RedSea 170 My Mixed Reef Build

[kennyreef]

Hello guys! Here I will be posting my progress building this Red Sea Reefer 170 Mixed Reef Tank.

I started in the hobby back in 2003, and after a couple of moves and being out of the hobby for about 10yrs finally decided to setup and aquarium with all the component that I always wanted. This 170 will be outgrown very quick, so most of the idea on this build is to be able to reuse everything on a bigger Peninsula in the future.

PD: You will see all kind of Hygger Aquarium equipment on this build. I'm not sponsored by any mean but did decided to go with this brand. Later will be writing more about it.


Tank Info and Specs

• Red Sea Reefer 170 (Used)
  24.5"x20"x20" - Display water Volume - 34gal
  In cabinet sump water volume - 9gal

Circulation

• Hygger HG-915-4000 1,060GPH - (I run it only at 50%)
  
  
• Hygger Mini Wave Maker Quiet Magnetic 2,600GPH - ( This little pump are 100% quiet, there is literally no sound from running the. I love how it comes with preprogram day period that are very easy to customize)

Filtration

• Aquatic Life RO Buddie Reverse Osmosis 4 Stages
  
  
• Reef Octopus Classic 110S (Hate adjusting this skimmer but the foot print and skimmate it produce is excellent exporting nutrients)
  
  
• Phosban Reactor w/ Xport Bio Cubes (I don't like having live rock in sump where detritus can build up, and this is a great solution. If any detritus gets inside, is easy to clean)
• Phosban Reactor w/ Brightwell Purit (I only run Purit every few weeks only)
  
  
• Green Killing Machine with Power Head, UV Light 24 Watts (I run UV only 2 hours a day. It does keep water quality and have kept the aquarium free of algae & bacteria blooms)

Lighting

• AI Prime 16HD (I Run 2 Unit for 10 hours with the following spectrum Setup)
  
  

Sump Lightning

• NICREW 30W Reef LED with 2 Channel Controller - (I run only the white channel for a 10 hour after main display light goes off for my Chaeto)

Auto Top Off System

• Hygger Aquarium Alarm Auto Top Off Kit
  - This unit I love it. Its easy to set up, install and let it run. Love it can be use for Autotop off or Draining, but the way my sump is designed (Original Red Sea Reefer Sump), the unit is hidden on the back of the sump and it not easy to access if I need to setup a level water level, or if im gonna change the setting from ATO to Drain)
  
  
• 5G Reservoir

Electric Panel

Everything on this aquarium is connected to a Gosund Smart Power Strip by category. This Power Strip I love them since they area easy to organize and stick to the wall and organize by category. Everything connected by AC or USB is controlled by the app or Alexa Echo Dot on the back of the Aquarium by actions programmed. This allows me to control the aquarium through the app or by Voice Command. The Aquarium Pump Unit is connected to a Battery BackUp for extra time of running until I can get home and run the Generator.

• Gosund Smart Plug Mini WiFi - (4 unit)
• Gosund Smart Plug Outlet Extender (1 Unit)
• Cyber Power 650VA Battery Back Up

Alexa Echo Dot 3rd Voice Commands in use :

• Every Component can be Turn on/off by Command or in the App
• Feeding Mode Command
• Maintenance Mode Command
• Emergency Off Command

Project in Progress:


Controller Cabinet that can be used later on in any aquarium update I do:

Eket Storage Combination 13x13x42 (This storage furniture feature 2 compartments with integrated push-opener and top compartment can be also installed a push-opener door that will be used for the main controller.

Control Cabinet Top Compartment

• Hygger Main Pump Controller
• Hygger Power Heads Controllers
• Hygger Heater Controller
• Salinity/PH Probe
• 7" Tablet with Gosund App for all the equipment

Control Cabinet Bottom Compartment

• Hygger Dosing Pump
• 5 Gallon Water reservoir
• Dosing Containers

Live Stock

• 25lbs Real Reef Rock
• 20lbs CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Sand

Fish

• Snowflake Clownfish (Pair)
• Flame back Angelfish (soon to be out)
• Timors Wrasse
• Ornate Leopard Wrasse
• Midas Blenny
• Green Chromis

Inverts

• Fromia Starfish - 1
• Sand Sifting Starfish - 1
• Blood Red Fire Shrimp - 1
• Blue-Legged Pistol Shrimp - 1
• Nassarius Snail - 5
• Astraea Snail - 10
• Nina Star Astraea Snail - 5
• Turbo Mexican Snail - 2
• Deresa Clam 2
• Squamosa Clam 1

But not everything is a rainbow. After a couple of month of everything running nice and corals starting to grow, disaster strike. I had a tank crash.

Before Crash

Everything had to be moved to the quarantine tank

New Aquascape after removing everything

I manage to recover 80% of live stock but did lost couple corals specially SPS Frags and a few clams.

Tank Update after letting everything heal and put everything back together. Tank is running now in Automatic Mode, I only do water changes (10gal) 1 a month to replenish Trace Element.

Tank Parameters:

• Salinity: 1.025
• Nitrate: 2-5ppm
• Phosphate: 0.25-0.5
• PH: 7.8
• Calcium: 440
• Alkalinity: 9.3
• Magnesium: 1300

You can follow me on Instagrams as @Reefersmafia where I post daily and will be uploading videos of unboxing and product reviews. Working on Hyggers Aquarium Product reviews to be uploaded soon after using them for 6 month.

 

[Peace River]

Awesome write up and great start to your build thread! Good luck on the adventure!

 

[kennyreef]

Awesome write up and great start to your build thread! Good luck on the adventure!

Thanks, there will be more info as this progresses and some changes that will be done soon.

 

[kennyreef]

Here a view of my sump and how it’s set up.
Working on the Controller Cabinet and will be posting about that soon!

 

[kennyreef]

So here’s and update of my tank.

I did finish the controller furniture that I planned. At the right I have my dosing pump and additive, and ATO, at left I have all my electronics (controller and smart plugs.

So far everything is doing great and growing. I took out the clams because my Flame Back Angelfish started nipping, and will be setting a side thank for the clams that will go on top of the ATO Unit. (Maybe I will connect both tank as one).

Lately my struggle has been nutrients balance. I have been dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos to bring my NO3 and PO4 at the level that I want and not at 0ppm.

Sadly I had 2 jumpers! It was my fault cause I to have a mesh top and forgot to put it back twice with mortality results.

 

[kiswanson]

So here’s and update of my tank.

I did finish the controller furniture that I planned. At the right I have my dosing pump and additive, and ATO, at left I have all my electronics (controller and smart plugs.

So far everything is doing great and growing. I took out the clams because my Flame Back Angelfish started nipping, and will be setting a side thank for the clams that will go on top of the ATO Unit. (Maybe I will connect both tank as one).

Lately my struggle has been nutrients balance. I have been dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos to bring my NO3 and PO4 at the level that I want and not at 0ppm.

Sadly I had 2 jumpers! It was my fault cause I to have a mesh top and forgot to put it back twice with mortality results.

Nice work, what a clean set up. Makes me want to organize my jumble is stuff…well, almost