Megabite's 180 Reef - Round 2

[MegabiteOG]

Hello all.

I was pretty heavy in this hobby from 2008 - 2010 when I had to tear it all down and sell it due to an out of state move. I have 180 mixed reef along with a 48" X 24" X 12" shallow reef/ frag tank, and a 58 gallon cube all plumbed together. Living in Orlando, FL I had a ton a LFS's near me that help fan the flames of this addictive hobby. Bought a lot of stuff from WWC when they were just a couple of years into it and had lots of nice stuff. They actually came to my house and bought everything from me including tearing the tank down when I had to move. Heart breaking to see it all go.

Fifteen years later, for my birthday earlier this year, my wife suggested I get a tank and start it again. I didn't know if I'd get into it again so I purchased a RS 170G2. Shortly afterwards I purchased a used RS350G1, and a month later a new RS425G2. She told me to go BIG right from the beginning, but of course I didn't listen. She was right and a couple of weeks ago I too delivery of a WB 230.6. Love the tank and love the 6' X 2' X 2' format like I had back in 2010.

I've been reading lots on here and catching back up on what's new and different. You guys on here are a wealth on knowledge. THANKS!

For now, I will post a couple of pictures of back in my glory days of my tanks and shot of the new one. I hope to keep this updated as i start my reefing journey again.

Old tank 2008 - 2010.

New tank. First bucket of water went into it 12 days ago on 10/8/25.

Current FTS and equipment list - 5/10/26

Equipment Type	Manufacturer	Added
ATO	Red Sea ATO	10/9/2025​
Backup Power	Ecoflow Delta 3 battery backup	10/9/2025​
Controller	Neptune Apex Pro with 2 Modules	10/9/2025​
Controller Display	IWEGGO Android Tablet 7 Inch	10/9/2025​
Dosing Pump	Red Sea Reefdoser 4	10/9/2025​
Filtration	Red Sea Reefmat 1200	10/9/2025​
Glass Cleaners	Flipper and Tunze Care Magnet	10/9/2025​
Lighting	Reefbreaders Meridian - 2, 24's and 2, 24" edge bars	10/9/2025​
Power Heads	AI Nero 5's and Orbit 4's (2 each)	10/9/2025​
Return Pump	Neptune Cor 20	10/9/2025​
RODI	Bulk Reef Supply 7 stage 150g per day	10/9/2025​
Skimmer 1	Reef Octopus Elite 200INT Super Cone Protein Skimmer	10/9/2025​
Tank and Stand	Waterbox Infinia 230.6	10/9/2025​
Water Testers	Hanna and Salferit (manual)	10/9/2025​
Web Cams	Reolink E1 Zoom (Display) & Reolink E1 Pro (Sump)	10/9/2025​
Recirculating Pump	Neptune Cor 15	10/17/2025​
Tank Lid	Kraken	10/17/2025​
Heater	2 - Helio PTC Smart Aquarium Heater - Dual (700w) and single (350w)	10/23/2025​
Lighting	Reefbreeders Meridian - 11"	10/23/2025​
Power Heads	AI Nero 7's (2)	10/23/2025​
Auto Water Changer	Neptune QD DOS	11/10/2025​
Auto Water Testers	Neptune Trident (automated)	11/14/2025​
Ozone	Poseidon 200	12/2/2025​
Auto Feeder	Neptune AFS	12/18/2025​
3D Printer	Bambu P2S	1/21/2026​
Skimmer 2	Bubble King Mini 160	5/6/2026​

 

[MegabiteOG]

A ton of work had to happen to get the new Waterbox 230.6 tank into where it was going to be placed in the house. First, I had to relocate the RS170 to the dining area of the house as there's where my wife's anemones and clowns were. Then I had to to move the RS425 as well. I decided to move all of it (minus the sand) into the RS350 I had decommissioned to the other side of the room for convenience. Just had to move the desk out of there.

After moving all of the water, rock, and livestock I then proceeded to build the stand to get it in place and also inspecting the tank while still in box before moving it into the house.

With stand built, I went ahead and ordered 80lbs of dry special grade sand and 75lbs each of live sand and premium live rock from Gulf Live Rock which would be here on Tuesday. I hired some movers to come in and move the tank from the garage onto the stand on Monday.

I left about 6" of space between the tank and the wall giving me some room to work back there. I've made the mistake of putting it too close and couldn't get behind there to do much of anything.

With the tank in place, it's time to put the plumbing in with some equipment and fill the tank to get ready for the live sand and rock I ordered. I rinsed out the 80lbs of dry special grade and put it in the day before the live stuff arrives.

