Voodoojar's Reefer 425xl

V

Voodoojar

New member
Super excited and haven't slept at all last night.

I've been planning to upgrade my 50g tank with HOB skimmer and no sump for quiet some time. I wanted something bigger that would give me more option with a larger sump.

Yesterday morning I picked up my Red Sea Reefer 425xl from my LFS. It was so heave I barely got it home but after almost dropping the tank I got it in the house put it together and started filling it with water. I bought a 50ft piece of tubing to run straight from the RODI in kitchen. After about 10 hours I'm halfway full.

In the meantime I pulled the black plastic off the back and installed some frosted plastic with an RGB LED strip mounted on the back of the stand.

I decided to get the tank filled and cycling while I work on plumping.

JqoS3eK.jpg


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my build list includes,
  • Light- 6x39w Giesemann Martix 2 w/Dimmtec
  • Return Pump - Jebao DCT8000
  • Skimmer - SRO 2000int
  • Power Head - 2x Maxspect Gyre xf230
  • Reactor - BRS Carbon and GFO
  • Heater - 2x Fluval E 300-Watt
  • Plumbing - Some Clear PVC pipe
  • Control - Neptune Apex w/ Dos, PAR meter and return and powerhead control.
  • Backup - 2x IceCap Battery Backup
No Chiller yet, I will wait until next spring and see if it's needed.
 
http://i.imgur.com/c77AkCs.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/c77AkCs.jpg

Today I got some time and did a bunch of stuff.

1. I wanted to make the cabinet a bit more interesting so I veneered the sides. I may continue and do the entire thing. Should I keep going?
aJx2DHF.jpg


2. Added Substrate and live rock. I've been cycling the rock in a trashcan for the last month. I except to have a mini cycle and be ready to add a CUC in the next few days. Disregard all the crap in the tank, I'm using $6 powerheads just to keep some flow in the tank while I sort out equipment.
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3. Plumped sump and made and added a baffle for a refugium. I plan to put the skimmer up from and the refugium in the back.
c77AkCs.jpg


My Neptune Apex arrive today so going to get that set up next.
 
do you have those reactors screwed in the stands to support them? or are they just suspended from the pipe? The reason I ask is because I can see in the last picture that there is an angle to the pipe, that will put strain on that bulkhead and risks that once waters going through it cause it to crack which obviously wouldn't be good.

I like the veneer on the sides, it's a unique look. I personally wouldn't do the fronts it's a good look on the sides.
 
Voodoojar said:
The photo was before gluing the pipe everything is fitting better now.
Click to expand...

ok, I still would recommend having it supported in a way other than just by gluing. Bulkheads under stress crack rather easily...I learned that the hard way unfortunately.
 
he CUC has been in here a week without a light. I finally got the light hung yesterday, Giesemann 6x39 Matrix Dimmtec and I moved over about 10% of my corals, the hardier ones, mostly my torch and a couple hammers and will see how they do for a week before moving everything else over.

Since I cycled the DT rock in a trash beforehand and filled the sump with rock from my other tank my parameters look good without having to wait.

This is early morning light with only the Actinic channel going. I'm running 2x Actinic 2x Blue Plus 1x Purple Plus and 1x Coral Plus.
BU02DUp.png
 
Looks great. Are those gyre's up along the overflow? If so is that working well or is it something you are trying out?
 
They are actually working really well. I have one on each side set on randon flow the push water along the back walls around to the front and converge in the center. Only time will tell but I love having my tank sides totaly free.
 
I'd also yank out that black sponge just before the return section. Most of us have ripped them out as they collect crap and become a nitrate factory. I see you also removed the black vinyl backing...... not bad. Looks very cool.
 
I've been super busy working on my tank. Yesterday I set up Auto Water Change and Auto Top Off. My RO/DI unit feeds into the 35G tank and has a floar cut off. Then I have an old skimmer pump in the storage tank that pushes water into the trash can where I mix my salt.

I have two DOS units one Does the AWC and sends waste water to a drain in the crawl space and the other does ATO and dose Ca and Red Reef Colors A-D all mixed up in one.

I'm super excited about this setup. It pretty much eliminated the thing I hate most about this hobby, doing water changes.

HqMeSXl.jpg


eu4QniQ.jpg


8J2ESe5.jpg


The RO system in the back is drinking water.
 
Voodoojar said:
I've been super busy working on my tank. Yesterday I set up Auto Water Change and Auto Top Off. My RO/DI unit feeds into the 35G tank and has a floar cut off. Then I have an old skimmer pump in the storage tank that pushes water into the trash can where I mix my salt.

I have two DOS units one Does the AWC and sends waste water to a drain in the crawl space and the other does ATO and dose Ca and Red Reef Colors A-D all mixed up in one.

I'm super excited about this setup. It pretty much eliminated the thing I hate most about this hobby, doing water changes.

HqMeSXl.jpg


eu4QniQ.jpg


8J2ESe5.jpg


The RO system in the back is drinking water.
Click to expand...

This is awesome and amazing. You read my mind. Is there a way I could get more information from you on this. Exactly what is needed to accomplish this set-up? I was trying to figure out the best way to eliminate top-offs and water changes seemed like the rainbow unicorn to me. New to the hobby and already hate hauling the water, etc.
I have a basement space with a sump directly below the tank. Was looking for a total solution.
 
JW76 said:
This is awesome and amazing. You read my mind. Is there a way I could get more information from you on this. Exactly what is needed to accomplish this set-up? I was trying to figure out the best way to eliminate top-offs and water changes seemed like the rainbow unicorn to me. New to the hobby and already hate hauling the water, etc.
I have a basement space with a sump directly below the tank. Was looking for a total solution.
Click to expand...

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. It's actually super easy and you can do it for around $200 assuming you already have a Neptune Apex and RO/Di system.

When I had this tank on order I had a heater malfunction in my old tank that killed all my fish except my Wrasses which buried themselves and stayed alive. I wanted to get super serious with this tank and not murder anymore fish, so I bought a Neptune Apex and jstarted programming it to do stuff. Besides like easy stuff like reading SG you can basically program it to do pretty much whatever you want.

Here is my homemade ATO tank I run from Neptune Apex.
Px5uSES.jpg

I have a little electric float switch I have hooked up to the Apex breakout box that keeps it from overflowing although this is just for backup if a line gets clogged or something because the system is set for the same amount in as goes out. The little fish tank inside the bigger one is where I put my kalk. and speaking of Kalk I have my Apex set so if PH climbs to 8.4 I shuts off my ATO and text me so I can check that Im not overdosing. I setup these types of warning on all my critical systems in an attempt to eliminate stupid accidents that kill tanks.

I also have 4 small jebao Powerheads that I got for $35 each in this tank hooked up to my Apex. I programmed them to do some cool 24hr wave cycles and making the water movement really random. and a bunch of other setting for feeding.

Anyway as you can see I really like my Apex.
 
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