Red Sea Reefer 525XL Version 3 Build

[nycfishy]

V3 tank and stand finally came in. Picked up the stand so I can setup ahead of having the tank delivered.

 

[nycfishy]

Stand assembled and almost in its final home.
We have decided to slide it into the corner so my wife will lose her desk in the family....she's been great about the upgrade.
The nice thing about stand sliding over is the armchair can then go next to the tank for some nice viewing. Also means I will be less worried about any structural issues as the tank will be closer to the foundation wall.

But before that happens we need to get the entire room painted as it will be very very hard to do after the tank is wet.

 

[nycfishy]

Shot of what new out of box plumbing looks like on v3. No plans for any reactors but thinking of hard plumbing most of the return with some T's for future use.
On the drain line I want some kind of rollermat so trying to figure out how that will work.
Current thinking is to cut the metric pipe after that second elbow, switch to standard sizing with 42mm to 1" fitting from BRS then put in a gate valve on the horizontal run and plumb into a theiling compact roller mat.
Does that sound like it will work?

 

[nycfishy]

Playing around with rocks ape

 

[nycfishy]

Take 2
I think I like this better...thoughts?

 

[nycfishy]

Working out rockwork.

 

[nycfishy]

Dup

 

[erichuyn]

I'd go all shelve rock islands, look funny with the 'normal' rock next to it. Then again once the corals are all over it shouldn't matter much.
Still undecided if I like the shelf style rock. Looks to much like Lego stacking, but then again that is the point.

 

[nycfishy]

Rock work done and sand in.
30 pound each tropic eden miniflakes, mesoflakes and reef flakes.

 

[aros]

Are the vertical silicone seams protected with the black plastic like the bottom seams?

 

[nycfishy]

Think it black silicone but yes vertical seams are the same

 

[nycfishy]

Working on a manifold for new tank.
Don’t have a use for it right now but thinking it might be useful for future (Uv or carbon reactor on sump). Do you guys think the ball valves are better on the sump ceiling or on back wall?
Or should I just use default connection and add this in later if I ever need?

 

[nycfishy]

 

[nycfishy]

Return plumbed.

 

[nycfishy]

Refugium light hung. Went with a mars hydro light from amazon.
My kids call it the portal to another dimension.

Was all set to install compact roller mat but it’s 5inches wide and the return area in my sump before sock trays is only 4 inches. Not ready to rip out that chamber on my brand new tank so won’t be putting it in right now.

 

[nycfishy]

Cycle done. Ammonia and nitrites at zero.
Transferred over 2 Chromis and a couple of snails and hermits.

 

[nycfishy]

Spent the day cleaning up sump. Not great but neat enough for now.

 

[nycfishy]

 

[Eric Smith]

looking go..
what huge divider is that?

 

[West1]

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