Aaron G’s Reefer 170

[Aaron Gustafson]

Ok, after moving cross-country and selling off my packed BioCube, I’m kicking off a new build with a Reefer 170 (which is about as big as the condo building will let me go, 33 floors in the air).

This tank will be an SPS- dominant mixed reef and I am planning to try out the Triton method on this build.

Life Support:

• Tank: Red Sea Reefer 170 (white)
• Tank Lighting: Radio XR 15 Pro, 4th Gen
• Sump: Stock Reefer 170 sump with additional baffles for Refugium
  • Custom lid from Octo Aquatics (@cromag27)
  • Red Sea Reefer Filter Media Cup
• Skimmer: Tunze Comline DOC Skimmer 9004 DC
• Return: Neptune Systems COR 15
• Wavemaker: Neptune Systems WAV
• Refugium Light: Tunze 8821 6500K LED
• Heater: Cobalt Aquatics Neotherm 150w
• Controller: Neptune Apex 2016 w/ temp, salinity, pH, and ORP
  • EB832
  • WXM
  • 1LINK
  • FMM + 2 hard surface water sensors
  • ATK (+ PMUP)
• Doser: GHL Doser 2.1
  • Container: Coral Box Dosing 3Room Liquid Reservoir
    (I’ll be mixing 3a + 3b)
  • Bubble Magus Doser Bracket
• ATO Reservoir: Custom from Octo Aquatics (@cromag27)

Environment:

• Tank:
  • Life Rock Shapes Aquarium Rock (40lbs)
  • CaribSea Arag Alive Fiji Pink Sand (40lbs)
  • CaribSea Arag-Alive Bimini Pink Sand (10lbs)
• Refugium
  • Walt Smith Fiji Mud
  • Medium Marine Pure Ceramic Biofilter Media Rock
• Red Sea Blue Bucket
• FritzZyme 900

In the Stand
We don’t have a huge place and Kelly was emphatic that I keep everything in or on the stand. Given that the 170 isn’t huge, I had to do quite a bit of planning & mapping to get everything in with ample room for ventilation, etc. I used assorted cable raceways and opted to attach the EB832 to the top of the stand. Here is a shot from the setup process (note I’m waiting on the custom stuff from Octo Aquatics and the dosing containers).

Got the tank wet last night & am tuning everything now. Salt (and maybe sand & Fritz 900) later today.

 

[Dsnakes]

Sounds like a good build, can’t wait to see more

 

[NY_Caveman]

Nice start!

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

Here are a few updates:

Refugium is up:

Also, here’s the aquascape:

Here is the current livestock list:

• Yellow coris wrasse
• Tiger fighting conch
• Halloween Hermit
• Electric Blue Hermit
• Assorted worms, pods, hermits, snails & such from Indo-Pacific Sea Farms

Current corals:

• WWC Ultron Micromussa
• WWC Burning Leptastrea
• WWC Halle Berry Zoas

Everyone seems happy. I’m waiting on the folks at Bermuda Triangle in Chattanooga to ship me frags from my old tank (which they bought). Then things will get rolling.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Looking good !!!

 

[LiveRock27]

Where did you get the shelf that your doser is on? Great setup!

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

Where did you get the shelf that your doser is on? Great setup!

It's actually the Bubble Magus doser shelf (the original one), flipped upside down.

And thanks!

 

[LiveRock27]

I see that now, thank you. I'm looking forward to seeing the custom stuff from Octo Aquatics.
I have a Reefer170 on the way to me now and might have to borrow some of your ideas for in the cabinet.

 

[pelphrey]

How do you like that ghl doser?

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

Ok, here's a much-belated update. I have all of the custom stuff from @cromag27 installed an the sump area looks AWESOME!

ATO reservoir + sump lid:

Sump lid installed (now the access hatch in chamber 1 to reach the skimmer):

With the ATO reservoir installed. As I'm using the Neptune ATK, the float valve keeps the reservoir from siphoning into the tank (though I'd love to find a true siphon break option):

And here's everything together when the refugium light is on:

Great work Matt!

 

[cromag27]

thanks. looks nice!!

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

How do you like that ghl doser?

I haven't actually started running it yet as the coral load had been very light. I plan to calibrate and start it running over the holidays and will let you know.

I can say that the initial configuration really had me missing my Neptune DŌS units (which I still have, but that I couldn’t fit in the stand).

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

I see that now, thank you. I'm looking forward to seeing the custom stuff from Octo Aquatics.
I have a Reefer170 on the way to me now and might have to borrow some of your ideas for in the cabinet.

Check the update

 

[LiveRock27]

Check the update

Looks great! I’m going to have to check on the sump lid. What are you using to hold the two part or what ever it is you are dosing?

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

Looks great! I’m going to have to check on the sump lid. What are you using to hold the two part or what ever it is you are dosing?

I'm dosing Triton. Using the Coral Box 3-chamber Dosing Container.

 

[LiveRock27]

Do you mind telling me what the dimensions are for the overflow box? I am trying to layout my rock on a cutout the size of the tank so I can secure it together before my tank gets here next week. I can’t seem to locate the overflow dimensions anywhere.

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

Do you mind telling me what the dimensions are for the overflow box? I am trying to layout my rock on a cutout the size of the tank so I can secure it together before my tank gets here next week. I can’t seem to locate the overflow dimensions anywhere.

The overflow is 10½" × 4" and about 6⅛" inset from each side. Keep in mind that the overflow may not be perfectly centered (mine is actually 6" on the left, 6¼" on the right).

 

[LiveRock27]

The overflow is 10½" × 4" and about 6⅛" inset from each side. Keep in mind that the overflow may not be perfectly centered (mine is actually 6" on the left, 6¼" on the right).

Thank you

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

Thank you

 

[Barry.v]

Hi Aaron i have a 170 and is interested to see how you have done your refugium as my skimmer is in the same compartment as the algeas and it keeps getting blocked up and the skimmer is to big to put in the return section any help would be appreciated. thanks Barry