Sarah’s Red Sea Reefer 250 G2 Upgrade Build

[TinyReef522]

• Aquarium
  • 55 gallons - 36"L x 20"W x 21"H with 1/2" glass
• Sump
  • 10 gallons - 19.2"L x 17.5"W x 13.5"H
  • 3 gallon Stock ATO Reservoir
  • 15 gallon ATO Drum
  • Tunze Osmolator 3155 ATO
• Return Pump
  • Sicce Syncra 3.0-714 GPH
• Powerheads
  • Icecap 1K Gyre
• Lighting
  • 2 Kessil A160's (Probably need a 3rd)
• Skimmer
  • Tunze COmline DOC Skimmer 9004 (from old setup)
• Rock & Sand
  • 30 lbs live rock from old setup
  • Have about 20lb ARC Reef Stacker Dry Rock sitting in my garage I will be adding at some point.
  • Caribsea Special Grade 40 lbs
• Cover
  • Red Sea DIY Cover
• Dosing
  • 2x Kamoer X1 Bluetooth Micropumps
• Filtration & Media
  • Marine Pure Balls (from old setup)
• Control
  • Eheim Jager 250W (may need a second tbd)
  • Bayite Temperature Controller

Background:
I have had an Aquamaxx 22 gallon long that I drilled and plumbed to a 20 gallon long sump for several years. (Had a 12 gallon long for about 4 years before that) Woke up Monday to probably about 20 gallons of saltwater on the living room floor. Unable to determine where leak was coming from but decided it was time to do away with the DIY and buy something professionally made. Seem to have saved most livestock. Honestly much prefer the look of custom built aquariums but the hassle of making them was no longer worth it. Pictures of old setup:

New tank as of now:

Currently filled with just RO water, has been running for about 24 hours. Don't love the look of it yet and kinda hate that it is so tall and I will need a step ladder to put rock and such in but I do love that it is much quieter than my old setup. Waiting for new heater to arrive before I put salt in. Looking into what other equipment I am going to need. Really wanting to keep the cabinet area neat and organized as it was a disaster and probably a fire hazard on my last setup. Really wondering if the Red Sea slide out control panels are worth the price and what the real benefit is of them? If anyone can weigh in on that it would be great. Also if anyone has any lovely organized cabinets please share some photos and tips.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Can't wait to see the new tank stocked!

 

[neonreef3d]

I Like it

 

[TinyReef522]

Update:
Finally got some salt and then sand in…every set up I’ve had I’ve regretted not finding my sand better. I spent about 6 hours rinsing this sand and it still was not as clear as I wanted to be. If I didn’t have a pistol shrimp and goby I would’ve likely gone bare bottom.

Adding to the rock work is going to be a bit tricky but I think I can figure something out. I ordered 5 pounds of live rubble rock from KP Aquatics that I will cure and then add for some increased biodiversity. The setup I’m replacing was started will all dry rock and I had a lot of issues for awhile.

Also everyone seems to have at least 2 wave makers or power heads in this tank but just the return alone seems like a really decent amount of flow. I had the ice cap gyre 1k on and the clowns and corals were unhappy so I turned it off.

After adding sand:

Rocks and livestock added:

Cord organization is going great

 

[silent1mezzo]

I see we organize our cords in the same way!

 

[TinyReef522]

Slow progress on the cord management situation. I did order an Adaptive reef aquarium controller board to modify so that I can put the switched surge protector into it since there is not a great place to mount it in this set up. Also got a small shelf to mount my dosing pumps on. Still need to do that. Added an LED light in there so I can actually see.

 

[Lebowski_]

Wow, that's an exciting upgrade. So much potential!

 

[TinyReef522]

Sump area is as organized as I am capable of.

 

[Juanzingo]

Well done!

 

[OneZenReefer]

Looking great

 

[TinyReef522]

Little update. Added some dry rock I already had and about 5 pounds of live rubble rock from KP Aquatics. Would have preferred to add all live rock but using what I had made the most sense.

Added some chaeto to the fuge and the tunze eco chic light as well as some pods. I would really like to eventually add a mandarin but it will definitely be some time before it’s ready for that.

Just ordered a tail spot blenny and melanarus wrasse from Dr. Reef. Have read mixed reviews about orders from there so hoping that goes well.

Also really hoping my clowns start laying eggs again soon. Have been reading a lot about raising clownfish and might give it a shot.

 

[LaloJ]

Little update. Added some dry rock I already had and about 5 pounds of live rubble rock from KP Aquatics. Would have preferred to add all live rock but using what I had made the most sense.

Added some chaeto to the fuge and the tunze eco chic light as well as some pods. I would really like to eventually add a mandarin but it will definitely be some time before it’s ready for that.

Just ordered a tail spot blenny and melanarus wrasse from Dr. Reef. Have read mixed reviews about orders from there so hoping that goes well.

Also really hoping my clowns start laying eggs again soon. Have been reading a lot about raising clownfish and might give it a shot.

Looks very neat!

 

[Downfall]

How are you liking the tunze fuge light? Do you keep it submerged?

 

[TinyReef522]

How are you liking the tunze fuge light? Do you keep it submerged?

I like it so far. I really just wanted something easy to mount with the ato that comes with and minimal salt creep. Right now it’s partially submerged when I turn my return pump off. I may need to move it down, we’ll see. I’ll update on how it’s doing growing chaeto and stuff in a couple months.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

I have been starting to regret my choice to go with the ReefMat in my 250....I wish I had room still for a refugium but I don't.

 

[TinyReef522]

I have been starting to regret my choice to go with the ReefMat in my 250....I wish I had room still for a refugium but I don't.

I really wanted a ReefMat but my long term desire for a mandarin is what made me decide not to so I could have the fuge. I am jealous you don’t have to change filter socks though! Also love your setup so clean.

 

[TinyReef522]

Quick update. Things seem to be doing pretty well. I did add a Yellow Coris Wrasse last week and this is the most of him I have seen since adding him:

So that is kind of a bummer. But hopefully he feels more at home soon and starts to show his face. I also ordered a @Biota_Marine Coral Beauty that will be arriving tomorrow.

 

[TinyReef522]

Not a whole lot to update on, the wrasse died mysteriously after about a week, I believe it may have injured its mouth and starved to death at some point. I have another one that is currently in quarantine. Really considering a ReefMat as I am sick of the filter socks.

 

[kartrsu]

I really wanted a ReefMat but my long term desire for a mandarin is what made me decide not to so I could have the fuge. I am jealous you don’t have to change filter socks though! Also love your setup so clean.

Why is a reefmat incompatible with a mandarin?

 

[klavmaister]

Why is a reefmat incompatible with a mandarin?

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