r33fe323
New Member
First Reef Build – Finally Up and Running
After a lot of planning, building, and collecting parts from everywhere, my first reef build is basically in the books. Some equipment I bought new, some came from Facebook Marketplace, and a few things I built myself.
This build ended up being a really fun project — especially the aquascape, which my daughter and I designed together.
---
System Specs
Display Tank Mailrineland 75gal.
Standard glass display (drilled)
2x Synergy Reef overflows
1" centered return
3D printed 1" Loc-Line splitter
Stand
DIY stand based on a YouTube design
Modified slightly so the panels fit together cleanly
Lumber cut at Home Depot
Flow
Octo Pulse 2 (left side)
IceCap 4K Gyre (right side)
Lighting
AquaMaxx Prism II
GRO Refugium light
---
Aquascape
120 lbs dry rock
Designed and built with my daughter over a couple weekends
Built with several arches and a separate spire for the anemone
Sand bed:
140 lbs sand
Deep enough for future sleeping wrasses
Also planning for an engineer goby waiting for it to be shipped from Dr.Reef
---
Current Livestock
Current inhabitants:
2 Black Storm Clownfish
1 Bubble Tip Anemone
The anemone was placed on its own rock spire and, by pure luck, stayed exactly where we put it. The clowns immediately started hosting it.
Currently in quarantine:
Yellow Tang
Tomini Tang
They will be added to the display soon.
---
Sump & Filtration
Sump
40 gallon breeder
Custom glass baffles (cut at Home Depot)
Filtration Equipment
ReefMat 500 fleece roller
Eshopps 125 skimmer
Refugium with GRO light
Filled with rock atm
Sump Circulation
There is a circulation pump in the sump that runs up to a manifold, which is then plumbed back into each sump chamber.
---
Return Section Equipment
Jebao DCP-4000 DC return pump
400W heater
Hydros water level sensor
Sicce dedicated pump for water changes
The water change plumbing runs through the floor into the basement where it drains.
An electronic valve is used to stop the siphon when draining the system.
---
Basement Mixing Station
The mixing station is located in the basement.
Equipment:
RODI Buddy
100 GPD filter
Two Brute trash cans
Upper Brute:
Stores RODI water
Filled via float valve
Has a spigot
Also feeds the lower container
Lower Brute:
Saltwater mixing container
Mixed with an Iwaki pump
Both containers also have Vivosun pumps installed.
I skipped using a separate ATO container since the RODI Brute serves the same purpose.
---
Water Change System
Water changes are partially automated using Hydros.
Current process:
1. Open electronic valve
2. This disables the water level sensor and allows the sump to drain
3. Once the water level drops, close the valve to stop siphon
4. Activate saltwater pump
5. Refill sump
6. Run return pump briefly
7. Repeat cycle
Salt mix:
Instant Ocean
1.026 salinity
78°F
Future upgrade plan:
Drain water directly from the display tank to simplify the process.
---
Control & Power
The Hydros system currently controls:
Gyre
Wave maker
Various system functions
Some equipment runs through two Hydros 4-outlet power strips.
Critical equipment:
Return pump
Heater
These are plugged into a CyberPower battery backup.
Before next winter I plan to add a generator for extended outages.
---
3D Printed Parts
A few components were custom printed:
Display tank lids
Printed in PETG
---
Build Timeline
Planning Stage
Designed plumbing and sump layout
Collected equipment from Marketplace and online
Stand Build
Built DIY stand
Panels modified for tighter fit
Tank Setup
Installed dual Synergy overflows each overflow drains to each side of the ReefMat.
Ran plumbing through floor to basement
Aquascape
Built 120 lb rock structure with my daughter
Sump Build
Installed custom baffles
Installed ReefMat, skimmer, refugium
Mixing Station
Built RODI + saltwater mixing system in basement
Cycle & First Livestock
Added Black Storm clownfish
Added BTA
Current Stage
Tangs in QT
Preparing for next fish additions
---
Equipment List
Tank
Glass display tank
Overflow
2x Synergy Reef overflows
Flow
Octo Pulse 2
IceCap 4K Gyre
Lighting
AquaMaxx Prism II
Return Pump
Jebao DCP-4000
Skimmer
Eshopps 125
Mechanical Filtration
ReefMat 500
Controller
Hydros system
ATO
RODI brute container with float valve
Mixing Station
RODI Buddy
Iwaki mixing pump
Battery Backup
CyberPower UPS
After a lot of planning, building, and collecting parts from everywhere, my first reef build is basically in the books. Some equipment I bought new, some came from Facebook Marketplace, and a few things I built myself.
