CadLights 42g Versa II Reef Build - First Build Thread

[Vahanyos]

So, after a little over a year and a half in the hobby I finally decided to buy a reef-ready tank. I was looking for something that will comfortably fit a 36" space and won't break the bank, so I went with a CadLights 42g Versa II package... it's a downgrade in size from what I am running now, but definitely of quality compared to my DIY hang-on-back style tank. I think I made a good choice, the tank itself looks to be of good quality. But I guess only time will tell

I will provide plenty of pictures very soon and document the entire build. The tank is sitting in my living room waiting to be assembled

I have kept almost every type of coral with success but the most challenging for me has been the high end SPS. I am able to grow birdsnest, monti caps, etc.... but I don't think my tank is set up to handle high end SPS. So my journey begins... it will be mostly an SPS dominated tank with a few softies and LPS that I simply cannot live without.

I will be using 30+ lb's of "Shapes Liferock" from the BRS website, and also probably 10-15 lb's of the special grade arag-live sand by caribsea. I chose special grade because I plan to have lots of flow in the tank and I don't want to worry about the sand getting blown around. I plan to have a very thin sand bed. I chose the Shapes Liferock because I like my rock work to look more like a web of openings and caves, etc... instead of chunky pieces. I feel my flow will be much better this way.

Livestock:
Yellow Mimic Tang (temporarily)
Starry Blenny
A clownfish or two (haven't decided which ones yet)
Mandarin Goby (when it's mature, of course)
Cleaner Shrimp
Coral Banded Shrimp
Assortment of Scarlet Hermits (different colors)
Small Assortment of herbit crabs and snails.

Several SPS frags and shrooms, frogspawn, and a really big toadstool leather coral.

Equipment:
Bubble Magus Curve 5 Skimmer
Tunze Nano ATO
Hydra 52 HD
Eflux Return Pump 1050gph
Standard Sump from CadLights (Will probably upgrade, as the fuge section everyone complains about being too small)
150W Finnex Heater
Icecap 1k Gyre

I plan to run a refugium to help in keeping my nitrates and phosphates low. Will be my first refugium so I'm hoping for the best!

I am a minimalist, and don't want to worry about dosing so I'll be doing frequent water changes and see if I can maintain my parameters that way. It's been working out well for me so far with my current tank.

That's all I have for now folks - any input is appreciated or questions welcomed. Thank you for reading. I know it's boring now, but pics and updates will be coming very soon

 

[NY_Caveman]

Sounds like a really good plan to me.

 

[Vahanyos]

I got the stand assembled and the tank put in place. I am very impressed with the glass and quality of the silicone. Zero air bubbles, perfect seems all the way across.

As mentioned by everyone before the instructions for the stand are not good at all. If you have building experience you won’t have any problems. Just put the puzzle pieces together. The center beam going up and down in the front did not have pre drilled or marked holes where the screws go. I spent a few minutes wondering if I might’ve put a panel in the wrong place but Nope, they didn’t have holes. No big deal. You MUST put your sump in first or it will not fit once the beam is screwed in. Very sturdy stand, great polish finish on it.

I went ahead and redid the plumbing. The pipe fittings were not glued and it just looked a little whacky... im using a 1” overflow durso style and 1/2 inch return. I’m currently using the return they provided but soon I’ll be tearing my other tank down completely and transferring the equipment over...

Here’s some pics! This baby is getting wet tonight soon as the glue dries up on the pipes!

 

[Vahanyos]

the sump space is super small. I’m not sure what they were thinking with the sump fuge section but I am planning to upgrade the sump in the very near future. Don’t need to run a fuge now so I’m in no rush to change it it.

 

[Vahanyos]

Tank is wet. Now the dreaded wait! Seeding it with a piece of rock from my other display.

i plan to add an electrical panel to the left side of the tank. It will stick out 5 inches but it’ll be flushed with the stand. It’ll also provide me with a little space to set things down if needed. There is barely any room inside and I don’t feel comfortable putting all my electicals on the inside with the salt creep, humidity, etc... Erick at CadLights threw in a few extra panels at a dirt cheap price, so I’ll be cutting and piecing everything together. It’ll match perfectly.

Slow but steady, making progress.

 

[larryl]

Looking great so far.

 

[Jaysushi]

Tank is looking awesome! Welcome to the Cadlights club!

 

[Vahanyos]

Update.

I got the extra panels that CAD lights so graciously gave me and cut them to size for a small (not so small) electrical cabinet on the left side. It also has a 17 by 8 surface area on top that I can utilize for decoration or to serve as a little table when testing, feeding, etc... we all know having some extra room to work with is very helpful. It’s 35” in height and 8” in dept and 17 “ from front to back. I wanted it to sit flushed with the stand and so far so good!

Some minor Touch ups and it should be ready to be screwed in!!

Also tank has diatoms and all parameters are reading 0. Decided to add a flasher wrasse that’s been hiding for 2 days now but I can see him hiding in his crevice so I know he’s still kicking. Let’s hope he makes it!

