BCRIBS Red Sea Reefer 170 Build Thread

BCRIBS · Apr 11, 2016

Hello!

My name is Ben,

It has been 8 years since I shut down my last reef tank. I have been missing the hobby and now have a wife and two children to share it with. I thought it would be fun to document the progress of building a new reef tank and also help others with what I run into.

System Type: Mixed Reef with Fish

Display System: Red Sea Reefer 170
Start up Date: April 10th, 2016
Display Tank: Red Sea Reefer 170 - 34 gal, Rimless "ultra-clear" glass
Display Lighting: Ecotech Marine Radion XR30w pro, mounted on RMS, controlled via ReefLink
Stand: White, Red Sea Cabinet
Hood: Rimless!
Sump: 9 gal twin-chamber

Support systems:

System Water: Red Sea (Blue bucket)
System Controller: None as of now
Display Water circulation: 1x Ecotech Marine MP10w QD
Return Pump: Rio 1700
Skimmer: Reef Octopus 110 SSS
Chiller: None, Keep my house climate controlled at all times.
Heater: 1- 200W Finex Titanium
Evaporation Top off: Red Sea ATO

Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: BRS
Alkilinity Addition: BRS
Dosing Pump: Bubble Magus (Not installed Yet)
Other Chemical Maintenance: Passive Carbon and Aqua Maxx Reactor

Shot of the Gear:

RO Unit:

Empty Tank:

Filling up:

Aquascape:

Sump Picture:

Coming along nicely for 48 hours in..

G8rNation · Apr 11, 2016

looks like you are getting started in the right direction! Huge fan on the white reefers, I just got a 350 set up a few weeks ago and am working on a build thread as well. Ill follow along!

BCRIBS · Apr 11, 2016

G8rNation said:
looks like you are getting started in the right direction! Huge fan on the white reefers, I just got a 350 set up a few weeks ago and am working on a build thread as well. Ill follow along!

Thanks! I just started following you as well. The 350 is a awesome tank!

G8rNation · Apr 11, 2016

what did you use to mount your controller and power strip to the wall?

BCRIBS · Apr 11, 2016

G8rNation said:
what did you use to mount your controller and power strip to the wall?

The vortech came with two double sided sticky Velcro and the power strip had a screw mount system so I drilled into the stand.

ScottMyers123 · Apr 12, 2016

Tank looks great. Glad you decided to get wet again. LOL

revhtree · Apr 12, 2016

Awesome start and welcome back!

Scubafrog · Apr 12, 2016

Great looking aquarium. Looks really nice on that flooring.

BCRIBS · Apr 25, 2016

Update... Levels have been stable so I added coral.

BCRIBS · Jun 10, 2016

Updated Tank Shot:

Cblair · Jun 10, 2016

Great looking tank! Im setting up the same one right now, how much rock did you end up using?

BCRIBS · Jun 10, 2016

Thanks! Real happy with the tank. I used 38 lbs of real reef rock, that included some shelf rock. The Rock was hooked up to a major pet store system so I probably lost some of the pest value but I was able to add fish instantly and coral, and had zero spikes in waste or algae. Also 40lbs of live sand.

BCRIBS · Jun 10, 2016

Also have a square of marine pure. I think the system is almost running to clean with 4 chromis, 2 cardinals, 2 clowns, 1 gobie, and a small tang

STJ1229 · Jun 19, 2016

Is that the FR-SE reactor? How do you like it on this setup?

BCRIBS · Jun 20, 2016

STJ1229 said:
Is that the FR-SE reactor? How do you like it on this setup?

Yes, I ordered two, one had qc problems with the set screws so I sent it back. The current one initially leaked however I tightened the inlet and outlet nuts and it hasn't leaked since. They seem to have better materials then the two fishes and look a bit nicer however probably preform the same. I currently use it for GFO and run passive carbon however, I test with a Hanna checker for phosphate and it has been zero since startup and I wonder if I am running too clean on nutrients. I question if it's even necessary with a good RODI unit. I started dosing reef chili, reef snow and Red Sea coral nutrition for color because I think some corals are losing color due to lack of nutrients. Running radion at 60% on coral radiance for 10
Hours. Hope this helps..

BCRIBS · Jun 23, 2016

Went on a hiking trip with my buddies for 3 days with no cell coverage. After the trip and coming back into cell range my phone started to blow up. My wife was in charge of the tank and the power went out. I started to go through the texts thinking the worst.

She called her dad for help, pulled the boat out of the garage, got the 3500 watt generator out, cranked it up and plugged in the whole system. It ran for the duration of the power outage, with no issues. Even sent a picture of the tank so I would believe her. We didn't discuss what she should do if there was a power outage and she still came through. Thats a good wife! Here is a text picture she sent me with her dad and the boat out.