UNS R75 SPS Build

Question for folks.

Ordered the R75 but not debating my lights.

I have 2 XR15s I use but I was talking to top lids and they said the RMS is too big to have them both on the outside of the overflow box. 2 questions

1. Did anyone here mount 2 lights on their R75?
2. What is the size of the overflow box? I’m trying to see how much space there is between the box and the edge of the tank.

I also have the option of the Hydra 32 (have two actually) but I’m kind of thinking of tossing rhe idea idea of two lights.

Thanks!


I went with a single XR30. I will be adding another one in the future for coverage or add some orphek. But I’m leaning towards adding another XR30.

For the Lid, I’m going for Top lids. I already have an extra RMS mount for the XR30. I will be having a 2 RMS mount setup with 30 inches rail.
 
Thanks brotha! Your tank making me jealous with how stocked it is. I’m over here dragging my feet lol

I wouldn’t use the 2 XR15s, but if you were going to, you could use them in the sides and get the RMS rail.

I’ll measure tomorrow and shoot you the dimensions of it. I don’t think having two mounts would work because of the overflow.

I went with the Straton X, Mowgli went with an XR30, I believe.

I would sell the XR15s and go a different route, Straton, XR30, Reefi, Meridian etc

No point spending a few grand on the tank and then not having the setup you want or something that you might need to upgrade later on.

Do it right, or do it twice. Buy once, cry once.
Stop lagging already! Hahahahah I’m excited to see yours too.

I love the “Buy once, cry once” 🤣😂
 
Cable management done, everything mounted, and only one step left…..Time to get this RO unit pumping out some water. I’ll have water in there by next weekend and everything starting to cycle.

Cable management was a pain but I wanted it to be clean, with the main focus being able to access/remove anything I need to without ripping everything apart.

I used cable clips instead of zip ties, and cable sleeves to keep everything the same color and grouped together, if appropriate.

The only part I need is dosing containers and the lines ran, haven’t decided on what dosing containers but the side cabinet with the hydros equipment has enough room at the bottom of it for them to be in.

Here are some pics, and I’m hoping the next set of pics, are with the tank full!

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Got her filled up with water tonight. Little cloudy but I’ll post some pics tomorrow.

I decided to run it without the filter roller and see how it goes. Been debating it since I purchased it tbh.

All the equipment we throw at our tanks, and do we end up stripping everything out of it? Been debating if running everything at the start would make the tank too clean?

The best tank I’ve ever ran didn’t even have filter socks, and everything ran great.

I’ll keep the roller in my office in case I get sick of cleaning socks, but we’ll see!
 
Got her filled up with water tonight. Little cloudy but I’ll post some pics tomorrow.

I decided to run it without the filter roller and see how it goes. Been debating it since I purchased it tbh.

All the equipment we throw at our tanks, and do we end up stripping everything out of it? Been debating if running everything at the start would make the tank too clean?

The best tank I’ve ever ran didn’t even have filter socks, and everything ran great.

I’ll keep the roller in my office in case I get sick of cleaning socks, but we’ll see!
Good luck with the cycle!
 
Good luck with the cycle!
Thank you! This is where the wait happens.

I added some turbo start 900 and some ammonium chloride, I’ll start testing in a couple days and see how long it takes.

I’ve got clown and a goby in another tank that I need to transfer over, but not in a rush, so I’ll wait until everything has cycled and do it right.

The MP40s on the back wall looked much better, but after a couple hours, I started to see the sand moved, so to the sides they go.

I have to say though, the light is ridiculously nice! Going to test Par tomorrow and I’ll throw up some results!
 
Photos aren’t the greatest, kiddos wanted to help, but the par is perfect! Spreads great and this is at the light running at 50% on the mixed reef spectrum.

Return and flow kept running, as I wanted what the par is actually at during the tank running.

If I up it to 60% everything jumps between 20 and 40 points higher.

Not sure I need it this high, but I can imagine some of the acros are going to enjoy it.

