Boozeman's 525XL build

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

Hi! Been on here for about 6 months lurking and posting occasionally while planning my build. First, a little background. I had 2 salt tanks (a 75 mixed reef and a 40 predator) about 12 years ago. Had those up for about 4 years or so. Got out of the hobby after not having much success. I realize now after doing 6 months of studying and research that I really didn't know diddly. I would buy things on looks and appeal alone, with no regard to proper habitat and compatibility. I was really under the guidance of an unscrupulous LFS that just told me what he needed to sell me. Pretty pathetic and glad is is long out of buisness. (As a matter of fact, when I got out I gave him all my equip to sell on consignment for me. He did sell it all but never gave me a penny!) So last winter my wife and I decided to finally finish our basement and that's when I got the bright idea for a new tank. As of today, I have fish in QT, have bought everything needed, have taken delivery of the tank, and am just finishing up the plumbing etc. I hope to have it wet in the next week!! Yea!!

Since I'm just now writing this I'm going to take you on a tour of the basement remodel and tank build leading up to today soooooo.....here we go!!!

Basement before finishing

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

My qt and water room

you can see the TTM setup

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

Many packages that have arrived in the last few months.

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

Lights arrived courtesy of @Broadfield

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

Got the light hung but still no tank. I had to wait on the Reefer 525 because the decided to drill holes for the lights on the deluxe models and since I was taking off the black background film for a clear look, that was not going to work.

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

So here is a list of the equipment I have for the tank. Let's see if I can get it all.

Red Sea Reefer 525XL
Nyos 160 skimmer
3 AquaMaxx reactors (1 is bio pellets, 1 for carbon org for, and the third I made into an Algea reactor)
2 Finnex 500 watt heaters
Vectra L1 return pump
Guiesemann Aurora 48" Led/T5 light
Neptune Apex 2016
Neptune FMM
Neptune WAV pumps 2x
Neptune leak sensors 2x
Neptune ATK (need a 10-15 gallon ato tank still)
Neptune DDR
Neptune DOS

150lbs of Marco dry rock
120lbs of TM Reef flakes substrate

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

Today I'm getting ready to plump the sump area. Here are some shots of the current state of the tank.

Broadfield · Jul 11, 2017

boozeman27 said:
So here is a list of the equipment I have for the tank. Let's see if I can get it all.

Red Sea Reefer 525XL
Nyos 160 skimmer
3 AquaMaxx reactors (1 is bio pellets, 1 for carbon org for, and the third I made into an Algea reactor)
2 Finnex 500 watt heaters
Vectra L1 return pump
Guiesemann Aurora 48" Led/T5 light
Neptune Apex 2016
Neptune FMM
Neptune WAV pumps 2x
Neptune leak sensors 2x
Neptune ATK (need a 10-15 gallon ato tank still)
Neptune DDR
Neptune DOS

150lbs of Marco dry rock
120lbs of TM Reef flakes substrate

That list looks familiar

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

Still have the electronic side to build too. I'll keep updating that as well.

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

Thanks Toby!

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

So I have 2 Frostbite Flurry clowns in QT awaiting their new home as well as a Capenter Flasher Wrasse I just started TTM on last night

Husker · Jul 11, 2017

Good idea with the downturned elbow for the return pump. I haven't seen that. I think I'm going to do the same. It should function as a bit of a vacuum to keep detritus from settling in that chamber. Plus, it should prevent sucking air.

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

I'll take all the advice I can on my scape. This is what I put together last night

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

Husker said:
Good idea with the downturned elbow for the return pump. I haven't seen that. I think I'm going to do the same. It should function as a bit of a vacuum to keep detritus from settling in that chamber. Plus, it should prevent sucking air.

Thanks, I got the idea from someone else on here but don't remember who

boozeman27 · Jul 11, 2017

Look Ma! No holes!! Lol. What a debacle from Red Sea that was.

Husker · Jul 11, 2017

'scape looks good to me. It is always personal preference. I'm a fan of asymmetry (often to extremes), so I would probably lower one of those islands so they are not the same height. You could try it and see if it looks good to your eye, otherwise go with what interests you. I always think there is a balance between minimalism, which can be really visually dramatic, and many nooks and crannies, which can provide hours of interesting "looking."