Build thread - Red Sea Reefer 250

aurora.k · May 26, 2018

Hello!

As soon as my 14 gallon was fully up and running (no sump, not done right - but still works) and my coral started growing and I though “this is the best thing ever”:

I decided to upgrade to a real tank. So far, it is just starting to cycle - but here is the scape of which I am proud:

Hard to see in this pic, but there is a cave in the right “peak”, which gives it nice depth in person.

Zotch · May 26, 2018

Looks great, I will be setting up my 250 in a month. Is that oolite sand?

Flameback Pair · Jul 14, 2018

Can we get an update on this tank?

christopher.lauwers · Jul 14, 2018

Love both the layouts.

Flameback Pair · Jul 25, 2018

Zotch said:
Looks great, I will be setting up my 250 in a month. Is that oolite sand?

@Zotch have you started your 250 build? Do you have a thread for the build?

aurora.k · Sep 12, 2018

Wow, I have neglected this thread! I actually forgot that I set this up as a build thread.... So much has happened and I love my tank!

Here’s what it looks like now:

Here are two photos along the way:

Here’s what’s going on:

Red Sea Reefer 250, white
Aquatic life T5 hybrid with four t5s and two Kessil 360s w controller
MP10 and ice gyre for flow
Various s6 return pump
Reef octopus 152S
Neptune system
This weekend we are finalizing an auto water change from the garage with DOS.

Fish (all fish named Carl after my husband who is not as enthused about the tank as I am)

Transparent cave goby (cave carl)
Pair of aiptasia eating file fish (Mr Carl and Mrs Carl) - seem to be buddies, maybe more????
Mated pair of cherub angelfish (they are definitely non stop mated... like every night)
Flame hawk fish (hawk carl)
Gold Midas blenny (Ziggy carl)
Lawnmower blenny (C-C-carl)
6 Line wrasse (stripey Carl)
All fish rehomed from fellow reefers on R2R except the first three

Coral
So many coral! I’ll just list my favorites
Orange rodactus

Bubble coral (one of my first corals so one of my faves)
Bubblegum digitata
Tyree fluorescent
Some random leather
fuzzy lobo
Apple berry montipora
A green monti with orange polyps
A pink monti with blue polyps

Flameback Pair · Nov 30, 2018

More pictures please !!!!

Flameback Pair · Jan 5, 2019

@aurora.k Updates please. And a photo of the cabinet lighted so we can see your equipment layout?

aurora.k · Feb 10, 2019

Finally doing an update! I was going to wait until my husband re-did my cord management for me (beginner mistake: the cords for the skimmer and pump were managed with the others so when I cleaned those recently I had to dismantle all his hard work).

But here is my tank - everything seems to be going gangbusters since I started dosing ca and alk with DOS instead of weekly:

Here’s under the tank:

And my husband named my tank Gringott’s (https://www.pottermore.com/explore-the-story/gringotts) since I put all my money in it, so I got this:

And finally but most time-savingly, my AWC station in the garage:

aurora.k · Feb 10, 2019

One more!

NY_Caveman · Feb 11, 2019

Looks fantastic (except those wires, LOL!). Jealous of the AWC station for sure.

aurora.k · Feb 18, 2019

NY_Caveman said:
Looks fantastic (except those wires, LOL!). Jealous of the AWC station for sure.

Cords managed! And a bonus - old iPad added!

Flameback Pair · Feb 26, 2019

@aurora.k Of your two wavemakers what do you like about each and what don't you like about each? Which do you like best?

aurora.k · Mar 5, 2019

powers2001 said:
@aurora.k Of your two wavemakers what do you like about each and what don't you like about each? Which do you like best?

Hi there,

Here is what I like / don’t like. On balance, I like the mp10 a bit better:

Gyre:

Pros - makes mode agitation-type
Movement in the tank - the flow covers a good area and the flow can be directed in more than one direction.

Cons - bulky and harder to place in the tank. I originally wanted to put it in a back corner placed vertically, but it didn’t make sufficient flow with my rock work (though if you plan better than I did, that could be a really discreet way to use this). Also, I do not like having the power cord in the tank. And, when it gets covered in coraline algae it makes a whirring sound which is annoying (thought it can be fixed by soaking in vinegar, cleaning, and reassembling)

Mp10:

Pros - for the size, excellent flow and very easy to program. Easy to place anywhere it is needed, small size makes it less distracting in the tank, and I love that the cord is outside the tank.

Cons - unidirectional flow means you need multiple units to get a good circuit going. The mp10 has just barely enough magnetic power to grip the side of my tank.

Hemmdog · Mar 5, 2019

Looks great! Be careful with all the wires near the sump, humidity and salt will slowly mess your nice equipment up

.

Flameback Pair · May 10, 2019

Which Honda generator is that? I'd love to have one but bought a BBU since it fits my budget.

aurora.k · May 11, 2019

powers2001 said:
Which Honda generator is that? I'd love to have one but bought a BBU since it fits my budget.

It’s an EU2200 - we are in the woods so lose power fairly frequently. It’s enough power for basics - lights, internet, fish tank - when we lose power [emoji4]

aurora.k · May 12, 2019

aurora.k said:
Hi there,

Here is what I like / don’t like. On balance, I like the mp10.

Update:I ended up swapping out the gyre for another mp10 QD because of the sound of the gyre annoying me too much. I added two small hydros in the back to ensure sufficient flow behind the rocks as well and moved the gyre to my mix my salt water station

Flameback Pair · May 13, 2019

aurora.k said:
It’s an EU2200 - we are in the woods so lose power fairly frequently. It’s enough power for basics - lights, internet, fish tank - when we lose power [emoji4]

Honda makes excellent generators. A little spendy but extra quiet and extra light weight. I'd love to have the EU1000i.