Daltrey's Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL Build

[Daltrey]

Welcome to my build. This is basically going to be a journal so I can keep track of my tank from the very startup to hopefully being able to advance and learn along the way.

I have kept several fowlr tanks over the past 22 years ranging from 55 to 240 gallons but this will be my first attempt at keeping corals and I am looking forward to it so let's get started.

My goal is a mixed reef tank with as little maintenance as possible and lots of automation. Basically I want the tank to run itself.

EQUIPMENT LIST:

• Red Sea Reefer 750XXL (71Lx25.6Wx23.6H) 160 Gallon Display/200 Gallon Total
• 2X Ecotech Vortech MP40s
• 3X Ecotech Radion XR30W Gen 4 LEDs
• Ecotech Vectra M1
• Ecotech Reeflink
• 2X 60” T5 HO MIRO-4 Retrofit Kits (4x80 Watt T5 HO ATI Bulbs 2 Blue+, 1 Coral+, and 1 Purple+)
• 2X Finnex 300W Titanium Heaters
• Reef Octopus Classic 200INT Protein Skimmer
• BRS Bulk Fiji Dry Rock 150lbs.
• CaribSea Aragonite Special Grade Reef Sand 80lbs
• GHL Doser 2.0
• GHL Profilux 4 Mega

LIVESTOCK LIST:

• 2 x Ocellaris Clownfish
• Diamond Watchman Goby
• Flame Angel
• Powder Blue Tang
• Yellow Tang
• Lemon Chromi
• Nassarious Snails
• Margarita Snail
• Emerald Crab

CORAL LIST:

• Blue spotted Discosoma Mushroom
• Purple Stylophora
• Gold Clove Polyps
• Hollywood Stunner Chalice
• Favia
• Lava Lamp Mushroom
• Orange Montipora Digitata
• Montipora Capricornus
• Bali Green Slimer
• St Thomas Mushroom
• CR's Grafted Cap
• Jedi Mind Trick Montipora
• Sunny D Zoas
• Frogspawn

 

[Daltrey]

First thing was we have a two year old so I knew the tank couldn't go in our living room because it wouldn't last a day against him. So time for plan B. Convert the two car garage into a place for my new aquarium. So that's where I started. I knew I had a budget so unfortunately that meant I was going to be doing all of the work.

I also decided to install a dedicated 20 amp breaker that would provide all my tanks power needs. This was of course finished off with a gfci outlet.

 

[Daltrey]

Next I needed a way to heat and cool the room since it would basically be seperate from the rest of the house and didn't really like the idea of tying into our main ductwork.

So I decided to install a mini split that heats and cools the room. I installed everything from the electrical to the installation of the unit including running the copper piping and pulling a vacuum. It was a neat learning experience.

 

[Daltrey]

Now that the groundwork was out of the way it was time to order the tank. I have to say when it finally arrived this thing was crated so well it could have probably fell off of the truck and been fine. Great job Red Sea!

 

[Daltrey]

Next I assembled the stand and called over a few friends to help lift this 350 lb aquarium onto it. I have to say the aquarium itself really is a showpiece. Everything from the silicone beads, to the flawless seams, to the beveled edges are absolutely perfect.

 

[Daltrey]

Which brings me to the only flaw I could find. The plumbing seems kind of like it was made from cheap thin plastic. The valve that is suppose to regulate the water flow seems clunky when you try and turn it and the top off float switch is an absolute joke.

 

[Daltrey]

So I decided to do a little plumbing of my own. Why not?

 

[Daltrey]

And wallah! Complete with working ball valves and a real gate valve that will do a much better job of making precise adjustments to the flow.

 

[Daltrey]

Also replaced that rinky dink float valve with a real float valve.

 

[Daltrey]

With the plumbing finished now came the tough part. AQUASCAPING! I can honestly say I wish anyone else could have done this but me. Why does it have to be so difficult? I guess you could say I just don't have an artistic touch.

My first and second attempt...

 

[Daltrey]

My third and fourth attempt.....

 

[Daltrey]

And finally I thru in the towel and did what I should have done to begin with. I asked for my wife's artistic touch.

The final layout. It still may not be perfect to everyone but it's perfect to us.

 

[Daltrey]

So this is where I am at so far. The tank is now filling using an Aquafx Rodi that I just installed new brs filters in and the tds is at zero.

I will be updating as I go. Thanks for checking out my build so far.

 

[Daltrey]

Oh and here are a few goodies currently in my QT ready and waiting to go into the display tank.

These pics were from the first day I added them 6 weeks ago to the qt right after being dipped. The new pics will be coming soon so you can check out their progression.

The list so far

Hammer Coral
Red Robin
Blue Spotted Disco
Purple Stylo
Gold Cloves
Hollywood Stunner
Special D Favia
Lava Lamp
Orange Digo
Red Moon Cup

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Looks like you are off to a great start @Daltrey ! Following along !

 

[revhtree]

Oooh build is looking nice!

 

[nzxtguy123]

Following along myself looks like a great build.

 

[nzxtguy123]

Following along myself looks like a great build ;Panda

 

[Daltrey]

Well while I am waiting on the tank to fill with 200 gallons of rodi I figured I would post a pick of my storage and mixing station.

I joined two 25 gallon Ace Roto Mold tanks that I ordered from ruralking with a jebao DCP 10000 pump. The left tank is my rodi storage and the right tank is the new saltwater mixing station. It is located in the closet in the same room. I added an rv drinking hose that I can run over to my tank and I also ran 1/4 ro tubing to my float valve in the sump to be used as my ATO.

I can also use the jebao as a backup to my main pump in case of an emergency.

Ace Roto Mold Tanks
https://www.ruralking.com/ace-roto-mold-25-gallon-vertical-dome-top-tank-vt0025-18.html

RV drinking hose
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004...nking+hose&dpPl=1&dpID=41745z2hI6L&ref=plSrch

Jebao DCP 10000
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M...F8&qid=1516146096&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

 

[Daltrey]

So one thing I am too lazy to do is water changes. Also every couple of weeks I like to vacuum my sandbed and get rid of any detritus.

I figured why not kill two birds with one stone. Water change and cleaning the sand bed at the same time. So I hooked up my gravel vacuum to a drain I installed behind my aquarium. Now all I have to do is start it all up using the siphon ball.