Time for my second tank build thread. Let’s see if I can keep it up this time, my first build thread didn’t last long for various reasons…
This is my second reef tank. The first one is a mixed reef Red Sea Reefer 350, which I started around 3 years ago and looks like this at the moment - getting crowded:
Some of the equipment and all livestock will be slowly transitioned to its successor. Its had some ups and downs and I learned a few things along the way - right now suffering from a bit of algae and discoloration of my SPS, but generally speaking the last months things have been good.
I’ve always wanted a Peninsula tank and have been looking at the Reefer 650, but when Waterbox became available in Dubai, I decided to go for the biggest one I could get end in the end. I was happy with Red Sea so far but the feedback from Waterbox owners has been positive from what I've seen, so let's see how this goes.
After moving around furniture for a month and looking at various options, I’ve decided on the following positioning for the tank - it will basically be in the middle of the room not attached to any walls.
The equipment list looks like this:
- Eheim 300W + Eheim 100W Backup Heater
- Neptune COR20 Return Pump
- 2 Wave maker Gyre XF130
- 1 Ecotech MP40wQD for some turbulence
- 3 Ecotech XR30W G4 Pro (planning to mount on a custom made rail)
- Hailea 300A Chiller
- Aquamaxx Q5 Skimmer (I passed on the expensive brands after hearing good feedback on this in the local reefer group).
As you can see it will be a relatively simple setup without reactors and a refugium, I'll only do 2/3 part dosing and I use the Red Sea Coral Colours additives - so far it's worked reasonably well although I don't keep a lot of SPS or sensitive corals.
Going to control everything through the Apex system, been pretty happen with it in the Reefer 350:
- Neptune Apex Classic with ORP, ph, temperature, salinity probes
- Neptune ATK for ATO
- Neptune Leak Detection Probe (not decided yet where to put it)
- 2 Neptune DOS (Ca/Mg/KH/spare)
- 2 Neptune DDR Reservoirs
- Neptune WXM for Radion / MP40 control
- Neptune Optical sensor for ATO and sump water level monitoring
- Neptune AFS Feeder for holidays
- I also have a Neptune breakout box that I might use to connect some switches for triggering Feed or Maintenance modes without needing to open the App.
I'm currently assessing the best cabinet layout for the controllers and power supplies. As it stands, I chose to move the chiller outside the cabinet for space reasons and bring the ATO tank on the overflow side of the tank.
One of the downsides of the Waterbox is that the middle doors open on both sides, but the left and right one open only on one opposing side - cannot chose which one. This means I need to fill the ATO tank from the hole in the back of the cabinet, as I cannot open the door of this side easily due to the sofa. All the dry equipment will go on the front side of the tank where I can access the door.
Considering how big the tank is, the sump layout in general doesn't seem ideal, or at least it doesn't match my ideas - can't put my finger on it. The tank and cabinet quality looks very much on par with the Reefer though.
As for the scape, I’m imagining something along these lines:
One concern I still have is if running the Gyre’s and the MP40 from the back wall will create enough flow all around, but I’d hate to have cables going to the front of the tank.
So when will all this happen? The tank is already here, cabinet built, and I started the wiring and preparation. Will post some photos tomorrow!
This is my second reef tank. The first one is a mixed reef Red Sea Reefer 350, which I started around 3 years ago and looks like this at the moment - getting crowded:
Some of the equipment and all livestock will be slowly transitioned to its successor. Its had some ups and downs and I learned a few things along the way - right now suffering from a bit of algae and discoloration of my SPS, but generally speaking the last months things have been good.
I’ve always wanted a Peninsula tank and have been looking at the Reefer 650, but when Waterbox became available in Dubai, I decided to go for the biggest one I could get end in the end. I was happy with Red Sea so far but the feedback from Waterbox owners has been positive from what I've seen, so let's see how this goes.
After moving around furniture for a month and looking at various options, I’ve decided on the following positioning for the tank - it will basically be in the middle of the room not attached to any walls.
The equipment list looks like this:
- Eheim 300W + Eheim 100W Backup Heater
- Neptune COR20 Return Pump
- 2 Wave maker Gyre XF130
- 1 Ecotech MP40wQD for some turbulence
- 3 Ecotech XR30W G4 Pro (planning to mount on a custom made rail)
- Hailea 300A Chiller
- Aquamaxx Q5 Skimmer (I passed on the expensive brands after hearing good feedback on this in the local reefer group).
As you can see it will be a relatively simple setup without reactors and a refugium, I'll only do 2/3 part dosing and I use the Red Sea Coral Colours additives - so far it's worked reasonably well although I don't keep a lot of SPS or sensitive corals.
Going to control everything through the Apex system, been pretty happen with it in the Reefer 350:
- Neptune Apex Classic with ORP, ph, temperature, salinity probes
- Neptune ATK for ATO
- Neptune Leak Detection Probe (not decided yet where to put it)
- 2 Neptune DOS (Ca/Mg/KH/spare)
- 2 Neptune DDR Reservoirs
- Neptune WXM for Radion / MP40 control
- Neptune Optical sensor for ATO and sump water level monitoring
- Neptune AFS Feeder for holidays
- I also have a Neptune breakout box that I might use to connect some switches for triggering Feed or Maintenance modes without needing to open the App.
I'm currently assessing the best cabinet layout for the controllers and power supplies. As it stands, I chose to move the chiller outside the cabinet for space reasons and bring the ATO tank on the overflow side of the tank.
One of the downsides of the Waterbox is that the middle doors open on both sides, but the left and right one open only on one opposing side - cannot chose which one. This means I need to fill the ATO tank from the hole in the back of the cabinet, as I cannot open the door of this side easily due to the sofa. All the dry equipment will go on the front side of the tank where I can access the door.
Considering how big the tank is, the sump layout in general doesn't seem ideal, or at least it doesn't match my ideas - can't put my finger on it. The tank and cabinet quality looks very much on par with the Reefer though.
As for the scape, I’m imagining something along these lines:
One concern I still have is if running the Gyre’s and the MP40 from the back wall will create enough flow all around, but I’d hate to have cables going to the front of the tank.
So when will all this happen? The tank is already here, cabinet built, and I started the wiring and preparation. Will post some photos tomorrow!
