Arman's Custom Red Sea S650

[ArmanS]

Hello everyone, this will be my build thread for my Red Sea S 650. I mention custom in the title because I did a lot of modifications to the system. I added a frag tank, and a custom large sump, and all the plumbing etc will be different.

My system will be in my office, the display tank will be against the back wall as you can see in the photos and then the 'fish room' will be in a room directly behind the fish tank.

I plan to have it up and running in the next 1-2 months hopefully. I have been gathering equipment for a very long time and now finally have time to start working on the tank.

I plan this system to be mainly SPS, with some non-sps additions. Fish wise, not sure on my stock list.

A little background about me, I am 22 and have been in the hobby for over 6 years. I've had a 180g FOWLR and a 125 mixed reef tank before. This tank is my 'dream tank' for now. Later I would want to get a larger tank but for right now this is the ideal size for me.

The system will have:
Red Sea S650 White Display tank with Matching Stand.
DT Lighting will be the 10x80w T5 Fixture that comes with the System
Return Pump will be a Jebao DC1200 that is T'ed and is the Return for the Frag Tank as well.
Skimmer will be Vertex Alpha Cone 170
Another Jebao DC12000 will be for my Manifold
Neptune Apex, with PM2, 3 EB8s, WXM
Vortech MP60
2 Jebao WP40's for Frag Tank
Ati 6x54w T5 For Frag Tank
CO2 Rx & Aquarium Plants Regulator
66"x30x"18" 3/4" thick Acrylic Sump made by Advanced Acrylics
44"x22"x14" Frag Tank made by Advanced Acrylics
Genesis Renew Pro & Storm system for ATO & Automated Water Changes
2x 135g Water Tanks
3x Vertex RX-U 1.5L Reactors
2x20amp dedicated circuits for the fish room.
That's most of the equipment, I'm sure I am missing some things that I will add later to the list.

I Plan to have a Manifold run off a separate Jebao DC 12000 pump, I don't think 1 pump would be able to handle my Display Tank Return, Frag Tank return and the manifold so this is the route that I am going unless anyone has any suggestions which I am totally open for.

The manifold will have 6-7 outlets that will be reduced to 1/2". 3 for Reactors, Carbon, GFO, Pellets, 1 for chiller, 1 for CA Rx.

These are current pics now, I will post more when I make updates!









Right now we are working on the electrical panel, just finishing putting some putty on it. Next step will be to sand more and paint it. The hole you see is the back of the DT where the plumbing will come through.

Thanks for reading along! Hopefully you guys will enjoy!

 

[snowdude10]

Nice build, but I have one question. Why did you buy the "all in one" Red Sea 650, when all you are really using is the lights? Why didn't you just get a "regular" tank? But overall, nice build, good equipment selection!

 

[ArmanS]

Nice build, but I have one question. Why did you buy the "all in one" Red Sea 650, when all you are really using is the lights? Why didn't you just get a "regular" tank? But overall, nice build, good equipment selection!

Thanks!

I should have addressed that in the first post! I bought the S 650 because I liked the design and look of how everything matched. The tank, stand, lights, and molding around the tank are very attractive and since it was going to be in my office I had to make sure it looked nice. I could have went custom and had it built by Reef Saavy or Miracles but I think cost wise it would have actually cost me more.

I'm not sure how much a 150g DT cost from Reef Saavy or Miracles but I would estimate to get a top quality one shipped to my door would easily cost $2000. Then to get a matching stand would cost around ~500-1000. Thats $3K just for the tank and stand. The lights I would have went with an ATI Powermodule hybrid, those are better then these lights but those would cost over 2K. That is ~5K. I paid $4,200 for my S650 delivered to my door. If I would have had to pay the $4,700 + tax and shipping I would have went another route, but $4,200 delivered was a great deal. I sold the skimmer it came with for $200, and so total cost is actually 4K.

Overall I am very happy, if I had more money I would have gotten a custom Reef Saavy tank but much larger, ~300g.