WB 100.3; Rukk's Mix

Rukk

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First a little about me from my introduction post:

"Hello, R2R is a great source for things reef.

Yep, I'm going back in. The wife and I reefed for 12 years, this was around 30 years ago. Needless to say, the technology, equipment, and information available today is leaps and bounds ahead of what we are experienced with, which overall is a good thing.

That said, some things are the same. It can be hard for me to make a decision now about equipment for instance, with all the choices available these days. But hey, I think that is part of the fun of the hobby.

Already got RO/DI setup running, and have the new version of the Waterbox 100.3 on order, supposed to ship June 1st, (now June 20th) looking forward to that. Trying to educate myself and make good decisions on all the other stuff now. We'll see how things work out. I'll probably do a build thread too. "
...............................

Please keep in mind that we are starting back up and ideas and plans are subject to change.

Have had some extra time due to the tank delivery being delayed a few weeks. A little patience test even before the tank is even set up.

Here's some picks of my RO/DI set up and some details. The water connection is after our Jason's whole house water softener:

https://www.jasonswatersofteners.co...softeners.com/whole-house-filtration-systems/

The tank will be on the second floor and we have verified with our insurance that we are covered if the unfortunate occurs. The RO/DI is on the second floor as well as I can't be bothered to haul water up stairs or pump up from the garage.

Pretty typical RO/DI stuff, with some custom work on the tank cap to get a pressure relief vent and float valve installed. Suction relief is already built into the cap.

So, here are some pics to get started. Will follow up with the stuff bought and coming in for the tank. Only major thing really not determined yet is the lighting. Has to look great and grow whatever. I've changed my mind 3 or 4 times already trying to decide......

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hdsoftail1065

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Welcome back into the hobby and thanks for your introduction post!!! Lighting...ya I understand how tough this one is, I never realized how many different light are on the market. There is a thread on lighting that might help.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/aquarium-lighting-by-dana-riddle.956/

Good luck and looking forward to watching your build thread!
 

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Awesome and welcome back to the hobby!
 
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Rukk

Rukk

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The new model Waterbox 100.3, though delayed a few weeks arrived June 27. All the other equipment has been arriving as well.


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Here's what the cabinet looks like once you open the box on top:
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Here's the tank stand being built:

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the tank appears to have traveled well and here's what it looks like:
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The sump is sitting inside the tank:
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Now, after I enlisted the help of my neighbor and his bud who carried the tank upstairs for me, the tank is sitting in place:
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A closer look at the sump:
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And the set-up begins!:
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More to follow. Just thought those curious about the new Waterboxes might like to see what's going on.

Though I can't compare to the Red Sea models as I've not owned one; have seen a few small ones in stores, I can say that my opinion of the Waterbox is that it is a pretty decent set of kit. Fit and finishes on the stand is good, the hinges and how the doors fit I like a lot though I'm not wild about the gap between the doors. The tank itself looks awesome, really. The sump also looks awesome and of course it is glass too. Both the tank and the sump have the support pad under them.

I did experience some difficulty with the installation of the overflows because my arms were bigger than the opening in the overflow box, but I managed. Overall the overflow design is good, however the length and spacing at the sump is a little close on clearances. At the end of the day, I think its going to work out just fine. I can always modify it if need be.

Will post more as the install moves forward.
 
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Rukk

Rukk

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A little history...
Made a mistake and bought a BTA (yea, I know better) about a month in thinking that it would be great for the clowns. Looked great the first couple of days, then started moving around and hiding...
Around the same time, the red starfish passed for no apparent reason, didn't realize it for a few days...
The Elegance captured one of my sand starfish, 4+ in., and ate it...

The BTA eventually disappeared and sure enough a few days later, woke up to a tank in trouble... Coral Beauty dead...corals looked stressed and Elegance had some black tentacles where they were basically clear. Looks like I had a trifecta where the starfish died, another starfish got ate, and the BTA poisoned the water all basically at the same time...

So, water changes and carbon ensued, and for the most part things are ok. The Elegance took it hard and nearly lost it, but now it is expanding well and its tentacle extension is gradually increasing. I think it is going to come back totally to 100%. It eats like a champ.

