Red Sea Reefer 170 build thread
- Thread starter f3honda4me
- Start date
f3honda4me
New member
Yep I'm going to do my best with the scallop. I have a lot to do this week! I have an orchid dottyback coming tomorrow that needs to go into QT. I have to build my screen covers, and take out my RKE then setup my Neptune apex and ATO system for when I go on vacation.
4Runner2003
New member
I really like your tank. For your screen cover, are you doing the whole top or having a cut out for the overflow so the overflow cover can fit. I've still have to set up the ATO, but I think I'll hold off for that until this weekend. Need to figure out where I want to place my external reservoir.
But keep posting the pics!! You are giving me ideas of what I want to do to mine!
Scott
f3honda4me
New member
I'm going to only go back to the overflow for the screen. It leaves the back corners exposed but I think the risk back there is pretty minimal.
f3honda4me
New member
Thanks!!
Current updates!
Today, I received my orchid dottyback from liveaquaria. Very pretty fish, and so far looks healthy. Acclimated fine and thus far swimming normally. I am treating proactively with prazipro this week, and then next week will do paragard. She's happy in her PVC pipe in QT right now.
I have freed the decorator crab from my sump and put him back into the DT. Last night he adorned himself with some pink sponges. As my daughter would say he looks tres chic and fancy!
f3honda4me
New member
Fantastic polyp extension on the gorgonians! These are really great looking in the tank.
f3honda4me
New member
A super cool limpit.
Found a gorilla crab, hiding underneath my favia. I'll have to trap him out at some point. For now he's small so no threat just yet, but he has taken to knocking my favia frag around. I bought more waterweld today though so now I can secure the frag.
The rock anemones are very pretty.
Found a gorilla crab, hiding underneath my favia. I'll have to trap him out at some point. For now he's small so no threat just yet, but he has taken to knocking my favia frag around. I bought more waterweld today though so now I can secure the frag.
The rock anemones are very pretty.
f3honda4me
New member
I am picking up an RBTA from a local reefer tomorrow. It's early in my tank but so long as my parameters remain stable I am confident I will be able to keep it healthy. I've had many BTAs before in previous tanks, including one or two I had to QT in order to treat.
charlesgage
New member
I have this same tank on the other side of Lake MI. Just setting up now. I'm evaporating maybe .75 per day. Also planning tunze ATO. I have my humidifier maxed but my house is energy star and built recently. On a sunny day my heater will only fire a couple times. So the air stays bone dry. I am enjoying the free(ish) humidification.
I'm going dry rock on mine to avoid pests, so it will be cool to watch and compare as you see yours evolve.
Just a note: I have a Sicce 2.5 return and I am not happy with it. I am going to order the Jebao DCT 4000 soon from fish street.
Have a nanobox duo on mine. Go MP40 if you can. I like my MP10's on the back glass but they could move a bit more water I think. I would rather have an MP40 on 30% than an MP10 on 80% for noise. However in your bar you should be good, mine is by the kitchen table.
Reef on!
f3honda4me
New member
At 100% I can barely hear the quiet drive mp10 even when standing next to it. I like having two mp10 vs 1 mp40 personally. I like the flows it can create. Also the sicce 3.0 is perfect. The 2.5 is too small I'd think.
charlesgage
New member
I was leaning toward two MP40's. I have two MP10's now (not the QD) and they are definitely audible. They move some decent water, but I like the larger blades in the MP40 and they move a wider wall of water.
Everyone seems to put both Vortech's on the back of these tanks, is that your plan?
In mine the Sicce 2.5 is capable of providing a decent return split in two with loc-line as well as running a media reactor. My issue is just the noise. I can hear it running from outside the stand when closed and it's definitely louder than my skimmer pump which i cannot hear outside the stand. Is your 3.0 audible outside the stand?
I kept reading that the sicce pumps were super low noise. Compared to a DC pump I have found them to be pretty loud though.
Loving the hitchikers on that rock. Looks cool!
4Runner2003
New member
I put the EcoTech Vectra M1 and you can not even hear the pump. I also like though the Reeflink, if something is happening with the pump, I get an email. Now for my Nyos Skimmer, I can hear the cap on the cup vibrating some, so need to work on that. But other than that, barely hear anything. I was thinking about picking up another MP10. The Reefer 170 is an awesome tank
Scott
CButkos
Member
My orchid is my favorite fish, pretty tough as well, mine went through a decent bout of ich in qt but pulled through and has been great for about a yearThanks!!
