Red Sea Reefer 200xl build

[shadow1013]

Looks like a finnex heater from his earlier posts. A lot of brands can malfunction, I’ve had Cobalt in the past and they have been great for me, but when a heater goes it’s bad regardless of brand. This is why Randy from BRS always pushes for replacing them every year as the hearing elements get so much wear on them from all of the on/off commands.

Let me guess it was a colbolt neotherm heater.

 

[plexx]

Man that sucks, happened to me on my office tank , almost left the hobby but hey just an excuse for a tank upgrade .

 

[Downfall]

I'm sorry to hear the heater nuked your tank. I just read all 11 pages of this build and the tank was gorgeous. You're obviously a talented aquarist and I hope you stay in the hobby.

 

[monti mike]

Looks like a finnex heater from his earlier posts. A lot of brands can malfunction, I’ve had Cobalt in the past and they have been great for me, but when a heater goes it’s bad regardless of brand. This is why Randy from BRS always pushes for replacing them every year as the hearing elements get so much wear on them from all of the on/off commands.

The finnex heater broke first. This was the replacement and it’s this true temp heater

 

[monti mike]

I'm sorry to hear the heater nuked your tank. I just read all 11 pages of this build and the tank was gorgeous. You're obviously a talented aquarist and I hope you stay in the hobby.

Hey thanks, that’s really nice of you to say and I appreciate it. I’ve been pretty torn on whether to keep the tank or tear it down and sell everything.

 

[monti mike]

I was pretty defeated after losing everything and really thought long and hard about tearing it down and selling everything. It’s been a little over a week now and I found some positive things to keep me in the hobby. Part of the fun? are the ups and downs and getting past the challenges. Not everything died and that was a big factor in deciding to dust myself off and keep at it. I’ve had the clownfish, Bill and Sookie, since the beginning and they both survived. There’s no way I could donate those two or give them away. There were a few other surprising survivors too like the monti digitata, the porites, the clam, goni and zoas.

So today I went out and got the clowns a new anemone home. Here’s to starting over and keeping your head up!

The survivors (sorry for the blue pictures):

 

[monti mike]

Here’s the new anemone. It’s a rainbow bubble tip from the LFS. Pics with and without a filter

 

[monti mike]

Looks like I have a happy nem and some happy clowns!

 

[revhtree]

Looks like I have a happy nem and some happy clowns!

Man I love it!

 

[monti mike]

Alright, my next project is to get this fire hazard cleaned up and organized. I’m running to ikea today to get a small cabinet to hide & organize all this. I tried to get everything back in the way it was before with the controller board but it was a nightmare since there’s barely enough room.

 

[monti mike]

I ordered my first battle box today from @Battlecorals. I’ve seen some really great reviews from others so this should be an awesome way to replace the acros that got cooked. I’ll keep you all updated as the tank comes along.

 

[Little c big D]

Congrats on keeping your chin up!

I got a battle box years ago and loved it!

I'm currently building a 200xl and I appreciate this thread, it's helpful and is giving me some guidance on set up!

 

[monti mike]

Congrats on keeping your chin up!

I got a battle box years ago and loved it!

I'm currently building a 200xl and I appreciate this thread, it's helpful and is giving me some guidance on set up!

Nice! That’s awesome to hear - I’m glad I could help a little! I’ll have to check out your build and see how you set things up!

 

[monti mike]

Alright, my next project is to get this fire hazard cleaned up and organized. I’m running to ikea today to get a small cabinet to hide & organize all this. I tried to get everything back in the way it was before with the controller board but it was a nightmare since there’s barely enough room.

I picked up a MALM cabinet at ikea at turned it into my new controller station. Check it out! Nice and clean

 

[monti mike]

I picked up some new fish today - here’s the new crew:
1. Tailspot Blenny - always wanted one for the personality
2. Captive bred target mandarin - watched it eat frozen food at the LFS so he should do great
3. Vanderbilt chromis - add a bit more life to the tank

 

[monti mike]

And some corals I picked up at the LFS
1. Rainbow acan
2. Rainbow monti
3. Dragon soul favia

 

[Little c big D]

I picked up a MALM cabinet at ikea at turned it into my new controller station. Check it out! Nice and clean

Looks clean but how do you look to others cramming your head on the right side to look in the tank lol. I need standing room so I'm not uncomfortable while I stare for hours! Looks great though!

 

[monti mike]

Battle box is here! This is what I got - more pics coming soon!

 

[monti mike]

 

[monti mike]

I changed the scape a little trying to add a little more depth - and more places to put acros