Red Sea Reefer Equipment Choices ....

drew930 · Apr 7, 2017

Hey guys. Trying to price out a Red Sea Reefer tank and see if I can pull the trigger.

I'm mainly interested in the 250 (36x21x20...65 gallons) and the 350 (48x21x20...91 gallons)

They have a deluxe version with AI Hydra 26's but it seems they have holes pre drilled which I don't like.

With the Equipment I'm basically trying to get the most for my dollar while staying on some sort of a budget. If the 350 isn't much more total cost I'll go with the 350 for the extra foot. Here's what I have in mind ....

Lights -If I go 350 (2) AI Hydra 26s or (2) Radion XR15s.
-If I go 250 then maybe 1 Radion Xr30 Gen 4?

Skimmer - Main concern is Noise. I need this system to be quiet. This is where I'm trying to save money. Looking around the $200 range.

Simplicity 120-240
Reef Octopus 110-150sss (not sure about noise)

Any other suggestions ? I looked at bubble magus but seems like their very sensitive and hard to set.

Have no clue on return pump. Once again something that is very quiet. With enough power to maybe run a small manifold in future as well as main return. Trying to stay less than $100

Ato - Tunze Osmo. Will the nano be big enough or will I have to go full size? Possibly maybe Avast Ato for Apex if I do get an Apex.

For powerheads, I'll go with Mp40s. Or one mp40 and a koralia. Once again probably used here to save some money ....

And probably an Apex used as well if I get one.

And lastly heater .... wondering if the Eheim Jagers are big for the Red Sea sumps ...

Any help is greatly appreciated !

pelphrey · Apr 7, 2017

Welcome to R2R!

Here is a thread with over 200 pages on the Red Sea Reefer Series tanks -

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/show-off-and-discuss-your-red-sea-reefer-series.219309/

Aside from that you'll get a lot of mixed opinions. You can also checkout my build thread on my 250, my entire system is silent due to it being in the living room!

drew930 · Apr 7, 2017

Thanks ! I have been skimming that thread for a year now lol

I will definetly check out your build as well. Quiet is the most important thing. It is in the living room but not a big house with hardwood floors as well. Don't want to have to turn up the TV every time I sit down haha

dragon99 · Apr 7, 2017

Lights - With those lights I'd go with (3) for the 350 and (2) for the 250. Otherwise, shadowing is going to be a very real thing. You should also consider the Reefbreeders Photon V2
Skimmer - Those seem like reasonable choices, also look at the Tunze 9410
Return Pump - I'm using a Ecotech M1, and it's dead silent but nowhere near your budget. I've heard good things about the VarioS or a Sicce Syncra would also work.
ATO - You don't have to buy this right away. Use the included float ATO. Later, when your tired of refilling the small reservoir all the time, get the full blown Tunze, it has 2 level sensors rather than a single one.
Powerheads - All kinds of choices here. If you're on a budget don't bother with Vortech's. They have cool features (love mine), but there's plenty of cheaper power heads that will move water and make corals grow. Koralia's, Rossmonts, or Tunze should get consideration.
Heater - Jager 200W fits perfect in 350 sump, definitely on the large side though.

JustAnt · Apr 7, 2017

drew930 said:
Hey guys. Trying to price out a Red Sea Reefer tank and see if I can pull the trigger.

I'm mainly interested in the 250 (36x21x20...65 gallons) and the 350 (48x21x20...91 gallons)

They have a deluxe version with AI Hydra 26's but it seems they have holes pre drilled which I don't like.

With the Equipment I'm basically trying to get the most for my dollar while staying on some sort of a budget. If the 350 isn't much more total cost I'll go with the 350 for the extra foot. Here's what I have in mind ....

Lights -If I go 350 (2) AI Hydra 26s or (2) Radion XR15s.
-If I go 250 then maybe 1 Radion Xr30 Gen 4?

Skimmer - Main concern is Noise. I need this system to be quiet. This is where I'm trying to save money. Looking around the $200 range.

Simplicity 120-240
Reef Octopus 110-150sss (not sure about noise)

Any other suggestions ? I looked at bubble magus but seems like their very sensitive and hard to set.

Have no clue on return pump. Once again something that is very quiet. With enough power to maybe run a small manifold in future as well as main return. Trying to stay less than $100

Ato - Tunze Osmo. Will the nano be big enough or will I have to go full size? Possibly maybe Avast Ato for Apex if I do get an Apex.

For powerheads, I'll go with Mp40s. Or one mp40 and a koralia. Once again probably used here to save some money ....

And probably an Apex used as well if I get one.

And lastly heater .... wondering if the Eheim Jagers are big for the Red Sea sumps ...

Any help is greatly appreciated !

I have the RSR 250 purchased used. If I could have I'd gone for the 350. The extra foot give u a lot more options and the equipment for a 250 will likely suffice for the 350.

Quietest skimmer is the Nyos. You pay for that however. It probably the most expensive. I have the 120 model on my tank.

My lights are AI PRIME HD. 2 of them.

My return pump came with the tank. It's a cheap but powerful jebao model. You can save some money with jeabo but it's a bit louder compared to a 300 pump. Check amazon for jeabo products.

I have the full size tunze osmolator and am happy with it. I can't help u about nano version since I didn't look into it.

My powerhead is a maspect gyre 230 fx. It's a bit noiser than mp40 when run high speed but it's cheaper and IMO give better flow pattern and flexibility than the mp's

Hope this helps! Good luck

drew930 · Apr 7, 2017

Thanks for the replys guys.