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Everything is running great! Cycled with turbo start, ammonium chloride, moved over a few rocks from an established tank and everything’s all done. Took about 9 days.

I added 2 bottles of Tiger Pods, 2 bottles of apex pods, and moved over the couple fish I had. Clown and Mandarin for fish, few snails and hermits. They’ve been great for the couple days they’ve been in the system.

I’m running the light for 4 hours a day to help combat algae grow, or more so algae explosion, since the growth is inevitable. Hopefully the pods and established rock can get a strong hold before anything else.

The mandarin is where my concern is, since the tanks new. I have a few bottles of pods available to keep adding, and I’m adding 3ml of phyto to keep them going, but really didn’t have any other options since the tank they were in, needed to come down. Feeding artic pods for the fish atm, and the mandarin is eating those, so positive start.

The Deltec is overflowing, expected but annoying. I adding a 3d printed stand to get the water depth it’s running in to 7.4”, and will let it overflow until it gets settled and coated.

I think now is just the letting things take hold stage. Will probably add some zoas, maybe a little LPS to test the waters, so to speak, but other than that, just enjoying the tank.

What are everyone’s thoughts on a Refugium? Something to keep pods reproducing? Doubt it will have much more benefit since it’s so small, but will more than likely end up ordered the Refugium light from UNS, and maybe the small package from TBS? Any reason why I wouldn’t?

I’ll throw some pics after the lights come on tomorrow, but really enjoy this part of the hobby.

Watching the ecosystem take flight. See what’s fighting for space, who will win, and how much hair will I end up pulling out lol
 
Everything is running great! Cycled with turbo start, ammonium chloride, moved over a few rocks from an established tank and everything’s all done. Took about 9 days.

I added 2 bottles of Tiger Pods, 2 bottles of apex pods, and moved over the couple fish I had. Clown and Mandarin for fish, few snails and hermits. They’ve been great for the couple days they’ve been in the system.

I’m running the light for 4 hours a day to help combat algae grow, or more so algae explosion, since the growth is inevitable. Hopefully the pods and established rock can get a strong hold before anything else.

The mandarin is where my concern is, since the tanks new. I have a few bottles of pods available to keep adding, and I’m adding 3ml of phyto to keep them going, but really didn’t have any other options since the tank they were in, needed to come down. Feeding artic pods for the fish atm, and the mandarin is eating those, so positive start.

The Deltec is overflowing, expected but annoying. I adding a 3d printed stand to get the water depth it’s running in to 7.4”, and will let it overflow until it gets settled and coated.

I think now is just the letting things take hold stage. Will probably add some zoas, maybe a little LPS to test the waters, so to speak, but other than that, just enjoying the tank.

What are everyone’s thoughts on a Refugium? Something to keep pods reproducing? Doubt it will have much more benefit since it’s so small, but will more than likely end up ordered the Refugium light from UNS, and maybe the small package from TBS? Any reason why I wouldn’t?

I’ll throw some pics after the lights come on tomorrow, but really enjoy this part of the hobby.

Watching the ecosystem take flight. See what’s fighting for space, who will win, and how much hair will I end up pulling out lol
Would definitely add a refugium for the pods. The Mandarin wont survive unfortunately unless there is a constant supply of them. The only way youll constantly have them is if you're dosing crazy amounts or they have safe havens to breed.
 
Would definitely add a refugium for the pods. The Mandarin wont survive unfortunately unless there is a constant supply of them. The only way youll constantly have them is if you're dosing crazy amounts or they have safe havens to breed.
The mandarins been in my other system for a little while, he eats frozen and the artic pods, as that’s what I fed the other system; but with the new tank I think you’re right, the refugium might be needed since there’s not going to be enough established.

Saw him eat the artic I fed today but thinking I’ll get the Refugium going, order the light and get a little pod safe place in the works.

