Return to Reefing

well... I'll let you know. I have seen videos of people modifying the sumps to accomodate a reefmat. I have a reefmat 500 I want to use, I mean it's like a $500 tool I have just sitting there unused and it's years beyond socks in terms of easy maintenance but I believe the Klir rollers fit better. I was hoping to take some time this weekend to really buckle down and figure out how to make my reefmat work. I think my three options are:

a. use a pump plumbed to the reefmat akin to protein skimmer or macro reactor
b. turn off plumbing into the sump, disconnect, and plumb directly to the reefmat externally from the sock chamber
c. cut/modify the sock chamber to fit the reef mat.

my wife and I had planned to make this weekend pretty fish oriented after a couple months of back breaking landscape work so I'm hoping that with a few hours and a couple home depot runs I can finally be running my reefmat 500 in there again.
The eshopps website shows that the sump is compatible with reefmat but offers very little information (posted picture above). Interested to see how you are able to incorporate it. I refuse to run filter socks this time around. I'd rather pay more for something up front than deal with filter socks.
 
Nice build plan, if you are planning to go with Tunze for an ATO, look around and see if any places still have the old trusty 3155 osmolator in stock. The new design / osmolator 3 is nowhere near as good and reliable as the old ones were in my experience.
Just my .02
 
The eshopps website shows that the sump is compatible with reefmat but offers very little information (posted picture above). Interested to see how you are able to incorporate it. I refuse to run filter socks this time around. I'd rather pay more for something up front than deal with filter socks.

you're not wrong! my socks are effective but need cleaned maybe 2 times per week to be honest. I did not have time this week, but I do have the reefmat and extra fleece at home already so I'm sitting on it, I just need to take the time to figure out how to install it. my sump is nearly empty now since I removed the macro reactor so I just need to take the time.
 
you're not wrong! my socks are effective but need cleaned maybe 2 times per week to be honest. I did not have time this week, but I do have the reefmat and extra fleece at home already so I'm sitting on it, I just need to take the time to figure out how to install it. my sump is nearly empty now since I removed the macro reactor so I just need to take the time.
Oh man that will be nice to be able to swap the fleece instead of dealing with socks.
 
Update to the build plan- decided to hold off on ordering the aquarium and stand until Eshopps announces the pricing for the Mariner M180. Just can't pull the trigger on a Waterbox thinking the stand in not adequate. Pricing and orders are supposed to begin in early June for this model. Fingers crossed.
 
Update to the build plan- decided to hold off on ordering the aquarium and stand until Eshopps announces the pricing for the Mariner M180. Just can't pull the trigger on a Waterbox thinking the stand in not adequate. Pricing and orders are supposed to begin in early June for this model. Fingers crossed.
FWIW, I have had great response times from eshopps on both Facebook and via email, their customer support staff has been great.
 
While I have never been a fan of running filter socks constantly, mostly because unless they are changed at least every 48hrs, a lot of the trapped organics have already broken down and contributed to DOC / dissolved nutrients and can hinder a good skimmer as the organic particulates socks trap are already on their way to the decomp stage that may have otherwise been fully removed from the system water via skimmer vs being trapped in filter media that's still "in" the systems body of water.
If you can swing it, the roller mats are much better than socks as they actually remove them from the system water before they breakdown
However, I'm still partial to running no constant filter/ fiber, our tanks are already very limited in suspended particulates for food capture compared to natural reef waters.
 
However, I'm still partial to running no constant filter/ fiber, our tanks are already very limited in suspended particulates for food capture compared to natural reef waters.
Maybe I'll try that for a while and see what happens. I had great success that way with my 40g and for some reason tripled filtration when I went up to over 100g in water volume, where I may actually need it less.

Caveat: my bio load is substantially higher as my wife and I have moved to a more fish centric setup.
 
Well sometimes you get lucky...

Found a local reefer getting out of the hobby and will be picking up his Waterbox 230 system this week on Friday! He claims to have had no issues with the stand, but I will probably still install the reinforcement kit.

I'll post pictures of everything as soon as I can.

Not looking forward to moving this system but the deal is too good to pass up.
 
Well sometimes you get lucky...

Found a local reefer getting out of the hobby and will be picking up his Waterbox 230 system this week on Friday! He claims to have had no issues with the stand, but I will probably still install the reinforcement kit.

I'll post pictures of everything as soon as I can.

Not looking forward to moving this system but the deal is too good to pass up.
That’s awesome!
 
Picked up the system today!

Waterbox 230
 

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the guy was really nice. Threw in a bunch of other stuff:

AquaMaxx Protein Skimmer

Orlushy DC-1200 with Sine Waver Maker

AI X26 LED Lights (4)

Fluval Nano LED Light

Correct MP40 (3)

Aquatop MR-20 Reactor

Hydrofill Titanium ATO

Jebao 3.4 Dosing Pump

Inkbird Temperature Controller

Eheim 300W Heater (2)

Bulk Reef 4 Stage RODI
 
I don't know what you paid for yours but if it's anything like when I got my RedSea 425 (RIP) the accessories were worth FAR FAR more than what I paid for the tank. In fact, I think the 3 lights alone had a retail value higher than I paid him for everything.

your system is going to be awesome!!

I thought for sure our M100 would be the largest tank I'd ever want but last night my wife and I were talking and somehow we both decided after a few years of growout (maybe 5??) we could totally see ourselves moving up to a larger tank like your new WB lol!!
 
I don't know what you paid for yours but if it's anything like when I got my RedSea 425 (RIP) the accessories were worth FAR FAR more than what I paid for the tank. In fact, I think the 3 lights alone had a retail value higher than I paid him for everything.

your system is going to be awesome!!

I thought for sure our M100 would be the largest tank I'd ever want but last night my wife and I were talking and somehow we both decided after a few years of growout (maybe 5??) we could totally see ourselves moving up to a larger tank like your new WB lol!!
I paid $2500 and didn't haggle with the guy. He also gave me a ton of cleaning/maintenance tools, chemical/water nalgene bottles, spare pumps, and fragging supplies.
 
Update:

Removed equipment, wiring and sump. Giving equipment a vinegar/hot water soak and cleaning. Broke out the label maker to identify all cords, plugs, controllers, etc. Challenging to understand someone else's system and thought process so I'd prefer to start from scratch.

ClariSea SK5000 due for delivery tomorrow so will start to figure out the plumping and sump modifications needed for that.

Looking into Top Lids with the moon light built in. Anyone using those?
 
Cleaned skimmer, cleaned power heads, almost clean stand. Working on cord management and tackling the sump modification. Will need to remove the filter socket panel and move a few inches to accommodate the filter roller. Because of this need to remove a few inches of the skimmer/refugium panel.
 

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