f3honda4me
New member
The nem moved itself up a bit and planted it's foot in a rock crevice. Here she is peeking out and looking fantastic. Sorry iphone pics dont do well with the colors sometimes.
Red Sea Reefer 170 build thread
- Thread starter f3honda4me
- Start date
f3honda4me
New member
Yesterday I did water changes on QT tank and the display tank. Now - Today's update and pics! I decided to set up a work bench in the fish room as I had to do some frag work today on some new pieces I bought.
First, here is the new workbench area, looking much cleaner. Still to do, make inset screen cover for the display tank, set up additional shelves, and DIY ATO. I have to get the ATO done next as I'm going on vacation in a week and need the larger ATO reservoir up and running!
I'm also working with apex support as the PH probe on my unit is not working. After doing a bunch of different things to no avail, I have a webex support call with them on Tuesday so hopefully they can fix the issue. Problem I'm having is that the probe never reads higher than about 7.6 PH. So of course in my tank it says PH is 7.6 (8.2 tested with a kit) and it fails calibration in the 10.0 solution since it won't read higher than 7.6.
Current FTS
New frag - Hawkins Echinata
I really need to have my wife get her DSLR out and get pics of these for me, the iphone just can't handle the color.
ORA red planet acro
Neon Green Millepora
Pearlberry acro - it's a teal color but really hard to get a pic of
Some kind of acan lord frag - orange edges with violent inner and green in the center.
First, here is the new workbench area, looking much cleaner. Still to do, make inset screen cover for the display tank, set up additional shelves, and DIY ATO. I have to get the ATO done next as I'm going on vacation in a week and need the larger ATO reservoir up and running!
I'm also working with apex support as the PH probe on my unit is not working. After doing a bunch of different things to no avail, I have a webex support call with them on Tuesday so hopefully they can fix the issue. Problem I'm having is that the probe never reads higher than about 7.6 PH. So of course in my tank it says PH is 7.6 (8.2 tested with a kit) and it fails calibration in the 10.0 solution since it won't read higher than 7.6.
Current FTS
New frag - Hawkins Echinata
I really need to have my wife get her DSLR out and get pics of these for me, the iphone just can't handle the color.
ORA red planet acro
Neon Green Millepora
Pearlberry acro - it's a teal color but really hard to get a pic of
Some kind of acan lord frag - orange edges with violent inner and green in the center.
f3honda4me
New member
On another note, started pricing out the list for the 180G tank. Here is what I'm thinking. To start, I haven't decided if I want to do an in wall tank, or a traditional tank with a stand.
Aqueon 180G RR tank - $600
Stand + electrical - $500 depending
Sump, 75g stock tank - $100
Return pump, Vectra L1 - $450
Skimmer, simplicity DC - $300
Heaters, at least two - $150
Lighting, used XR30s? - $1000
Tank flow, 3x mp40wqd - $1100
Live rock from TBS - $3000 including shipping costs
Apex neptune system - $800
All in around $8k
If I wanted to get it sooner, I could go cheap on some stuff. For example I could get a used controller, cheap power heads like Koralia, chinese LEDs, etc. It would save me at least 2 grand or more up front, especially if I can get some of the equipment used.
Aqueon 180G RR tank - $600
Stand + electrical - $500 depending
Sump, 75g stock tank - $100
Return pump, Vectra L1 - $450
Skimmer, simplicity DC - $300
Heaters, at least two - $150
Lighting, used XR30s? - $1000
Tank flow, 3x mp40wqd - $1100
Live rock from TBS - $3000 including shipping costs
Apex neptune system - $800
All in around $8k
If I wanted to get it sooner, I could go cheap on some stuff. For example I could get a used controller, cheap power heads like Koralia, chinese LEDs, etc. It would save me at least 2 grand or more up front, especially if I can get some of the equipment used.
Twoface14
New member
Yeah I think I would go a little cheaper on the rock as well. I used about 30% live rock and the rest dry rock. That saved a ton. I probably have 100 lbs of rock in my tank now and have maybe 2-300 in all of it. Takes a little longer to get it live, but I'll take that over a few grand any day. But the other stuff, idk if I would go cheaper if you know your gonna go that route anyways.
f3honda4me
New member
Yea I could do half dry half live. That would save a lot too.
f3honda4me
New member
Disaster! My beautiful echinata has RTN. 
