Red Sea Reefer 170 build thread

[f3honda4me]

I have always wanted to do a build thread, and today is that day. I have had two reef aquariums before, a small 30g and a 75g. At our old house I had them plumbed in together using a 75 gal stock tank for the sump. I had a large mixture of softies, LPS, and SPS, thriving for several years. I had clowns, nems, anthias, gobies, and even a bristletooth tang (in the 4' 75g of course, because the tang police will ask :fun2: )

I had to sell off all of this when we decided to move, with the goal of eventually having tanks again in our new home. The long term plan is to have this reefer 170, and then someday a large 180g tank as well. We have a finished basement and one half of that is a bar area and my office. The reefer 170 will sit next to the bar area on a hardwood floor.

So let's begin the pictures and the fun! First pictures here are of the area the tank will go. I've also included pics of the reefer 170, the sump, and the start of the cabinet build.

 

[f3honda4me]

Initial budget for this project started at around $2400. I was going to go cheap on a few items, with the plan to upgrade them later. However, after hounding the buy/sell forum for the past few weeks, I managed to snag some deals. Even so, this will push the finaly budget to around $3000. I have to buy everything since I didn't even have a RODI or anything left over from the previous tanks.

I bought the reefer 170, along with my BRS RODI, smart buddie booster, and a bunch of other small items at my LFS. I picked up a used sicce 1.0 which will be used for water changes using a bucket. I also snagged a mag 5 for salt mixing (will use a Brute), and a mag 7 for the return pump. I bought the simplicity 120DC from my LFS, and have read very good things about their skimmers. Previously I had been using reef octopus, so we'll see how this compares. For tank flow I bought a used MP10wqd.

I bought a used reefkeeper elite with two PC4, and a temp probe. Since the RKE will be controlling my heaters, I went with cheaper aqueons.

 

[f3honda4me]

Here is the room I'll have the RODI wall mounted. I also have an old 29g stand I'll be using to hold the smart buddie booster, and my 10g QT tank. This is also where I'll keep my supplies and mix saltwater, etc. I had to decide how I was going to get water to and from the tank to the RODI room. I am placing an order with BRS today for some things I need, and that will include about 50 feet of 1/4" RODI tubing to reach the tank. For saltwater changes and refilling the auto topoff, I'll just use buckets with a small electric pump. If that gets tedious I might pick up 50 feet of vinyl tubing for that instead.

This room used to be where I stored my RC planes, drones, etc. However I've moved those to my workbench in the basement. I moved my inspire 2 to an area in my office, though, as that one gets special treatment. :fun2:

 

[f3honda4me]

Placed a BRS order for more stuff today. Also snagged a used AI Vega light with controller. Will have to buy a mount kit for it I think.

I've also always wanted to do a tank using tampa bay saltwater, and this is the perfect time. I have followed many threads where they were used and was always impressed. I'll do the 35 gallon size "the package" when the time comes.

 

[f3honda4me]

So luck was bestowed upon me today, managed to snag a gen 2 radion for cheap from a local reefer. So I guess I'll be selling the AI vega and controller!

 

[surfer64]

very nice! excited to see the build. I also have a 170 and just put my first fish in about a week ago

 

[f3honda4me]

very nice! excited to see the build. I also have a 170 and just put my first fish in about a week ago

Great to hear!

Finished the stand today. Got an RMS xr30 mount on the way. Have to get a 1/2" FPT to 5/8" barb for my mag 7 return pump. More pics!

 

[f3honda4me]

I'll repost the pics later. Seems RC keeps turning them sideways on me.

 

[f3honda4me]

Pics!

 

[surfer64]

looking good! when do you thing you will have rock in the tank?

 

[f3honda4me]

I'm hoping to get water in it this weekend. So if all goes well I'll order my rock from TBS next week!

 

[f3honda4me]

Today I managed to get tubing and adapters for my Mag 7 for the return. I got the RODI system up and running along with the booster smart buddie system. Did a test and there are no leaks in the RODI anywhere, and the booster seems to be doing well. I'm getting about 1-2 gallons of waste for every 1 gallon of RODI. TDS meter says 200 going in and 0 coming out! After I was done, I moved the stand a bit, and set the 10g QT tank on top.

A very productive day. And of course - pics!

 

[Twoface14]

Awesome tank! Tagging along

 

[f3honda4me]

All equipment installed into the cabinet and sump. Reefkeeper and radion configured. Going to pick up a reeflink I think so that it makes it easy for me to program/change my MP10 and radion.

So, it's all ready for water! I am filling it today. Started with the overflow, great there no leaks, bulkheads all secure. Now filling the main tank and checking for leaks along the way.

 

[Squampton]

I'll keep track of this thread. This tank is on my list to get sometime soon, well pending wife approval...lol...

Looking good.

 

[cpllongjk]

Great Start, Good Luck!

 

[f3honda4me]

Thanks all!

The tank is full, the temp is just about 80F and the salt is mixing. I'm going to be placing my tampa bay saltwater order today or tomorrow! It's getting pretty real now!

Another thing to note I'm currently using a mag 7 return pump and it is LOUD. I am debating picking up a Sicce Syncra 3.0 pump instead as they seem like they are super quiet. I have a Syncra 1.0 and you can't even hear it when it's on.

On the reefer 170, so far very impressed with the quality. And while it takes patience and tweaking, once you get the drain dialed in it is DEAD QUIET. You cannot hear the drain at all. And the glass is definitely the correct size (10mm front, 8mm side) as I get zero bowing at all with the tank full. Solid as a rock!

 

[f3honda4me]

Tampa bay saltwater order placed. And great news! Rich already called and there is a direct southwest flight that comes in tonight so I'll be getting the first half of my package tonight!

 

[f3honda4me]

Doh mix up in schedule. No shipment today.

 

[solitude127]

I have the same tank and it's a great tank. I'd suggest looking at the Eheim compact 2000 for a return pump. I was using a Tunze silence pump and it was loud (I believe it's same motor block as the Sicce). I'm so much happier with the Eheim. Also, be careful with the humidity inside the stand since I noticed a lot of your electronics are in the stand. Inside my stand, I noticed a lot of moisture on the walls inside the stand.

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