with going bare bottom, Im going to run a MP10 at the bottom to keep it as clean as possible.
The nitrates and phosphates are zeroed because i have an over sized skimmer and the fleece is pulling out almost all the solids so they dont get a chance to decompose in the water. Do you have a build thread?

 

[Schumanistan]

Here is the minifridge I plan on using to keep the AB+ an the phyto cold. I have some GHL magnetic stirrers and dosing containers I plan on putting inside of it to keep things suspended. This fridge should fit perfectly inside the control cabinet right next to the ATO reservoir. Im excited to see how this goes. Gunna drill some holes for the dosing lines and the power supply for the stirrers. hopefully I don't fudge it up.

 

[about76gnomes]

Thats the plan with going bare bottom, Im going to run a MP10 at the bottom to keep it as clean as possible.
The nitrates and phosphates are zeroed because i have an over sized skimmer and the fleece is pulling out almost all the solids so they dont get a chance to decompose in the water. Do you have a build thread?

I guess better oversized than undersized since you can always just dial down the bigger one by putting it on a timer. That sounds like it'll be a super clean setup though, can't wait to see it in action.

I do have one. Here's the link!

Here is the minifridge I plan on using to keep the AB+ an the phyto cold. I have some GHL magnetic stirrers and dosing containers I plan on putting inside of it to keep things suspended. This fridge should fit perfectly inside the control cabinet right next to the ATO reservoir. Im excited to see how this goes. Gunna drill some holes for the dosing lines and the power supply for the stirrers. hopefully I don't fudge it up.

That seems perfect! I have one similar in my mancave for my favorite refreshments! Just be careful with drilling, I've built a few kegerators from fridges and I know you have to be careful where you drill so you don't acctidentally sever one of the coolant lines. Some are in the doors, the sides, etc. That is for full size fridges though, I'd imagine mini fridges are more simple. Just food for thought!

 

[Schumanistan]

Finally have everything about where I want it. I still need to hook up the last dosing head to the mini fridge that holds the AB+. For now I’ve just been manually dosing, and plumb in the UV sterilizer. I hope running 15 doses or so 24 hours a day will keep the AB+ fresh since I really don’t want to run the pump in reverse. Also I’m dosing into the back sump where the (now) circulation pump is running. Surly that won’t be a problem. I’m running out of room in the bottom sump and it’s a pain to reach the dosing holders.