My ULM Fully Connected Red Sea Reefer 170

[Jboulerice]

This build is to be the end all builds for a small nano system with ULTRA LOW MAINTANENCE courtesy of Apex, Ecotech Marine and various other IoT marine vendors.

The tank will be stocked almost exclusively with WWC, Jason Fox, Cherry Corals and any other frag that starts at 50+ per polyp.

I plan to only supply 10 gallons of a monthly salt water change until I can set up a mixing station when I eventually purchase a home.

A little prologue:

I started reefing back in '08 with a 20 gallon tank, progressed to a 25 gallon tall then to a custom 40 gallon rimless cube. The build thread is on TCMAS from back when I moved it from my home town in Miami to Minneapolis.

I now live in the bay area and the reef scene is so poor its not funny.... LFS are terrible out here.

I'll post a bunch of pictures this week but hope everyone finds this build visually stimulating!

 

[Jboulerice]

Here's a thread on reef central regarding my old build....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1734716

 

[Jboulerice]

Here is the arrival of the AIO Tank delivered to the front... It was pretty disrespectful of the driver but it is noted the delivery is just curbside.

 

[rockinzebra457]

Sounds like an awesome build!

 

[SPR1968]

Following along @Jboulerice and welcome to R2R!

It’s a very exciting time building a new tank so enjoy the ride.

And we like LOTS of pictures on here!

 

[Jboulerice]

My Equipment List:

Tank:

• REEFER 170 SYSTEM (34 GAL)
• In-cabinet Sump (9 GAL)
• In-cabinet RO reservoir (1.5 GAL)
  
• External RO ATO Reservoir (10 GAL)
• 24" x 24" R42080 Customizable DIY Aquarium Net Cover - Red Sea
  
• Ikea LIXHULT Storage combination, gray/white, orange/red (Equipment storage)

Circulation:

• Ecotech Marine MP10W Upgrated to quiet drive.
• Ecotech Marine Vectra S1 - 1400 GPH DC Return Water Pump
• EcoTech Marine VECTRA M1 BARB & SCREEN KIT
• EcoTech Marine VORTECH DRIVER MOUNT
• EcoTech Marine POWER SUPPLY BRACKET

Lighting:

• EcoTech Radion XR15w Pro Gen 4 LED
  
• Ecotech Radion XR15 RMS Tank Mount Bracket (Mounting Arm)

Filtration:

• Built in filter sock / sponge mechanical filtration within Sump
• Reef Octopus Classic 110SSS 5" Internal Space Saving Protein Skimmer

Temperature Control:

• Cobalt Aquatics 150W NEO-THERM SUBMERSIBLE HEATER x2
• Frigidaire 12,000 Btu Cool Connect Smart Portable Air Conditioner (Decided to avoid chillers altogether as the expense is double the price to cool the entire apartment; in addition the potential for leaks and other catastrophic failures is increased. For the price of one chiller I have two of these a/c units which are connected to the cloud and temperatures can be monitored anywhere....)

Testing:

• Salifert CALCIUM AQUARIUM TEST KIT
• Hanna Instruments ALKALINITY DKH COLORIMETER HI772 HANNA CHECKER - MARINE WATER
• *** Planned addition: Apex Trident ***

Automation:

• Neptune Systems APEX CONTROLLER SYSTEM
• Neptune Systems VORTECH WIRELESS MODULE: WXM
• Neptune Systems LDK LEAK DETECTION KIT
• Neptune Systems MAGNETIC PROBE RACK MPR
• Neptune Systems TRIDENT (PLANNED PURCHASE)
• Neptune Systems Dose (For ALK and CA dosing PLANNED PURCHASE)
• Neptune Systems ATO Kit (PLANNED PURCHASE)
• Neptune Systems AFS AUTOMATIC FEEDING SYSTEM
• R/O System (PLANNED PURCHASE)
• MOAI: Robot for Your Aquarium (PREORDERED) x3 for glass cleaning

Aquascape:

• CaribSea 20 LB. HAWAIIAN BLACK ARAG-ALIVE! REEF SAND
• AquaMaxx Tonga Branch Dry Live Rock - 50 lbs
• 1 Gallon - BRS Natural Coral Frag Mounts
  
  

 

[Jboulerice]

I need to unload a bunch of build pictures from my DSLR but for now enjoy some of my livestock eye candy. I've been a member for 7 years but have not been active enough to sell yet but I have some good stuff coming soon eventually. I'm tearing down my old liverock and I've fragged all the zoas on the rock.

 

[Jboulerice]

This is a sneak peak of my attempt to conciel all the equipment and electronics into an ikea storage system:

Before birds nest:

To be concealed here:

The red box will contain a 10 Gallon reservoir for the R/O system to run and fill then fill the internal R/O tank for a total of 12 gallons.
The orange box will contain all the Neptune modules, power bar and controller.
The white box will contain the Echotech power adapters and controller.
The grey box will be used for assorted Aquarium supplies and storage.

I'm using my laser cutter and some scrap acrylic to create internal boxes with custom cutouts for everything... Here's some R&D shots:

 

[NY_Caveman]

LOL, I would call that a slight improvement.

 

[Jboulerice]

LOL, I would call that a slight improvement.

Wait until you see the finished product! Back lit illumination... I just need to tolerate the melted plastic smell from the cutters offgassing. Going to try and make a in tank Refugium and a few frag racks this extended weekend. Luckily the local shop sells scraps for real cheap!

