Banty's Red Sea Reefer 170

[BantyRooster97]

So I've had salt water fish tanks since the 1990's (old school under gravel filter with a canister... then bio ball sumps... LOL). I've had all sizes from 29g biocubes to 180g fowler set-ups... but I've never started a build thread. Currently I have 4 tanks in my office and decided that I would start a build thread with my latest one.

I picked up a used Red Sea Reefer 170 in May. I've been eye balling these for a couple of years. I helped the guys from Red Sea set one up at our local fish show; Reef Currents (Houston, TX). These tanks are awesome!

So here goes... I bought a complete set-up from a family that was moving. It included Red Sea Reefer 170, Radion XR15 G4 Pro (w/reeflink - sold that as I already have 1 on my other tanks), Ecotech Vortech MP10QD, Sicce 3.0 return pump, Nyos Quantum 120 skimmer (sold that), Tunze ATO (sold that), Maxspect Celestial fuge light (wanted to sell that), and numerous other items (reactors, nets, food, test kits, etc).

I sold the skimmer as I don't plan on using one & the ATO because the Reefer comes with one (even though it is small).

So here it is as I started setting it up.

 

[BantyRooster97]

When I started to install the plumbing I started having issues... (by my own doing)

1) I tightened the nut on the drain pipe too tight and broke it (see pic)....
Called Amanda at Red Sea here in Houston (SHE IS AWESOME) and ordered a new drain attachment 42221 so I could plumb the tank with pvc & a gate valve.

2) Then I tightened the return pipe too tight and broke it (see pic)...
Ring ring... hello Amanda, yeah its Shane again, I broke another piece.

3) Then as I started plumbing these used pipes discovered several leaks... old O-Rings and decided to replace them all.
Ring Ring, LOL, hello Amanda, making my daily call in to Red Sea, see you in a bit.

Thankfully Red Sea is local or this set-up would have taken weeks, instead of days.

 

[BantyRooster97]

All set-up and running now, no leaks. Light is on, sand is in (used CaribSea Live sand for the 1st time).

 

[lonelyfloat]

Ooh, cool! What aquascape do you plan on doing?

 

[BantyRooster97]

The pic with the sand added was from last week. I also added a cup of sand from 2 of my other tanks and then added several pieces of live rock from them as well. Pulled some caulerpa out of one of my sumps for the fuge; so my cycle should be minimal if at all.

I came in on Monday to find my return pump off... not sure why... so now I'm hunting for a different pump. I haven't had good luck with Sicce pumps. I got it running again, but now I'm worried about it.

pics to follow

 

[BantyRooster97]

Pic of the tank today. Got a few fish in Tuesday. Gonna use this as a QT for my other tanks for the pyramid butterfly & 2 spot tang. Then i have some wrasses that will stay in here until they get too big (orange back, solar, blue flasher & exquisite). Added a few snails & crabs as well. In the fuge I added some fern caulerpa & dragons breath.