Looking for a second opinion on my build

[Foolkiller]

Hi All,

My name is Jim (said like an AA meeting)

I have the reef bug really bad and they only way for me to fix that is jumping back it.

History:
I've had two reef tanks in my past. A very successful 45 gal bow and a no bueno 90 gal that was riddled with issues and lessons learned (aptasia, soggy armpit, depth of water, skimmer issues, electric bills...). Recently, I've been successfully running a 75 gal Cichlid tank but it's not challenging enough. Technology has changed since I last left so let me share what I have done so far and my thoughts. Oh btw I live in San Diego, CA

Tank : Red Reefer 525XL (59" x 22.5" x 22") with sump and ATO.
I saw the Red Sea plug and play tanks and loved that idea, so I just bought a 525XL Red Sea Reefer (can't believe I pulled that off in the house - though I haven't set it up yet). It's on a pallet in my garage.

Rock : I decided on dry rock this time. The tank is 108 Gals with 136 in system, I went with 110 pounds of reef saver from BRS. I want to make a killer aquascape and control what I put into the tank.

Skimmer : I'm trying to decide on skimmer and have a few in mind but with so many to choose from it's tough.

Lighting: I think I'm going to do 3 - Radion xr15w pros (looking to do a mixed tank)

Pumps : return pump Radion Vecta M1 - not purchased yet and wondering if I need an adapter.

Wave Pumps : MP40wQD vs Neptune Wave???? hmm decisions decisions

Electricity : I'm now powered by the SUN - YEAH solar!

Hoping to start the cycle next week sometime and will possibly start a build thread in that location.

Anyways I'm glad to be back!
-jim

 

[thegrun]

Skimmer : I'm running an AquaMaxx CO-2 on my 120 and love it.

Lighting: I'm using three AI Hydra 52'2 on my tank but the Radions would be very good also.

Pumps : return pump Radion Vecta M1 (I think you need a controller) Great pump. I use an Eheim 1262, tried and true, bulletproof.

Wave Pumps : MP40wQD vs Neptune Wave???? I just switched from two MP40wQD to two WAV's because of the noise and the ability to direct the flow with the WAVs. The MP40wQD have a smaller footprint so you hardly see them which is the big plus but they do make some noise and we wanted a very quiet tank. It's a tough decision, you notice the WAVs due to their size (still a very small footprint compared to say a Tunze) but you get a little more flow with them and they are very quiet.

 

[Foolkiller]

Thanks for the information. This is exactly the kind of information I need to help narrow down my selections.

 

[Blennybite]

Hi
I just bought a Red Sea reefer 525xl too. I currently have a aga 90,which has been running for 3 years. I liked the reefer because it's rimless and I can look down (and reach in as well) into the water from the top. (Without having to stand on a chair!)
My first issue is that I want to have the reefer where my 90 is currently located. So I have to move it out of the way first.
Once that is done, I will start up the reefer...
My equip is similar to what you are thinking..
Vectra m1 with reef link...upgrade from Water Blaster in the 90
2 radion xp30 pro. May need to add one more for better coverage.
Probably a upgrade from the two kessil 350 wides running in the 90? Idk.
2 mp 40..A definite upgrade from my jabao's in the 90
Going to use my same skimmer.. A bubble magus nac 7 (I think) works pretty damn good so why change
I'm going to put a fuge compartment in the giant sump...
Transfer over my apex stuff as the build progresses. But since going "all ecotech" the apex will mostly be the tank babysitter instead of the controller of the pumps and lights.
Anyways, must go slow like all things reefing.

 

[RCS82]

Interesting about the MP40QD. I can't even tell mine are on, other than not seeing stationary blades of course, they are absolutely silent.

 

[davocean]

I also have a MP40QD and I can't hear anything at all, and unlike the older vorts I don't have to spend any time at all lining them up perfectly, simply put the two halves together and you're on w/out a sound.
I highly recommend them.

I had the C0-2 aquamaxx for a short time, I got one of the first ones out that came w/ issues, blowing off that bubbleplate being number one, that and other problems made me return it and I'm glad I did, that funky bubble plate looks like a pain to remove and replace and hard to clean, my hand barely fit in there to turn the screw, and that was dry, I can only imagine wet and slimed up.
I'd look at a reefocto first if buying new again, RLSS is another

Return, Eheim 1262 is my favorite still

Lighting, I'm still a huge fan of T5/LED combo myself.

Being in Carlsbad you do have the option of free filtered SW from Scripps pier/Birch aquarium

Good luck to you!

 

[Foolkiller]

Hey All,

I had to take care of first things first. I replaced my living room rug! There's no way I'm moving this tank once I set it up. That completed today and I'm dying to crack open this reefer 525 that's been in my garage (hmm maybe crack open is not the right term to use here). I have my Radion lights and return pump arriving on Wednesday. I ordered sand today, went with Special reef sand (1.0-2.0 mm). Struggled between that and Fiji Pink (.5 - 1.5mm). I'll begin dry aquascaping this week.

My last reef I did use scripts water. It's such an awesome little secret. In fact I visited that aquarium yesterday to get excited. My last reef tank had issues with ich, aptasia, etc. so this time around, I'll be controlling everything that enter that tank so unfortunately I might not use that water at this time.

I'm still undecided as to my skimmer. I'm down to Lifereef and Vertex but still open to look at others.

I'm most likely going to order an Apex today. I need to decide is to buy a module to control the Radion equipment or use the wireless Radion hub. My powerhead selection will play into this too... hmm which one to choose

 

[Turbosreef]

Hi
I just bought a Red Sea reefer 525xl too. I currently have a aga 90,which has been running for 3 years. I liked the reefer because it's rimless and I can look down (and reach in as well) into the water from the top. (Without having to stand on a chair!)
My first issue is that I want to have the reefer where my 90 is currently located. So I have to move it out of the way first.
Once that is done, I will start up the reefer...
My equip is similar to what you are thinking..
Vectra m1 with reef link...upgrade from Water Blaster in the 90
2 radion xp30 pro. May need to add one more for better coverage.
Probably a upgrade from the two kessil 350 wides running in the 90? Idk.
2 mp 40..A definite upgrade from my jabao's in the 90
Going to use my same skimmer.. A bubble magus nac 7 (I think) works pretty damn good so why change
I'm going to put a fuge compartment in the giant sump...
Transfer over my apex stuff as the build progresses. But since going "all ecotech" the apex will mostly be the tank babysitter instead of the controller of the pumps and lights.
Anyways, must go slow like all things reefing.

Hello,

I just bought the 52txl myself... I was thinking of going kessil à360 but wondering why you are changing from the kessil to radions?

 

[Turbosreef]

Sorry I have seen a few in person with radions most seem to have 3 radions I didn't want to spend 2k on lights