 

[GK3]

My Equipment List:

Tank:

• REEFER 170 SYSTEM (34 GAL)
• In-cabinet Sump (9 GAL)
• In-cabinet RO reservoir (1.5 GAL)
  
• External RO ATO Reservoir (10 GAL)
• Ikea LIXHULT Storage combination, gray/white, orange/red (Equipment storage)
  

Circulation:

• Ecotech Marine MP10W Upgrated to quiet drive.
• Ecotech Marine Vectra S1 - 1400 GPH DC Return Water Pump
• EcoTech Marine VECTRA M1 BARB & SCREEN KIT
• EcoTech Marine VORTECH DRIVER MOUNT
• EcoTech Marine POWER SUPPLY BRACKET

Lighting:

• EcoTech Radion XR15w Pro Gen 4 LED
  
• Ecotech Radion XR15 RMS Tank Mount Bracket (Mounting Arm)

Filtration:

• Built in filter sock / sponge mechanical filtration within Sump
• Reef Octopus Classic 110SSS 5" Internal Space Saving Protein Skimmer

Temperature Control:

• Cobalt Aquatics 150W NEO-THERM SUBMERSIBLE HEATER x2
• Frigidaire 12,000 Btu Cool Connect Smart Portable Air Conditioner (Decided to avoid chillers altogether as the expense is double the price to cool the entire apartment; in addition the potential for leaks and other catastrophic failures is increased. For the price of one chiller I have two of these a/c units which are connected to the cloud and temperatures can be monitored anywhere....)

Testing:

• Salifert CALCIUM AQUARIUM TEST KIT
• Hanna Instruments ALKALINITY DKH COLORIMETER HI772 HANNA CHECKER - MARINE WATER
• *** Planned addition: Apex Trident ***

Automation:

• Neptune Systems APEX CONTROLLER SYSTEM
• Neptune Systems VORTECH WIRELESS MODULE: WXM
• Neptune Systems LDK LEAK DETECTION KIT
• Neptune Systems MAGNETIC PROBE RACK MPR
• Neptune Systems TRIDENT (PLANNED PURCHASE)
• Neptune Systems Dose (For ALK and CA dosing PLANNED PURCHASE)
• Neptune Systems ATO Kit (PLANNED PURCHASE)
• Neptune Systems AFS AUTOMATIC FEEDING SYSTEM (PLANNED PURCHASE)
• R/O System (PLANNED PURCHASE)
• MOAI: Robot for Your Aquarium (PREORDERED) x3 for glass cleaning

Aquascape:

• CaribSea 20 LB. HAWAIIAN BLACK ARAG-ALIVE! REEF SAND
• AquaMaxx Tonga Branch Dry Live Rock - 50 lbs

Did you ever get your moai? I’ve been watching hat company, but haven’t seen anything new or updated since 2017.

 

[Jboulerice]

Did you ever get your moai? I’ve been watching hat company, but haven’t seen anything new or updated since 2017.

Ive been patient and they have been making some huge improvement so I can wait until Sept. which is the current expected ship date.

 

[Jboulerice]

Here’s my new ruby red dragonet! He’s got plenty of pods to go HAM sucking up!

 

[BigCitySmallReef]

This is a sneak peak of my attempt to conciel all the equipment and electronics into an ikea storage system:

Before birds nest:

To be concealed here:

The red box will contain a 10 Gallon reservoir for the R/O system to run and fill then fill the internal R/O tank for a total of 12 gallons.
The orange box will contain all the Neptune modules, power bar and controller.
The white box will contain the Echotech power adapters and controller.
The grey box will be used for assorted Aquarium supplies and storage.

I'm using my laser cutter and some scrap acrylic to create internal boxes with custom cutouts for everything... Here's some R&D shots:

This looks great! Were'd you get those cabinets from? I sure could use a few of those!

 

[Jboulerice]

This looks great! Were'd you get those cabinets from? I sure could use a few of those!

They are from Ikea, Super easy to assemble and priced oh so right! I think they look slick and can even be wall mounted:

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49161609/

Note they have a bunch of options and bundles...

 

[Jboulerice]

Here's some catch up on the early build photos; you can see the older tank in the foreground at times

 

[Jboulerice]

Just ordered my screen top, automated fish feeder and some other goodies:

Feeding:
Innovative Marine Gourmet Defroster - Frozen Food Feeder
Neptune Systems AFS

New Jumper Protection;
24" x 24" R42080 Customizable DIY Aquarium Net Cover - Red Sea

 

[Jboulerice]

Attempting this pairing but still not effective; this is the new experiment...

also got my Neptune AFS; needed a 90 degree usb because the feeder sticks out so much I don’t have enough clearance between the wall.

 

[GK3]

Ive been patient and they have been making some huge improvement so I can wait until Sept. which is the current expected ship date.

So they are still in business and you are getting communication from them? Their website makes it seem like they haven’t done anything since 2017.

 

[GK3]

Attempting this pairing but still not effective; this is the new experiment...

also got my Neptune AFS; needed a 90 degree usb because the feeder sticks out so much I don’t have enough clearance between the wall.

Careful. Just had a mishap with mine and it ran for 18 hours, dumping every 30 seconds. Fortunately it was already low on food. But it’s great for vacations, just wish it didn’t have the Same decibel level as fighter jets.