Sgrosenb's 165g Red Sea Reefer 625 XXL Build

sgrosenb

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Hey all! Been out of the hobby for about 7 years and decided to get back in. My old tank was a 156g Oceanic 5x2x2, so I decided to stay with those same dimensions. I was looking for a good all-in-one package, and the Red Sea Reefer seemed to fit the bill. The 625 XXL is a 133g display and a 32g sump. Had the local aquarium guys come help set it up this past weekend, so now we're off to the races. Here are few pics of the goods, and a list of all the specs/equipment. Excited to set this up and get it going. Plan is for it to be a SPS dominated tank and I plan to run the Triton method. Luckily the new Red Sea Reefer sumps are setup and plumped to handle the Triton method.

If anyone has any comments/thoughts/concerns about my equipment or planning, I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

Equipment:
1x Red Sea Reefer 625 XXL with sump
1x AquaticLife T5HO Hybrid 4-lamp light kit (2x ATI Blue+, 2x ATI Coral+ for T5's) ***This thing is awesome - highly recommended***
3x Ecotech Radion XR15W Pro Gen 4
1x Neptune Apex Controller
1x Geo 618 Calcium Reactor
1x Ecotech Vortech L1 Return Pump w/ Battery Backup
1x Bubble King Mini 180 Protein Skimmer
2x Finnex HMX 300W Heaters
2x Maxspect Gyre XF 250 w/ controller
1x Spectrapure MaxCap RODI with auto TDS Creep Flush Bypass (see diagram)
1x Kessil H380 Spectral Halo II Sump Light
1x GHL Profilux Doser 2.1 (for Triton Method)
140lbs Caribsea Fiji Pink Sand
140lbs Reef Saver Dry Rock

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Raege

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Nice equipment list. Excited to watch your tank progress love the look of the Red Sea tanks
 

Reztarkreefer

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How do you like the light? I've been looking at the same one but now leaning towards the ATI 8 Bulb, i've read that power cord management for that light is terrible

Just saw your recommendation.. oops haha
 
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sgrosenb

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Haha! I haven't hung the light yet so I cant speak to the power cord issues, but I anticipate they will be a bit squirrely to work with. I feel like that might be an issue no matter what with a T5/LED combo... and I really wanted the combo hybrid so well see how it goes... ATI 8 bulb would be great as well. I was torn on all T5 or hybrid but ultimately went hybrid
 

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Super cool equipment setup! I am intrigued to see this progress!
 

NY_Caveman

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Looks like a great start! Welcome to R2R!

 
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sgrosenb

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Update - more goodies came today! Equipment eye candy :) Quick note - I'm thinking about switching my sand from Caribsea Fiji Pink to Tropic Eden Reeflakes. I just can't go bare bottom, even though I think it would be easier to clean and keep my levels a bit more stable (or so I have read)... Anyone have any thoughts on the Tropic Eden Reeflakes? I'd like to have a jawfish and/or goby to sift around in the sand, but I've also read that the Fiji Pink can clump and get kind of grey looking after a while. Am I going to be in the same boat with the reeflakes, or would that be a better route? Also want to have plenty of flow for the SPS dominated coral I plan to have. Thanks!
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sgrosenb

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Update!

Finally got all the electronics and plumping put together. The lights took a while, but they came out great. The wiring on the Aquatic Life T5 Hybrid was manageable with some simple (an cheap) wire management pieces from Amazon:

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Also my dad built a cool sliding mechanism for the open space on the right side of the cabinet. Creates plenty of space for the electronics:

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Lastly - the sump and display tank are coming along well! Currently cycling the tank and looking forward to adding some fish and then corals! Haven't set up the calcium reactor or doser yet - I figure those will come after the tank establishes itself a bit. More updates to come. Cheers!

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Mike.P

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Also my dad built a cool sliding mechanism for the open space on the right side of the cabinet. Creates plenty of space for the electronics

Absolutely incredible! I have this exact tank coming, and would love to do the same thing... Do you think you could post some closer pictures of that sliding rack, and maybe get a list of parts from your dad?
 

jkobel

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Love the start here, but its been over a year and a half. I just bought a 625XXL and would love to see some updates as to how its been going for you! :)
 
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sgrosenb

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Thanks @jkobel for the note. It's been fun but I've had some ups and downs. I'll post some pics. Overall I am extremely happy with the tank and setup. Only thing I'd probably do differently would be to use Metal Halides instead of LED's. I had a tank with MH about 10 years ago and it just popped - I've never been able to replicate it with the LEDs
 

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