Bess's Reef Tank

[redpine42]

So the last time I had saltwater was around 30 years ago. I remember spending a couple hundred on the tank and equipment and thought it was really expensive.

I just finished totaling up the first phase of our build and it's nowhere near in comparison to 30 years ago, but we didn't have reefs and usually fish didn't live long.

So this story starts with my wife (Bess). She got into fresh water fish a few months back, she is absolutely loving it and doing a real good job at tending to her fish. I was going to get her another bigger tank and started looking at salt water. Being a techie, I got sucked in. Tomorrow the new tank arrives and the work begins. I'm looking for all the advice everyone here has to give.

This is our build so far, I'm keeping track of everything since I learned a lot about everything and there are so many little things you need. There are still a few major things needed, but this should get us started with a refuguim, coral and a few fish.

Red Sea Reefer 525 XL (with 3 Hydra 23 HD lights)
Coral Pro Sea Salt Mix (Large bucket)
eFlux Loop DC Flow Return pump 3170
500 Watt Titanium Heater Finnex
Apex WiFi Controller
Apex Wave Dual pumps
Neptune Systems Magnetic Probe Rack(MPR)
FritzZyme TurboStart 900
Ceramic Biofilter Media plate 8x8x4
100lb Dry reef base rock
65 Gallon Tank for RO Water
LiquaGen 5 Stage RO/DI
4x Carib Sea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef Sand 20lb
Red Sea Fish Farm Care Test kit
Red Sea Reef Foundation Test Kit
Kessil LED Light Pendant Mini Gooseneck Clamp
Kessil H160 Tuna Flora Refugium LED
GFCI inline
AF Stone Fix Aquascape Cement/Glue (1500 gm) - Aquaforest
Curve 5 Protein Skimmer - Bubble Magus
Glass divider for refugium
Fluid Monitoring Module (Module Only) - Neptune Systems
HI772 Marine Alkalinity (dKH) Checker HC - Hanna Instruments
South Seas Base Live Rock SHELF Box (40 lbs) - Caribsea
Apex FMM Flow Sensor – 1″ (FS-100) w/Unions - Neptune Systems
1 x 60" x 31" Customizable DIY Aquarium Net Cover Kit (R42083) - Red Sea
3 x Net Cover Zig Zag 15/40mm (R42085) - Red Sea

I plan to in the near future add the following.

Lots of PVC
PVC Glue
PVC cleaner
Another 8x8x4 Ceramic Biofilter Media plate
Chaeto
5280 Pods
Ocean Magik

Misc items in support

Hand truck to move tank (255 lbs)
Moving Blanket
Tie down straps


My thoughts are to see how the chemistry changes the first few weeks and adjust as needed.
I assume I'll add a skimmer and maybe a reactor and anything else that makes sense.

Bess is planning the fish and reef. She cares for the tank above, I get the sump and electronics below.

Excited to start and see things happen in this tank.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Nice plan! Welcome to R2R!

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Welcome to R2R! Sounds like a nice build! Like the Rubi pic! Great color! Now looking forward to the tank pics!

 

[EW_Fish]

Is there reason youre going with all base rock? There is more benefits to having porous rock

 

[redpine42]

Is there reason youre going with all base rock? There is more benefits to having porous rock

Honestly, because I don't know what I'm doing. Suggestions?

Here is what I ordered.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/113080587406?ul_noapp=true

 

[redpine42]

Welcome to R2R! Sounds like a nice build! Like the Rubi pic! Great color! Now looking forward to the tank pics!

May have to sell the Rubicon to support this new hobby. LOL

 

[hdsoftail1065]

May have to sell the Rubicon to support this new hobby. LOL

I'm laughing and crying for you at the same time! I would buy it but I have 2 reefs in the house! Top romen / Mac and cheese brother!

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Honestly, because I don't know what I'm doing. Suggestions?

My suggestion is to call in a member of the reefsquad if you have specific questions. There is all levels of talent and different opinions. The mods and reefsquad members are here to help. #reefsquad

 

[hdsoftail1065]

My suggestion is to call in a member of the reefsquad if you have specific questions. There is all levels of talent and different opinions. The mods and reefsquad members are here to help. #reefsquad

Someone will be here soon to help

 

[Crabs McJones]

Base rock would probably be fine if theyre going to have all those biomedia plates. You can always remove some of the base rock for more porus rock if you want, wouldn't be a bad idea. One suggestion I would make, on a tank that size, Opt for the Kessil H160 instead of the H80 for your fuge.

 

[Dsnakes]

That’s an impressive list. In terms of rock, it’s going to be a lot of personal preference. Lots of different looks. I am using Caribsea Liferock and I like the color of it. Let’s you start with the look of a coralline encrusted rock.

