Dave's Red Sea Reefer 650 Peninsula

[Dave Cureton]

Short story is I promised my wife a kitchen renovation for our 10 year anniversary. Of course I worked a new tank into it....More to come.

 

[Dave Cureton]

Added a poll for sand or not. I love the look of sand but hate the upkeep.

 

[Dave Cureton]

Tank installed. Please ignore the missing flooring/wall. We took out a pony wall. All part of the renovation.

 

[SPR1968]

Looks great Dave so far and thanks for sharing the pictures with us, very nice.

The family looks happy as well.

And welcome to R2R!

 

[Dave Cureton]

Shot of the tank with my DIY shelf and dead front on the dry side. Also have the 8 bulb ATI Sunpower hung. Bottom portion of dry side will hold Triton 1,2.3A,3B. Top will hide the wiring spider web and dead front will have the Neptune and Ecotech controllers.

 

[Dave Cureton]

Looks great Dave so far and thanks for sharing the pictures with us, very nice.

The family looks happy as well.

And welcome to R2R!

Thanks Shaun!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Nice start and a beautiful family!

 

[Dave Cureton]

More info:
Lighting:
ATI Sunpower 8 Bulb. (Blue Plus, Aqua Blue, Blah Blah) After 10+ years in this hobby and running every light you can think of I stuck with the tried and true. Thinking about adding some Reefbrite XHO strips in the future.
Circulation:
2-4 Ecotech MP40's and/or Maxpect Gyres. I have 2 MP40's leftover from my previous tank and 1 First Gen Gyre. Looking at adding 2 MP40's if I don't go with 2 Maxpect Gyres. First thought is MP40's being I have had them for many years and haven't had major issues. MP40's are probably the best $ I have spent on a reef tank!
Return:
Ecotech Vectra M1. Holy cow! It's controllable and almost silent. A big step up from the cheap pumps I have used in the past. EcoTech makes good stuff! ( I ran Radions on my previous tank I liked them, just not the same as ATI.)
Skimmer:
It's a Skimz something or other. My old Alpha died 6-12 months ago. Bought this used from a R2R member. Pump died 2 months later. BRS had a replacement. It works and isn't not too noisy. It pulls nasty gunk from my old tank so no complaints.
Heater(s):
I'm old school so I stick with Eheim. Everything else has failed.
Controller: Don't leave home without one. Again old school. Sticking with classic Apex.
Dosing:
2 Apex DOS. Had them on my previous tank. I might talk about it some day....

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Dave Cureton]

Nice start and a beautiful family!

Thanks NY_Caveman!

 

[Dave Cureton]

 

[Dave Cureton]

Good night from NorCal.

 

[Beckio]

Looking forward to some updates

 

[Dave Cureton]

Me too, Thanks! I threw a bottle of bacteria, some shrimp, and some vodka in the tank to get the bacteria party started.

 

[Dave Cureton]

The sump doesn't have a whole lot going on right now. Just some extra rock, the Eheim 300 watt heater, Vectra return pump ( I love how quiet this thing is), and Apex probes. Oh and I added a little led light bar I had hanging around that has a proximity sensor on it so I have light when the doors open. I am still debating on what light to use for the refugium. I have an XR15 Radion that I'm not using so might start with that. I am kind of leaning on a Kessil grow light though to hopefully minimize light spill. At this point I'm not sold on the ATO. I'm thinking of sticking with my Tunze ATO but that would involve running a line under the house. Not thrilled about that project.

 

[Dave Cureton]

Getting there. Ammonia has bottomed out. The nitrite is off the charts.

 

[Dave Cureton]

I bought some reef stuff from BRS over the holiday weekend while I was shacked up due to the much needed rain in NorCal.
Maxspect XF250 gyre with controller. My old gyre seized up. I really like the flow the old one put out so giving it a go again. I think I will pick up another if this one works to my liking.
Zetlight E200 Refugium light. I couldn't stomach the price or power consumption of the Kessil. Reviews on this seemed to be good.
Milwaukee Digital Refractomer. I am tied of fiddling with an analog refractometer. Not to mention if I compare the "calibration fluid" supplied with my current model and the "calibration solution" I bought from BRS I get wildly different outputs. Hoping this thing is the real deal.
I will share feedback one the stuff arrives.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Getting there. Ammonia has bottomed out. The nitrite is off the charts.

Looking really good!

 

[Dave Cureton]

Christmas came early!

 

[Dave Cureton]

Fuge light installed. The zetlight 200 seems like a good fit for the red sea sump. Time will tell. Now I need to get some Macro algae.

 

[Dave Cureton]

I got some chaeto and a marine pure block from one of my favorite LFS Aquarium Depot in Sacramento. Also got my skimmer moved over from the old tank.