Thoughts on the Seaclear System II

[shogun323]

I am a newb and I own a 50 gallon Seaclear System II aquarium. The system II is an acrylic tank with all inclusive plumbing including room for an optional protein skimmer, bioballs and 350 gph powerhead. The tank works great and looks fantastic. Here is the major flaw in it. Having the everything built into the tank, you forfeit 4 inches of depth. So my pricey 50 gallon tank in all actuality is about a 40 gallon tank. The other issue is that the stock circulation is still too slow so you will still need an additional powerhead. If I started over I would go with a standard glass tank and sump.
The intent of this thread is mearly to put out my .02 to anyone that may be considering the System II tank.
Stay Classy!!!!

 

[piscesblue]

I just picked up a used System II tank and love it. Of course, I only paid $150 and it's in great condition. Anyways, I'm looking for a skimmer and found the venturi powered skimmer addition for our tanks at some obsure little shops. Are you using the Seaclear skimmer or did you go a different route? I'm very tempted since it slides right into the first slot instead of hanging off the back of the tank. I'm with you on the real estate loss with these tanks, it seams small next to my 75gal glass.

 

[shogun323]

I have the Seaclear skimmer thats made for the first slot . It works well and does the job.

 

[piscesblue]

Shogun, What type of substrate are you using? I'm concerned that the low return holes would blow sand all over the place. Also, what are you using your rear boxes for? I'm kicking around the idea of removing the bio balls and filling them with sand and LR rubble. Maybe even som macro algae with a light on the rear of the tank. Since I didn't have any instructions, I first had the entire rear full of water and it ran the same, just didn't "trickle", now I figured out that the window on the right side was actually the water level and corrected it. Good thing is, I know it will run full and can be used for other things.

 

[shogun323]

I have live sand from SWF.com and you are correct that the low return holes are a problem. I only have about an inch and a half depth. How ever it is probably only 1/4 inch deep near the return holes from it blowing out. I placed live rock in front of them to ditribute the return and it helped a little.
In regards to the bioball area, I am also removing the bioballs also and filling with Live rock rubble. I have heard that bioballs can become a nitrate factory plus you can never have enough biological filtration. The System II instructions say to only fill water up to the middle of the little window by the pump. I found that when I leave it that low it puts in way too many bubbles. The manual is actually located on the company website which I believe I can post since they don't sell anything. it is casco-group.com
I have attached a crude diagram of how my tank is setup as well as a pic.

 

[piscesblue]

Shogun, I emptied out the bioballs and replaced with a bunch of LR rubble. I raised the water level to 1/2 way up between the floor and the drip plate and then filled the LR to about 2 inches under the water level. I used a hammer to break down any pieces larger than my fist. This setup is working well and looks promising for the pod population. Unfortunately, my skimmer is on order and won't ship from the factory until 8/29! Keep this thread alive as a way to track our successes and failures with these System II tanks. We are the only ones on the board who know what they are and since we within a month of eachother on start-up, we will be going thru many of the same stages. I am an experienced reefer when it comes to softies and should be able to help with many of your newb questions. Also, give me a rundown of you equipment/lighting for a reference point. My 280w of PCs should be arriving via Fedex today. Yippee!

 

[piscesblue]

1 more thing, the low returns are actually a good thing since they keep water circulating thru the rear of the LR. This will keep a lot of gunk from accumulating back there. Personally, I would have raised them about an inch, but you take what you can get. For additional circulation, I have 2 Power Sweep 228 PHs attached to the top of the angled wall in the rear, this provides a full sweep of my tank in a semi random motion. The downside of these things is that they stop rotating when they get clogged.

 

[shogun323]

Cool. That is a great idea. I definately need all the help I can get. I have the Orbit PC's model 1023 w/ Lunars. (Man I love those lunars!) It's a total of 192 watts. I am slowly removing the bioballs myself. I actully added more sand last week and it worked out well. I now have a 3 inch deep sand bed everywhere except where the returns are at. I have thought about getting a UV sterilizer but I dont think there is anywhere to put one.
My current stocklist is:
1 - maroon clown (had 2 ocellaris. 1 died from Brook traded the other to my roomate for the maroon as it would grow too big for his nano)
2 - green chromis (had 4 but the always pick of the littlest man)
1 - serpent star (only 4 legs he isnt missing one strange huh?)
1 - emerald crab
5 - turbo snails
10 - blueleg hermits
pulsing xenia (free from friends tank)
green eyed zoos (40+ polyps on sale for 25 at LFS)
Over time I want to add:
1 - Yellow watchman Goby
1 - Royal Gramma
1 - Coral Beauty
1 - BTA
1 - Leather (free from friends tank)
some shrooms and frogspawn
I am definately open for suggestions and advise. Thanks alot and congrats on your lights!!!

