Upgrade to the 625 XXL

JSchwarz · Mar 25, 2021

After over 4 years of learning with my 30 gallon tank, I felt it was time to finally move to the tank size I want long term. It was a toss up between the Red Sea 625 and the Waterbox 180.5, but I ultimately chose the Red Sea due to availability and it's a bit taller.

Equipment

Controller - RoboTank/Reef-Pi controller - already running on my current tank and will be moved over. I use it more as a monitor and failsafe as opposed to a controller.
Lighting - 2 Kessil AP9X. If I find I need more spread front to back in the future I will put these in a hybrid fixture.
Return - Sicce Syncra SDC 7.0
Circulation - 2 Maxpect XF350 Gyres
Rock - Around 100lbs of new dry Marco Rock. 30lbs of my current tank rock.
Sand - 120lbs of dry Caribsea FIji Pink.
Heater - 500 watt Finnex titanium heater. I use the built in heater thermostat to control temp. The reef-pi monitors and shuts off power if it is too hot. Sends me an email if its too cold.
Filtration - Bubble Magus medium filter roller. Will be removing the filter sock holders to plumb in the roller from the beginning. I was initially going to go with the Clarisea, but figured I would take a chance on the Bubble Magus being half the price.
Skimmer - Red Sea RSK 300.
ATO - XP Aqua Ultimate ATO. Will use an IM HydroFill Diaphragm pump to pull water from a 10g Brute Can in my utility room about 10 feet away instead of using the included Red Sea reservoir. The brute can will be filled directly from my RODI unit.
Refugium - Standard Chaeto refugium. I currently just have a cheap grow light panel from Amazon for my 30 gallon. I'll probably upgrade to something more substantial when it is needed.

Tank came in 1 week from time of ordering. Only issue is I wish they wouldn't put stand parts under the tank. I had to find a way to get them out from under the tank to build the stand. I managed to get them out myself because I didn't want to have to get help moving it twice.

Current tank

Vinyl plank tile flooring for under the tank. Still waiting on wood look vinyl plank to replace the rest of the carpet in the room. This is directly on concrete.

Starting removal of the sock holder

ATB USA · Mar 25, 2021

Sweet!

JSchwarz · Mar 25, 2021

Stand ready for tank. Instructions say to put the tank on at this point and then level. Getting movers to help place it tomorrow.

Aquascape mockup

ATB USA · Mar 25, 2021

Did you check the stand to see if it was level?

JSchwarz · Mar 25, 2021

ATB USA said:
Did you check the stand to see if it was level?

Yes. I want the weight of the tank on the stand before doing final adjustments to all of the feet though.

Twoddler · Mar 25, 2021

You won't be disappointed with the bubble Magus, solid bit of kit and works well. Replacement rolls are a bit difficult to get thou. I'm running one on a 220g

JSchwarz · Mar 26, 2021

Tank on stand. Pictures make these tanks looks so much smaller than in person.

Sump skimmer cups removed. Got them out without breaking any pieces so they could be reinstalled if it was ever needed. I feel bad for the people who did this with their tanks already up. All I needed was a razor blade to get them out. Some of the pieces are more difficult to remove because they are against the supports and have a bead of silicone on two different sides.

ShepherdReefer · Mar 26, 2021

Looking really good, like the tank.

lefkonj · Mar 26, 2021

Good luck nice tank

JSchwarz · Mar 26, 2021

I used a free trial of SketchUp Pro to model my whole basement with the tank before deciding on tank size. This visual was really helpful for me. I was also able to show my Fiance what I had in mind for the tank, floors, cabinets, and items already in the room. I would recommend this to anyone trying to visualize a setup.

JSchwarz · Mar 26, 2021

JSchwarz · Mar 27, 2021

Starting to fill!

Bubble Magus roller installed. Has plenty of mounting options and there is plenty of room with the sock holders removed. Uses the same size plumbing as the tank so the provided flex pipe fit easily. All I had to do was shorten the pipes on both the drain and the roller.

JSchwarz · Apr 2, 2021

Lights installed and cycling.

JSchwarz · Apr 3, 2021

Screen top made from Red Sea DIY kit.

Cherub · Apr 7, 2021

It's looking really nice, good job on the rock work

JSchwarz · Apr 7, 2021

On day 9 of the cycle started using Microbacter Start XLM and Quickstart ammonia. Ammonia was gone over the weekend and I added Marinepure media and a cup of sand from my 30 gallon at that point. I still have over 1ppm nitrites and decided to do a little experiment by adding my rock with mushrooms and leather. I can easily move it back if they are not looking happy. I'm going to wait to move my fish until nitrites are gone even though they would likely be fine at this point.

JSchwarz · Apr 13, 2021

Clownfish look happy with the extra space. Funny watching them get used to different water movement in the bigger tank. Diatom bloom started after about 5 days with the lights on.