Waterbox 220 build thread, fully automated

[NewReefer42]

Hey all, first build thread on R2R. I'm setting up a *hopefully* 10 year, bare bottom, SPS dominant tank, with the Waterbox 220.6. Because I have a busy life and I like technical projects and gear, I'm going to fully automate water changes. The ATO will be plumbed in. I will also run a fully automated QT system which will also have awc, all controlled via Apex. I'll be going with a negative space aquascape (NSA), which I've already started building. Follow along and feel free to ask any questions.

 

[DC Reefer]

Cool - will be following.

 

[NewReefer42]

Unboxing and inspection complete. Cabinet assembly almost done except for the doors. I thought the "side weirs" was a nice touch. They don't advertise that, but they should.

 

[NewReefer42]

Controller boards built. I had to completely redo my original design because the cabinet dimensions I was using were estimates based on assumptions, and the real values ended up being a little smaller than I wanted. Overall I think it still worked out. Just need to paint, install grommets, then start running cabling, tubing, and wiring. Middle cabinet will have a DOS for awc and 3 BRS 1.1mL dosers. Right cabinet will be DOS for awc and power for QT stuff (light, powerhead, heater, ato). Left cabinet will be apex and accessories and MP40s.

 

[NewReefer42]

Painted controller boards, waiting on grommets to be delivered. Leak testing the tank underway. Next up, plumb 2 more ro lines from garage to tank, through wall. One is NSW for QT tank, other is waste line from QT tank. Also bought some 90 push connects to pretty it up a little.

 

[DC Reefer]

Painted controller boards, waiting on grommets to be delivered. Leak testing the tank underway. Next up, plumb 2 more ro lines from garage to tank, through wall. One is NSW for QT tank, other is waste line from QT tank. Also bought some 90 push connects to pretty it up a little.

The controller boards look nice.

 

[maceto]

Nice! Following

 

[NewReefer42]

The controller boards look nice.

Thanks. There are a few small mistakes but nothing mission critical. Planning on running QT Dos lines today, but I need to buy more RO tubing, and they're closed today. Hoping to install tank next weekend.

 

[NewReefer42]

Ok, redid the water lines coming into and exiting the house. Cleaning up and washing walls while behind the TV helped the spouse to not be as upset at the fact that I was drilling a 1 inch hole through the side of my house. To be fair, the hole already existed prior to me (coax cable ran through it), im only expanding it by 500% lol. Just need to get some more RO tubing so that it'll be color coded and easier to manage. Gonna clean up the spacing on the outside of the house after I run the final tubing, will take 30 seconds.

 

[DC Reefer]

Does it freeze where you are at? Just looking at the outside lines

 

[NewReefer42]

Does it freeze where you are at? Just looking at the outside lines

Oh, no. I'm in Phoenix, it never gets cold enough to freeze water lines. The garage water does get to 100F though in summer lol.

 

[ImaFlippinDolphin]

Nice!!

 

[esther]

Following along for some inspiration for our 220.6. Congrats on the tank!

 

[NewReefer42]

Following along for some inspiration for our 220.6. Congrats on the tank!

Thanks! Good luck. let me know if I can answer any questions.

 

[NewReefer42]

Bought some suction cup handles today, tank move is on Saturday, current system breakdown to occur Friday night/Saturday morning. Aquascape is being built, one hour at a time, one small chunk at a time in the garage. Using the superglue and sand method.

 

[NewReefer42]

Alrighty, broke down old system last night. It was quite a mess. Installed cabinet and tank today. Mounted hardware to controller boards, now and running cables and updating apex accordingly. Of course, the power cables for the BRS dosers weren't long enough to plug into where I wanted them to, so they'll have to plug somewhere else. It's really nice the apex modules (DOS, EB8 32, EB8, and FMM) can all daisy chain into each other so not each module needs to be plugged into the brain. Plan for tomorrow is finish electrical running, calibrate DOSes, plumb them, then install the sump and QT system. Then install doors and start filling (need to replace my sediment, carbon block, and DI resin first). Also need to clean all the gear and old tank and sump so I can sell them.

 

[NewReefer42]

Ran the electrical, and RO tubing today. Cable and tube management took forever, especially since I had a "helper." Nothing on the floor though, so thats nice. Calibrated DOSes & plumbed them. Installed tank plumbing and QT tank. Configured apex for all modules and did some naming. Just need to leak test tank plumbing and plumb return pump and I'm ready for water. Oh, installed battery powered motion sensor leds in the cabinet too.

 

[NewReefer42]

Replaced the sediment, carbon, and one DI chamber in the RODI system last night. Surprisingly, the sediment filter which was probably about a year old looked in good condition. Leak tested the overflow plumbing and plumbed and tested return pump (lifeguard aquatic 6000). The output is a little too small for the default provided nylon braided tubing, so I might swap both out eventually. For now to get it filled and cycling it should work ok. Tank is currently filling!

 

[NewReefer42]

Long time no updates. I have a 7 week old and the holidays going on (early christmas for folks leaving town) so been super busy. The tank is up and running now. Filled it last week (took a week) and added salt. Transferred fish from old system (purple tang and 2 clowns) and few coral and live rock to temp holding tank. Set up QT system and plumbed both DOSes. Plumbed ATOs, and the ato ATO (video to come). In short, the auto top off reservoir will automatically refill from the garage holding tank, which will top itself off once per day (to prevent constant on/off cycles by RODI system as tank evaps water). Of course, I have a leaky float valve that may need replacement, so right now I'm just topping of my ATO reservoir manually, daily. Also got new lights in, a pair of XR15s gen5, so will pair those with my current hydra 26HDs for now. After coral are in I'll swap out the two Hydras for two more XR15s. I had been cycling two blocks of marine pure in a tank in the garage for a month, so I put the fish in the display along with those two blocks. Bought two new fish, a one spot foxface and a small sailfin tang, put them in QT system. Unfortunately, the sailfin got stuck on the input of the small circulation pump that was in there and didn't make it. Foxface is happy so far. My 7 week old woke me at 5am this morning, so I got up before work and hung the doors. Last things to do is 1) fix ato ATO float valve and 2) finish aquascape. I was 90% done, then I dropped a rock and broke it so now I'm closer to 60% done. Pics to come soon for that, going for NSA with lots of shelf for acros.

 

[NewReefer42]

W00t! Installed "final" two pieces of equipment, filter roller and skimmer. Also finished the scape and put it in the tank. A few tweaks still need to occur, like setting the water sensor height of the Klir, and calibrating pH probes, then plumb the display DOS, and then let it rip. Fixed a faulty float valve in the ato ATO, so that's good. Still need to move the nems and inverts over, one spot foxface is doing well in QT so far.