Amateur hour tank

Futuretotm

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Current fav shot of tank:
unnamgfed.jpg

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Firstly a note to wifey: Dear wife, futuretotm is not my account. The monetary amounts I have listed here are inflated and are to throw off the IRS. Also I love you.

Customary: I’ve had a aquarium of sort since birth a young age. My dad had a black molly tank in the 90s and it has since progressed from there. Graduated from FW, to planted FW, and now finally marine. When we purchased our home, I had the wife agree to let me have a marine tank in life. I have been researching and learning about marine tanks for the last few years now. Here is a FW planted I used to have during residency.


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Tank

For my first tank I wanted something big, for stability and to avoid the cost of upgrades in a few years. In terms of cost a six foot was a bit out of reach, while there were plenty of four foot choices, however the RedSea 450 was an idea tank for the cost. However it was discontinued through my years of planning so I made the switch to the 525xl.

Redsea 525xl – sweet spot for cost vs dimensions
SCA – same cost as above, however the cabinets are bit dated looking, not an easy plug and play (ie plumbing)
Waterbox – 5 foot tank is more expensive than Redsea

Winner: 525xl, woke up one day and checked marine depot to find out that the reefer was on sale! Trigger pulled 2519$



Lights

This one is a PITA, and I still wake up in the middle of the night as to what I should get.

ATI Sunpower T5 was my first choice, good price, excellent track record. However, I got greedy, need shimmer.

Winner: I chose Reef Breeder Photon v2 50” for my 59” tank. I might run two in parallel in the future vs bars on the side. Cost was a big factor here. I am doing well in life, but I just can’t seem to justify the cost of some of these LED units. 715$


Went with Noopsyches k7, four units total, purchased from aquariumlowcost 568$

Skimmer: RSK300 300$ Aquamaxx ConeS CO-2 242$
Return pump: Jebao DCP10000 x2 (one as backup) 100$x2
Heater: Finnex 300W Eheim jager 36$x1
LR: TBS 100 lbs 600$ Salty Bottom 90 lbs 470$
Powerhead: Gyre xf350x2 for 520$ vs Jebao CP150x2 for 220$
Sand: Caribesea special grade
Salt: Instant ocean reef crystals 200g 63$
ATO: autoaqua 210$
AWC: above
ATS: DIY HOB filter ?
Reactor: BRS Dual w sicce 95$ Amazon RO canister DIY 15$each
Controller: Apex el 500$ + Trident 600$
Dosing: Neptune DOS 300$ + Jebao Wifi 80$
UV steril: Lifegaurd 25W 220$ 90W 233$
Lidcover: clearview 200ish Redsea DIY lid 85$
Refugium light: Amazon CF grow 100W 35$

Misc:
VCA return line RFG 46$
Under cabinet lights 30$
Brute 44gal x2 45x2
Powerhead for Brutes - Jebao DCP10000 (above)/serves as backup for main return
BRS RODI 150gpd w water saver 250 Chloramine special Buckeye hydro 320$
Refractometer hanna digital 70
Cycline additive Microbacter 7 7
Glass cleaner Flipper ½” 37
Test kits: Redsea 57$ for cycling and Nitrates , and Hanna professional
Fish Meds: ?
Coral dips: Bayer ? IMG-1321.jpg
 
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Futuretotm

Futuretotm

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Here she is!
IMG-6711.jpg


Placement I am not sure of, there's no place to sit and watch the tank, but atleast it will be in a high traffic area of the house
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Assembled stand: now awaiting movers, instead of "putzing" around with cheap amazon suction cups and possible injury to neighbors, I got a quote from a local insured/bonded movers to move the tank from the garage to the stand for 80$

Hopefully no direct sunlight
IMG-7722.jpg
 
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Futuretotm

Futuretotm

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Parameters to shoot for:
From https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-parameters-of-some-masters.295215/

Alk 8.2
Ca 420
Mg 1361
NO3 20
PO4 .2
Sr ?
Temp 77
10% Water change


Fish stocking: hopefully Pre-quaranteed from Humblefish

Tang: Hippo tang, yellow tang, powder blue tang
Copperband buttefly x1
Regal angelfish x1
Ocellaris clown x 2
Kaudern's Cardinal x1
Sailfin blenny x1
Azure damsel vs anthias x 3-4
Mandarin dragonet x1
Royal Gramma x1
Two spot gobyx1 + pistol shrimpx1
Firefish x1
Leopard wrasse x1
Black molly to test the tank prior to addition.
 