I was going to try to cut off any healthy branch and refrag to try and save, but it looks like it's gone too far across all branches already. I'm going to move the frag to the sand to a lower light/flow area but it's not looking good. I've only ever had this happen once before, and I actually think it was another echinata as well. Million things that can cause this, my guess is it either didn't like something in my tank or didn't like the coral rx bath?
I was going to try to cut off any healthy branch and refrag to try and save, but it looks like it's gone too far across all branches already. I'm going to move the frag to the sand to a lower light/flow area but it's not looking good. I've only ever had this happen once before, and I actually think it was another echinata as well. Million things that can cause this, my guess is it either didn't like something in my tank or didn't like the coral rx bath?
f3honda4me
New member
Or not - pulled the coral up and it's dead at this point. No saving it. So fast overnight! Into the garbage it goes.
f3honda4me
New member
I'm also going to turn my radion down to 60% just to be safe on the other 3 corals since they still look to be doing ok. The pearlberry looks a little white but has polyp extension so I think we're ok.
f3honda4me
New member
So after addicted and barbianj mentioned it to me, I looked up coral rx dip and soft skinned sps like my Hawkins echinata and that appears to be the cause. The soft skinned sps can't handle the coral rx dip so I killed my own coral.
I will be tossing the RX and switching to bayer dips from now on.
I will be tossing the RX and switching to bayer dips from now on.
f3honda4me
New member
Today wasn't all bad. Tonight, I came downstairs to find this wonderful and amazing surprise.
Up to this point, my captive bred percs hadn't even done so much as gone into some rock, and basically stayed at the top half of the tank. At night they slept next to the overflow. After only about 2-3 days in the tank, they moved into their new nem home.
Up to this point, my captive bred percs hadn't even done so much as gone into some rock, and basically stayed at the top half of the tank. At night they slept next to the overflow. After only about 2-3 days in the tank, they moved into their new nem home.
smatter
Active member
So after addicted and barbianj mentioned it to me, I looked up coral rx dip and soft skinned sps like my Hawkins echinata and that appears to be the cause. The soft skinned sps can't handle the coral rx dip so I killed my own coral.
I will be tossing the RX and switching to bayer dips from now on.
I'd skip the insecticide too.
f3honda4me
New member
ATO build day! To start, I set up a remote ATO reservoir that adds water the in sump 1.5G reservoir. There is a float switch in the 1.5G reservoir and another float switch in the big ATO. The float in the 1.5G will turn on the ATO pump after 10 second delay. Once the float valve goes up it will delay for 3 more seconds to put some extra water in before turning off. The float in the remote reservoir is to prevent the pump from turning on at all once the water goes below a certain point.
Here is the logic I wrotet in to outlet 5 on my EB832.
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON
If Sw2 CLOSED Then OFF
Defer 000:10 Then ON
Defer 00:03 Then OFF
In my case on both float valves when they are "down" that = CLOSED.
Here is the logic I wrotet in to outlet 5 on my EB832.
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON
If Sw2 CLOSED Then OFF
Defer 000:10 Then ON
Defer 00:03 Then OFF
In my case on both float valves when they are "down" that = CLOSED.
f3honda4me
New member
Here is the breakout box that the wires connect into from the float switches.
Here is the float valve on the in sump ATO along with the feed hose. I zip tied the feed hose to the drain pipe so it stays in place. I used a small piece of wood as the screw to mount the float to the side of the ATO was not long enough. The float is at a height that the water level will never get to the wood or the hose so I should not need a check valve.
I may eventually just choose to eliminate the in sump ATO altogether and just put the ATO float and fill hose into the return chamber.
Remote 20g long ATO tank with Eheim 600 pump. I will be dumping kalk in here as my calc/alk levels are not being kept up with water changes since I put all the corals into the tank.
Here is the float valve on the in sump ATO along with the feed hose. I zip tied the feed hose to the drain pipe so it stays in place. I used a small piece of wood as the screw to mount the float to the side of the ATO was not long enough. The float is at a height that the water level will never get to the wood or the hose so I should not need a check valve.
I may eventually just choose to eliminate the in sump ATO altogether and just put the ATO float and fill hose into the return chamber.
