JGarza's Red Sea Reefer 250 Build

jgarza · Oct 29, 2015

Hello all!
I've always been a long time lurker and never posted much. I've always love looking through build logs but I have never posted one myself. I tore down my 300G back in August and told myself I was going to get out for a while but then I came across the Red Sea Reefer series and I had to have one! So here I am starting from scratch again but this time you guys will get to see the whole process. Ordered the tank through my lfs and they said it should be in Friday or Monday! This tank is going to be mixed reef, with more focus towards SPS. I'm lucky I got my girlfriend to love this hobby too so thats where the LPS will come from! This tank is going to be in the bedroom so I want it to be as quiet as possible!

Equipment List
Red Sea Reefer 250
Vectra M1 Return Pump
MP10WQD x2
Nyos Quantum 120 Skimmer
ATI 36" 6x39w Dimmable Sunpower
36" Reef Brite XHO Blue
Neptune Apex Controller
Neptune DOS or Vertex Libra (haven't decided)

While waiting for the tank some goodies already came in!

Thanks for Looking!

steelheader.262 · Oct 29, 2015

Good luck!!!

jgarza · Oct 29, 2015

Thank you!! I mainly wanted to start a build thread so I can keep a record of everything and progression pictures.

jgarza · Oct 29, 2015

Decided to hang the light tonight! Will post pictures later.

Broadfield · Oct 30, 2015

Just letting you know that I started a Reefer specific thread if you want to join in, show off your setup, give advice and ask questions there. Once we get some traffic on that thread, it should blow up with good info and be a great place to gather ideas etc.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/show-off-and-discuss-your-red-sea-reefer-series.219309/

jgarza · Oct 30, 2015

Awesome! I'll also post there and follow along for great ideas. Thanks!

jgarza · Oct 31, 2015

Got the light up on the ceiling tonight! Also attached the Reefbrites to it also!

Hopefully Brett and Wayde will approve of the tank build!

sromero287 · Oct 31, 2015

jgarza said:
Hello all!
I've always been a long time lurker and never posted much. I've always love looking through build logs but I have never posted one myself. I tore down my 300G back in August and told myself I was going to get out for a while but then I came across the Red Sea Reefer series and I had to have one! So here I am starting from scratch again but this time you guys will get to see the whole process. Ordered the tank through my lfs and they said it should be in Friday or Monday! This tank is going to be mixed reef, with more focus towards SPS. I'm lucky I got my girlfriend to love this hobby too so thats where the LPS will come from! This tank is going to be in the bedroom so I want it to be as quiet as possible!

Equipment List
Red Sea Reefer 250
Vectra M1 Return Pump
MP10WQD x2
Nyos Quantum 120 Skimmer
ATI 36" 6x39w Dimmable Sunpower
36" Reef Brite XHO Blue
Neptune Apex Controller
Neptune DOS or Vertex Libra (haven't decided)

While waiting for the tank some goodies already came in!

Thanks for Looking!

Welcome and congratulations on your beautiful tank in reference to the questions about the Neptune DOS or Vertex Libra, I experienced both, still with my Vertex libra, don't get me wrong Apex stuff is high end and excellent but my opinion is just simple: how many are the reef foundation elements? Three right? With the DOS it's ur decision which one will be manually, wait i heard right??? "Manually" hell nooo. My vertex doser its medical precise stepper pumps and keep my parameters perfectly balanced and stable, good luck and following ur thread!!!!!

jgarza · Oct 31, 2015

sromero287 said:
Welcome and congratulations on your beautiful tank in reference to the questions about the Neptune DOS or Vertex Libra, I experienced both, still with my Vertex libra, don't get me wrong Apex stuff is high end and excellent but my opinion is just simple: how many are the reef foundation elements? Three right? With the DOS it's ur decision which one will be manually, wait i heard right??? "Manually" hell nooo. My vertex doser its medical precise stepper pumps and keep my parameters perfectly balanced and stable, good luck and following ur thread!!!!!