ScottB

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Looking good there Future. I love my 525 -- even though I am doing a painful re-aquascape right now.

Your target for PO4 just a tad racy? Better too much than too little for sure; best keep some angry herbivores in there.

Have fun!
 
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Futuretotm

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Everything on a pause due to COVID19 :(

I did purchase a generator, given I am in FL for emergencies
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Its on!!!!
In terms of moving a fragile 220lbs~ glass box onto the stand: I was mulling getting amazon suction cups and getting a few neighbors involved. But it ended up being cheaper to get a professional moving company to move it for me (insured and bonded and what not), charged me 80$
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Getting the sump in there
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ScottB

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That was a bargain. Around here it would cost twice that for them to write down your address.

Anyway, looking really good. Wow, just noticed the V3 sumps have 4 socks now versus 2 in my old sump.
 
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Futuretotm

Futuretotm

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That was a bargain. Around here it would cost twice that for them to write down your address.

Anyway, looking really good. Wow, just noticed the V3 sumps have 4 socks now versus 2 in my old sump.

I think I got lucky, I think they were quite free due to covid and hence decided to take this on.
I was wondering about the socks, I think there is a mod to change the RSR sock holder shape to be able to use non-rsr socks, dremel at the ready.
 

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I think I got lucky, I think they were quite free due to covid and hence decided to take this on.
I was wondering about the socks, I think there is a mod to change the RSR sock holder shape to be able to use non-rsr socks, dremel at the ready.

I think you are right. A lot more "flexibility" in the system these days.
Fire when ready on the dremel. I don't like RS socks that much.
 
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Futuretotm

Futuretotm

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Looking great. Nice choice of tank ;) I will definitely be following.

Thanks! Lets hope things settle down quick, I need to get this tank wet and check for leaks or other issues, I feel RS wont honor any claims later on as time has elapsed since buying this tank
 

wackyreefer

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Thanks! Lets hope things settle down quick, I need to get this tank wet and check for leaks or other issues, I feel RS wont honor any claims later on as time has elapsed since buying this tank
Interesting. I rang the store I bought it from and chatted about the delay in getting it wet. He didn't see a problem and said I just need to ring him when I do and there are any issues. How long have you had it?
 
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Futuretotm

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Interesting. I rang the store I bought it from and chatted about the delay in getting it wet. He didn't see a problem and said I just need to ring him when I do and there are any issues. How long have you had it?

I purchased from marinedepot sale earlier Feb 17th
hopefully not an issue

Nice start! I also have a xl525;)

Awesome!!
 
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IMG-8294 (1).jpg

2" hole drilled for hoses of all kinds from the garage


IMG-8297 (1).jpg

here is what the stand looks like on the inside, its quite a thick layer of coating.

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Heres a Jebap DCP 16000 at full steam, QC is an issue, one of them wasn't as responsive so had it exchanged out, gotta love Amazon Prime

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Barely fits in the return chamber (with the gaurd on)

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Something that is a super needed mod, LED lights (LEDMO 600LED IP65)

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Water test with FW, success!
That diaphragm valve is a PITA, next up, replacement in the v3 sump.

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Theres my second Jebao 16000, serves as back up for the main pump

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First time working with PVC and did great thanks to @qnguyen
Full Credit for the water change station to @qnguyen
Thank you for the part list and tutorial!
 
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Futuretotm

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Here's an update:

Installed a whole home surge protection (Tampa is the lightning capital of the world)

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Next project was to install a laundry tub next to the water change station to automate water changes

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Next was RODI, got a 5 stage from @Buckeye Hydro, 250ish TDI in, 4 TDI after the RO, ZERO after the DI

IMG-9703.jpg


RODI install was easy

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Futuretotm

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So I dont even have anything here yet and its already a nest of wires (cabinet LED, plus 2 exhaust fans, one return pump, two powerheads) yup nest

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took everything out, including the bottom shelf to get a few extra inches

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Planned it, got all the dimension from the web

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Here we go again with DIY

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Paint ofcourse

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Test fits! yaay ( I cut the original shelf bottom and placed in on the bottom plus a small portion of it back on the rail)

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Placing a shelf for the DOS

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Futuretotm

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Next up I wanted to address the heat and humidity
I decided to mount two AC infinity 110v fans, fit was perfect.

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Redseas doors are offset which is nice for fresh air in
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A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 73 38.2%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 64 33.5%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 13.1%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 14.7%
  • Other.

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