Reefer 350 Build

aggrofish · Dec 30, 2020

So I've had a few Saltwater tanks over the last 20 or so years and recently decided to get back into it. I got a wild hair a few months back and mistakenly thought I'd be happy with a 45 gallon AIO. My last two tanks were 125 gallons. So I'm picking up a red sea 350 this week and will be setting it up right from the get go. I'll let it run for a couple months and then start transferring the livestock consisting of a pair of mated ocellaris, a watchman goby, a flame hawkfish, an ultra rainbow BTA, a small euphoria garden and 25 or so frags (monti, zoas, chalice, couple SPS).

This will be my journey. I'm starting off with a pre-owned 350 that is pretty well equipped for what I think is a good deal. reeled 90s, ecotech return, MP40s, bubble Magus skimmer, dosing pump, etc.

Here are a couple images of the current setup. Ignore the monti thats not doing too hot its been knocked over by turbo snails far too many times and the hawkfish thinks its a seat.

Here is what I'm picking up, dirty I know.

MarshallB · Dec 30, 2020

Looking good, will be great to see the progress!

aggrofish · Dec 31, 2020

Picked it up today, unfortunately or maybe fortunately, the sump got cracked when the guy was moving it. $500 less for that. I either upgrade the sump, get a V3 replacement, or what I think I'm going to do is try to remove the bad panel and silicone in a new one.

aggrofish · Jan 1, 2021

Lotta scrubbing

aggrofish · Jan 2, 2021

Cut out the cracked panel in the sump.

aggrofish · Jan 10, 2021

Messy work, gonna let the silicone dry and see if it holds. Unlike just resealing it’s a lot more work replacing a pane. If not I’ll pick up a sapphire 26”

BaysEndReef · Jan 10, 2021

Following. Hopefully, that silicone will hold.

aggrofish · Jan 10, 2021

BaysEndReef said:
Following. Hopefully, that silicone will hold.

Lol I’m banking on the fact that I can do almost as good as a factory worker in China on a Friday afternoon.

BaysEndReef · Jan 10, 2021

aggrofish said:
Lol I’m banking on the fact that I can do almost as good as a factory worker in China on a Friday afternoon.

Well, maybe the moral support will make it come out looking 10% better. haha.

aggrofish · Jan 13, 2021

So I've been having a lot of issues updating MP40s and a vectra S2. I finally got them updated through the mobius app (legacy update) but two out of 3 still won't connect via wifi. The sump is holding water without leaks. I'll let is sit a day or two and fill it up more. It came out super messy and needs to be cleaned up, but beats buying a new sump. Paid $50 for new glass.

aggrofish · Jan 22, 2021

Not much to report I have too many things going on at once I ordered larger Marco foundation rock. The small pieces from BRS are not going to cut it. They are nowhere near the weights they claim. One is exactly 1lb and the other is 0.4. I did finally get the apex connected and updated and well as the mp40’s and vectra return. This weekend I hope to clean up the sump I fixed but got silicone everywhere and build the control board I’ve got a bunch of old tank rock soaking in bleach to add to the 50 lbs of dry Marco I have.

SaltyT · Jan 22, 2021

Nice work fixing the sump. Your build is looking good!

aggrofish · Jan 22, 2021

SaltyT said:
Nice work fixing the sump. Your build is looking good!

thanks man. I hope to have it set up in the next couple weeks. Deciding if I should replumb the thing while everything is out.

aggrofish · Jan 24, 2021

So this whole NSA thing is more complicated than it looks. Every time I get something I like it breaks, lol. Picked up a DOS and tried my had at making a controller board. Today was a day for breaking stuff. I guess 3 holes on the side was too much because the board broke. I was way too lazy to redo the whole thing so I just braced it with another board.

aggrofish · Jan 29, 2021

So I broke the rock apart a couple times and now I have this. Not sure what to think yet. It’s half the scape. I guess it’s better than stacked rock we’ll see if this one stays...