Looking to create a 165 Gallon All-in-one, mixed reef

[Gogol_frag]

Hi y'all,

Looking for advise from your collective wisdom. I am looking to setup a 165 gallon mixed-reef, but do not want to deal with plumbing. Hence thinking of creating an All-in-one setup. This is my second rodio at reefing. I have had a 3 year prior experience with mixed reefs.

With that said: The question is this - With the setup mentioned below - do you believe I will be able to keep my water-conditions stable with 2 Drop-in AIO Kits (for 75 gallon, each) from Figi Cube?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Setup:

Tank and Stand: WaterBox Clear Pro 7225 Peninsula (72" X 24" X 24")

Filtration:

1. Biological: Algae scrubber - Santa Monica HOG 1.3, Tisbe Pods, 120 lbs of caribsea shelf rock, No Sand, 6 X Bio-Block 2.0 (Brightwell Aquatics), Dr. Tims One and Only, Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter 7.
2. Chemical - Bulk Reef Supply Carbon - ROX 0.8
3. Mechanical - Skimmer - Tunze 9012, Aquatic Experts Premium Filter Pad,

RODI - Bulk Reef Supply 4 - Stage

Live food:

1. Tisbe Pods,
2. Rotifer (Brachionus Plictilis)
3. Phytoplanktons - Nanochloropsis Oculata, Isochrysis Galbana, Tetraselmis Suicia

Doser - Neptune Dos.
Salt - Instant Ocean

Flow - Suicce Return Pumps , Neptune WAV
Heater - Bulk Reef Supply Titanium Heater
Monitoring - Neptune Apex Controller, Neptune Trident, API Reef-master Kit (for initial testing, and only because Neptune offers no way to monitor Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate and Ammonia :mad

Lights: 2 x Orphec Atlantic Compact V4.

Bioload (ideally):

1. Tang-gang
2. Some LPS (Acans and Hammers)
3. Primarily SPS

Reefer's mentality: Patient. I am totally cool to wait 4-5 months, until I put the lights up, a couple more months to make sure that the ugly-phase is beyond me.

Really interested in your thoughts and opinions on the 2X 75 Gallon Drop-in AIO kits. Much appreciated guys!

- Best
Gogol

 

[MohrReefs]

Bump

 

[Jekyl]

Test kits get salifert.

RoDI get the 5 stage. I have it and works well. Also may want to get the booster pump to save on Di resin.

If primarily going for sps I'd recommend a t5 hybrid fixture if you want the LED look.

Never used the drop in kits before so can't speak on them. However a sump will have benefits over an AiO

 

[Gogol_frag]

Thanks for the T5 suggestion. Unfortunately i already got my RODI and test kit. Lights i am in no rush on. So, might as well go for the T5, since my build is starting rival the price of a car!! ;Blackeye

 

[Jekyl]

You can always just get the 61" and add LED as you can. The t5 alone will grow what ever u want.

 

[Gogol_frag]

You can always just get the 61" and add LED as you can. The t5 alone will grow what ever u want.

Thank you for the suggestion. I have been researching hybrids. Dimmable Hybrid setups are comparable to LEDs in price or more. (Jist the LED part) However they generally seem to have better reach. This is quite helpful.

Do you run a hybrid light, Jekyl?

 

[Jekyl]

Next tank I will be. Using 2 kessil 360we on a 90 gallon.

 

[Jekyl]

These are the ones I'm currently drooling over.

60" LED T5 WIFI PowerModule Hybrid

Create a balanced spectrum with T5 & LED lights Over the past few years we have really grown to love hybrid LED/T5 light fixtures for their coverage, intensity, and capability to create a complete spectrum, making it the perfect light for any reef tank. Built-In WiFi Controller Individual...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Gogol_frag]

Thanks Jekyl! Looks like a beast.

 

[Gogol_frag]

Thanks Jekyl! Looks like a beast.

Any idea how to convert this threas to a build thread? ... I can obviously create a new build thread, but the conversation here will be lost. Ideas welcome fellow-reefers.

 

[vabben]

Honestly doing the drop in kits sounds like a waste of money and space. Why not get the reef ready 7225? The plumbing instructions included with tank should get you going, if not you could get your LFS or a plumber to complete the plumbing quick and cheap.

 

[Super Fly]

I understand desire to avoid plumbing but with a 165 G tank, I'd highly recommend going with a sump. U can always ask local reefers to come and help w plumbing, some folks just love setting up new systems. Plumbing's easy, to make it fool proof u can always just glue all fittings/pipes while avoiding threaded fittings. Besides using 2 drops-ins sounds like a lot of maintenance while not sure how effectively they'd filter.

 

[Gogol_frag]

Update!!

I ordered my Clear Pro Peninsula 7225 yesterday. The "Peninsula"-part for a non-drilled tank is the stand - which is the same as the Peninsula 7225, so it opens on the narrow-edge thus allowing for a room-divider tank.

I agree with you vabben - had I pursuaded with the plumbing, I would have recruited my LFS to do so. Also, I have gone away from the Drop-in AIO - after Figi Cube decided to not bother replying to my email enquiry. My reason for not waiting the sump is to remove complexity in the system. Although I confess, that it is a deeply unpopular choice amongst reefers. Likely, for a legit reason.

As I progress in this build, largely my setup is the same as originally described. Here are some updates -

1. I have started growing three varieties of phytoplanktons, one variety of Rotifer, and one variety of Tisbe Pods. This is week 3 and things are looking promising on that front. (images attached)

2. Rocks and bio-cubes are soaking in Dr. Tim's-bacteria-laden saline water that are dosed with the phyto and zoo-planktons (images attached)

3. I have decided to go with a sand-bed (80 lbs of Two Little Fishes - Sand ordered)

2. Unless I am able to maintain pristine waters with my setup, I am willing to consider a LPS/Clam/Fish tank tank (plenty of great colors to play with, in this option as well)

3. I will likely go with a Deltec skimmer and not Tunze. Still waiting on some email replies from Deltec USA and Battle Corals to take a final call.

4. For my lights, I am leaning on ATI Strattons

Hoping that the tank will roll-in next week or the one after. Will keep y'all posted.

 

[Gogol_frag]

I understand desire to avoid plumbing but with a 165 G tank, I'd highly recommend going with a sump. U can always ask local reefers to come and help w plumbing, some folks just love setting up new systems. Plumbing's easy, to make it fool proof u can always just glue all fittings/pipes while avoiding threaded fittings. Besides using 2 drops-ins sounds like a lot of maintenance while not sure how effectively they'd filter.

10-4 Superfly. I am considering an external plumbed skimmer. But haven't fully committed to the idea of that.