Dreamy Reef without a Fish/Equipment Room

[Ironfish]

Title sums it up: I wanted a large-ish tank because I like Fish (probably more than coral) but since I don't have any more rooms for equipment I needed something with a built-in sump and space for equipment underneath the tank.

I've been pretty happy with my current Red Sea 625 so decided to go for the new Reefer 1000.

Aquarium is arriving next week and I'm keeping some current equipment plus I already ordered some new stuff for this bigger setup:

Aquarium: Red Sea Reefer S 1000 G2+
Controller: Neptune Apex
Lights: Kessil AP9X (had 2 and got a 3rd)
Skimmer: Bubble King DeLuxe 200 (My dream skimmer and its already here!)
Return pumps: 2x Vectra M2 (had one already)
In-tank water circulation: 2x VorTech MP60
Heating: A couple 300w titanium controlled by Apex
Cooling GHL 6 fan controlled by APEX (I might get a few extra 1 or 2 fan to place inside cabinet)
Reactors: I have 2 very simple Bubble Magus with Sicce Pumps that have been working well with Red Sea Carbon and RowaPhos.


Already ordered:
UV: AquaUV 57w (Ive been pretty happy with the 25w)
Algae Scrubber: IceCap PRO Large


On top of that I'm either reviewing or thinking about the following: (and here's where recommendation/feedback will be helpful)

- Kalk Reactor (Stirrer)
Trying to decide which one to get: IceCap, Deltec, Avast, etc (Ill start a thread just on this topic since I couldn't find good info in one place)
Im tired with the 2-part dosing so I will go back to the old school Kalk that used to work really good for me in the past.

- Dosing Pumps
I don't love my current DOS (bulky, noisy) and I want a 4-unit one. Im between the Red Sea ReefDose 4 and the Versa Pump 4.

- ATO container. Ill be using the ReefATO+ system that comes with the RedSea Aquarium but I want a 15gal (aprox) container to place it next to the aquarium to feed the Kalk Reactor and evaporated water.

- Electronics cabinet. I might run out of space inside the cabinet so probably placing a black cabinet next to the tank will be a must. I don't like anything flashy so hopefully everything out of sight.

- Refugium/Chaeto. Ive been running my system with a little refugium with rock and free floating chaeto. I will keep the rock but I'm not sure if with the Algae Scrubber I will still need the chaeto.

-Ozone. I used to use ozone reactors but looks like they are not very popular now. Looking around.


Livestock:

I will be transferring almost all my Fish:
Powder Blue
Purple Tang
Flameback Angel
Cherub (Pygmy) Angel
Barlett Anthias x5
Skunk Clowns x2
And a mix of smaller fish: Gobies, Filefish, Wrasses.

Plus a couple fish I got a couple months ago (when already decided to upgrade to a larger tank)
Sohal
Emperor Angel
Majestic Angel
White tail tang

I will be moving the rock to the new system but not adding anymore. Actually some will go to the refugium since I want a more modern (minimal) rock scape.

And moving all the inverts and corals. LPS, SPS, Anemones, etc.

I will use the water I already have and add more.
I will use new sand.


I believe that's the big picture. Of course I'm missing stuff but we will keep it rolling. And I will be posting pics of the progress.

Cheers!

 

[1112-425XL]

It all sounds great! I'll be following...

 

[Ironfish]

Probably all new aquarium projects start with the same pic...

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Best of luck with the build!

 

[Anthony Wood]

Your gonna be cramming but definitely possible. I had 99% of the things you have listed under a 120g tank. Not sure what opinion on ozone is now a days but I’ve never had clearer water and better thriving coral without it.

 

[Ironfish]

I suck at posting on all social medias and this was no exception!
Last month was busy! Work, family visiting, training and social life PLUS setting up this new tank! But with a couple weeks of reduced sleep it was possible.
I'm still working on it but the core is done.
I'll post some pics and tips for the ones choosing some of the same equipment I'm using.

 

[Ironfish]

As most you you know the cabinet assembly is the easiest part of this project.
When I first read some posts about this tank I was worried bc the cabinet box used to come under the tank and I didn't have the help to lift it to do so. But I guess Red Sea decided to pack the boxes containing the cabinet parts on top of the aquarium.
The whole cabinet is doable by one person. Sure at times it would've been nice to get a second set of hands to lift some parts but it's doable.
A cordless screwdriver or a drill is almost a must since you probably need to screw some 200 screws on wood and on aluminum.

 

[Ironfish]

Here are some pics of the cabinet parts and assembly.

 

[Ironfish]

And in the background my old RS Reefer 625.

 

[Ironfish]

I planned in advance the day and time to make the move of the new tank inside and the old tank out to the garage.

