My RS E 170 with sump upgrade kit

[GreatLakeReefer]

After a 3 year reefing hiatus, I found a deal on Facebook marketplace I couldn’t pass up. New unused Red Sea E170 tank only with some parts for 200$ in my city. In hindsight, I wish I would’ve put the money down for complete system order, but this was about the size I wanted to re new my reefing journey. My goal is to have a mixed reef system.

So I dove right in. Started researching and sourcing cabinet and remaining parts needed. Quickly I realized I didn’t want a AIO so I bought the sump upgrade kit. I modified the RS gate valve and bought a reefmat 250. Plan is to use my reef octo 150 ext skimmer from my old tank. Definitely oversized filtration but my goal is to grow coral this time and I don’t want to be afraid of feeding.

Equipment:

RS E 170 w/sump upgrade kit
Ecotech vectra S2
ReefMat 250
Reef Octo 150ext skimmer
Red Sea ReefLED 90
Red Sea ATO
AI Nero 3

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

I used old pukani rock that I bleached and then after drying, soaked in fresh water and Prime to ensure all chlorine cleared. Then did a 3 week “cure” in saltwater while I plumbed and finalized system.

I built my own controller cabinet using an ikea cabinet that matches the RS cabinet nicely. I wanted to keep as much electrical out of the sump area as possible.

I’m trying to use my own experience, as well learn from all the reefers on here and IG, YouTube that inspire me to keep things clean to promote better husbandry.

I installed motion activated lights inside the cabinet so my sump is well lit while doing maintaince.

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

I got the system wet on January 8, 2025. I started the cycle with a bottle of Dr. Tim’s and just lots of patience. I didn’t bother measuring ammonia, nitrites or anything. I simply observed. I watched the diatoms bloom then started the light cycle. After another week or so I could see visible algae and knew it was time for a CUC.

I essentially bought out the entire pod supply at my LFS and added 6 nails and 4 hermits.

After another week I introduced my first livestock, 2 black and white clowns.

It just so happened to be the Lansing Frag Swap so I drove out and secured my first coral pieces. I always lose control at a frag show and end up getting things I didnt plan for but I guess that’s the fun part.

Jack o lantern leptoseris
Red branching monti
Some kind of favia
Some kind of green pavona
Weeping willow leather
Neon green leather
2 different zoas
Mixed palys
Red mushroom
Blue mushroom

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I got the system wet on January 8, 2025. I started the cycle with a bottle of Dr. Tim’s and just lots of patience. I didn’t bother measuring ammonia, nitrites or anything. I simply observed. I watched the diatoms bloom then started the light cycle. After another week or so I could see visible algae and knew it was time for a CUC.

I essentially bought out the entire pod supply at my LFS and added 6 nails and 4 hermits.

After another week I introduced my first livestock, 2 black and white clowns.

It just so happened to be the Lansing Frag Swap so I drove out and secured my first coral pieces. I always lose control at a frag show and end up getting things I didnt plan for but I guess that’s the fun part.

Jack o lantern leotoseris
Red branching monti
Some kind of favia
Some kind of green pavona
Weeping willow leather
Neon green leather
2 different zoas
Mixed palys
Red mushroom
Blue mushroom

Nice looking corals you have in there! Do you have any up-close photos?

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

Here’s some more recent photos after a second haul of corals…

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

I would be very dishonest if I didn’t mention the New Tank Syndrome I battled for a solid month or 2. Lots of GHA, definitely Dino and a Vermited snail I hope to god I smothered. Been down that road before.

I battled the syndrome with good old fashioned husbandry. Scrubbing rock, mixing sand bed, more copepods and really changing my lighting schedule. Watched lots of videos on YouTube and realized simply I was using way too much light for way too long of periods. Seemingly overnight after reducing my white light periods the GHA improved…

Heres some pics when it was real bad..

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

So this time around, im really motivated to grow coral. My maiden tank turned out to be mostly a FOWLR with a few softies purely because i never monitored or dosed any Alk, Ca, Mg. To be honest i didn't even monitor nutrients, but i had a very mature tank that was designed well but a major power outage caused everything to crash and made me reset. Blessing in disguise.

Now I am fully equipped with Hanna checkers and a new found love of TESTING my tank. I basically turned my homes laundry/utility room into my very own laboratory.

