Indo Red Sea Reefer 525 XL build

huangeffendi · Aug 21, 2019

Hi guys,

Just sign up with R2R after my 525 arrived this week.

I've been lurking in the past months to get information from the forum and really help me on start my reefing journey. It all started after I have a stunning view during my snorkelling at Komodo Island during summer break.

I will post a progress on my tank here for documentation. Cheers from tropical Indo.

525 XL White with Version 3 sumps

My friend kind enough helping me sort and cement the dead rocks

It will need some adjustment to fit the tank tomorrow

soak for 2-3 days reduce the cement recidue

Last but not least, the komodo island that inspired me to start reefing
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Padar Island

Pink Beach

I saw 3 Manta Ray in one of the snorkeling spot, but didn't bring my Phone due to heavy current..

ps : I broke my Huawei Mate 20 Pro after 30 mins snorkelling

Blitheran · Aug 21, 2019

Welcome to reef 2 reef!!

NY_Caveman · Aug 21, 2019

Wow, really nice! Love the aquascape and love those snorkeling pics too. Welcome to R2R!

Hemmdog · Aug 21, 2019

Sweet build and pics! Welcome to r2r!

huangeffendi · Aug 22, 2019

So the LFS come this evening brought some other stuff and troops to assemble the tank.

at the same time, my wife managed to get the RO/DI for the tank

so while assembling the tank, impromptu decision was made, we decided to fill the tank TODAY! @@.. I haven't done a final piece of my scaping, glad I can join the last piece using epoxy.

V3 Sums is nice, I thought I have to minimize the refugerium area - it fits the red sea skimmer (i use RSK 600)

Carribsea Special Grade & Indo Pacific Sand

And this is the result of the last minute scaping.. notice how its different from the original design

got the ReefLED 90 installed too

I cropped the image, because the left side of this tank is total chaos.. wiring will be pita for several weeks ahead

Tomorrow we will start the cycling with Mature Kit..

huangeffendi · Aug 22, 2019

and thank you guys for the warm welcome

mta_morrow · Aug 22, 2019

Hello and welcome to R2R!

Looks great!

I love my Red Sea Reefer 525!

huangeffendi · Aug 23, 2019

Cycling start today, little modification on the head of stark (left part) to support it from falling down..

Peach02 · Sep 8, 2019

Hows the cycle going?

Will Wohlers · Sep 8, 2019

Scaping is sexy. I've learned good creativity can come from just winging it. Planning sometimes leads to over thinking and i think it couldn't have turned out classier.

huangeffendi · Sep 9, 2019

Hi Guys, thanks for catching up... fast forward 3 weeks. I'm using Red Sea Mature Starter Kit for the cycling, so far so good.

I spent the first week of cycling find the right spot for the valve.

After 1 week, diatom is coming.

I start the skimmer on to start the break in.. and put some spare die rocks in the sump, But after 2 week I decided to put it away as its quite dangerous hitting the sump bottom in certain ocassion.

huangeffendi · Sep 9, 2019

I use maxspect nano bio block for housing the bacteria near the skimmer. Since I want to leave the sump stable once the cycle finish later, I decided to put additional media (Seachem Matrix) in my filter cup. I saw some video on youtube, put the filter woll on top of it so it helps with maintenance.

In addition, initially I was using Crystal Bio for sump area, a well known Japanese in Koi hobbyist.

I took it out after a day, since it keeps floating even though I try to hold it using the dry rock. Even more danger, the dry rocks falling off. I later took out the big chunk of the dry rocks too

I bought additional Matrix for the bacteria housing, and utilize the empty area under the filter socks and another bag of 2 litre near the skimmer.

Next Thursday is the official 21 days of the cycling program. For confession, i've put small corals and some fishes in the tank. Coral has been a week now, and I have 1 wrasse with 2 clown fish. I know.. better safe than sorry, but I'm just a human after all.. So far they are doing great