Current updates!
Today, I received my orchid dottyback from liveaquaria. Very pretty fish, and so far looks healthy. Acclimated fine and thus far swimming normally. I am treating proactively with prazipro this week, and then next week will do paragard. She's happy in her PVC pipe in QT right now.
I have freed the decorator crab from my sump and put him back into the DT. Last night he adorned himself with some pink sponges. As my daughter would say he looks tres chic and fancy!
Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
f3honda4me
New member
I have my vortechs on the side of this tank. And the way I've aquascaped I can't put them on the back. I'd have to actually remove probably two pieces of rock in order to do that. I'm considering removing one piece of rock in order to give myself more open sand, but it's a small tank so it doesn't matter too much.
I can hear my 3.0 outside of the stand yes. But it's a heck of a lot quieter than my mag pump was. I am considering upgrading to the vectra M1 - going to research that today.
Yea even though it's super overkill, I like that you can just turn the pump down. Reading about the vectra it seems pretty awesome. And, since I have a reeflink, radion, and two MP10s it would fit right in. Did you have any issues fitting the vectra into the return area in the sump?I put the EcoTech Vectra M1 and you can not even hear the pump. I also like though the Reeflink, if something is happening with the pump, I get an email. Now for my Nyos Skimmer, I can hear the cap on the cup vibrating some, so need to work on that. But other than that, barely hear anything. I was thinking about picking up another MP10. The Reefer 170 is an awesome tank
Scott
My new 2016 apex neptune comes tomorrow too, so if I'm going to change to a different return pump now is the time. I'm also considering moving all of my electronics outside of the cabinet and to the right side and/or behind it. Some of the velcro padding keeps coming off because of all the moisture and it's probably better to get them out of that moisture too for longevity.
My fish room is becoming cluttered, lots of stuff just lying around. I have a shelving unit to put together that will let me organize more. I also have to build a 3rd ATO float and build the screen top for my tank. But today I have to run to LFS to grab a few things and then also pick up a free beatiful RBTA from a local reefer tonight!
f3honda4me
New member
Time to clean this place up!
smatter
Active member
Orchids are great fish. Such stunning color and interesting behaviors. My personal favorite pseudochromis is the springeri. I'm holding off on stocking my tank with any more stuff. The live Pukani I got had a few crabs I've been picking out. One fairly large stone crab has been evading the forceps. I think the guy only has a couple of legs left 
. Anyway I think I speared him in a hole but he fell down inside one of the many cavities in the Pukani so I'm going to let nature take its course for a while as I have no skimmer yet just carbon and phos media. I don't want to go overkill on the skimmer so I'm waiting for the next batch of Aquamaxx WS-1s to come in.
And if you call that room cluttered you'd have a panic attack if you saw mine!
. Anyway I think I speared him in a hole but he fell down inside one of the many cavities in the Pukani so I'm going to let nature take its course for a while as I have no skimmer yet just carbon and phos media. I don't want to go overkill on the skimmer so I'm waiting for the next batch of Aquamaxx WS-1s to come in.And if you call that room cluttered you'd have a panic attack if you saw mine!
4Runner2003
New member
No issues at all. Fits perfectly and crazy quiet
charlesgage
New member
Are you using a BRS screen top or other custom build?
Have you seen these? http://artfullyacrylic.3dcartstores.com/Red-Sea-Reefer-170-ClearView-Lid_p_1873.html
If I had all that ecotech stuff I would definitely lean towards a vectra.
How do you like the radion? Any disco? I am considering replacing my nanobox due to a bit of disco. But it seems unavoidable with LED unless using Kessil.
Have you seen these? http://artfullyacrylic.3dcartstores.com/Red-Sea-Reefer-170-ClearView-Lid_p_1873.html
If I had all that ecotech stuff I would definitely lean towards a vectra.
How do you like the radion? Any disco? I am considering replacing my nanobox due to a bit of disco. But it seems unavoidable with LED unless using Kessil.
charlesgage
New member
I have my apex coming Friday as well. Should be fun. I plan on doing the same as you and putting the plugs on the back of the tank. have you thought about a shelf in the stand? I can't quite figure out where to place mine, but it seems a lot of the space up top is unused.
