Here we go again....

[madcanary]

Well after the disastrous crash of the 150G build here, I've finally decided to get back in the game....
Decided on a 425G2, yes its smaller not 100% sold on it but ill make it work it gives me a leash (kinda)

SPS Dominated minimalist display
ill be using Xport plates to supplement live rock

Equipment

2 MP40QD
2 MP10QD
Varios 6

3 XR15 Pro's - will be using a T5 hybrid fixture

Full APEX with Trident.

I've decided to switch away from Trident, I had mazing success, with no fuge and potential supply issues I've decided to switch to ATI+ along with there nutrient dosing.

still undecided on livestock. id like to get another Gem Tang but the price has increased dramatically. ill probably settle with a single powder blue and a school of anthias or chromis since both have done well in the past.

 

[fishface NJ]

good luck!

 

[madcanary]

first draft, had a bunch of STAX from an old nano so I’m going to make a shelf with a decent overhang, should give a large enough negative space and provide enough swimming room to allow for coral growth.
the secondary island I want more sloped to allow for potential Zoa garden or just more SPS away from the Acros

 

[blaxsun]

Leashes can be good!
Best of luck with the new tank!

 

[LEOreefer]

Excited to see the progress!

 

[madcanary]

Nothing exciting, just the start of the saltwater mixing station. It’s going in a closet downstairs so it will have to have the legs attached once it in there to fit.
Wife said I have to paint the closet first ‍:facepalm

 

[madcanary]

First round of fedex and ups. (Cat not included)
Closet and stand have been painted and drying currently. Hope to have a final update of the mixing station at some point. I still have to get under the house and figure out where to get water from and an RODI drainage solution.

Happy Friday!

 

[madcanary]

final round of packages arrived from BRS today. As always superfast shipping and UPS running on Saturdays helped me window watching.
Tank shipped Friday so shouldn't be long.

Final Equipment Specs.

TANK
RedSea 425

FLOW
Varios 6
2xMP40
2xMP10 (didn't check the glass thickness so may have to switch these)

HEATERS
2x BRS Titanium 300w Heaters

CONTROLLER
Apex PRO System

DOSING
Trident with DOS for 2-part
ReefDose4 ATI+ Nutrient system and Acropower

FILTRATION
RedSea Skimmer600
ReaSea ReefMat500

LIGHTING
48" DX18 (Undecided on bulbs)
3x XR15 G4 PRO

AQUASCAPE
Marco ShelfScape 50 -
Reef Saver around 80lbs
i also have a new box of stax I may incorporate
Marco 400
BRS bulk superglue gel
Insta-Set

 

[madcanary]

As many times as I’ve told myself to get one of these I finally did. The BRS pipe is a little bit too heavy duty, however. It took off the cut angle to a smoother

Cut everything dry fitted this evening, I was hesitant to push everything tight. I’ve never had good luck pulling it apart.

For the return in the mixing barrel I used a downpipe, I’m not sure if this help I’m trying to cut down on noise and give more turbulence in the bottom of the barrel.
I’ve also considered capping the end and drilling holes to direct the water sideways. This will be a trial by testing to see which works best.

 

[madcanary]

Taken the last few days tinkering with the aqua scape and building the mixing station.

I-managed to get down to being about a 1/8 off on the plumbing with my record tho I’ll take it, one barrel sits back a little bit. I managed to dry fit everything and not suffer a bust lip resulting in a scar like last time.

I wanted to centre the upper section but for weight/support I decided to hold it close to the side. I used a small piece of PVC glued to the side of the T fitting for support. All that’s left is getting water into the closet and a power supply for the pump. I decided to use a Bluetooth remote plug or app on my phone to turn the pump on/off when filling the tank/ATO.

As far as the aqua scape. Be it my lack of confidence or artistic ability I managed to get something together, I played with it on and off. I posted in BRS forum and got some feedback. The post on scape help seems dead for feedback.
I decided that I’ll move forward. The hardest part was keeping it in the rule of 1/3’s. I’m not sure I got it but it’s the most interesting scale I’ve done. Every other tank I always have gone to the top 1/4 and made a ridge with a few swim throughs
so we will see in time. With the DX18 and 3 XR PRO’s PAR will no be an issue.