Since I needed at least 6 guys I asked 8 friends (just in case some last minute call outs!) and got some accessories that make this kind of moves much easier!

My recommendations:

This set of 2 suction cups for $20 works great! I got 2 sets. So 4 total.

https://a.co/d/5rPKI5G

This shoulder straps to lift heavy stuff for $35 are

https://a.co/d/iKgBQJQ

And this set of 2 dollies for $30 is

https://a.co/d/7MHCMf4

I also needed some large trash cans from Home Depot to house my rock, corals and fish for a couple days. Plus a few heaters and circulation pumps

 

[Ironfish]

And now was time to start the real deal.

I started setting up the sumps and making sure my equipment choices were all going to fit properly. Until now I didn't know if the skimmer was going to fit in the rear chamber!

I got my dream skimmer! A Royal Exclusiv Bubble King DeLuxe 200

And got a Red Sea ReefMat since I've been reading a lot of good stuff about it. (And I knew I was going to use the Red Sea app because of the ATO that came with the aquarium) (btw. Great way to hook customers with their app)

The ReefMat "ready" sump was a little tricky to transform but after some google search I figured out how to do it. I just needed to pull the parts very hard.

 

[ctopherl]

And now was time to start the real deal.

I started setting up the sumps and making sure my equipment choices were all going to fit properly. Until now I didn't know if the skimmer was going to fit in the rear chamber!

I got my dream skimmer! A Royal Exclusiv Bubble King DeLuxe 200

And got a Red Sea ReefMat since I've been reading a lot of good stuff about it. (And I knew I was going to use the Red Sea app because of the ATO that came with the aquarium) (btw. Great way to hook customers with their app)

The ReefMat "ready" sump was a little tricky to transform but after some google search I figured out how to do it. I just needed to pull the parts very hard.

I agree it was too difficult to get the reefmat in.

What makes the BK your “dream skimmer”?

How old is your 625?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

And now was time to start the real deal.

I started setting up the sumps and making sure my equipment choices were all going to fit properly. Until now I didn't know if the skimmer was going to fit in the rear chamber!

I got my dream skimmer! A Royal Exclusiv Bubble King DeLuxe 200

And got a Red Sea ReefMat since I've been reading a lot of good stuff about it. (And I knew I was going to use the Red Sea app because of the ATO that came with the aquarium) (btw. Great way to hook customers with their app)

The ReefMat "ready" sump was a little tricky to transform but after some google search I figured out how to do it. I just needed to pull the parts very hard.

Nice looking skimmer!

 

[Ironfish]

I agree it was too difficult to get the reefmat in.

What makes the BK your “dream skimmer”?

How old is your 625?

The 625 was running for almost 4 yrs. I started it as a mixed reef but at some point because of travelling and the equipment i had I decided to just leave it as a Fish tank with whatever inverts or corals survived. And BT Anemones ended up taking over the tank. They reproduced out of control so when i decided to make the move to a bigger mixed reef tank i had to find housing for all those anemones (30+).

I guess I always dreamt of a Bubble King.
In my last tank I thought about it but it was way too much money for me at the time and went with the Nyos that worked good except for several overflowings.

 

[Ironfish]

Nice looking skimmer!

So sexy!

 

[Ironfish]

Red Sea made a good improvement with the "legs" of the cabinet.
The small pegs are now a bigger diameter (I hope in all models) so they "stand" better on the floor.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

Nice gear. I would just run ozone into the bk skimmer. Ive Tried both ways and never saw any differences in the skimmer or in the reactor. If you don’t have an air drier for your ozone generator that would be money better spent As far as performance

 

[Ironfish]

Nice gear. I would just run ozone into the bk skimmer. Ive Tried both ways and never saw any differences in the skimmer or in the reactor. If you don’t have an air drier for your ozone generator that would be money better spent As far as performance

I actually ended up getting the Ozotech ozonizer and the air dryer, together with an Alita Air Pump.
Connected it to the BK ozone intake.
I've been playing with the intensity on the ozonizer as well as having it running controlled by the apex vs just on timer.

Weirdly enough my ORP just doesn't increase much. Just the normal day/night oscillation. My ORP its been in the 250 to 270 range for weeks.

 

[Ironfish]

And took a nap in the tank one afternoon...

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

that seems odd. How many gallons is your setup? My ozotech says it does 400 mg/ hr. I have their matching air dryer, and it’s mounted in a room behind the tank which is ac/ dehumidified. I run it about 75 percent it runs alot but have an Orp controller set to shut it down at 440. I generally stay in the 400-450 range Maybe try a bucket test to make sure yours is functioning correctly. My setup doesn’t need the alita as my skimmers a Beckett with iwaki 70 pumps and pulls lots of air but those Alitas should be able to push enough air.