Red Sea REEFER 450 *White Tiger*

[Txdragonslayer]

I have been wanting to start a build thread and the WAVE give away is a good reason to start it.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t...ems-500-value-free-entry.211481/#post-2420951

My kids decided to name this tank "White Tiger"

I have been out of the hobby for some time, and I wanted a system that was affordable and modern looking. I opted for the Red Sea REEFER 450 I liked that it gave me everything I need and left many options open. When I got a bonus I wanted the largest one, but I feel I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I am going to build this slowly.

unloading off the truck.

Stand took about 30-45 min to build with the owners of the local fish store : Salty Fin!

Finished! With Dave, at Salty Fin!
Out of the box it was perfectly Level.

one lonely Kessil until my light comes in from Germany.
I was impressed with the sump.

While researching a new Reef tank, i came accross a lot of things that were new to the hobby. For example the new idea of LED's and controllers made me want to take advantage of the new control ability.

I got the wire ducts to help with the wire management.

I painted a DJ strip white, so that it goes with the WHITE TIGER Theme.

Tank shot with fresh RO water in it.

Finally sevral payments to my local fish store later and my light has come from Germany!

THE LIGHT DISCUSSION:
I feel that this is the hottest topic in the aquarium hobby, since I was in the hobby over 8-10 years ago. I like the LED's in the market and i was going to go with Kessils, but I have always been fond of a true majestic looking Nature aquarium.

http://www.adana.co.jp/en/contents/takashiamano/

Takashi Amano, who recently passed away was my inspiration for a very long time. When debating with myself over what lights to purchase one thought kept lingering.

"If the reef tank doesn't work out can this light be used on a Nature aquarium?"

I am fond of all the LED technology, but most are designed specifically for Fresh , OR Reef, if it is truly ground breaking technology, then why dont the manufactures include LED's for fresh water too. (i understand all the reasons)

I was heavily considering an ATI 6-8 bulb set, but I truly liked how this giesemann infiniti light looked. Coral Vue didnt have the white one in stock so i wanted it to match my WHITE TIGER theme.

I had my older Kessil on there still, that gave me light up on the cieling while i hung the pully system. I dont think the pully system is going to stay, my wife doesnt like the look of it. (this shot is with out T5 bulbs in it)

I got a shipment in from BRS, and a couple of them came in broken, and they were very good and sending me new ones. So i just need to wait till they get here.

Been dosing for 8 days and I got good C. Algae starting to grow.

Livestock:
4 Clowns and 1 tail spot blennie, and the newest addition,

A kole yellow eye tang.

I will update when I am ready to put in some coral. Any questions appreciated.

 

[Jeff Hunter]

How long did you cycle the tank before adding the fish?

 

[sheldonjjessup]

I was patient with this build I was using seachem "seed" for about a four week period, only because I only used 1 piece of live rock to seed the tank

 

[Jeff Hunter]

How's the algae bloom doing at this point? I just set my Red Sea Reefer 350 up last Friday. Using 90lb's of real reef Rock. Thinking of waiting 4 weeks before adding anything to the tank. At what point did you start using your lights?

 

[sheldonjjessup]

I started using lights right away after adding fish, algae is starting to grow now, so I added another tang, and just this morning I reduced my metal halids to 4 hours instead of 6 hours, to see if it will keep the algae under control, but it's healthy algae part of the cycling process. I just don't want it to get out of control. I will post a picture when I get home from work

 

[steelheader.262]

Very nice!!!!

 

[nbagnardi]

digging the minimalistic approach with the live rock. looks clean

 

[sheldonjjessup]

Very nice!!!!

Thank you! A slow work in progress.

 

[sheldonjjessup]

digging the minimalistic approach with the live rock. looks clean

Thank you very much, I think the marine pure is helping with the minimalistic look.

 

[sheldonjjessup]

I am having trouble deciding on a good flow system debating on the new WAV by neptune, gyres, or vortechs. Would love everyone's opinion!

 

[abecker]

You know if you buy the WAV system you will end up winning the contest....things just seem to work that way lol.

 

[nbagnardi]

i jumped on the gyre boat as soon as it came out... had cord rot got zapped... i have a 450 too, black. i have the quiet drives on it now and it does well... a pair of mp40's but have a few dead spots due to rock work. i just got back from MACNA and talked to the guys at Neptune and had them demonstrate a pair of WAV's they had setup on a 450 with similar rock work to mine and i think I'm sold. if you run an APEX its almost a no brainer.

 

[Txdragonslayer]

I am going to go with the WAV, i returned my new vortech mp40 to BRS,(i only had it for a couple of days) and I am gonna get it next payday. not only is it the cheaper option than the rest, but it gives me the flow i want/need too!

 

[Txdragonslayer]

You know if you buy the WAV system you will end up winning the contest....things just seem to work that way lol.

if only that were true huh!

 

[sheldonjjessup]

Well I bought a gyre 150, no body had the wav in stovk, it should come tomorrow

 

[sheldonjjessup]

Well I bought a gyre 150, no body had the wav in stock, it should come tomorrow

 

[Sabellafella]

How's the algae bloom doing at this point? I just set my Red Sea Reefer 350 up last Friday. Using 90lb's of real reef Rock. Thinking of waiting 4 weeks before adding anything to the tank. At what point did you start using your lights?

Haha all of us are in the same boat im already 4 weeks in and my ammonia and nitrite levels are still high

 

[Txdragonslayer]

I love the light I selected for my tank. I ordered a Geisemann infiniti 48" 2 250w metal halide, and 4 54watt T5's. I do like many things about the LED technology. I purchased a Kessil 160 before ordering the Geisemann, when i thought i was going to light my tank with only Kessils. I like many of the dawn dusk and coloration of the LED technology. I had an idea that i had been playing with for a while. I wanted to install my Kessil inside the housing of my Geisemann fixture. I had seen others do it, with the larger model Vectra, so I wanted to try it with my small 160 and my smaller Infinity light. I am thinking of putting a few more of the kisses eventually, for now my main goal is to put some live stock in my tank and begin the zeovit process.

First i took the Kessil apart with a T3 super small t wrench. (i hope these photos post correctly, using a mac)

I used reef epoxy and silicone to glue the kessil pieces to the metal shim. It was hard to stuff the Kessil pieces in the cavity of the light, but i was able to get it done and install the apex moon lights too.

Putting it back together. The best help in the world!

moon light barely visible on the left reflector.

one more pic of the moon light.

The project was not that bad and i made sure not to take the kiss pieces apart, just reconfigured their positioning. Later i will add at least 2 more, one in the middle and one on the other end.

Hope this may help anyone else thinking of using all 3 light technologies.

 

[Sabellafella]

Wow that is awesome i threw a ati 8 bulb dimmable , going to throw a reef brite on but have 3 a160s laying around that ive never took out of the box was maybe trying to figure out a way to strip it out but didnt want to risk it

 

[Justiful]

That is a really cool setup. It is so organized and "clean" looking. Like a perfect tank for OCD people.

A little off topic but how is that honda you bought 6.25.2015 treating you? Your camera has really good resolution. hehe.