Updated photo: 10/2023
Hello Reef2Reef'ers!
My ~300 gallon system is up and running, and I wanted to put up thread here to get feedback/suggestions/etc on my progress. It was started August of this year, and I think it is the right point in time to share the build. It is a custom 300 gallon low iron aquarium: 96x27x27. The cabinetry is also custom, faux coral rock. I friggin love it.
I am a pretty techy person, so everything about this setup is "smart" and optimized. Physical buttons to start a feed modes or photography mode, stand lights turn on automatically, complex multi-factor apex programming for redundancy and control.
I will organize the equipment details from top-down, and then left-to right in the stand.
Lighting:
4x Radion XR30w Pro Gen 4 and 2x Radion XR30w Pro Gen 4 inside two 48" white aquatic life hybrids.
Flow:
2x MP60wQD
1x Jebao CP 150 Wave Pumps
1x Jebao 3000gph return pump.
Rock:
ALL @reefcleaners dry rock. It is incredible; no curing, no problems. Just add it and it colors up. I am a huge fan after wasting a lot of money on other brands of rock that kept leaching phosphates.
Sand:
Carib-Sea Special Grade, ~220lbs.
Sump:
BashSea 48x15x15 smart series sump, customized with sock section.
Heater:
JBJ 1000w heater. I have their controller plugged into the apex, to cut it off if there is a problem.
Skimmer:
MaxSpect Aeraqua
ATO:
Tunze 3155 with 15 reservoir.
Controller/dosing:
Apex 2016, 2 EB832s, WXM, PM1 breakout, Trident, 2x DOS.
Hello Reef2Reef'ers!
My ~300 gallon system is up and running, and I wanted to put up thread here to get feedback/suggestions/etc on my progress. It was started August of this year, and I think it is the right point in time to share the build. It is a custom 300 gallon low iron aquarium: 96x27x27. The cabinetry is also custom, faux coral rock. I friggin love it.
I am a pretty techy person, so everything about this setup is "smart" and optimized. Physical buttons to start a feed modes or photography mode, stand lights turn on automatically, complex multi-factor apex programming for redundancy and control.
I will organize the equipment details from top-down, and then left-to right in the stand.
Lighting:
4x Radion XR30w Pro Gen 4 and 2x Radion XR30w Pro Gen 4 inside two 48" white aquatic life hybrids.
Flow:
2x MP60wQD
1x Jebao 3000gph return pump.
Rock:
ALL @reefcleaners dry rock. It is incredible; no curing, no problems. Just add it and it colors up. I am a huge fan after wasting a lot of money on other brands of rock that kept leaching phosphates.
Sand:
Carib-Sea Special Grade, ~220lbs.
Sump:
BashSea 48x15x15 smart series sump, customized with sock section.
Heater:
JBJ 1000w heater. I have their controller plugged into the apex, to cut it off if there is a problem.
MaxSpect Aeraqua
ATO:
Tunze 3155 with 15 reservoir.
Controller/dosing:
Apex 2016, 2 EB832s, WXM, PM1 breakout, Trident, 2x DOS.
The beginning:
First aquascape and "the big fill"
Living room view- I need to clean up those hideous air vents!
The most incredible lighting combination, Radion Gen 4s and @AquaticLifeProducts hybrids. Unfortunately, a month after I installed these I learned of a new version with dimming and a single power cord. Oh well! Still amazing.
After that, I started adding sticks from @Battlecorals , because cycles are for losers! ;Blackeye;Blackeye;Blackeye
Current critter stocking:
Acropora galore, maybe 30-40 frags
2x isolated RBTAs
3x wall hammer colonies
1x frogspawn colony
Plate Coral
Torch Coral
Sailfin Tang
Lieutenant Tang
Powder Blue Tang
Blue Tang
4 clownfish- 2 pairs. (Hopefully this will work out)
3x Cardinalfish
(Shoutout to @4FordFamily for both writing bunch of information on tangs and also answering my questions)
Now, photos from today, 10/27/18.
This is how is looks overall, during the lighting ramp-up:
The right side has most of the sticks, so far. I need more @Battlecorals to stock the center.
(I know the placement is way too close together; they are not glued down yet)
The center:
This morning I added a beautiful huge RBTA from @Cultivated Reef . It attached immediately, and is expanding as I watch! This is only ~20 minutes after adding it, it is totally attached and exquisite. Stocking in this area will be sticks on the top, and LPS/encrusting montiporas in the mid/lower sections.
Another photo of the anemone right after adding it. Just WOW! And these are honest-to-eye photos; from my iPhone. I am with @bubbaque in that I dislike the whole "actinic with orange gel filter" photo craze. What you see here is what you would see in my living room
The left side:
Work in progress. I intend to add a column/bridge from the top of that side to the rock in front of it, using acrylic rod and rubble like I did on the right side.
Right side of stand is a bit of a horror story at the moment after I set up dosing! I will fix it up, I promise
Left side, with the fledgling refugium. Also needs to be reorganized
Oh and this is my 3 year old reefer 350. I keep running out of room and breaking colonies, so definitely needed the space! You can see that this tang will be a similar style; I put in whatever the heck I think is pretty xD
First aquascape and "the big fill"
Living room view- I need to clean up those hideous air vents!
The most incredible lighting combination, Radion Gen 4s and @AquaticLifeProducts hybrids. Unfortunately, a month after I installed these I learned of a new version with dimming and a single power cord. Oh well! Still amazing.
After that, I started adding sticks from @Battlecorals , because cycles are for losers! ;Blackeye;Blackeye;Blackeye
Current critter stocking:
Acropora galore, maybe 30-40 frags
2x isolated RBTAs
3x wall hammer colonies
1x frogspawn colony
Plate Coral
Torch Coral
Sailfin Tang
Lieutenant Tang
Powder Blue Tang
Blue Tang
4 clownfish- 2 pairs. (Hopefully this will work out)
3x Cardinalfish
(Shoutout to @4FordFamily for both writing bunch of information on tangs and also answering my questions
)Now, photos from today, 10/27/18.
This is how is looks overall, during the lighting ramp-up:
The right side has most of the sticks, so far. I need more @Battlecorals to stock the center.
(I know the placement is way too close together; they are not glued down yet)
The center:
This morning I added a beautiful huge RBTA from @Cultivated Reef . It attached immediately, and is expanding as I watch! This is only ~20 minutes after adding it, it is totally attached and exquisite. Stocking in this area will be sticks on the top, and LPS/encrusting montiporas in the mid/lower sections.
Another photo of the anemone right after adding it. Just WOW! And these are honest-to-eye photos; from my iPhone. I am with @bubbaque in that I dislike the whole "actinic with orange gel filter" photo craze. What you see here is what you would see in my living room
The left side:
Work in progress. I intend to add a column/bridge from the top of that side to the rock in front of it, using acrylic rod and rubble like I did on the right side.
Right side of stand is a bit of a horror story at the moment after I set up dosing! I will fix it up, I promise
Left side, with the fledgling refugium. Also needs to be reorganized
Oh and this is my 3 year old reefer 350. I keep running out of room and breaking colonies, so definitely needed the space! You can see that this tang will be a similar style; I put in whatever the heck I think is pretty xD
Last edited:
