Red Sea Reefer 250 Build

[ZachP]

So I’ve been away for a few years but finally decided to get back into it and start up something besides a nano. Picked up the Reefer 250 last night and I’ll start getting all the equipment in the next couple weeks. Might be a slow start but should be a good build once it gets going.

Equipment I plan on getting so far (let me know if anyone has better suggestions):
- Vecrta s2 return
- Clarisea sk-3000
- Reef Octopus 110 Skimmer
- (2) cobalt neotherm 150w heaters
- (2) mp40s (I know it’s overkill but I don’t want to deal with the chance of mp10s coming off because of glass thickness)
- (2) Radion xr15 g5s
- Tunze osmolator 3155 ATO
- BRS RO/DI
- Vortech battery backup

What am I missing here?

 

[revhtree]

Looks like you got it covered! Welcome back!

 

[powers2001]

So I’ve been away for a few years but finally decided to get back into it and start up something besides a nano. Picked up the Reefer 250 last night and I’ll start getting all the equipment in the next couple weeks. Might be a slow start but should be a good build once it gets going.

Equipment I plan on getting so far (let me know if anyone has better suggestions):
- Vecrta s2 return
- Clarisea sk-3000
- Reef Octopus 110 Skimmer
- (2) cobalt neotherm 150w heaters
- (2) mp40s (I know it’s overkill but I don’t want to deal with the chance of mp10s coming off because of glass thickness)
- (2) Radion xr15 g5s
- Tunze osmolator 3155 ATO
- BRS RO/DI
- Vortech battery backup

What am I missing here?

@ZachP I like your equipment list. You're going to need substrate like rock and sand. I have a Reefer 250 too. They're great tanks. Check out my build thread, click on my Build Thread Badge.

 

[ZachP]

Ya definitely. That’s just the basic equipment to get me started. And I’ll check it out for sure!

 

[ZachP]

Got the filter modded to fit the clarisea

 

[canadianeh]

Have fun! We have similar gear list!

 

[ZachP]

So as far as salt goes i think I’m going to run Tropic Marin Reef Pro. I’d like my alk to be around 8.5-9 so I’m thinking of just dosing it up when I mix the salt. Would soda ash or sodium bicarbonate be better for this?

 

[powers2001]

So as far as salt goes i think I’m going to run Tropic Marin Reef Pro. I’d like my alk to be around 8.5-9 so I’m thinking of just dosing it up when I mix the salt. Would soda ash or sodium bicarbonate be better for this?

Hey @ZachP that’s the salt I’m going to use. According to BRS videos, it mixes up cleanest and dissolves fastest.

 

[ZachP]

Ya that’s what turned me on to it too. They say it stores well too and has great consistency between batches. The only downside is I would like the alkalinity a bit higher. I think I’m going to just use some sodium bicarbonate to raise it when I’m mixing though

 

[ZachP]

A little update here. I got my return pump, heaters, got the tank filled with water and up to temp. After I got everything working good I went back and got some live rock and sand. Stayed up way later then I wanted and got the aquascape all done. Rock is glued together and in the tank, sand is in, water is flowing. Now I can get this cycle started while I work on the rest of the equipment. I’ll get a picture or video up a bit later once the water is cleared up

 

[ZachP]

Here’s a little video of the aquascape

 

[ZachP]

Not sure if that video worked, unfortunately I’m using the mobile version for now. But anyway, here’s some pictures. It’s all set up and the cycle is started

 

[powers2001]

Wow @ZachP you were able to keep the Red Sea logo on your door. I broke mine off while I was building my stand and saw it lying on the carpet awhile later. LOL

 

[ZachP]

Wow @ZachP you were able to keep the Red Sea logo on your door. I broke mine off while I was building my stand and saw it lying on the carpet awhile later. LOL

Even more amazing, this is a used tank I bought lol. Somehow it looked brand new still when I bought it

 

[ZachP]

Ok guys and gals, I’m working on figuring out what fish I want and could use some opinions

So far I have:
- black storm clown
- mocha storm clown
- yellow watchman goby + tiger pistol shrimp
- banggai cardinal
- Midas blenny
- ornate leopard wrasse (after a while, hopefully)

Any suggestions, or problems with the list I have so far? I’m open to anything really. Just want a variety of pretty/interesting fish

 

[Difrano]

Awesome! Following your build. I also have a RSR250. You can check on my build

 

[Cell]

Nice build. A purple firefish might look nice in that tank.

 

[ZachP]

Nice build. A purple firefish might look nice in that tank.

Oh ya that’s not a bad idea at all

 

[ZachP]

Ok so far this is the list of fish I’m thinking, maybe add 1 or 2 more later on but for now I’ll stick to this.


- Black storm clown
- mocha storm clown
- yasha goby + pistol shrimp
- banggai cardinal
- Midas blenny
- purple or helfrichi firefish

What order do you guys think I should add them? So I can avoid aggression problems

 

[ZachP]

Well it seems that the cycle is well on its way. On 7/27 I used ammonium chloride to dose the tank to 2ppm