Remote 20g long ATO tank with Eheim 600 pump. I will be dumping kalk in here as my calc/alk levels are not being kept up with water changes since I put all the corals into the tank.
f3honda4me
New member
Also, managed to snag and kill two small gorilla crabs from the tank today. I ordered a pest trap and aquarium tongs to further my hunting of the gorillas.
I also have a radion G4 en route here tomorrow!
I also have a radion G4 en route here tomorrow!
f3honda4me
New member
Ok so G4 won't be here til wednesday. I guess BRS was closed yesterday. On that note today I also ordered a BRS single reactor w/maxijet and carbon/GFO. My phosphates are up to 1.00 and I also have 20 nitrate now. My skimmer also has not been creating foam for the last 2 days now, so I want to ensure there isn't a pollutant in the tank causing issues. Bad news is I'm out of outlets on my EB832, and I don't want to order a second one. I'll probably use a small splitter and put the radion and reactor on the same outlet. I'm also getting a small chaeto ball which I'm long overdue for as well. In previous tanks I have generally always had chaeto and run gfo/carbon. But now with the skimmer not producing foam the last 2 days it makes me worry there is something else going on. I cleaned it really well even though it's only 3 weeks old, and still no foam.
Today I saw 2 different gorilla crabs in the tank still, so the hunt is on!
Today I saw 2 different gorilla crabs in the tank still, so the hunt is on!
charlesgage
New member
Another common option is to run the reactor off of a manifold. That's how my 170 was originally setup. Sounds like sponges and other filter feeders are dying off in your tank at this stage, space which is pretty typical for fresh live rock street from the ocean.
I'm curious are you running your mp tens off of the 24 V outlet on the new Apex?
Also I don't know about the new Apex but with the old one you could use the previous generation of energy bars you might be able to get away with and he before he be eight instead of the newer fancy type save you a ton of money. Or just don't plug in the MP tens to the apex because the W XM or reef link should be able to turn them off anyway right?
I'm curious are you running your mp tens off of the 24 V outlet on the new Apex?
Also I don't know about the new Apex but with the old one you could use the previous generation of energy bars you might be able to get away with and he before he be eight instead of the newer fancy type save you a ton of money. Or just don't plug in the MP tens to the apex because the W XM or reef link should be able to turn them off anyway right?
f3honda4me
New member
Yea that's true I'm running a reeflink so I don't really NEED the MP10s or even the radion to be plugged into the EB832. That's a good idea.
As for running the MP10s off the 24v outlet I have no idea how I'd even do that or that I could even do that?
charlesgage
New member
Actually the mp's are hard wired so you couldn't. I checked out your controller though and saw that it has 100w 24v circuit and two outputs that's a nice upgrade! That means cheapos like me could run some jebao D.C. Power heads or even a jecod 4000 return off the apex. So you could reduce the power at feed time with a single button.
Im doing your same tank but on the cheap. Mostly used equipment etc.
f3honda4me
New member
So today my G4 will arrive along with the reactor and GFO/carbon. I have also come to the conclusion that I need a smaller skimmer so I'll be selling the simplicity and am looking at options for smaller size skimmers. The simplicity is fantastic, but after the first week it stopped pulling skim, and now only pulls foam/skim when I feed the tank. It's just too big for my reefer 170! But now that I've had one I think I'd go with the DC 240 for my 180g build as it's a really great and quiet skimmer.
I'm thinking about picking up the reef ocotopus 110 space saver, or the icecap K2-50. I'm also going to convert my 1.5G ATO to an in sump refugium so I'll have lots of pics on that change. I'll simply move the ATO float and tube to the return section of the sump. The DIY ATO system I built with floats and the apex breakout box have been working flawlessly. I used an eheim 600 which provides the perfect amount of flow even though the tube has to get over about a 48" head height. I couldn't be more pleased with it. I also used my spare 20 L for the ATO reservoir.
I'm thinking about picking up the reef ocotopus 110 space saver, or the icecap K2-50. I'm also going to convert my 1.5G ATO to an in sump refugium so I'll have lots of pics on that change. I'll simply move the ATO float and tube to the return section of the sump. The DIY ATO system I built with floats and the apex breakout box have been working flawlessly. I used an eheim 600 which provides the perfect amount of flow even though the tube has to get over about a 48" head height. I couldn't be more pleased with it. I also used my spare 20 L for the ATO reservoir.
charlesgage
New member
If you need an EB4: http://reefcentral.com/forums//showthread.php?t=2625367