 

[Jaysushi]

Nice! Keep the pics coming. I bought a Radion XR30W Pro yesterday with a diffuser. Man this light is freaking awesome! A lot better than the two Prime HDs I was using before.

 

[Vahanyos]

I was considering getting one myself but was worried about the spread - I went with the hydra 52 cuz if the 4 clusters instead of 2.

I take it the light is sufficient and lights up the whole tank? Congrats man there really isn’t a better light out there from what I’ve heard. When it comes to LED of course

 

[Jaysushi]

I feel like I should have taken the advice and bought two XR15's, but honestly it lights up the tank just fine with the diffuser on there.
I love the light a lot. Now it's time to wait and see how the corals feel about it.

 

[Vahanyos]

Got a chance to screw in the electrical cabinet I made. Here’s some pics! Needs some TLC with wire management but I’ve finally got it up and hid all the ugly wires laying next to the tank

I always had trouble deciding on a surge protector or power bar to use. My brother in law has a Red Sea max older model and I reallly love their power centers. I was sitting around with him admiring his tank and I told him I envy his power center and he said “why don’t you just order one?”....... the best investment I’ve made! It looks super clean and organized! You tell me how it looks

Anyways , no update with livestock yet - wrasse still in hiding. Added a hammer from my main tank and it’s adapting well... not fully opened yet but in due time!

That’s all for now!

 

[Zuma]

Great start and great looking tank! I'm considering doing a very similar set up; curious how noisy or quite the overflow is for this tank?

 

[Vahanyos]

Great start and great looking tank! I'm considering doing a very similar set up; curious how noisy or quite the overflow is for this tank?

I’m very happy with the tank overall - consider getting a different sump depending on your needs because you’re very limited with the one they provide. Water level is the same in all 3 compartments because of their design. Something I’m not used to but with an ato it isn’t a big deal.

The overflow has a very light trickle to it, it’s a durso set up. I’m running their stock pump so I can’t adjust the flow to mess with the noise. I have a ball valve on the intake to the sump but it’s hard to adjust it. When I set up my DC return pump I’ll be able to adjust the flow and I’m almost confident I can get rid of the trickle noise as well. Making it virtually silent

 

[Zuma]

sounds good, thanks for the info.

 

[Vahanyos]

3 and a 1/2 weeks in. Tank is coming a long great. Added a Bartlett anthias and my line spot is getting a long with her just fine. And added a few softies and test corals to see how they’ll do. Holding up good so far

Here’s some pics

 

[NY_Caveman]

Looking really good!

 

[Vahanyos]

Plenty changes on the tank. Figured it was time for an update. Today marks 1 month and 13 days since tank has been wet. I can tell it’s getting more and more seasoned with each week.

I replaced the old sump with a 20x12x14 sump by advanced acrylics. It’s the S105 model with the filter sock holder removed. I am impressed with the sump. A huge upgrade from the stock one CadLights provided. I fit my bubble magus curve 5 and a filter sock in the first changer, a long with a bag of chemical pure elite, middle chamber houses a decent size refugium with chaeto, a giant piece of rock and a brittle starfish, and a chaetomax refugium light by innovative marine, and finally the third chamber I fit my current eflux 1050gph pump. I kept the glass ato reservoir the tank came with.

Also switched out the gyre 1k for an mp10qd - it’s much quieter and provides better flow. Gyre is nice but it’s powerful, and I wasn’t able to really utilize it as well as the mp10.

Corals are showing signs of growth and although I still have some diatoms and algae, they are happy and getting comfortable. I think another month and I’ll be stable enough to add more sps and really get them to thrive.

So far my stock lists consists of:

3 large colorful hermits (blue/black stripe, all red, and a Halloween hermit)
6 blue legged hermits.
3 snails
Cleaner shrimp
Tiger pistol shrimp and YWG pair
Line spot flasher wrasse
Bartlett Anthias (starting to be a bully)

Assortment of mushrooms
Birdsnest, Sonic Boom Acropora, and red fire Digi
Assortment of zoas
Candy canes
Weeping willow toadstool

Here’s some pics

 

[Vahanyos]

Tank is 3 months and 13 days today! Purchased those polyplab lenses and took some pictures for fun, so thought i'd share and give a little update.

I added an mp10 for better flow. Turned my skimmer off completely. It's been off for 2 months now. I turned it off to fight what looked like dino's (not confirmed), and it helped dramatically. Chaeto grows a healthy size every day. Running fuge only 4 hours a night so my nitrates can rise a little. I'm currently feeding once a day, a cube of mysis one day, a small chunk of LRS reef frenzy the next day. I add some oyster feast to the water column every 3 days or so. Very simple routine, and it's working so far. Currently the tank is getting nice and mature and getting some stability. Corals have shown growth and very good coloration.

 

[Jonathan veillette]

Nice! Tank looks great.