Devoted Reefer 250

[pelphrey]

I'll keep the intro as quick as possible. This is my 3rd tank in the last year so I've named it "Devoted Reefer 250". I started off with a 27 Gallon Cube ( https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/27-gallon-cube.207744/ ) then moved this tank into the BADFISH 20 Gallon AIO ( https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/badfish-20-gallon-aio.254424/#post-3003440 ). The cube was taken down and put into the 20 gallon AIO tank in an effort for me to offload the Cube and offset the costs of the new build. Originally I had planned to go with a euro braced 120 or 150, after a lot of research and with 2 very young children I decided it would be much better to go with a smaller tank. The only requirement from my wife is that the stand HAD to be white. At this point it was a toss up, the IM 50 lagoon AIO or the Red Sea Reefer 250.... As the title states the reefer won and the process has begun. The tank has been rightfully named Devoted Reefer 250 with the overall objective to finally setup a tank and allow it to mature. The scale of this tank will allow me to be devoted and not overwhelmed with a larger system.

The tank was bought from @Bulk Reef Supply, I received the tank yesterday. Unfortunately the delivery company was unable to bring the tank to my house since I live in a Cul-de-sac so I met the driver a few minutes from my house to pickup the tank. When I approached the driver I jokingly asked him if he knew where I could find some reefer!! haha

After inspection we loaded the tank into the van -

Finally after everyone went to bed it was time to put the stand together. Overall it took a little over an hour to put the stand together. I kind of laugh because I once built a stand for a 75 gallon and I now realize that stand was WAY overbuilt!

First things first. Slickdeals had these magnetic cabinet locks for $3.99 shipped ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GHFJIJA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). Before the stand gets moved into the house these have to be installed so that the kids can't get into the cabinet.

The attention to detail on the stand alone has me sold. Red Sea provides rubber end caps for all of he visible holes in the back of the stand.

I am still undecided on my return pump and pumps that will be used, I have a RIO17hf I may use at first. I have been looking at DC return pumps. The MP10WQD on the 20 gallon will be moved over. Still undecided if I want to go with a Gyre or another MP10 or MP40. Lighting the Devoted Reefer 250 will be by two Kessil A160WE's, I will be using 8020 to mount the lights similar to the setup on my 20 gallon currently. As far as rock, I have 30lbs of @reefcleaners rock and will be ordering 30-50 more pounds. I may run the system bare bottom at first and add sand later.

 

[revhtree]

Congrats and following!

 

[mmw64]

following along

 

[pelphrey]

The stand has made it into the house. Now I need to get the tank on the stand and screw in all of the plumbing.

I'll soon look at replacing the ATO container. This small container isn't going to cut it. I wish I had a closet close by so I could put the reservoir in it to conserve cabinet space. The reality is the cabinet is what I have to work with, and with two small kids I don't have any plans to put a container outside of the cabinet.

The RIO17HF return pump fit in the return chamber just perfect. I was hoping I could have used the feet on the pump but they wouldn't fit in this chamber. I have a fear that this pump will create noise and vibrations. I had this pump laying around, I'll give it a shot. If in fact it does create any noises I'll look at replacing with a DC pump ASAP.

I am still undecided on a manifold. I'll cross this bridge later on the build.

 

[Scubafrog]

Looks Good! Thank you for all the pictures of building the cabinet.

 

[pelphrey]

Looks Good! Thank you for all the pictures of building the cabinet.

Happy to help out in anyway that I can!

It was very simple, just follow the directions. I did go back last night and double check all of the fittings and made sure they were tight! Be sure to check out my YouTube channel, I've already got 2 videos recorded on this build and they are in que to be released over the next few weeks!

 

[ksfulk]

The stand has made it into the house. Now I need to get the tank on the stand and screw in all of the plumbing.

I'll soon look at replacing the ATO container. This small container isn't going to cut it. I wish I had a closet close by so I could put the reservoir in it to conserve cabinet space. The reality is the cabinet is what I have to work with, and with two small kids I don't have any plans to put a container outside of the cabinet.

The RIO17HF return pump fit in the return chamber just perfect. I was hoping I could have used the feet on the pump but they wouldn't fit in this chamber. I have a fear that this pump will create noise and vibrations. I had this pump laying around, I'll give it a shot. If in fact it does create any noises I'll look at replacing with a DC pump ASAP.

