1Blazer Build Thread - Red Sea Reefer 425XL

[1Blazer]

Hey there!

I'm Zach and I have been in and out of the hobby over the past 10 years due to having to travel for work (SC->TX->IL->TN->GA and now Monterey Bay, CA). As many of you know stability is key especially when it comes to SPS which is my personal favorite type of coral but my career hasnt exactly made it easy to establish a successful reef... but now that I am settled down I am giving it another shot!

Here is the tank...

Equipment list:

Reefer 425xl Reefer Deluxe
2 x Aqua Illumination 26 HD
Vectra L1 Return pump
Bubble King Mini 160
Neptune Apex Controller (2016 version) with 3 DOS dosing pumps
Top Lids -Acrylic top (waiting arrival)
Maxspect Gyre XF150
AquaSmart ATO & AWC
Little Oceans sump baffle for refugium
Synergy Reef ATO container
JBJ 1/10 hp Arctic Chiller
Bulk Reef Supply 6 stage RO/DI 150gpd Unit

Also:Considering a Datasco Calcium reactor...

So here is the start to hopefully a nice, stable tank! Thanks for looking!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hey there!

I'm Zach and I have been in and out of the hobby over the past 10 years due to having to travel for work (SC->TX->IL->GA and now Monterey Bay, CA). As many of you know stability is key especially when it comes to SPS which is my personal favorite type of coral but my career hasnt exactly made it easy to establish a successful reef... but now that I am settled down I am giving it another shot!

Here is the tank...

Equipment list:

Reefer 425xl Reefer Deluxe
2 x Aqua Illumination 26 HD
Vectra L1 Return pump
Bubble King Mini 160
Neptune Apex Controller (2016 version) with 3 DOS dosing pumps
Top Lids -Acrylic top (waiting arrival)
Maxspect Gyre XF150
AquaSmart ATO & AWC
Little Oceans sump baffle for refugium
Synergy Reef ATO container
JBJ 1/10 hp Arctic Chiller
Bulk Reef Supply 6 stage RO/DI 150gpd Unit

Also:Considering a Datasco Calcium reactor...

So here is the start to hopefully a nice, stable tank! Thanks for looking!

Hi Zach, I'm Zach Following along, looks like a good build I love your rock scape

 

[1Blazer]

@crabs_mcjones Thanks Zach! lol I appreciate the feedback. That rockscape took a long time, a ton of patience from my girlfriend (Lindsay- Have to name drop in case she checks out the forum;Joyful) and a few consultations with my buddy Chris (I think he is going to start a build on a Red Sea 170 soon!)

I am looking into refugium lighting now and I am leaning toward the Kessil H380 but I need to get the tank up and running, then Chaeto and the light!

 

[1Blazer]

So I took some par measurements tonight in a few places. I went through the preview mode on MyAI and took the highest measurement I got at each part of the location. what do yall think? Good enough for sps?

 

[1Blazer]

Any input from the LED gurus? Would really love some feedback

 

[Crabs McJones]

So I took some par measurements tonight in a few places. I went through the preview mode on MyAI and took the highest measurement I got at each part of the location. what do yall think? Good enough for sps?

Any input from the LED gurus? Would really love some feedback

Looks good Those are good numbers for sps in the middle plates and the top plates, and then your lps and softies near the bottom. Looks like pretty good coverage

 

[Crabs McJones]

Any input from the LED gurus? Would really love some feedback

What were you using to get your par readings?

 

[1Blazer]

This is what I used to measure the PAR output

 

[1Blazer]

I also have this one but I never pulled it out before. It is supposed to be for LEDs specifically @crabs_mcjones Thanks for being my only friend on R2R lol!

 

[kschweer]

Great aquascape! Can’t wait to see some fish and coral in this tank!

 

[redfishbluefish]

Loving that rock work.....I'm stealing that look

I'm in the process of a re-do on my tank.

 

[Tahoe61]

Fantastic scape for sps.

I would start out with some of the old school aquaculture acropora like Red Planet, Slimmer when you begin stocking. Purple Stylophora is a good sps to test the waters.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I also have this one but I never pulled it out before. It is supposed to be for LEDs specifically @crabs_mcjones Thanks for being my only friend on R2R lol!

Nice! I just use a Seneye, i'm sure that meter would dance circles around it

 

[1Blazer]

Hi Zach, I'm Zach Following along, looks like a good build I love your rock scape

Great aquascape! Can’t wait to see some fish and coral in this tank!

Soon! I have a couple clowns going in today. I will have some pictures up tonight! Thanks for checking it out

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

That's gonna be a beast of an SPS tank one day

My first SPS coral was a run of the mill green bridsnest and it was very useful for me to learn the ins and outs of keeping SPS corals. I think one or two of those in different areas of your tank would give you a good idea of what's going on in the tank as it matures. As others have stated aquacultured frags would be the next step and then you can go for mini-colonies and other large pieces

 

[1Blazer]

Loving that rock work.....I'm stealing that look

I'm in the process of a re-do on my tank.

Thank you very much! Im sooo pumped for this tank... trying to be as slow as possible about it though. Do you have a new build page? I would love to follow it!

 

[Denisk]

I love the aquascape! I look forward to the progression.

 

[1Blazer]

Fantastic scape for sps.

I would start out with some of the old school aquaculture acropora like Red Planet, Slimmer when you begin stocking. Purple Stylophora is a good sps to test the waters.

@Tahoe61 Wow! I cant thank you enough for the kind words. I have gone through many posts and always find your information very insightful. "Stick" around (Bad pun from someone who loves acros) Red planet will absolutely be my first frag... Hands down one of my all time favorites

 

[1Blazer]

Nice! I just use a Seneye, i'm sure that meter would dance circles around it

@crabs_mcjones If you want to borrow it just let me know I can get it shipped out anytime you need it

 

[1Blazer]

@Denisk Thank you so much! I have been watching your tank progress and its amazing the growth you have had on that miyagi.... whats your secret!!!!!