 

[piscesblue]

Just setup my 260w of PCs and boy are they bright. I picked up about 50# of 5yr old premium LR from Kpatrick (Thank you again!) and that combined with the 10# in my filter has cycled my tank in 2 days. So with a sparkling new cycled tank at home, I did what anyone addicted to reefer would do and ran straight to the LFS for a Pygmy Angel and a 2 spotted Hogfish.

The Star polyps on my LR were fully extended after 20min under the new lights. Things are going great right now, but I know I have an alge bloom on the horizon and I need to get my clean-up crew from here. I currently only have 5 red hermits in a 75gal.
I have no experience with UV sterilizers and have been looking at them, but like you, I have nothing to hook them too. I can't add another powerhead, my temp won't drop below 82 and I have removed the lid. I sure hope the PCs don't raise it. Do you have a heat issue?
I'll post some pics when I get a chance.

 

[shogun323]

My tank doesnt get too hot at all. In fact I run a heater. The Orbit PC light my temp maintains a constant 79 degrees. I keep my townhouse at 74 degrees which probably helps. I would definately love to see some pictures when you get some!!

 

[piscesblue]

I'm running at 80 without the lid and lights and 82 with the lights. My house is usually a freezer, so it must be the monster powerheads, my heater is unplugged. I bought a 13w PC worklight for $20 at Home Depot today and put it behind the tank, I think the lack of light on the rubble might be causing the low PH (7.8). Now I need to find some good macro algae to grow back there. I would take pictures, but the rear of the tank is only 4" from the wall. My 75gal also has 2 of the bioball compartments so I have lots of room for stuff. I'll take some pics of the front if I can in the morning.

 

[piscesblue]

:jumping: My skimmer came today!! :jumping: I can't believe they sent it Saturday delivery from FED EX. It arrived just in time because a dusting of diatoms just appeared on my substrate. This outbreak should be nasty since I used 75 gal of tap water to start the tank. I wonder if I should just let it go until it consumes all of the silicates in the water. I also put 2 neon gobies in the tank and lost the curious one to a hungry powerhead. Pygmy Angel has a few spots of ich, but that is to be expected since after they bagged him, they pulled a dead blennie out of the same tank. Other than the few spots, he is perfectly healthy/happy and it doesn't seem to be multiplying. How long did it take you to get your skimmer properly adjusted? I need to get some hose for the auto drain to avoid dissasembling it every few days. Well, I know I said pics were coming, but I know when I get home, I'll have a brown tank and will need to take pics after it's over.

 

[shogun323]

congrats on gettin your skimmer. I really didnt have to do any adjustments on mine. I just plugged it in and let 'er rip. It has been skimmin its little heart out ever since. The auto drain is a good idea. I have just been emptying mine with a turkey baster. Sorry about your sacrifical Neon Goby. I have been eying a Yellow Watchman Goby myself at the LFS. They are very cool.

 

[piscesblue]

Yellow Watchmen are a great addition to the tank. I had one in my old reef and will be getting one for this reef. Right now I'm just skimming cups full of water, but right before I left for work, I notcied a much thicker foam starting to pop the lid off. Hopefully it will be skimming properly in the morning. I'm a not pleased about all the micro bubbles leaking into the tank! I also got put some macro algae in the refugium, hopefully it cuts the diatoms down.

 

[breya]

Hey Shogun,
I just set up a seaclear system 2 46 gallon bowfront. I saw your 50 gallon pictures. What kind and how did you run your powerhead cord?
Thanks
Breya

 

[shogun323]

I just bought a aquaclear 20 and ran the cord over the back. I aimed my power head across the top blowing towards the return. By doing that that water blows across the the surface and then down the side of the tank. It really helped out alot. If you want I can take some more detailed pictures tonight.

 

[shogun323]

Originally Posted by PiscesBlue
Yellow Watchmen are a great addition to the tank. I had one in my old reef and will be getting one for this reef. Right now I'm just skimming cups full of water, but right before I left for work, I notcied a much thicker foam starting to pop the lid off. Hopefully it will be skimming properly in the morning. I'm a not pleased about all the micro bubbles leaking into the tank! I also got put some macro algae in the refugium, hopefully it cuts the diatoms down.
I had the micro bubble bubble issue pretty bad too. I fought them by raising my water level in the back.

 

[breya]

Shogun,
Thank you for the quick reply. A diagram would be great. Are you running the ventrui skimmer, and if so how well does it perform? I have been up snd running for about 9 days and have put my in yet.

 

[shogun323]

I just bought the optional protein skimmer made specifically for the System II tank. It seems to work well. It is pulling a ton of crud out.

I'll take some pictures when I get home for ya!!

 

[piscesblue]

Breya,
I run the venturi skimmer with the drain tube going into a mayonaise jar behind the tank. I'm not convinced yet on it's effectiveness, but the tank is just in it's 6th week with 3 fish and 100lbs of LR. I hope you join our little thread since all 3 of us are new to these tanks and not many people know what they are. We are using this thread as a journal on what works and what fails.