Really hate having the disturb the home they had but didn’t have much choice
 
Would definitely add a refugium for the pods. The Mandarin wont survive unfortunately unless there is a constant supply of them. The only way youll constantly have them is if you're dosing crazy amounts or they have safe havens to breed.
The mandarins been in my other system for a little while, he eats frozen and the artic pods, as that’s what I fed the other system; but with the new tank I think you’re right, the refugium might be needed since there’s not going to be enough established.

Saw him eat the artic I fed today but thinking I’ll get the Refugium going, order the light and get a little pod safe place in the works.

Really hate having the disturb the home they had but didn’t have much choice
Oh well thats good he eats other foods. I was under the impression hed only eat pods. Would still recommend the refugium as youve said.
 
Everything is running great! Cycled with turbo start, ammonium chloride, moved over a few rocks from an established tank and everything’s all done. Took about 9 days.

I added 2 bottles of Tiger Pods, 2 bottles of apex pods, and moved over the couple fish I had. Clown and Mandarin for fish, few snails and hermits. They’ve been great for the couple days they’ve been in the system.

I’m running the light for 4 hours a day to help combat algae grow, or more so algae explosion, since the growth is inevitable. Hopefully the pods and established rock can get a strong hold before anything else.

The mandarin is where my concern is, since the tanks new. I have a few bottles of pods available to keep adding, and I’m adding 3ml of phyto to keep them going, but really didn’t have any other options since the tank they were in, needed to come down. Feeding artic pods for the fish atm, and the mandarin is eating those, so positive start.

The Deltec is overflowing, expected but annoying. I adding a 3d printed stand to get the water depth it’s running in to 7.4”, and will let it overflow until it gets settled and coated.

I think now is just the letting things take hold stage. Will probably add some zoas, maybe a little LPS to test the waters, so to speak, but other than that, just enjoying the tank.

What are everyone’s thoughts on a Refugium? Something to keep pods reproducing? Doubt it will have much more benefit since it’s so small, but will more than likely end up ordered the Refugium light from UNS, and maybe the small package from TBS? Any reason why I wouldn’t?

I’ll throw some pics after the lights come on tomorrow, but really enjoy this part of the hobby.

Watching the ecosystem take flight. See what’s fighting for space, who will win, and how much hair will I end up pulling out lol
100% yes on the TBS package for the refugium. That way you get your pod population grow and also a way to diversify your bacteria and microfauna. I myself is running Live Fiji and Australian rocks. So far, it’s giving me positive results. I have noticed bloom in pod population which I haven’t experienced before. I’m able to grow Gonis now. Lol. Also my nutrients is at bay. But there might be other factors too.
 
Would you be able to share the dimensions of the weir box and how far it protrudes? Want to make a mock up tank before mine arrives so I can start playing around with hardscape. Thanks!
 
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Would you be able to share the dimensions of the weir box and how far it protrudes? Want to make a mock up tank before mine arrives so I can start playing around with hardscape. Thanks!
Been a crazy week for me, sorry.

I’ll get the measurements for you and shoot them over. Hopefully have sometime tomorrow to do it for you. Sorry for the late reply to this
 
The mandarins been in my other system for a little while, he eats frozen and the artic pods, as that’s what I fed the other system; but with the new tank I think you’re right, the refugium might be needed since there’s not going to be enough established.

Saw him eat the artic I fed today but thinking I’ll get the Refugium going, order the light and get a little pod safe place in the works.

Really hate having the disturb the home they had but didn’t have much choice
I got the UNS Refuge light, added 5280 pods, tisbee pods (50/50 to the display/fuge) , and Chaeto from AB. I also put some BRS miracle mud in my refuge during initial setup. I felt a little bummed as my chaeto fell apart as it was being sucked through the weir between the fuge and return chambers when i first added it, but after running program F02 on the light (counter display times) for about 1.5 months, i'm finally seeing some good growth, nutrient control, and it appears my pods are reproducing as im seeing them in my display (its been about a month since i added pods last). Not sure if it would sustain a mandarin, but i can see them in my display which is cool.
 

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