 

[HotRocks]

So the last time I had saltwater was around 30 years ago. I remember spending a couple hundred on the tank and equipment and thought it was really expensive.

I just finished totaling up the first phase of our build and it's nowhere near in comparison to 30 years ago, but we didn't have reefs and usually fish didn't live long.

So this story start with my wife (Bess). She got into fresh water fish a few months back, she is absolutely loving it and doing a real good job at tending to her fish. I was going to get her another bigger tank and started looking at salt water. Being a techie, I got sucked in. Tomorrow the new tank arrives and the work begins. I'm looking for all the advice everyone here has to give.

This is our build so far, I'm keeping track of everything since I learned a lot about everything and so many little things you need. There are still a few major things needed, but this should get us started with a refuguim, coral and a few fish.

Red Sea Reefer 525 XL
Coral Pro Sea Salt Mix (Large bucket)
eFlux Loop DC Flow Return pump 3170
500 Watt Titanium Heater Finnex
Apex WiFi Controller
Apex Wave Dual pumps
Neptune Systems Magnetic Probe Rack(MPR)
FritzZyme TurboStart 900
Ceramic Biofilter Media plate 8x8x4
100lb Dry reef base rock
65 Gallon Tank for RO Water
LiquaGen 5 Stage RO/DI
4x Carib Sea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef Sand 20lb
Red Sea Fish Farm Care Test kit
Red Sea Reef Foundation Test Kit
Kessil LED Light Pendant Mini Gooseneck Clamp
Kessil H80 Tuna Flora Refugium LED
GFCI inline
Coral glue

I plan to in the near future add the following.

Lots of PVC
PVC Glue
PVC cleaner
Another 8x8x4 Ceramic Biofilter Media plate
Chaeto
5280 Pods
Ocean Magik

My thoughts are to see how the chemistry changes the first few weeks and adjust as needed.
I assume I'll add a skimmer and maybe a reactor and anything else that makes sense.

Bess is planning the fish and reef. She cares for the tank above, I get the sump and electronics below.

Excited to start and see things happen in this tank.

Congrats! Sounds like a nice setup to me. I love the RSR products!

Oh we like pictures here at R2R so make sure you start a build thread and post a link here so we can all follow along!!!!

 

[redpine42]

Base rock would probably be fine if theyre going to have all those biomedia plates. You can always remove some of the base rock for more porus rock if you want, wouldn't be a bad idea. One suggestion I would make, on a tank that size, Opt for the Kessil H160 instead of the H80 for your fuge.

Thanks. I guess the H80 goes back to amazon.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thanks. I guess the H80 goes back to amazon.

If you've already got it give it a shot. Personally I just noticed that it didn't have enough umph for my tank and I swapped it out for the H380

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing family. As you can see already, plenty of willing and able folks here to help. I would suggest reading through the thread linked below. A lot of great, basic information to help along the way.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[EW_Fish]

Honestly, because I don't know what I'm doing. Suggestions?

Here is what I ordered.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/113080587406?ul_noapp=true

Base rock isnt horrible. I was just curious.I bought all baserock when I first started also and then learned the more porous rock was more $$$ but still looks about the same amount because its lighter.

Base rock would probably be fine if theyre going to have all those biomedia plates. You can always remove some of the base rock for more porus rock if you want, wouldn't be a bad idea. One suggestion I would make, on a tank that size, Opt for the Kessil H160 instead of the H80 for your fuge.

This is a good idea on the rock also. I agree 100% on the light suggestion. The h80 will light the tank but wont support any corals down the road if you buy.

 

[SPR1968]

That’s a great list of equipment you have there and it sounds like a great build threads coming on.

And welcome to R2R @redpine42 !

 

[redpine42]

So with this build I got a 65 gallon container for storage of RO/DI water. I think this is great, cause there are so many other uses for this, like brewing beer and coffee water.

My question is that I think I should sanitize the container, before I start storing water in it. How is this typically done? Bleech is harsh, but effective. I have a whole bunch of Starsan I use for brewing. This is very effective and uses a weak acid for sanitizing. Any thoughts?

 

[redpine42]

Thwarted by UPS. Delivery info said Departed 23 June with Delivery by end of day 28 June. Talked to them and they said it hasn't left Phoenix and won't be here until 9 July. So all the other parts are here, but no aquarium to put them in.

 

[EW_Fish]

So with this build I got a 65 gallon container for storage of RO/DI water. I think this is great, cause there are so many other uses for this, like brewing beer and coffee water.
Is it used or New? If it's food grade I would let it be

My question is that I think I should sanitize the container, before I start storing water in it. How is this typically done? Bleech is harsh, but effective. I have a whole bunch of Starsan I use for brewing. This is very effective and uses a weak bacteria for sanitizing. Any thoughts?