Thanks for the reply! I was leaning more towards the Vertex Libra and it'll probably be the one I'll end up getting. I have a while until I'll need it haha

gettaReef · Nov 6, 2015

Love a lot of your equipment choices but especially your choice of lighting, that's exactly what I would like to do (ATI T5 w reefbrites, except a 48" ATI and reefbrites on each side). Looking forward to seeing this come together!

Napa Reefer · Nov 23, 2015

jgarza said:
Hello all!
I've always been a long time lurker and never posted much. I've always love looking through build logs but I have never posted one myself. I tore down my 300G back in August and told myself I was going to get out for a while but then I came across the Red Sea Reefer series and I had to have one! So here I am starting from scratch again but this time you guys will get to see the whole process. Ordered the tank through my lfs and they said it should be in Friday or Monday! This tank is going to be mixed reef, with more focus towards SPS. I'm lucky I got my girlfriend to love this hobby too so thats where the LPS will come from! This tank is going to be in the bedroom so I want it to be as quiet as possible!

Equipment List
Red Sea Reefer 250
Vectra M1 Return Pump
MP10WQD x2
Nyos Quantum 120 Skimmer
ATI 36" 6x39w Dimmable Sunpower
36" Reef Brite XHO Blue
Neptune Apex Controller
Neptune DOS or Vertex Libra (haven't decided)

While waiting for the tank some goodies already came in!

Thanks for Looking!

How are the mp10s working out?

jgarza · Nov 23, 2015

Napa Reefer said:
How are the mp10s working out?

I haven't set them up on the tank just yet! I finally got my tank in last week and it hasn't seen water. Should have it up and running by this weekend.

Napa Reefer · Nov 23, 2015

jgarza said:
I haven't set them up on the tank just yet! I finally got my tank in last week and it hasn't seen water. Should have it up and running by this weekend.

Read that for the mp10s the max tank thickness is 9.5mm and the reefer 250 is 12mm thick...that's why I ask. I want to purchase two...

Sabellafella · Nov 23, 2015

Broadfield said:
Just letting you know that I started a Reefer specific thread if you want to join in, show off your setup, give advice and ask questions there. Once we get some traffic on that thread, it should blow up with good info and be a great place to gather ideas etc.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/show-off-and-discuss-your-red-sea-reefer-series.219309/

[HASHTAG]#jgarza[/HASHTAG] bring it over here lol

jgarza · Nov 23, 2015

Napa Reefer said:
Read that for the mp10s the max tank thickness is 9.5mm and the reefer 250 is 12mm thick...that's why I ask. I want to purchase two...

Well I've put them on the tank without water and they seem pretty solid. I kinda pushed against them to see if they would fall off easy and it stayed put!

jgarza · Nov 23, 2015

Sabellafella said:
[HASHTAG]#jgarza[/HASHTAG] bring it over here lol

My tank isn't quite there yet to show off lol

DunkCityReefer · Nov 23, 2015

I was going to ask how the build was going now I'm excited! I had the exact same light setup over my last tank and loved the colors and growth i got. Can't wait to see how this comes along!

Sabellafella · Nov 23, 2015

jgarza said:
Well I've put them on the tank without water and they seem pretty solid. I kinda pushed against them to see if they would fall off easy and it stayed put!

There fine on it i set up 2 tanks with 5/8 nd they sat perfectly

Sabellafella · Nov 23, 2015

jgarza said:
My tank isn't quite there yet to show off lol

Haha its fine when you do tho post pics of your equipment nd setup when you could so we can have a reference plus ur going to b so happy adding thay reefbrite , they have one of the best actinic blue led out there

jgarza · Nov 23, 2015

DunkCityReefer said:
I was going to ask how the build was going now I'm excited! I had the exact same light setup over my last tank and loved the colors and growth i got. Can't wait to see how this comes along!

I meant to message you back haha I can't contain my excitement for this tank and the sick sticks it's going to have

Sabellafella said:
Haha its fine when you do tho post pics of your equipment nd setup when you could so we can have a reference plus ur going to b so happy adding thay reefbrite , they have one of the best actinic blue led out there

I'll try and get some pictures up later this week! The reefbrite is pretty awesome. I think I might pull the trigger on the dimmer!