Cardiffgiant's RedSea Reefer 525 Build

[cardiffgiant]

Hey guys! I wanted to get a proper build thread started for my RedSea Reefer XL 525.

We moved down from Buffalo NY over the summer. I had run a 90g display with another 80-90g worth of basement sump and frag tank for a number of years. Since there aren't basements down here, I had to rethink things

I really like the minimalist look of the redsea stand and I've always wanted a rimless tank. I saved my old radions, controller, and skimmer. I'm planning to use the coralvue VarioS pumps for my skimmer and return. I know that a lot of people like the vectras, but I want everything to go through my Apex.

 

[cardiffgiant]

First orders of business took place a couple of months ago. I used to fully automate water changes with my neptune DOS from my basement sump and I've heard that the reservoir for top off in the 525 doesn't last very long.

I had a conduit run outside that goes from my living room to my laundry room. I have alarm wire for my breakout box, a 100' USB cable for my controller components, and 4 RODI lines (2 for water changes, 1 for top off, and 1 for kalk). Hunter Green Electric did the work, on the recommendation of robthorn. They did a fantastic job and were reasonably priced.

Not pictured here, I also had the outlet switched to a GFCI.

Living room

Laundry room

 

[cardiffgiant]

I went with 100lbs of pukani rock from BRS. The expression on the UPS workers face was priceless.

Started mixing salt water to begin the process of curing the rock for a couple of months

 

[cardiffgiant]

Mounted my RODI and moved my mixing station to the other side of the room. This rock smelled like a dead body for about a week. The rock is sitting in the brute bins with powerheads and an air stone. I'm doing two 100% water changes 2x a week.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Time to build! Overall, I'm impressed with the quality of the materials and the efficiency of the packing.

On the advice of another poster, I decided to vinyl wrap the sump to brighten it up. A word of advice, the white vinyl from 3m would face the white side out... I should have known. I just taped it to the sump instead.

I also added a sump baffle from reefdreams so that I can divide the sump into a skimmer chamber and refugium. http://www.reefdreams.co.uk/acatalog/Reefer-Baffle-Kits.html

 

[cardiffgiant]

No build is without it's set backs... and I've had two major ones.

First, a friend and I tried to move the tank with the glass moving suction cups. We put them on the end and picked it up no problem. Moved it from the attached garage to the house and then decided to re position the handles. The first mistake was trying to do this with two guys. You really need 3-4 people to spot for something this awkward. The second mistake was positioning the suction handles to the front panel and back wall. The back wall has a black film attached to it and the suction popped right off!

If there is a bright side to these kinds of things, it's that the tank fell from a height of about 4". If it was higher, I might have repositioned to catch it, but the more likely scenario is that someone would have gotten hurt.

RedSea's customer service is just awesome. I had to provide the receipt and some details and they were able to order me a new tank. I submitted a claim to my amex purchase protection and we'll see how that goes.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Setback number 2: The new tank was delivered today. When I came outside I nearly lost it. The driver had the crate standing on it's end!!

Everything that I've heard is that rimless tanks can't be stored or moved vertically. The hinges and several screws had popped on the crate. The driver refused to let me inspect the contents without first signing for the delivery. I called RedSea and they advised me to refuse the delivery so back it went. A new one is on it's way.

What's amazing is that they sent one guy to deliver this and it wasn't on a pallet. He said it was horizontal in the truck and that he put it vertical by himself before wheeling it over. Incredible. In fairness to him, the crate wasn't marked as fragile, glass, or with instructions for not stacking things or correctly positioning.

 

[mbonus]

That is lame; good on you to refuse delivery although as you said it's a tough situation for the driver as the crate wasn't labeled or on a pallet. He will probably catch crap from dispatch for that one but clearly not his fault.

 

[JonezNReef]

WOW!! Sorry to hear this happened. I really hope they get it right next time!!!

 

[cardiffgiant]

Here are a couple of closer shots of the sump and the reef dreams baffle. I added a skimmer stand to get my ATB to a good height.

 

[ClownMan727]

How do the ATO's on these work? Is it just gravity fed with a float valve?

 

[cardiffgiant]

There is a small reservoir tank that sits above the filter socks and gravity feeds the with the float valve shut off. I've heard complaints that it is too small for a tank this size. I'm thinking about running my fresh water top off to the ATO reservoir and mounting my float switches there. That way I can top off automatically for a couple of weeks, but still use the more gradual top off from the reservoir.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Trying to keep this project moving until the replacement replacement tank arrives to replace my replacement tank.

Organized and mounted the components for my water change station. I also have an avast barrel tender on the way. The cable organizer box is ok, but the lid doesn't snap on tightly so it needs to be taped.

Put together a stand to manage my cables and controller components in the stand. This should let me hide all of the cable wraps and mount the modules that need to be touched most frequently to the outside. It'll need a couple more coats of paint before I add the grommets to the holes.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Lookin good!

Now if you'll excuse me...I have to go shovel snow...

 

[cardiffgiant]

Big updates! The new replacement tank for my replacement tank arrived yesterday! It was properly labeled and properly shipped. I have to say that I'm impressed with Red Sea's customer service.

I also received my purchase protection credit from Amex, who also has some great customer service.

Did some more work on the controller stand. Once it's in the side cabinet, I think that it will blend really well.

The open space is making me OCD, but the long term plan is to put an old iphone there to access Apex fusion.

 

[Nola Bear]

Very nicely done. I'm just starting a Red Sea e260 myself, they are gorgeous. Glad to see that your new tank arrived safely and it looks flawlesss.

 

[cardiffgiant]

e260, nice! I've read some great things about those hydras.

 

[JonezNReef]

3rd times a charm I guess! Glad you finally got you tank after being devastated not once but twice. So far your build is looking super clean and the tank looks great.

 

[BryanS4]

Great looking tank. Those new reefers look really sharp.

 

[St.james of reefdom]

lookin good

lookin good

Hey Ben,
Tank and setup are looking good.

Cheers
St James