My Reefer 250 Reef Tank Plan

[grantbey]

Hi guys,

This is my first post, so I better introduce myself. I'm a PhD student living in NYC. I've owned a large range of pets throughout my life, including several different FW tanks when I was a teenager. I had a Malawi Cichlid tank, a turtle for a number of years, a variety of FW tropical set ups of varying sizes and even a mangrove style setup with two mudskippers.

I had always wanted a reef tank, but the cost (especially relative to FW) was always too prohibitive for me. Now that I'm a bit older, I'm planning on eliminating any financial freedom I may have accrued by starting into this hobby :lmao:

This will all be planning until I complete my studies, so if you came here looking for pictures of my tank you'll be disappointed. I merely wanted to document my process / progress, field any questions and hopefully gather some helpful advice and tips.

So let's get into what I have planned:

* Disclaimer: this is highly likely to change before anything gets purchased.

Tank / stand: Red Sea Reefer 250. 54 gal display | 11 gal sump
I think the tank is gorgeous, which makes it more likely to be partner-approved. I want something neat and simple. I don't want to have to mess with too much custom plumbing, and I certainly don't want to have to drill anything myself.

Sump: Comes with the Reefer 250.
Nothing special here. Will likely switch out the felt socks for 250 micron mesh so I don't have to change them as often.

Return pump: Sicce Syncra Silent 2.0
Red Sea recommends somewhere in the ballpark of 600 GPH for return. I may increase this pump capacity to drive a GFO/Carbon reactor. TBD. Most importantly, I want something quiet. I live in a small apartment in Manhattan so wherever the tank is, it's likely not far away from my bedroom :worried:

Skimmer: Reef Octopus Classic 110SSS
The Reefer sump is a cramped. I wanted to do a decent refugium set-up because if I can achieve any of the filtration in a natural way I'm all for it. I'm a biologist by trade, so I like the idea my various organisms working together. This skimmer is well rated for the tank volume I'm working with and occupies a very small footprint.

Lighting: Either 2X Kessil a160we's or 1X Zetlight ZT6600a
I'm undecided here. Whatever I choose has to be controllable via Apex (I plan on getting an Apex controller, more on this later). The Kessil's look good (partner-approval) and I like the shimmer. They don't dim enough for moonlight and can't be used for weather effects (lightning, although simple clouds are possible) - I'm not sure if either of these things should be considered a deal breaker, but I'm trying keep my options as open as possible. The Zetlight does both of these things, the spread and cover for my tank is arguable better than the Kessil's, but I'm concerned that the "disco-ball" effect will be strong. I can't seem to find much about the Zetlight brand and there are few reviews. I'm open to comments and suggestions!

I'm avoiding EcoTech Marine because their relationship with Neptune Systems appears to be strained and they're favoring their own controllers. This doesn't bode well for the future. It's becoming difficult to get the original AI Hydra lights, whilst the HD versions don't support the Apex.

To be continued...
I'm going to stop there for now, just so that each post isn't too long. I'll keep updating in the coming days / weeks.

 

[CafeReef]

For lighting, I would consider these possibilities over the a160. My concern would be if the a160's would be enough light for the reefer 250.

2x Kessil a360's (Apex ready with WXM)
2x AI Prime (not apex ready, but built in wifi control and a great price point)
2x Ecotech Radion xr15's (apex ready with WXM)

 

[grantbey]

For lighting, I would consider these possibilities over the a160. My concern would be if the a160's would be enough light for the reefer 250.

2x Kessil a360's (Apex ready with WXM)
2x AI Prime (not apex ready, but built in wifi control and a great price point)
2x Ecotech Radion xr15's (apex ready with WXM)

Thanks for the reply. I'm aware that the 160s may not be enough for the tank, and I've considered the 360s but the increase in cost is substantial. They actually don't need the WXM; they'll use the VDM module or they can also go directly into the varspd ports (using a cable) on the main Apex unit if those are free on your system.

The AI Prime's are nice, but Apex Ready is a deal breaker for me. Like you said, the EcoTech's require the WXM module - but they also need their own controllers. Net result: I get EcoTech modules and Apex modules cluttering up the space. Also, this solution is wireless, and I just don't trust the reliability of a wireless solution.

Cost is also a factor. I'm not trying to cut corners, and in many instances I'm aiming high in my plans, but I would like to stay mindful. This is sort of how I arrived at the Zetlight, since it provides more than enough output for this tank and is about the same cost as two a160's.

You, like so many others, breezed right past my mention of the Zetlight's. I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but I'm willing to guess it has something to do with the lack of brand recognition these lights have. So I guess I've got to figure out whether that's because they're low quality or because they're just not popular like the Kessil / AI / Radion's are.

