HelloReef 15 - TSA Giveaway

[Johnd651]

11/9/25 - The End has come. Everything is in the big tank, thread below, and the nano is now empty waiting for its next setup.

Link to Original Build Thread - This will be an office tank.

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Table of Contents
Tank 1 - Broken - This Post
Tank 2 - Delivery
Unboxing
Stand with Plywood Skin
We Have Water!!!
Lights On!!! AI Blade Grow
Extra Equipment List

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Equipment List (9/19/24)
Tank - HelloReef 15 AIO
Filtration - FireAqua Filter Sock 225 micron, biomedia, activated carbon, sponge
Water - RO/DI
Salt - Aquaforest Reef
Heater - Eheim 50 W
Return Pump - Sicce Micra Plus
Powerhead - Sicce Nano Voyager 1000
Stand - Homemade 2x4 with plywood skin, painted
Light - 12" AI Blade Grow
Lid - 3d Printed (in progress)
Skimmer - IOAOI Nano Skimmer
Rock - Caribsea Life Rock Dry rock
Sand - Caribsea Fiji Pink live sand

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Links
Stand Thread
HelloReef 15 Review

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Well this is the second build thread. My other thread is very slow going and I'll link them together in a minute.

Thanks to @TopShelfAquatics for the giveaway.

UPS showed up yesterday with the box but I didn't open it until this morning. Sadly the tank is broken. So I need to figure out next steps.

Plan was to make this an office tank.

 

[tbrown]

Yeah buddy! Here we go!!!!

 

[tbrown]

Oh man... Just saw that it's broken. :confused:

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Well this is the second build thread. My other thread is very slow going and I'll link them together in a minute.

Thanks to @TopShelfAquatics for the giveaway.

UPS showed up yesterday with the box but I didn't open it until this morning. Sadly the tank is broken. So I need to figure out next steps.

Plan was to make this an office tank.

Darn hate that it is broken!

 

[Johnd651]

So I want to tear the box apart and see if I can salvage it, but will wait for now until I know more.

My 4 year old came home excited, and I showed her that it was broken. I love how their minds work. "It's ok Tata, we can glue it back together. "

 

[bbak]

Very exciting, congrats!

 

[Johnd651]

Do need to plant a battle coral tree though for arbor day. It was one of the things I have been looking at for my tanks for a long time.

 

[Johnd651]

Well... let's try this again. Teaser picture of how it showed up, the second time. This time the box was in rough shape. Bottom was blown open, one side looked like a bowling ball landed on it. But the tank appears to be whole.

 

[SpyC]

Guess the producer needs to start adding more tape. Maybe even a 2nd protective box. Glad the 2nd tank wasn't damaged.

 

[Johnd651]

So, here's some more pics of the setup.

 

[Johnd651]

Guess the producer needs to start adding more tape. Maybe even a 2nd protective box. Glad the 2nd tank wasn't damaged.

So the cardboard envelope they designed to protect the tank in shipping is a good idea, and it appears they are going green, but I think Styrofoam of sorts would be a better option. They are hollow cardboard slim boxes.

As for tape, it's only one piece of plastic tape. I wonder if the paper tape with webbing would be better.

 

[Johnd651]

App is an interesting way of getting someone up to speed.

 

[tbrown]

Question: did you send the old one back or did they let you keep all the extras?

 

[Johnd651]

Question: did you send the old one back or did they let you keep all the extras?

Not yet. I have not been told what to do with it. I like the idea of spare parts, but if it can be reused with a new tank I don't mind sending it back. I'm guessing shipping 65 lbs might start to get $$$ though. Maybe I'll use some floss to get the back panel off and see if after 12 years I still got that silicone technique.

 

[tbrown]

Not yet. I have not been told what to do with it. I like the idea of spare parts, but if it can be reused with a new tank I don't mind sending it back. I'm guessing shipping 65 lbs might start to get $$$ though. Maybe I'll use some floss to get the back panel off and see if after 12 years I still got that silicone technique.

That'd be cool. One for you, one for your daughter! Side-by-side! Sponge Bob and Real Reef?

 

[kevgib67]

Well I hope that was your first and last catastrophe. Looking forward to the build.

 

[Johnd651]

Ideas for a stand? Since it is going to be an office setup, and no sump, I would like to try and find something with multiple uses. Just not sure if something like a filing cabinet can support 160 lbs on top?

 

[Will-BRS]

I believe it fits the IM Nuvo APS stand for the 15 cube. The Maxspect Dice stand should also work if you want something cheaper.

 

[tbrown]

Ideas for a stand? Since it is going to be an office setup, and no sump, I would like to try and find something with multiple uses. Just not sure if something like a filing cabinet can support 160 lbs on top?

Mine sits on my desk.

 

[Johnd651]

Mine sits on my desk.

Fish got my homework wet?