Corraline is still growing and for the most part for 4 months in, I think things are progressing well enough all things considered. I'm sure I'm still low on nutrients but it doesn't seem to be upsetting the tank too bad.

Not planning on doing much with livestock for a while, gonna let things continue live/grow/mature.

4 month update:

2 blue star wrasses
1 flurry clown
1 occy clown paired with flurry (by me)
1 flame angel
1 Elegance
2 acans red/white/blue and a rainbow
1 scuba steve
1 chocolate hammer
1 neon yellow hammer
1 gold striped torch
1 green/blue tipped frogspawn
numerous snails, pods (cultivating as well), 2 tiger conchs, etc.
 
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Rukk

Rukk

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First, R2R is the best, no joshin' Definitely a great source of information and the community, well, pretty awesome.

Meant to post my equipment list but looks like I never did.........so here goes:

Two Ecotech XR15 pros and the mounts Gen 4s
Caribsea rock ...40 lbs + plus the "shapes" I forget the pounds on that but like 20
Ecotech MP40 and the battery backup
Caribsea sand
RO Regal Elite 150 INT skimmer
RO Varios 6 return pump
A Clearwater Algae Scrubber ...the small one
Tunze 3155 auto top off
Along with the aforementioned Waterbox 100.3 tank and sump
Made my own screen top, its ok for the time being.

All kinds of other stuff: refractometer, Hannah Checkers, lot of support stuff, and two qt tanks up all the time, and culturing pods.
 
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Rukk

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Here's my 8 month update, I feel the tank is starting to mature and stabilizing. I can maintain stable relatively easy.

Now, I'm going to knock on some wood so hopefully I won't have to eat my words.

Some SPS frags have actually colored up and are growing. Some ups and downs, but nothing too major. No recent deaths or trouble 'out of nowhere' so to speak.

Now my goal is to try to keep things moving forward, wish me luck.

Now for the pics:

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How is the tank looking? What pump do you have? Which skimmer? What is the black box in sump? Do you have wires in the back? Can the wiring be set up inside the cabinet?
 
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Rukk

Rukk

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How is the tank looking? What pump do you have? Which skimmer? What is the black box in sump? Do you have wires in the back? Can the wiring be set up inside the cabinet?


Well, I am due to update, now at 10 months:

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My electrical setup is beside the tank. You could do everything inside the cabinet but it is going to get busy in there:
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My equipment is listed above, but that black box is the small Clearwater Algae scrubber. My return pump is a RO Varios 6. My skimmer is a RO Regal Elite 150 INT.

I have had some issues with SPS but I am glad to report that I am having some success as well. I am seeing definite growth. Obviously a work in progress but overall I would say so far so good.

I did add a BRS Double reactor to run some GFO as I have to watch my phosphate. My Nitrates stay rock solid about 4. I don't really understand that, but that's what is going on. I do dose a couple supplements as I only change the water every couple of months or so.

I'm hoping to get the top of my rocks loaded up with some Acro types as the months roll on.
 

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Nice, looks good. I’m waiting for my 100.3 to come in. Ordered 130.4 at first but changed my mind...I’m not looking to add much equipment and was hoping to wire everything inside with a power bank on the side of cabinet inside. You think evaporation will effect it?
 
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Rukk

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I doubt it but cant say for sure. There is a vertical opening in the back of the cabinet about a foot wide that definitely helps keep it ventilated. My house stays between 69 and 73 and the tank runs about 80-81 and when I open the cabinet sometimes I can feel a bit of humidity. But no where near making anything dampish.
 

horseplay

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I see you're using the XR15 Pro. Do you find the light spread sufficient? How do you like this particular configuration?
 

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I see you're using the XR15 Pro. Do you find the light spread sufficient? How do you like this particular configuration?
 

horseplay

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I see you're using the XR15 Pro. Do you find the light spread sufficient? How do you like this particular configuration?
 
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Rukk

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I see you're using the XR15 Pro. Do you find the light spread sufficient? How do you like this particular configuration?

I have two over the 3' tank so I would say that the tank lighting is pretty evenly distributed and with plenty of intensity. I like the setup as it seems to me that the lights, the mounts look pretty good.
 
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