If I'm being honest, I'm leaning towards the Zetlight ZT-6600a and I'm looking for a reason not to buy them. I also know that by the time I'm actually purchasing, the landscape may have changed slightly and I might have other options.

 

[Ben.91]

I'm actually doing a reefer 350 build myself. I was doing the 250 but the fish I want wouldn't be too happy in a 3ft tank. I would go with to xr15 pros, 2 hydra 26s, or even a retro light set up. I'm doing the retro set up on my tank.

 

[CafeReef]

Thanks for the reply. I'm aware that the 160s may not be enough for the tank, and I've considered the 360s but the increase in cost is substantial. They actually don't need the WXM; they'll use the VDM module or they can also go directly into the varspd ports (using a cable) on the main Apex unit if those are free on your system.

The AI Prime's are nice, but Apex Ready is a deal breaker for me. Like you said, the EcoTech's require the WXM module - but they also need their own controllers. Net result: I get EcoTech modules and Apex modules cluttering up the space. Also, this solution is wireless, and I just don't trust the reliability of a wireless solution.

Cost is also a factor. I'm not trying to cut corners, and in many instances I'm aiming high in my plans, but I would like to stay mindful. This is sort of how I arrived at the Zetlight, since it provides more than enough output for this tank and is about the same cost as two a160's.

You, like so many others, breezed right past my mention of the Zetlight's. I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but I'm willing to guess it has something to do with the lack of brand recognition these lights have. So I guess I've got to figure out whether that's because they're low quality or because they're just not popular like the Kessil / AI / Radion's are.

If I'm being honest, I'm leaning towards the Zetlight ZT-6600a and I'm looking for a reason not to buy them. I also know that by the time I'm actually purchasing, the landscape may have changed slightly and I might have other options.

The radion's don't have a separate physical controller, the controller is built into the unit itself.

didn't intentionally skip past the zetlight. my main reason for not mentioning them, probably like others, is not being familiar with them. I am of the mindset that pretty much no matter what you buy (even the cheap Chinese black box lights) is going to be one of the more sizable investments in your setup. So I have a tenancy to recommend the lights that have been tried and tested. From my understanding, the Zetlight is a knockoff of the Maxspect Razor. (Doesn't mean it is bad though)

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2327819

 

[grantbey]

The radion's don't have a separate physical controller, the controller is built into the unit itself.

I didn't know that. I thought it was the same as the Vortechs. That removes something from the cons column, but I'm still weary of wireless connections. Needless to say, there doesn't seem to be a single light that checks all the boxes for me.

didn't intentionally skip past the zetlight. my main reason for not mentioning them, probably like others, is not being familiar with them. I am of the mindset that pretty much no matter what you buy (even the cheap Chinese black box lights) is going to be one of the more sizable investments in your setup. So I have a tenancy to recommend the lights that have been tried and tested. From my understanding, the Zetlight is a knockoff of the Maxspect Razor. (Doesn't mean it is bad though)

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2327819

I wasn't being critical, I think most people around these parts haven't got much experience with these lights. It makes finding reviews and advice difficult.

I've read that thread before and while I agree that it does look a bit like a knock-off design-wise, the Zetlight adds features and capabilities that aren't present on the Maxspect. So even if they did copy the design, I don't suppose I care. I just want a good looking light that has the other features I need. BRStv also included a mini-review of the ZT-6600a's little brother, the ZT-6500a, in the BRS160 segment on LED lighting.

 

[grantbey]

Heating: Two Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm 150 Watt Aquarium Heaters
These will be set one degree apart. I'll also have an Apex controller set one degree higher than the heaters. Thus, the heater in the middle will control the temperature. If that heater can't keep up or fails, the backup will pick up the slack as the tank temp falls. If either heater gets stuck on, the Apex will cut power to both if the tank temperature rises too high. The Apex will also cut anything else non-critical in the event of a tank temperature rise and possible activate fans if I find I need them.

Tank flow: Neptune Systems Wav Starter Kit.
These are probably overkill for my tank but they can be dialed down. The price for the kit is cheaper than two MP10's alone, not to mention I'd have to buy the WXM module for the Apex to control the Vortech's, while this kit includes the necessary module.

I like the WAV's more because they can be angled inside the tank, as opposed to always being perpendicular to the glass as is the case for the Vortech's. This comes at the expense of the pump body being inside the tank. The WAV's don't require the extra control boxes (1 each per pump!), rather both use the single 1LINK module and a single power supply.

