RSR 525xl build ReztarkReef!

[Reztarkreefer]

Hello everybody!
Ive been following this site for quite a while and I'm glad to finally be a member! This thread is to document my current build and fresh restart into the hobby. I started with my first 55g reef about 5 years ago. Mostly HOB equipment and I quickly upgraded to a 75g with a sump. I had a thriving LPS and softie tank. Financial issues hit my wife and I out of no where and I was forced to sell everything. A little over two years later and im finally able to start my dream build.

I found this 100g acrylic aquarium and stand for dirt cheap and couldn't resist. I picked it up the same night and began planning my build. Never having had an acrylic aquarium before I started immediately with scratch removal. (I'm extremely OCD and strive to make everything perfect to my best abilities.) I put in a large order to BRS and counted the days until it arrived.

 

[Reztarkreefer]

After days and days of perfecting the Novus system things were starting to look great. I'd recommend this to anybody with an acrylic aquarium, super easy 3 step process (although time consuming if you're a perfectionist like me)

 

[Reztarkreefer]

Here's where it gets GOOD! While I was bored at work I decided to hop on CL and stumbled upon another aquarium, not that I was looking.. ;Headphone once again I was on my way the same night to take a peak. I ended up making a second trip that weekend to load it up..

 

[Reztarkreefer]

I was so excited to get this thing into place!! The kids were excited to get inside

 

[Reztarkreefer]

Well guys and gals I took a plunge, can't tell you how relieved I am that the hard part is over. I'm ecstatic to say NO MORE REEFER CRAP PLUMBING!! I've read countless horror stories about these bulkheads plus they're metric and I'm in the US...

1. I need standard plumbing and by pure luck found out that 1" schedule 80 fits very snug inside red sea reefer bulkhead. However for my designed manifold and plumbing system I needed to come right off the bulkhead to a 90°. So i decided to cut the end off of the reefer plumbing (not thinking there would be any issues) aaaaand to my surprise, the reefer plumbing is TAPERED! After cutting the end off there was absolutely no way to fit the 1" PVC into the reefer bulkhead.

2. I pondered for a bit.. Shoot..

What do I do now? Bite the bullet and pay for new reefer plumbing (that I don't want) and try again? Remove the overflow and install new bulkheads? Wait.. CAN I remove the overflow? Mind you I've never done anything like this before. After a beer and about 20 minutes of pondering I went for it. After the first cut of silicone I was committed. The feeling of cutting into a $3000.00 aquarium is by far no sunset or walk in the park. Each cut was very careful to not impede on the structural silicone of the aquarium. After about 30 minutes the overflow was out. The hard part was done. (Or so I thought)

3. The PITA refer 3 link bulkhead. It hadn't even crossed my mind that it would also be siliconed in. (Of course? Why wouldn't it be?) I just hadn't thought about it. So I start cutting away once again. 30 minutes in and I'm sweating, barely getting anywhere, especially with it so close to the rear of the aquarium. After just over and hour I FINALLY get it out. Broken, but it's out and the glass is intact. I cleaned the remaining silicone and test fit my bulkheads. (Pictured is 1 x 1" and 2 x 3/4", however I will need to install 3 x 1") If I had the chance to start over would I do it the same? Yes. Without a doubt.

 

[Reztarkreefer]

Now my favorite part, the plumbing. I spent countless hours in front of this aquarium trying to decide how I wanted to do it. Tried one way, then a second way, then a third way.... I just couldn't find anything I liked. And like i said, I'm a perfectionist. And the best part is that im in no hurry. With how my new sump was designed I struggled with ways to make it look good under this rsr525. Finally i got a stroke of luck and accidentally pushed the drain pipe to the side of the sump. I sat and pondered the look for a few minutes and decided to run with it for a while. Not knowing it would lead me right where I wanted to go. I re designed for the 10,000th time and put in another order.

 

[Reztarkreefer]

This brings you up to speed on where I am today. I spent half my day dry fitting my return and manifold design. (Which I changed multiple times) It went rather smoothly and im extremely satisfied with my design. Unfortunately I missed a quantity of one fitting by 2! Two fittings short?! No way. Maybe I subconsciously did it just to order more supplies

For the return I wanted to keep the RSR piece that detaches from the top of the overflow. I took a leap and ordered a threaded x slip 3/4 90, and a 3/4 loc line adapter. To my surprise it worked perfectly!


I'll keep you guys updated as supplies roll in, please feel free to ask questions or give me your opinion on my design! Thanks!!

 

[mike werner]

welcome,now that's a lot of plumbing.

 

[Reztarkreefer]

welcome,now that's a lot of plumbing.

It's far from finished but its turning out very well!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Very nice! Welcome to R2R!

 

[Reztarkreefer]

Thank you!

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing family. This is turning out great. With your permission, I can move this over to the members tank forum so it can be your official build thread. Let me know.

 

[Reztarkreefer]

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing family. This is turning out great. With your permission, I can move this over to the members tank forum so it can be your official build thread. Let me know.

You can actually delete this one, I ended up starting on in the tank forum

 

[dbl]

You can actually delete this one, I ended up starting on in the tank forum

No need to delete...this can be your welcome and intro thread then. Here is a link to @Reztarkreefer's build thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/rsr-525xl-pic-heavy-build.410449/

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

 

[Dan Snyder]

ReztarkReef great job taking the leap sure a lot will see this and take on the project to throw away that MM garbage! Post a lot of pics. [emoji1360]

 

[Reztarkreefer]

ReztarkReef great job taking the leap sure a lot will see this and take on the project to throw away that MM garbage! Post a lot of pics. [emoji1360]

I plan on it! Thanks!!

 

[Reefer Deez]

Hello and welcome to R2R it's a pleasure to have you here with us it's coming along great! I can't wait to see how it turns out!

 

[Reztarkreefer]

Hello and welcome to R2R it's a pleasure to have you here with us it's coming along great! I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Thank you! Of course along with a new build it's on hold for a little bit while I purchase a new home, but shouldn't be too long before I have an update!