Here are my last to tanks for comparison.
the top is my SCA 150 which I did a build thread on. The lower tank is my 1st tank which was a Marineland 120

 

[Patientman]

Glad to see you giving it another go! Looks like it's going to be a great build! Please keep us posted!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Your build is looking really really good so far!!

 

[madcanary]

So today I tore out everything I’ve done and replanned. I decided to move the tank to another wall. It was behind the matching closet the old mixing station was in.
Now I have easy access to power and the fridge is only 2 walls away, Easy access to RODI supply.
I also ran a wall plate to access the tank for auto top off and water changes. While I’ve never really done them having such ease and access I may run a smaller continuous cycle.
Defiantly a welcomed change I finally got the tank closet I’ve always wanted. I don’t know why I never thought of this before.
took most of the day tank arrived yesterday and got the stand built. Definitely like the build quality.

Running power into the closet, being able to have power to run pumps etc without having to make do. I thought I was going to have to come down the attic in the other closet. This was easy as tapping into an existing outlet into the wall behind

New tank location, mounted the DX18 aquatic life wall mounts ready for tank

Newly relocated mixing

Audio/Vision wall mounting plates. These will allow access to the mixing station for RODI water changes etc. will also be able to run leak detection from the apex

Closet side of the pass through.

tomorrow I’m planning on finishing the electrical and getting the tank on the stand and leveled. This will probably result in plumbing, skimmer, roller mat and a good start on running plug and dosing lines.

 

[madcanary]

Another unplanned busy day.

Dosing lines ran into the rear closet. This was another unplanned addition. Running the dosers will hopefully make life easier. I haven’t ran dosers anywhere other than in the sump so time will tell if this works.
Power bar secured to the rear wall better access and keeps it out of the stand area.

Natural progression once you put the sump in, all of the equipment in place and started on the wiring but nowhere near to getting organized.
Need to get a dual holder for the thermometers as I totally forgot the suction cup ones are terrible, Add probe holders to that list too.

Got the DX18 mounted and the 3x Gen 4 Pros.
decided on 2Blue+ and 2 Coral T5’s.

 

[madcanary]

Me day this build thread will get some replies . Happy Christmas all!
well over the last few days I’ve argued with the DX18 fixture, the extension keeps sliding and won’t hold so the fixture keeps dropping on one side.

yesterday and this am I finally got round to using Marco 400 on the scape. Flipped it over and got the underside this am. Had a few arguments with one of the foundation rocks not wanting to hold so it’s a little thicker than I wanted to it should hold now.
Definitely the messy part, especially using dust and small stuff to help support and hide the mortar. Happy with the end result, although I’m still not sure what I’m supposed to be looking at.

some different angles, once it sets real good I’m going to get a screwdriver, maybe a dremel with a router bit and see if I can clean up some of the dropped, misplaced mortar.
did find out that a leaf blower will clean up the rocks really well from dust and rubble in all the little holes

 

[madcanary]

Filled the tank on Boxing Day, so I’m a little behind in updating this.
Filling tank directly from the RODI. Will get an alarm in about 18 hours to check it

final shipment of spontaneous shopping arrived I’m using Hannah checkers for alk and Ca and NYOS for Mg. I think I used salifert for Iodine last time I’d have to see if I have anything in my old apex logs.
while I was going to try ATI, maybe my OCD said buy everything Redsea and hate myself later lol.

Filled the tank then added a small bucket of salt and slowly mixed the water in and poured out. Yup, precipitation going on 3 days now.
To make things worse this janky ATK is stupid. I should have went with the tunze like always but no had to have everything matching.

posted in the water chemistry forum for help on the precipitation issue HERE:

 

[madcanary]

Can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve updated this. I started to cycle the tank. For this I used Dr Tim’s and added the ammonia on January 4th.

I kept everything as it should have been but well into mid February I was still sky high reading on the redsea. Sky high being the color was so dark it was crazy.

This was taken after added another bottle of Dr Tim’s towards the end of January.

I ordered a Hanna Ammonia because I was worried I was getting incorrect readings. Mid readings a week later were

I did an 40g water change and brought it down. To 1.06 and added Brightwell XLT which I’ve always used and let it go again. I went out of state and came back 4 days laters to a shiny cycled tank.

I gave the go ahead to Dr Reef and the fish were shipped.