Lastly, the 1LINK module will have the capacity to connect to a third pump. I'll be saving this for the recently announced but not yet released COR pump or another Apex Ready return pump. Hopefully this becomes available by the time I'm purchasing (and hopefully it gets good reviews!)

Refugium: Reefdreams Baffle Kit
I struggled with this one for a while. The sump in the Reefer 250 is not enormous and it's design imposes some limitations. The baffle kit from Reefdreams is custom made for the Reefer series tanks. The baffle for the Reefer 170 fits the Reefer 250, albeit with a slightly smaller space for the refugium. This works well, leaving a 6.3" X 9.9" space for the skimmer (perfect for the Reef Octopus Classic 110SSS).

I'll be putting some macro algae in here, maybe a shallow container with Fiji Mud or live sand. I also might direct some extra flow from the return pump here. All of these things can be adjusted after it's set up.

In the picture below, the red lines are the baffle kit. The refugium is to the right, adjacent to the filter socks. The skimmer will sit in the space on the left.

Chemical Filtration: BRS Deluxe GFO & Carbon Reactors
I'll probably upgrade the return pump to the Syncra Silent 3.0 Pump (714 GPH) and T it off with a ball valve to feed the reactors. Planning on using Rox 0.8 in one and GFO in the other. The return from the reactors will probably go into the refugium to increase flow there.

Dosing: Two BRS 2 Part Doser pumps
These can be hooked up to the Apex to control dosing. I'll throw some two part into some space-saver 1 gallon jugs and be done.

To be continued...
Again, I'll stop here and post again in a few days. If anyone has any suggestions or criticisms, I'd love to hear them. The purpose of this is to get a really solid, well thought-out plan in place before I'll take the plunge (puin intended).

 

[golferbud101691]

why not go with the 160's and use t5 to supplement?..

 

[grantbey]

why not go with the 160's and use t5 to supplement?..

I was planning on going all LED, mostly for the simplicity above the tank. I also like not replacing bulbs and the energy savings. To be honest, I haven't looked much into T5 at all, so I should probably do some research there.

I'm not sure I mentioned it before but the tank will be largely softies / LPS, so I don't think my lighting needs to be too extreme, right?

 

[golferbud101691]

I was planning on going all LED, mostly for the simplicity above the tank. I also like not replacing bulbs and the energy savings. To be honest, I haven't looked much into T5 at all, so I should probably do some research there.

I'm not sure I mentioned it before but the tank will be largely softies / LPS, so I don't think my lighting needs to be too extreme, right?

Do some more research. You'll find that the more experienced guys run multiple types of lighting on their tank because each provides pros and cons. Changing 2 bulbs once a year wouldn't be bad and at 36", they would be 39w a piece. You can get the dimmable ballasts as well and control the intensity through your apex no problem.

 

[monkeyruler90]

all LED is the way to go!

 

[grantbey]

all LED is the way to go!

Thanks. I'm leaning towards this solution. Simple, energy efficient, sleek and attractive. I think I've largely settled on the Zetlight ZT-6600a short of a new product being released before I start purchasing.

 

[grantbey]

Continuing with the discussion...

Tank Flow: My original plan was to use the Neptune WAV starter kit, but other posts on this forum have indicated that it's simply way too strong for the Reefer 250.

I did a bit of reading and I've decided to switch to the Tunze Turbelle Nanostream 6040. These pumps have an interesting design (discussed on BRStv here), are controllable, and they're Apex Ready. Using a Tunze Cable from Neptune Systems, I'll simply connect them to a varspd port either on the main Apex unit or on the VDM module.

The downside here is that each pump has a simple controller which can't be removed. The controller will be put into "external controller" mode and from then on it acts simply as a place into which to plug the Apex cable. Additionally, each of these pumps has it's own power supply, further cluttering up the cabinet. If I had to find a silver lining in this, it'd be that the pumps can be controlled without the Apex should I drop it into the sump one day :jester:

I also considered the Tunze Turbelle Nanostream 6055 / 6095. These have the same pro's and con's as the 6040 above, but these pumps look like they'd create a longer, more directed flow. I prefer the broader sweep of the 6040's and the possibility of a more understated positioning in the tank.

I'd love to hear if anyone has experience and/or strong opinions about this!

ATO: Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155
While the Reefer 250 does come with an ATO, I don't trust the float switch and the measly 2 gallons won't get me very far. I'd rather get a dedicated unit with a few extra fail-safes built-in.

I'm also holding out for the Neptune Systems FFM module, which will be able to monitor all sorts of things if the current reports are accurate. Amongst these will be optical water level sensors, which I can use to 1) activate the ATO pump, 2) alert me when the ATO reservoir runs low, 3) turn the skimmer off when the collection cup gets full and send me an alert. I'm thinking that in conjunction with another BRS dosing pump I'll be able to home-brew an ATO using the Apex. This is all conjecture until the FFM is released, so until then...