I am still undecided on a manifold. I'll cross this bridge later on the build.

As an easy fix for the pump, if there are some vibrations, you can grab a cheap silicone pot holder (~$2 at WalMart) and cut it to the footprint of your pump and rest it on that. It will minimize your vibrations until you decide to change to another pump or go to something more permanent.

 

[pelphrey]

As an easy fix for the pump, if there are some vibrations, you can grab a cheap silicone pot holder (~$2 at WalMart) and cut it to the footprint of your pump and rest it on that. It will minimize your vibrations until you decide to change to another pump or go to something more permanent.

This is a great idea! I've actually been looking at the reef octopus VarioS-2 DC pump for my return pump. I need to make sure it will fit in the return section but I think I would like to add a manifold with 2-3 outputs. I may actually need to look into the RO VarioS-4 for this reason. The 2 is rated at 792 gph and the 4 is rated at 1050. Red sea recommends 660 gph and the RO 2 doesn't leave much room left over. What are your thoughts?

 

[pelphrey]

Just a little spoiler for all of the reefers on YouTube.

​

 

[ksfulk]

This is a great idea! I've actually been looking at the reef octopus VarioS-2 DC pump for my return pump. I need to make sure it will fit in the return section but I think I would like to add a manifold with 2-3 outputs. I may actually need to look into the RO VarioS-4 for this reason. The 2 is rated at 792 gph and the 4 is rated at 1050. Red sea recommends 660 gph and the RO 2 doesn't leave much room left over. What are your thoughts?

Go bigger - especially if you are running a manifold. Thats a no brainer - AND if you are using a DC pump, you can always dial down the pump itself - so its a win all the way around.

 

[Sppf121]

Looking Good. I finally put out a video. Just a really quick un edited one talking about some if the issues I had. Really like the tank. Have my clean up crew coming. Cant wait to watch your build.

 

[pelphrey]

The tank is still dry. I've got a lot of work to complete on the tank still and more importantly I need equipment! I do have a return pump that I could use for the time being but I would rather wait and get the return pump I want as well as the rest of the equipment. At first I had no plans to build a manifold, I think those plans have now changed!

Currently I have 30 lbs of Reef Clean rock in the tank, I have another 50 lbs of rock coming from John. I wanted to order just a little extra so I have more options when building my structures, plus I like to use rock rubble to mount my frags to and get them off the plugs. The tank won't be getting wet until I have the rock work the way I want it!

Recently I picked up another Kessil A160, since I'm not using the light and I had the gooseneck laying around I figured I would put them on the tank. The Kessil I have over my 20 gallon is mounted to a light stand I made out of 8020. I wanted to go the 8020 route on this tank, but I don't want to mount the 8020 to the walls behind the tank and the 8020 isn't long enough to be mounted to the stand. As an alternative I think I may look into the new Kessil arm mount and attempt to hang both A160's the arm.

 

[pelphrey]

The magnetic cabinet locks have been added to the stand and these are working out great!

Lock mounted to the door -

Stopper mounted inside the cabinet -

Magnetic key is used to open the cabinet. Here you can see the latch is in the "locked" position -

Touching the cabinet door with the magnetic key released the lock and allows the door to open -

Checking to make sure that the dry tank is level -

Plumbing is installed -

 

[Scarybo]

Great Thread. Trying to decide on the Reefer 250 or the Cad Light versa. This thread may help me choose.

 

[pelphrey]

Glad to have you along for the ride! My hope is to share this tank from receiving it to getting it setup. This series is planned to start on my YouTube channel tomorrow. I've got plenty more content coming!

 

[Scarybo]

I watched your tease on YouTube last night. Cant wait to see the new content.

 

[Sppf121]

Very nice. Looking good!!

 

[pelphrey]

The journey begins -

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[Sppf121]

Looking forward to the DC pump and manifold idea. I have a sicce 3.0 which is working well but limited because it's an AC pump.

 

[pelphrey]

Looking forward to the DC pump and manifold idea. I have a sicce 3.0 which is working well but limited because it's an AC pump.

I was going to use the RIO 17HF pump that I have. But I decided I would go ahead and get the DC and get it installed. I should be ordering the pump this weekend!