Broadfield's Red Sea Reefer 450 Build - OCD Inspired... Going Back To a Reef

Broadfield · Sep 17, 2017

There's one thing that I have always wanted in my reef tank and have never been able to source one... always being late to the party when one gets posted for sale. That would be a Golden Dwarf Moray Eel. With the recent announcement of the Hawaii collection permits being halted, I thought it may never happen. However, @ZoaCollector got me hooked up over the weekend! I'm pretty stoked and should have it this coming week.

Aleks · Sep 17, 2017

Hi, the system looks excellent, I hope the losses are over.

ReefguyEric · Sep 21, 2017

Toby gotta say tank looks super nice now that you've been using Red Sea's Reef Energy Coral Nutrition what do you think about.

Daniel@R2R · Sep 22, 2017

Broadfield said:
There's one thing that I have always wanted in my reef tank and have never been able to source one... always being late to the party when one gets posted for sale. That would be a Golden Dwarf Moray Eel. With the recent announcement of the Hawaii collection permits being halted, I thought it may never happen. However, @ZoaCollector got me hooked up over the weekend! I'm pretty stoked and should have it this coming week.

Awesome!! Can't wait for pics!

benny z · Sep 22, 2017

Broadfield said:
There's one thing that I have always wanted in my reef tank and have never been able to source one... always being late to the party when one gets posted for sale. That would be a Golden Dwarf Moray Eel. With the recent announcement of the Hawaii collection permits being halted, I thought it may never happen. However, @ZoaCollector got me hooked up over the weekend! I'm pretty stoked and should have it this coming week.

Don't do it. Not without a closed top. Be carpet surfing in no time.

benny z · Sep 22, 2017

Maybe plumb a smaller tank with a closed top into the system specially for it, if you want one that badly...

Broadfield · Sep 22, 2017

benny z said:
Don't do it. Not without a closed top. Be carpet surfing in no time.

benny z said:
Maybe plumb a smaller tank with a closed top into the system specially for it, if you want one that badly...

You make two posts per year and they both happen to be here... I feel honored

. I happened to pick up an @ArtFully Acrylic lid at MACNA.

IMG_1094 by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

benny z · Sep 22, 2017

Oh.

Carry on.

gpinto81 · Sep 22, 2017

Toby what kind of sand do you have?

Broadfield · Sep 22, 2017

ReefguyEric said:
Toby gotta say tank looks super nice now that you've been using Red Sea's Reef Energy Coral Nutrition what do you think about.

I don't think I have any complaints. I did however change the dosing to every other day... phosphates would get a little higher than I like when dosing every day.

gpinto81 said:
Toby what kind of sand do you have?

Tropic Eden Reefflakes

gpinto81 · Sep 22, 2017

Thanks... how do you keep it so clean?

gpinto81 · Sep 22, 2017

Your tank is unbelievable

Broadfield · Sep 22, 2017

gpinto81 said:
Thanks... how do you keep it so clean?

cmperry · Sep 23, 2017

I spent the last several days reading your your thread. Your tank is amazing and inspiring. The attention to detail is second to none. I've just taken delivery of a Red Sea XL 525 and I'm currently in the planning and setup mode.

I have a quick question that you may have answered. When you hard plumbed your drain line with another barbed fitting from Red Sea, I assume that 3/4" x 1" reducing adapter necks the drain down to 3/4" at that point and then back into a 1" pipe? If so, is the drain line in essence restricted to 3/4" flow? Any idea what kind of flow you are getting through the system?

Thank you for your help.

Broadfield · Sep 23, 2017

cmperry said:
I spent the last several days reading your your thread. Your tank is amazing and inspiring. The attention to detail is second to none. I've just taken delivery of a Red Sea XL 525 and I'm currently in the planning and setup mode.

I have a quick question that you may have answered. When you hard plumbed your drain line with another barbed fitting from Red Sea, I assume that 3/4" x 1" reducing adapter necks the drain down to 3/4" at that point and then back into a 1" pipe? If so, is the drain line in essence restricted to 3/4" flow? Any idea what kind of flow you are getting through the system?

Thank you for your help.

Thanks for taking the time to check out the build... there will be more to come!

The plumbing setup is capable of handling a ton of flow for sure. My split returns definitely add to my overall flow in the tank. I do not know what my actual gph flow is, but I'm sure I'll pick up the Neptune flow monitoring kit at some point and find out.

gpinto81 · Sep 23, 2017

Broadfield said:

Like a boss. Just point them to a video lol. Thanks

jstagner · Sep 23, 2017

Is there a guide or instructions in this thread on changing out the Red Sea valve to a gate valve? I really would like to do this!

cmperry · Sep 23, 2017

Broadfield said:
Thanks for taking the time to check out the build... there will be more to come!

The plumbing setup is capable of handling a ton of flow for sure. My split returns definitely add to my overall flow in the tank. I do not know what my actual gph flow is, but I'm sure I'll pick up the Neptune flow monitoring kit at some point and find out.

The drain line definitely necks down to 3/4" at that fitting, correct?

Jimbo662 · Sep 23, 2017

Tank is looking great as always! I've got the Aurora over my 66g right now. I'm going to be upgrading when I move next month to a 5ft tank and would love to put an Aurora over it but the price keeps putting me off. Do you think the Spectra is a better option overall?

mrtian97 · Sep 23, 2017

Toby, do you use powerhead in the sump to keep the sump stirs up? I have reefer 350 and the middle chamber seems very calm so I added small powerhead and turn on about 12 hrs/day, not sure if it's needed