RO/DI: BRS 4 Stage Value Plus RO/DI System - 75GPD
I'll check with some local reefers about the quality of Manhattan water and whether this will suffice.

Controller: Apex AquaController System with Lab Grade pH Probe
I've mentioned the Apex in my previous posts, so this shouldn't be a surprise. I'm going with the regular Apex, as the Apex Jr. has limited expansion potential.

I'm a bit of a tech junkie, and the rest of the build should have indicated that I'm really into having everything connected and as automated as possible. It's not necessarily that I want to be disconnected from my reef, but rather that I can check up on things when I'm out of town, that things are monitored constantly and I can track changes or see trends, and that extra fail safes are present (eg turning heaters / pumps off if the temperature starts to rise, or detecting leaks and alerting me and shutting off the return pump automatically).



That brings me to the end of the major equipment. I think I'm mostly satisfied with my choices, I just wish I was ordering it now instead of just planning it :sad1: There are still a couple of things I need to consider:

• I live in an apartment in NYC, in quite an old building. I need to make sure that my floor can handle the weight. The place I've settled on runs perpendicular to the support beams (to the best of my knowledge) and is parallel to a load bearing wall, so I should be alright. But I'd like to check first.
• Dry rock or live rock? I'm leaning towards dry rock, specifically Project Reef Rock 2.1. I like the look, it's purple off the bat so it helps it look more natural before it's covered in coralline algae. I'd prefer to keep as many possible pests out of my tank as humanly possible.
• Live sand? I was thinking of going in this direction to help speed up the cycling process. Is there a significant risk with live sand of introducing pests as well?
• So many other things I haven't thought about yet...

 

[roosterchef]

Grant, have you seen how the light looks in the tank with the Zetlight? Does it produce the multi-color disco ball effect like some others do?

 

[grantbey]

Grant, have you seen how the light looks in the tank with the Zetlight? Does it produce the multi-color disco ball effect like some others do?

Unfortunately I haven't seen it yet. This is one of the main hesitations I have. I'd prefer to avoid that disco ball effect if possible. I'd love to hear from someone who uses this light, but it seems no one is active on these forums. Let me know if you find anything!

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[roosterchef]

Grant, have you seen this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0KvsAtF81Q

Actually found a number of ZT6600 demos on YouTube, but lots of them are squirrely where the person is just showing off the lightning mode. But this one above is ok.

 

[grantbey]

Grant, have you seen this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0KvsAtF81Q

Actually found a number of ZT6600 demos on YouTube, but lots of them are squirrely where the person is just showing off the lightning mode. But this one above is ok.

Jim, I thought I'd found all the youtube videos already but apparently not! I didn't notice any disco-ball effect in that video, did you see anything?

Not only was that video new, but youtube recommended this video to me as well. It looked fine up until the cloud mode, where I saw a little color separation.

I think I'm noticing that I like the look of tanks lit by Kessil's more. I suppose I'm only seeing video at this point, which is maybe not the best comparison tool. But tanks with Kessil's on them seem to pop more - they have more vibrancy and color. I really think I need to see these different lights in person. What do you think?

 

[roosterchef]

I have a used Kessil coming from slief that he was selling, just because of all the testimonials and the video I've seen is really gorgeous. On that video I linked if you look at the edges of the tank and the glass boundary you can see some real color separation and disco, but on the sand and corals not so much. That particular tank has a lot of surface motion so the ripple lines are chaotic, possibly hiding some of those color spots. A calmer surface might let it show more, idk. However, it does seem to produce a real strong white ripple effect which I like a lot.

 

[grantbey]

I have a used Kessil coming from slief that he was selling, just because of all the testimonials and the video I've seen is really gorgeous. On that video I linked if you look at the edges of the tank and the glass boundary you can see some real color separation and disco, but on the sand and corals not so much. That particular tank has a lot of surface motion so the ripple lines are chaotic, possibly hiding some of those color spots. A calmer surface might let it show more, idk. However, it does seem to produce a real strong white ripple effect which I like a lot.

To keep the youtube back-and-forth strong, here's some more videos. While "Matt" doesn't mention the Zetlight ZT-6600a (disclaimer: I haven't watched all the episodes), if you pay attention you'll see he has two suspended over his tank. The tank looks gorgeous.

To your points: yes, I like the shimmering too. That's something Kessil is known for. I've tried to find as many video's as I can and honestly I haven't seen any bad footage under this light. The price, controllability and features can't be beat. Why don't more people love this light?