I went to the airport and picked up the live rock and sand first thing Tuesday morning. I was very impressed with the packaging and the product and went ahead and put it in the tank.

Here's a quick video of the rock and sand randomly placed in the tank.

Now with the sand and rock in it, it's time to start putting the rest of the equipment in before moving the livestock from the other tank. Needless to say there's a lot of wire management that has to happen as well. I also transferred the rock I had in the sump of the old tank and 30 gallons of that water to the new tank.

The next day (10/9) I checked parameters in the new tank and already had a good amount of nitrates and phosphates and no ammonia so I proceeded to moving all the rock and livestock. The corals were showing some signs of stress along with the fish, but almost all corals made it and only had one fish casualty as I was working on the tank. Yellow Wrasse decided is didn't like his new home and jumped out (see video below). R.I.P. my friend.

After moving everything in I started on organizing things and after a couple of days of changing socks, I went ahead and put the Reefmat in.

Today, the tank is doing very well and everything is settling in. Fish are happy and the corals are recovering nicely. Color is coming back and have great polyp extension on most.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Innovations I really love compared to when I had my reef tank 15 years ago.

- DC pumps - They were around but not mainstream. It's nice to control pump speed with an app or simple push of a button.

- LED lighting - These were also around as I had some Reefbrites, but also non-mainstream and not very good at the time. I had to run a chiller with my Halides and T5's.

- Wifi controllers/ devices - My apex had to be hardwired into network. No pump that I knew of could be controlled wirelessly (Main, skimmer, powerheads).

- Roller Filters - Socks are great, but always hated the work.

- Wireless Cams - I have both a sump cam and DT cam. Comforting to see what's going on from anywhere.

Those are the few I can think of for now. What am I missing?

 

[MegabiteOG]

The money and time carnage of not listening to my wife in the first place and getting a big tank like I use to have. Now to clean them up and and see what I can get for them. Two almost new (RS 170 and RS 425) and a second hand RS 350 + very nice new equipment and acrylic tops.

Oh well. Live and learn.

 

[TJ42]

Beautiful! You really went all out. I'm going to follow along for sure.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Beautiful! You really went all out. I'm going to follow along for sure.

Thanks TJ. Starting out again is so much fun. I think I enjoy the building things up the most.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Nice control display for under $40.

It's very convenient installed on the cabinet in front of the tank. I have it on magnets so I just pull and use if I want it in my hands. Lots of times I don't have my phone or iPad on me then have to go look for it to do things. It's always on and charged up for viewing and using.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along for sure!

 

[MegabiteOG]

Following along for sure!

Happy to have you Gumbies! I hope I can keep things interesting and entertaining as I grow this tank out.

 

[jordanart225]

Hey! Welcome back to the hobby. Heres some things you'd want look into. ammonium bicarbonate dosing and dosing trace elements.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Hey! Welcome back to the hobby. Heres some things you'd want look into. ammonium bicarbonate dosing and dosing trace elements.

Thanks for the tip. I've been reading up on all of that and plan on instituting as needed. I tend to do too much too quick and trying to slow my a** down.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Exactly 16 days since I first started filling the tank and 14 days since I put all the livestock in. I'm REALLY happy how things are moving along. Colors and polyp extension is coming back and fish are relaxed and happy. Here's a video and some pics I just took of the tank with my iPhone. I need to pull out the old DSLR and get really good pics.

 

[jordanart225]

Hey! Welcome back to the hobby. Heres some things you'd want look into. ammonium bicarbonate dosing and dosing trace elements.

Thanks for the tip. I've been reading up on all of that and plan on instituting as needed. I tend to do too much too quick and trying to slow my a** down.

My friend Mike paletta invented the phrase in 1986. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank.

 

[MegabiteOG]

My friend Mike paletta invented the phrase in 1986. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank.

Words to live by for reefing but tough to follow by some (me).

 

[MegabiteOG]

Another thing I love that's new compared to years ago are cheap and great quality wireless cams to keep an eye on your tank at anytime from any place. So nice when I'm traveling to check in on things and help direct someone if there's an issue with eyes on it.

Sump Cam:

DT Cam

 

[MegabiteOG]

Got my center Reefbreeders Meridian and installed with their ICS bars. Wall to wall lighting with independent control of the 3 lights to change color or intensity of each depending on the needs below. Love the set up.

 

[Cheezeits]

That setup looks phenomenal.

 

[MegabiteOG]

That setup looks phenomenal.

Thanks for the compliment Cheezeits. It's coming along.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Changed out the bulky gallon jugs and made some room in the cabinet with these modular dosing containers. 3X2 liters. And an evening shot of the tank.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Although I'm huge SPS fan, I do love the movement Torches' add to the reef.