Diving into SPS! My Acropora Dominant Red Sea Reefer 350

Welcome to my build thread! This tank is my return to the hobby after a short hiatus. I purchased this entire system used and decided to start from scratch with it. My previous system was a 60g Cube that was broken down due to a long distance move. My initial plan was to have a dedicated LPS system but instead will be going full SPS. While I've kept some SPS this will be my first full SPS system. Look forward to sharing the progress with you all and hearing your feedback. Below you can find a list of current/future equipment and livestock.

System Overview:

Display:
Red Sea Reefer 350 V3 - 71G
Included sump - 20G
Total system volume - 91G

Filtration:
Mechanical - Reefmat 500
Skimmer - Reef Octopus Regal 150-INT
- CO2 Scrubber
Biological - Marco Dry Rock 60 lbs
- Original Grade Ocean Direct Live Sand 40 lbs
- CaribSea Crushed Coral Dry Sand 5 lbs
- Maxspect Nano-Tech Bio-Blocks x2
- Refugium Rubble
Return Pump - Neptune Apex Cor20

Thermal Control:
Heater - 200W BRS Titanium Heater (Controlled by Apex)

Lighting:
Neptune Apex Sky LED x 2

Flow:
Neptune Apex WAV x 2

Monitoring:
Neptune Apex A2
Temp probe
pH probe
ORP probe
Salinity probe
EB832
Neptune Apex Trident
Apex AFS x 2

ATO - Apex ATK

Dosing:
Red Sea Dose 4

Livestock: (Added after initial cycle)

Hippos Tang (Small)
Foxface Rabbitfish (Medium)
Snowflake Clownfish
Chromis

Inverts:

Tiger Conch x 2
Hermit Crabs Various
Nerite Snail
Astrea Snail
AlgaeBarn EcoPods x 4

This is the primary setup while the tank gets established. The first month the tank will be ran with the lights off and no livestock until 0 ammonia readings for a few days. That should be about all for now. I will post an update soon with changes.

 

[lapin]

Nice

 

[Himz]

Awsome setup!

Could you take couple of pictures of your sump and dry compartment?
I am just starting my 350 reefer with similar equpiment. I want to copy your layout.

Looks so organised! Great job!

 

[Gray]

Awsome setup!

Could you take couple of pictures of your sump and dry compartment?
I am just starting my 350 reefer with similar equpiment. I want to copy your layout.

Looks so organised! Great job!

Will do! Still moving things around to find what works best. Gonna post a update this weekend with a more detailed view under the hood!

 

[Gray]

2 Month Update​

Tank is going through its "ugly phase" with short waves of diatoms and other film algae forming on the sand and aquascape. Thankfully its nothing out of control and seems to be well managed by the livestock and water changes.

Average parameters (Trident + API):

pH - 8.2-8.5
Alk - 6.5
Ca - 450
Mg - 1400
NO3 - 20

Dosing - Red Sea ABC Supplements

Will also be adding ARC Reef Live Pink & Purple Coralline Algae (Been curious about this product for a while).

Equipment Changes:​

Tunze EcoChic 10k x 2 (Future Refugium)
Sicce XStream Wave Pump (Sump Detritus Suspension)

Livestock Additions:​

Sleeper Blue Dot Goby

ReefCleaners Diverse CUC:

3 Trochus Snails
1 Emerald Crab
22 Florida Ceriths
12 Nassarius vibex
5 Astraea Snails
44 Dwarf Ceriths
5 Nerites
7 Assorted Hermits
2 Turbo Snails

Future Plans​

Equipment:

BRS Mini Rx (Carbon): Water clarity has been pretty poor lately.

CO2 Scrubber Skimmer Lid: CO2 scrubbing is proving pretty efficient for maintaining a solid pH, but low humidity air of Arizona saps all the moisture that is added to the reactor within a day or two. Hoping the recirculating air will remedy this.

Display Flow: While the WAV pumps are providing a LOT of flow, there a plenty of dead spots. I plan to add in a couple gyre pumps or MP40s to the back wall.

Sump Powerhead (PH): To help distribute additives and keep any detritus in the sump I added a PH in the drain chamber, but the old PH is extremely loud and will need to be swapped out eventually. (Can't deal with the constant buzzing)

Refugium: Will be adding chaeto once I catch it in stock at AlgaeBarn. Don't particular trust local sources so I'm willing to pay the extra cost.

Livestock:

Tomini Tang - Needing some extra algae nommers.

Wrasse - Not sure what wrasse to go for yet.

Always open to any other livestock recommendations. I'm sure more CUC will eventually need to be added. Thanks for reading! I will post monthly updates for the time being unless something big changes.

 

[QuinnLee512]

Hi. I'm considering getting a 350 G2. Looks like it comes with an ATO. Does the sump have an ATO reservoir?

 

[Gray]

Hi. I'm considering getting a 350 G2. Looks like it comes with an ATO. Does the sump have an ATO reservoir?

The older 350 models included a ATO reservoir that was a gravity based ATO. The newer G2+ models come with the Red Sea ReefATO+, but don't come with a reservoir anymore (from what I know). This 350 is the version before the G2+ models but I do have the ReefATO+. I got the system used and the ATO reservoir wasn't included, not sure what the previous owner did with it. I will say that the ReefATO+ is a great addition if you aren't planning to run an apex or have an AIO system.

Finding a solution for an ATO reservoir is on my to do list. I currently use a 5 gal jug that just sits on the side of the tank, but it only lasts for 3 or so days and is an eyesore.

Red Sea did release the ReefCan reservoirs that are essentially tall thinner jugs which I may give a try. Although the typical acrylic reservoirs are around the same price.

 

[QuinnLee512]

Thanks. That's what I figured. Would have to get a reservoir and put it in the cabinet with all the controller equipment. I'm also looking at the Waterbox 110.4. The included sump has an ATO reservoir.