I'm starting basic with BRS dosing kit. Sodium Bicarb for Alk, Calcium carbonate, and Mag. I have Kalk but i haven't used it yet because i don't want it in my ATO and not sure i need it yet.

Hand dosing 30-60cc Alk a day, 30-60cc Calcium every other day

Lugols iodine 2 drops weekly
Microbactor7

I've also just begun learning and seeing the Coral snow. I made my own DIY snow and wow it really makes the tank look clean!!

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

 

[Peer.Boerner]

Super impressed with the tank! I bought a used 170 e AIO and am seriously considering the sump upgrade. Did you find the tank plumbing easy to install? I’m wringing my hands thinking about it

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

Super impressed with the tank! I bought a used 170 e AIO and am seriously considering the sump upgrade. Did you find the tank plumbing easy to install? I’m wringing my hands thinking about it

Thanks a lot!! I found that the upgrade kit was totally worth it. The added water volume and space below for equipment has made life much easier. I modified the gate valve only because I had read the RS one stops fine tuning after awhile (who knows) but not sure it was necessary as I’m pretty regularly making micro adjustments to keep things dialed in the over flow. I’d say it’s pretty basic with a soft return line up to a barbed fitting. I modified that with a T to feed a gfo reactor. Overall I’d recommend!

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

 

[Peer.Boerner]

Thanks a lot!! I found that the upgrade kit was totally worth it. The added water volume and space below for equipment has made life much easier. I modified the gate valve only because I had read the RS one stops fine tuning after awhile (who knows) but not sure it was necessary as I’m pretty regularly making micro adjustments to keep things dialed in the over flow. I’d say it’s pretty basic with a soft return line up to a barbed fitting. I modified that with a T to feed a gfo reactor. Overall I’d recommend!

Ha. I was afraid you’d say that. Well, I’ll be buying the upgrade kit, at least the pipes, and the looking for a sump. I think the Red Sea sump is quite expensive but who knows. Definitely will do similar with valve and tee for gfo etc. Thanks for your response!

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

Thanks a lot!! I found that the upgrade kit was totally worth it. The added water volume and space below for equipment has made life much easier. I modified the gate valve only because I had read the RS one stops fine tuning after awhile (who knows) but not sure it was necessary as I’m pretty regularly making micro adjustments to keep things dialed in the over flow. I’d say it’s pretty basic with a soft return line up to a barbed fitting. I modified that with a T to feed a gfo reactor. Overall I’d recommend!

Ha. I was afraid you’d say that. Well, I’ll be buying the upgrade kit, at least the pipes, and the looking for a sump. I think the Red Sea sump is quite expensive but who knows. Might just have to buy it too. Thanks for your response!

If you manage to get the 3 RedSea bulkheads for the bottom of the E170, it’s very easy to unscrew the plugs and pop those in. Once you have that and a sump that fits under the cabinet it’s good to go!

I’ve had to contact RedSea customer support a couple times and found them super helpful with identifying specific part numbers. Then you can just order individual pieces.

Good luck you won’t regret it!!

 

[Peer.Boerner]

Many thanks!

 

[Peer.Boerner]

One question: where did you get the side cabinet? I need some place for all my hydros gear. That would be perfect

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

One question: where did you get the side cabinet? I need some place for all my hydros gear. That would be perfect

They are the IKEA Eket line cabinet and cube shelves. I found they match the Red Sea cabinet nicely.

 

[GreatLakeReefer]

Ok so the tank is officially over one year old!! Great milestone that has definitely had its ups and downs. Had to fight bryopsis with one dose of reef flux. Battled GHA with a mixed results at first. Then after about 6 months I thought everything was going really well. Low nutrients. Growing LPS and softies looking healthy. Fish thriving so started feeding heavier and didn’t adjust anything else and before you knew it, sand bed disgusting and GHA coming back. Life got away from me and after a month of not testing and neglect my nutrients were off the chart! I knew it was from lack of water changes and overfeeding fish and coral. After sitting on a GFO reactor for a few months I finally got it installed. within a week phosphates were coming down and sand bed was back to white.

I’m at the point now where I’m having some coral warfare. My chalice has some massive stingers that come out at night. And then my Acan has suffered big time from getting stung by my lepto and other green thing I don’t know what it is lol.

Overall I feel like it’s taken over a year to finally get this tank dialed in and now I’m seeing the results. Happy coral and fish. Plus compliments coming from the family. What’s better than that!