Back after 30 years - Reefer 170

[jonnyglass]

After 30 years away from the hobby, I've decided to dip my toe back into the water with a Reefer 170. My last reef was a 50 gallon deep tank, with flourescent tubes, around a hundred pounds of live rock, a hang-on-back biologic filter and hang-on-back airstone skimmer. For my new tank, here's the equipment list (so far):

Reefer 170 G2 with stand
Aquamaxx 170 Fleece Roller
Kessil a500x main tank light w/ 35 degree reflector
Kessil a80 flora refugium light
COR 15 return pump
2x Ecotech MP10
2x Hygger 100watt titanium heater w/ controller
Apex w/ WXM, FMM, PM1
DOS (for water changes)
Tunze 3155 ATO

First order of business is figuring out how to fit everything into the (very tight) reefer stand. I'm designing a slide out shelf with two levels to safely hold all the components. The shelf can slide out and tip up to allow for changing of the fleece. Here's some pictures showing the rough-fit of things. I plan on stacking the Apex modules to best economize on space. Everything will be zip-tied in place to allow for each swap-out of things as needed. The ATO and AWC will be serviced from the basement underneath the tank, so there will be some tubing coming up through the floor for those features. The DOS will be mounted in the basement, eventually when I add a Trident, it should fit next to the sump in the stand, any other dosing pumps would also be mounted in the basement.

 

[blaxsun]

Lots of goodies!

 

[Ocellaris40]

welcome back! I just got back after 15 years myself... what a ride. Looks like you have stronger self control than me, I couldn't help but start fiddling as everything came in Please post more pictures!

 

[jonnyglass]

Fabricated light fixture and hung the light. Went with 2x more light than the tank should need with the 35 degree reflector to try to achieve as high a positioning as I could. The downrod for the fixture is threaded so I can easily fabricate a longer version in case I do end up needing to get the light closer to the tank. Also, not 100% thrilled with the spillage, I have a set of barndoors that might end up getting installed below the fixture. But progress is being made!

 

[bobnicaragua]

Welcome back, I started reefing in the 90’s also.

Skimmers are much more efficient now. You probably want to set the water level in your skimmer very low to skim dry if running a filter roller and refugium.

It’s easy to strip all the nutrients out of your system these days. I initially tried running a filter sock, skimmer, and refugium on my SPS tank and it was too much. Nitrates and phosphates were undetectable and the acros were washed out and unhappy.

Now I only run a skimmer and filter sock and still have to skim dry to keep my nutrients up.

 

[jonnyglass]

Welcome back, I started reefing in the 90’s also.

Skimmers are much more efficient now. You probably want to set the water level in your skimmer very low to skim dry if running a filter roller and refugium.

It’s easy to strip all the nutrients out of your system these days. I initially tried running a filter sock, skimmer, and refugium on my SPS tank and it was too much. Nitrates and phosphates were undetectable and the acros were washed out and unhappy.

Now I only run a skimmer and filter sock and still have to skim dry to keep my nutrients up.

I'm actually planning/hoping to just have the lint roller and larger refugium, no skimmer.

 

[jonnyglass]

Ended up ditching the slide-out for mounting the controls and put them all outside the tank. A lot of progress since last update.

 

[jonnyglass]

And finally with the aquascape in.

 

[dstockwell]

Welcome back

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

After 30 years away from the hobby, I've decided to dip my toe back into the water with a Reefer 170. My last reef was a 50 gallon deep tank, with flourescent tubes, around a hundred pounds of live rock, a hang-on-back biologic filter and hang-on-back airstone skimmer. For my new tank, here's the equipment list (so far):

Reefer 170 G2 with stand
Aquamaxx 170 Fleece Roller
Kessil a500x main tank light w/ 35 degree reflector
Kessil a80 flora refugium light
COR 15 return pump
2x Ecotech MP10
2x Hygger 100watt titanium heater w/ controller
Apex w/ WXM, FMM, PM1
DOS (for water changes)
Tunze 3155 ATO

Like Palaeolithic man getting an iPad. Enjoy mate, hope it all goes well.