Reefer 250 build

[tenurepro]

This is my second adventure in reef keeping after keeping a nano 29 gallon https://keepingthereef.wordpress.com

Waiting for the reefer 250 to arrive but got some equipment already
Lights; 2 x radion xr15 pro with rms mount


Sand: 90 lbs of aragalive pink Fiji
Rock: dry pukani and Tonga and some life rock from my nano

Here is a first attempt at an aquascape



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CafeReef]

I like the aquascape, maybe flip the far left? Looks like it would have lots of holes for corals

[tenurepro]

Thanks for the tip - also try to imagine this pile of rock to the left of this smaller column that will be moved from my nano... So the big island pictured above beside the little island pictured below


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[smoreau1]

Congrats on the new equipment, I look forward to follow your build.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[plecoco]

Keep the pics coming!

[tenurepro]

Will do!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ksigaekdb]

There is nothing like a pile of new, high-end equipment to get excited about a build!

[tenurepro]

Originally Posted by ksigaekdb

There is nothing like a pile of new, high-end equipment to get excited about a build!

For sure . I did my nano on a low budget - buying the tank and most of the equipment used. Learned a lot but also learned that quality components are sometimes worth it.

Actually got to test out the radion xr15 on my nano yesterday, which has been running current orbit LEDs. Now don't get me wrong, I really love my nano and my corals, but man the colors that I saw on my corals with the radion were substantially better - my zoas and acans just looked magnificent. I've been really wondering why my corals lose colors in my nano - they look awesome at the local frag store but dull in my tank - now I know it is the light that makes some of this difference....

Yes can't wait for the tank to arrive (and the cycle to end)!

[tenurepro]

Tank arrived at LFS today, and did 90 lbs of Fiji pink... Exciting stuff. Awaiting a truck for home delivery



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tenurepro]

It took about 3 hours to assemble the stand solo... It is heavy and getting the sides in was pretty challenging, but seems very sturdy... Doors tomorrow!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tenurepro]

And it's a tank


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tenurepro]

More gear
Jecod dct-4000 return pump, bubble magus' new curve a5 with DC pump (hope it's as good as the highly rated curve 5) and bm-t01 dosing pump (#spentallmoneyonradionlightssohadtoskimponthrdosingpump)



So technically everything is ready to go... Should I cycle the new sand and move my nano live rock and critters over, or should I .... Errrrrr .... wait till my new dry rock cures for a better aquascaping experience ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tenurepro]

Here is bm curve A5 and duct-4000 in reefer 250 sump



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[plecoco]

Very nice! Following your build thread.

[tenurepro]

Found these helpful for level adjustments on assembled tank



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tenurepro]

rock curing update: happy to report that my dry rock is not certified cured - from a nitrogen cycle perspective. its been 15 days since i soaked the ~30 lbs of pukani in saltwater with two power heads and a heaters, and i am now getting 0 ppm ammonia and 0 ppm nitrite. Ammonia was off the charts during the first week but came down to zero last week, and nitrites were about zero for the first week, then off the chart last week, and no zero again. Have about 10 ppm nitrates (which should go away with a full water change tomorrow), and 2 ppm phosphates, which i am hoping also will go away after the water changes... if the rock is still leaking phosphates, then i have some decisions to make... wait for it to get down to manageable levels before adding it to tank (which is still empty), or aqua scape and let my phosban reactor take care of the phosphate problem... any tips or advice on the matter. Specifically, what is the typical phosphate load that a standard phosban reactor can deal with ? In other words, will phosban take 2 ppm and turn it into 0 zero ?, or will it only bring it down to 1 or 0.5 ppm?

[sixpackgarage]

that's really an attractive stand. What's it made out of and how is it secured together?

[rvlcf]

Not sure if you have water in the tank yet, but I wanted to suggest sealing the seams inside the stand before you install the sump. When I set up my reefer 450 I siliconed all of the seams inside the sump area. I know eventually moisture and salt would have made it between them.
Good luck with the build!

[tenurepro]

Originally Posted by sixpackgarage

that's really an attractive stand. What's it made out of and how is it secured together?

Thanks - it's one of the attractions of the reefer system IMHO, especially for living room tanks. Not sure exactly re. Material but thinking laminated MDF? Very sturdy and put together like ikea furniture (dowels and a few metal screws that are clamped by metal washers... Have the terminology wrong for sure but if you've put together an ikea desk, then you know what I mean). The finish and sturdiness are superior to ikea though - it's heavy and doesn't feel flimsy in any way. Stand doors were pretty easy to install and adjust.

[tenurepro]

Originally Posted by rvlcf

Not sure if you have water in the tank yet, but I wanted to suggest sealing the seams inside the stand before you install the sump. When I set up my reefer 450 I siliconed all of the seams inside the sump area. I know eventually moisture and salt would have made it between them.
Good luck with the build!

Thanks for the tip - you mean silicon the inner bottom sides of the stand together ?

[tenurepro]

Leak and equipment check - all systems go!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rvlcf]

Originally Posted by tenurepro

Thanks for the tip - you mean silicon the inner bottom sides of the stand together ?

I mean putting silicone anywhere two different pieces come together

[tenurepro]

Originally Posted by rvlcf

I mean putting silicone anywhere two different pieces come together

Got it thanks

[tenurepro]

Still in equipment testing phase while rock is still curing (good on the nitrogen end of things but high phosphates. Came to days ago and noticed that my ato tank was empty, and I had just filled it yesterday! Turns out that the float assembly connection broke off!
Contacted Redsea and they are sending a new one.
Another problem I was having was the sound of the dct4000 return pump. By far the noisiest thing in the tank... A very obvious whine that drove me nuts (tank is in the living room). I am returning it and hoping to exchange it for something less noisy ... Thinking about vectra m1? Any thoughts?

Drained tank now... Waiting for ato float assembly and new pump and we should be ready to get this reefer salty


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mystikal]

nice looking tank!
Will tag along, really like the Red Sea Reefer tanks.