This build ended up being a really fun project — especially the aquascape, which my daughter and I designed together.
---
System Specs
Display Tank Mailrineland 75gal.
Standard glass display (drilled)
2x Synergy Reef overflows
1" centered return
3D printed 1" Loc-Line splitter
Stand
DIY stand based on a YouTube design
Modified slightly so the panels fit together cleanly
Lumber cut at Home Depot
Flow
Octo Pulse 2 (left side)
IceCap 4K Gyre (right side)
Lighting
AquaMaxx Prism II
GRO Refugium light
---
Aquascape
120 lbs dry rock
Designed and built with my daughter over a couple weekends
Built with several arches and a separate spire for the anemone
Sand bed:
140 lbs sand
Deep enough for future sleeping wrasses
Also planning for an engineer goby waiting for it to be shipped from Dr.Reef
---
Current Livestock
Current inhabitants:
2 Black Storm Clownfish
1 Bubble Tip Anemone
The anemone was placed on its own rock spire and, by pure luck, stayed exactly where we put it. The clowns immediately started hosting it.
Currently in quarantine:
Yellow Tang
Tomini Tang
They will be added to the display soon.
---
Sump & Filtration
Sump
40 gallon breeder
Custom glass baffles (cut at Home Depot)
Filtration Equipment
ReefMat 500 fleece roller
Eshopps 125 skimmer
Refugium with GRO light
Filled with rock atm
Sump Circulation
There is a circulation pump in the sump that runs up to a manifold, which is then plumbed back into each sump chamber.
---
Return Section Equipment
Jebao DCP-4000 DC return pump
400W heater
Hydros water level sensor
Sicce dedicated pump for water changes
The water change plumbing runs through the floor into the basement where it drains.
An electronic valve is used to stop the siphon when draining the system.
---
Basement Mixing Station
The mixing station is located in the basement.
Equipment:
RODI Buddy
100 GPD filter
Two Brute trash cans
Upper Brute:
Stores RODI water
Filled via float valve
Has a spigot
Also feeds the lower container
Lower Brute:
Saltwater mixing container
Mixed with an Iwaki pump
Both containers also have Vivosun pumps installed.
I skipped using a separate ATO container since the RODI Brute serves the same purpose.
---
Water Change System
Water changes are partially automated using Hydros.
Current process:
1. Open electronic valve
2. This disables the water level sensor and allows the sump to drain
3. Once the water level drops, close the valve to stop siphon
4. Activate saltwater pump
5. Refill sump
6. Run return pump briefly
7. Repeat cycle
Salt mix:
Instant Ocean
1.026 salinity
78°F
Future upgrade plan:
Drain water directly from the display tank to simplify the process.
---
Control & Power
The Hydros system currently controls:
Gyre
Wave maker
Various system functions
Some equipment runs through two Hydros 4-outlet power strips.
Critical equipment:
Return pump
Heater
These are plugged into a CyberPower battery backup.
Before next winter I plan to add a generator for extended outages.
---
3D Printed Parts
A few components were custom printed:
Display tank lids
Printed in PETG
---
Build Timeline
Planning Stage
Designed plumbing and sump layout
Collected equipment from Marketplace and online
Stand Build
Built DIY stand
Panels modified for tighter fit
Tank Setup
Installed dual Synergy overflows each overflow drains to each side of the ReefMat.
Ran plumbing through floor to basement
Aquascape
Built 120 lb rock structure with my daughter
Sump Build
Installed custom baffles
Installed ReefMat, skimmer, refugium
Mixing Station
Built RODI + saltwater mixing system in basement
Cycle & First Livestock
Added Black Storm clownfish
Added BTA
Current Stage
Tangs in QT
Preparing for next fish additions
---
Equipment List
Tank
Glass display tank
Overflow
2x Synergy Reef overflows
Flow
Octo Pulse 2
IceCap 4K Gyre
Lighting
AquaMaxx Prism II
Return Pump
Jebao DCP-4000
Skimmer
Eshopps 125
Mechanical Filtration
ReefMat 500
Controller
Hydros system
ATO
RODI brute container with float valve
Mixing Station
RODI Buddy
Iwaki mixing pump
Battery Backup
CyberPower UPS
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