Red sea reefer 250 best equipment

ryboy707 · Mar 11, 2017

I just purchased a red sea reefer 250, and I'm trying to do a mixed, but sps dominant reef. I want to get the best equipment the first time so no upgrades are necessary. I'm wondering if this list will do. Any and all advice will be much appreciated. So my equipment list so far is:

Giesemann aurora 36"
Quantum nyos 160
Tune 3155 ATO
Vectra m1
2 vortech mp10's
Spectrapure dual reactors
Apex
Apex DOS
Spectrapure RODI

What do you guys think?

jsker · Mar 11, 2017

I think you have a very good list, and will work well for your needs.

JasonSon198s · Mar 11, 2017

Personally I would get ecotech radions, even if they are off eBay for £300 as they will be better for eps in the long term, a maxspect gyre or two as they mean you have no dead spots in the tank so there is flow everywhere meaning no algae problems and happier corals. Additionally I don't think you need a apex dis just get a normal dosing pump for half the price and ur sorted.

ryboy707 · Mar 11, 2017

JacobShort11 said:
Personally I would get ecotech radions, even if they are off eBay for £300 as they will be better for eps in the long term, a maxspect gyre or two as they mean you have no dead spots in the tank so there is flow everywhere meaning no algae problems and happier corals. Additionally I don't think you need a apex dis just get a normal dosing pump for half the price and ur sorted.

So you think sps would do better with just LED? I've always gotten the impression that T5 grow sps better, maybe I'm mistaken? Are the LED's in the Radions better than the aurora?
But I'm definitely doing an apex again. I love the control and monitoring capabilities

Broadfield · Mar 11, 2017

Your light choice is perfectly fine... better than an all LED fixture in my experience. It's really tough to beat a hybrid fixture... whether it be T5/LED, T5/MH or any of those combinations. A full coverage lighting solution, like T5 and MH, will typically be better for SPS since you will not have to worry about the shadowing you get from LED.

The only thing I would change is the Nyos 160 skimmer. You would want the 120 for a tank that small.

Branespikin · Mar 11, 2017

I agree with Broadfield the Nyos 160 is too much. I have the 120 in the 250 and its perfect.
Im not so sure on the two mp10s. Some people say they hold well on side glasd others say they dont. I have an mp40qd and added the mp10 on other side and started spinning on me i guess glass is a tad bit too thick for mp10
The Avast spyglass small fits well with nyos 120. You have to do alittle maneuvering to grt sock out though or just do the sock mid and you wont have that problem. I just pull my socks out from above now

pelphrey · Mar 11, 2017

I third the Nyos 160 being to big for the tank. Look up "practical reef" on YouTube. He ran the 160 on his tank and ended up running it 12 hours on 12 hours off.

I tried to run a mp10 on my 250, wasn't comfortable with it. Seems like most people have success however. I went with the MP40wQD. I've since sold the mp40 and I'm running a gyre 230 on my tank.

Hope you get that light, would love to see it in action!

ryboy707 · Mar 11, 2017

Ok, so nyos 120 it is. Thnx guys. I'm gonna do some more research on the gyre and the avast spyglass. Hey does the spyglass reactor come in dual reactors? And will dual reactors fit in the sump with the nyos 120?

Branespikin · Mar 12, 2017

ryboy707 said:
Ok, so nyos 120 it is. Thnx guys. I'm gonna do some more research on the gyre and the avast spyglass. Hey does the spyglass reactor come in dual reactors? And will dual reactors fit in the sump with the nyos 120?

I run Aquaforest Carbon and Gfo in the reactor. It can run both no problem. No need for 2 reactors. Not sure what you plan on running

Lovemycj7 · Mar 12, 2017

ryboy707 said:
Ok, so nyos 120 it is. Thnx guys. I'm gonna do some more research on the gyre and the avast spyglass. Hey does the spyglass reactor come in dual reactors? And will dual reactors fit in the sump with the nyos 120?

you can see the spyglass reactors in my build thread. i love them

ryboy707 · Mar 13, 2017

The spyglass reactors look like quality equipment, but I'm confused on letting the carbon tumble with the gfo like that. I thought carbon isn't supposed to tumble at all because it will grind itself to dust?

Branespikin · Mar 13, 2017

I use Aquaforest Carbon pellets and they do not tumble. They settle to the bottom and only GFO tumbles.

ryboy707 · Mar 19, 2017

Anybody got any suggestions on sand and rock?

cmcoker · Mar 20, 2017

ryboy707 said:
Anybody got any suggestions on sand and rock?

Tropic Eden meso flakes for sand.
I'm partial to pukani rock, I also think Tonga branch is nice when done right and grown out. I used the dry pukani from BRS, has a few more steps than other dry rocks but I really like the structure of the rock and it is very porous.

ryboy707 · Mar 20, 2017

So what's the deal with curing rock? Do I just set up a 20 gallon Rubbermaid trash can and let it run with a powerhead on for a month or until phosphates test 0?

andrew james · Mar 20, 2017

My opinion, but I think Tunze Power heads are big step above the Vortech in terms of quality Also Giesemann Spectra over the Aurora

cmcoker · Mar 20, 2017

ryboy707 said:
So what's the deal with curing rock? Do I just set up a 20 gallon Rubbermaid trash can and let it run with a powerhead on for a month or until phosphates test 0?

You can add lanthanum chloride to drop the po4 faster, that's what I did.