Griff's Reefer 525XL Build

Griff · Feb 22, 2016

First let me thank the wife! She allowed me to spend last years tax return on an IM Nuvo 30L and ever since i've been hooked on reefing. I don't know how I've managed to find time with 3 kids 3 and under but I do. I find myself up all hours of the night working on my tank or just staring at it. When I approached the wife about getting a larger tank I thought for sure she would shoot me down as soon as I brought it up. To my surprise the answer was find a way to pay for and go for it!

So now I sit waiting for my Red Sea reefer 525XL to come in.

Equipment:
Red Sea Reefer 525xl
3 AI Hydra HD's with single mounts and 2 AI Primes (have these on the existing tank but moving to the reefer in between the Hydra's
Neptune Apex Lab Grade
Neptune Doser
Reef Octopus 202 classic skimmer
Reef Octopus BioChurn 120int
Maxspect gyre 150 (Was going to go with EcoTech Mp40s but for the price I couldn't resist trying this out first)
EcoTech Vectra M1
70lbs of pukani dry rock
220 Lb's of Fiji Pink
300watt heater

Tank should be here this Wed. or next. I do plan on transferring everything from my existing tank to the new one. I currently have apprx 25 corals mostly LPS a few mushrooms and a few sps, 1 midas, 2 clowns, 1 six line. I'd like to add a kole eye, yellow tang and possibly a purple or powder blue. Haven't decided on the purple or powder blue I definately would not get both and might not get either as the tank might be to small for that IMHO. I'd also like to add 2-3 anthias, 2-3 four stripe damsels, possibly another small wrasse or 2. Time will tell but I'd like to get the Kole Eye and yellow as my next additions. Everything else will be added very slowly. I do plan on posting pics and trying to keep this thread active please share your advice and opinion on tank equipment and live stock. I won't take anything personally. I've read a ton but by no means have the experience that most of you here have.

Thanks for following....

Here is a pic of my existing IM Nuvo 30L

<a href="http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/agriffjr/media/IMG_0522_zpsgzqp5ztz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/agriffjr/IMG_0522_zpsgzqp5ztz.jpg~original" border="0" alt="Panoramic IM 30L photo IMG_0522_zpsgzqp5ztz.jpg"/></a>

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revhtree · Feb 23, 2016

Hello!

Can't wait to see photos!

Click here for an explanation on how to add photos to threads or posts!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a...d-photos-as-a-new-thread-or-in-a-post.205640/

Thanks!

Griff · Feb 23, 2016

Griff · Feb 23, 2016

More IM 30l shots

Griff · Mar 20, 2016

Picked up the reefer last weekend. Unfortunately there was a box missing with half the cabinet pieces. The LFS and Red Sea has been great with getting the items shipped out. They will hopefully be here before the end of this week. See most recent pic! My son in the back of the tank with the new tank to bring it home!

Danny1496 · Mar 20, 2016

nice i looking to get a 525 also

Griff · Apr 6, 2016

Picked up a 40 gal breeder today from petco's dollar sale for my quarentine tank.

Griff · Apr 11, 2016

Stand is built and tank set. Just an FYI for anyone mounting AI hydras for a large tank. Remember to attach your mounting bracket before you set your tank. I ended up building a light mount seperate that I can slide behind the tank. This will also allow me to adjust the height of the lights in the future.

Griff · Apr 25, 2016

Rock shipment should be in tomorrow. Thinking of not cooking my rock. Well I was going to put it in display and run the system through its cycle and use my biopellet reactor and a bag of phosban to get out the nitrates and phosphates.

Thoughts

Griff · Apr 25, 2016

Still curious what everyone's thoughts are. Is it ok to cook the rock in tank so to speak while exporting phosphate and nitrate with biopellet reactor and bag of phosban.

dbrewsky · Apr 25, 2016

Got a good start on the new build! Yes you can cure and cycle the rock in the tank. I would recommend you do a 100% water change prior to adding livestock and then remove any remaining phosphate that remains after the water change. You will likely generate large amounts of phosphate and it will eat up a ton of phosphate media before you make a dent in the levels initially.

Griff · Apr 25, 2016

Thanks. I was not planning on doing 100% water change but if you think it's necessary ill strongly consider it.

I never cooked the rock in my 30gallon and it's done well. I do have a slight hair algae and cyano issue. I don't believe it's from the rock. I think it's all the detritus in my sand bed that I can't seem to clean effectively. I could be wrong though.

Better to use salt water or RODI, or does it matter?

dbrewsky · Apr 25, 2016

Yeah I totally get it! But the effort and expense will be nothing in the scheme of things and will set you up for a good start. I would use ro/di just like you would normally.

If it's not feasible just do several large water changes to achieve the same dilution. It will just take more overal water to achieve the same effect

Clarksski · Jun 2, 2016

Hey there griff..did you really use 220 pounds of sand? How deep did the sand bed end up being?
Do you have any updates/pics of your tank?
Thanks

Griff · Jun 3, 2016

I used a little more than half and sand bed is about 2 inches. I opted to keep the sand bed shallower after more research. I'm also using a marine pure block and bio pellet reactor for nutrient control.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Things have been going so slow. We have 3 kids 4 and under, both of us work , and often different shifts. I'll have the lights running this weekend. Setup Neptune apex tonight and worked on the sump and electrical/cord management tonight.

Quarantine tank has been up and running for 4 weeks now. The plan is to pick up a few fish on Father's Day with my 4yr old son.

I'll add some photos this weekend once the lights are running

Griff · Jun 4, 2016

Sorry I haven't taken the time to figure out how to take photos with iPhone

erinmegan85 · Jun 5, 2016

Beautiful tank. I like the aquascaping you did!

Griff · Jun 5, 2016

Thanks I would have liked a few more caves and overhangs but hoping I can create some of that with coral.

Griff · Jun 21, 2016

Everyone has been in quarentine a little over a week. So far no signs of stress other than the hippo tang being a little shy. Everyone is eating great! No spots no head shaking or odd behavior. Keeping my fingers crossed! They will be in quarentine a minimum of three more weeks .

Griff · Jun 25, 2016

All existing fish moved to quarentine with the new fish. Kick ich and ruby reef did not work. Starting copper safe today after 50% water change. Goal is to have 1.5-2.0 ppm copper in quarentine for 30 days. (Thanks for all the info Humble) I'll keep everyone posted.