I was curious about shawdowing with 2 AIs on the 350. I'm just curious why the have a deluxe that only comes with 2 if it creates shadows ?

I am right that the deluxe models are pretty drilled in back for for the mounts? If so I don't even want the deluxe lol

dragon99 · Apr 7, 2017

2 26HD's is probably enough in a lot of situations. I had 4 Primes over my 350 and wasn't happy, but could just be me.

All of the deluxes are pre-drilled, and there were even a few people who got non-deluxe tanks that were drilled and had been plugged. I think Red Sea said that wasn't going to continue though.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/...rand-new-non-deluxe-Reefer-250-but-why-!-((((

Broadfield · Apr 7, 2017

As far as I know, any new Red Sea Reefer purchased will have the holes in the back glass for the light brackets... whether you get the Deluxe or not. They will simply have black removable caps if you don't have the lights. Now it may only be for certain sizes of Reefers, so I suggest you check with someone at Red Sea to verify it on the size you end up choosing.

As far as quiet skimmers and return pumps, you are not going to find anything quieter than the Nyos 120 and the Vectra M1. I had the Sicce Syncra 5.0 on my tank originally and it was loud compared to the M1. I then upgraded to the L1 and it's still silent. However, these are going to totally bust your budget... even at used prices. But it's the only way you are going to truly have a quiet tank. So if you are going to splurge somewhere, it would be on those.

If you are going to do an Apex, and do the 350, then I would consider getting a couple of the Neptune WAV pumps. They are even quieter than the MP40's and far cheaper... especially if you are buying the 2016 Apex. You can plug them directly into the 2016 Apex . They are so powerful that you can run them at a very low %, thus making them dead silent. They can also be ran on the back wall since they can be angled. They would probably be too powerful on a 250 though, even at 1%.

JustAnt · Apr 7, 2017

Broadfield said:
As far as I know, any new Red Sea Reefer purchased will have the holes in the back glass for the light brackets... whether you get the Deluxe or not. They will simply have black removable caps if you don't have the lights. Now it may only be for certain sizes of Reefers, so I suggest you check with someone at Red Sea to verify it on the size you end up choosing.

Wow that's bogus move on RedSea's part. Guess they want everything on one production line. Glad my Reefer doesn't have those ugly plugs

drew930 · Apr 8, 2017

Yea I really don't like the looks of those plugs. Looking into Cadlights 70g and 100g artisan as well, but scared because of all the complaints and hear the customer service is terrible.

I'll have to definitely give Red Sea a call though and find out.

JoshH · Apr 8, 2017

Go with the Red Sea max S 400 LED, only twice the price but no holes to mount lights:p Will be my next tank if I ever get my current one up and running. Probably best to not get the deluxe, bought the C-130 myself as an AIO kit and I'll be replacing pretty much everything anyway but that doesn't bother me. Basic reefer gives you the options to do whatever you want and saves a bit of coin in the process. Best advice I can give is think long and hard about what you really want out of a tank. It's something you're going to have for quite some time so it should be exactly what you want from the start. If you have to spend a little more on the 350 and deal with say a cheap noisy pump for 6 months orso before you can afford to replace it. Still better than purchasing the 250 and realizing in 6 months you should have gotten the bigger tank. Also take another look through on that reefer thread posted above. See what others have all set up especially lighting and figure out what looks best in your mind then go from there. It seems no one has the same lighting set up, Broadfield has changed his a couple times and still wants to change it up. He seems to be the picky exception though;) or everyone else is just as picky and are waiting on his hand me down lighting set ups lol

Broadfield · Apr 8, 2017

JoshH said:
Broadfield has changed his a couple times and still wants to change it up. He seems to be the picky exception though;) or everyone else is just as picky and are waiting on his hand me down lighting set ups lol

LOL - I think I'm done changing lights. I finally found the ultimate setup for my tank.

JoshH · Apr 8, 2017

Lol That's great, BTW getting closer to needing that sand we talked about many moons ago.;)

drew930 · Apr 8, 2017

JoshH said:
Go with the Red Sea max S 400 LED, only twice the price but no holes to mount lights:p

Yea that's definitely out! Lol I am going to call them though about the mounting holes. If you run the hydras then great , but if you don't and have the plugs there it will look goofy. I'm guessing there water tight? What if an Mp40 comes through there and splashes the holes?

Rockhead · Apr 8, 2017

So I went with the 250 running 1 xr30 gen 4 , deltec sca1351 and a jebao 5000 return pump, and 2 mp40s. So far I'm extremely happy with the choices I have made I can't hear anything running it's so quite and is in the front room where we all hang out. A couple pics for you

JoshH · Apr 8, 2017

you would probably have to silicone them in as that would be a preference left up to the reefer in Red seas eyes.

drew930 · Apr 9, 2017

Anyone running a Bubble Magus A5 ?

I had a curve 5 awhile back on a 40 gallon but don't think I had it in correct water level.

Is the A5 quiet since it has a DC pump ? Looking at Nyos as well but would have to be used and under $300 which might be hard to come by. If the A5 is quiet and decent I could go this route ...

Or would a Simplicty 240 be better ?

JustAnt · Apr 9, 2017

The other good thing about Nyos in the RSR 250 is it has a smaller footprint than many other skimmers. Gives u more flexibility if you want to add a reactor or fuge. Just wanted to mention that bc i didn't earlier. You will need some real good luck to find a used Nyos for 300, imho. I'm not familiar with the other skimmers.