Kirbys Reefer 450 build

[David M.]

Hey all, couldn't help myself and picked up a reefer 450. First impressions, VERY well packed. Arrived to my LFS in a box that was easily 400lbs and took 5 of us to get it in my truck.

Putting the stand together wasn't too bad, lots of small pieces but all in all it was very simple.

Got the tank out and it sat in my hallway until the stand was ready. Took 3 of us to move it out of the truck, and only 2 to put it on the stand.

And here it is on the stand. This tank is CLEAN. Best looking tank I've ever seen. Next to my current 80g.

Got the sump unpacked. As expected, incredible craftsmanship here too.

Going minimal with the rock work, pics suck but those pieces are easily 15" tall each and have lots of holes for frags. Working on a way to mount them in pvc so they can sit up right.

Things not pictured:
Coral box d700
Jebao dc 9000
Reef breeders 60w

Ill update with equipment pics later.

 

[Scubafrog]

Great start. Following.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I love the new tank! Crazy the comparison to the old!

 

[David M.]

I got a little more done today. The rock I had was very top heavy, so I had to stabilize it. Picked up some hydraulic Cement from HD and used old shelf rock to make a larger base. Overall it was a pretty easy process, I just hope it works out like I need it to.

Also got some of my wire management out of the way, pretty happy with how it looks but can't finish it until my power strip comes in and I can mount the controllers.

Also got my light in the mail, not sure if I mentioned it above but there was a stocking issue with the reef breeders 48" long so I was upgraded to the 60" wireless. Unfortunately they forgot to pack the wireless controller, but one quick call and it's on its way via 2 day mail. Great customer service all around. Shout out to Logan at reef breeders. You da man!

I still have one more rock to Cement, which will be tomorrows project. And I'll be picking up more sand and salt this weekend. Then hopefully filling it up!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Nice!

 

[David M.]

Placing the rock and cutting the plastic to go under it

Rock is going in!

We have rock and sand! Well 2/3 of it. Still gotta make that 3rd rock...

Also got some inhabitants for the new tank at the LFS. Huge purple plate, and a Snowflake eel.

I'm going to really try and motivate myself to make that rock today, cause once that's in I can pour the rest of my sand in and add water.

 

[tcarter1936]

I hate to bring this up but that plate looks like it may be dead or suffering. Maybe the pic quality but I see skeleton. Good luck and nice build

 

[David M.]

I thought so too at first, it's actually white tissue, really weird but also cool. I'll take another pic but in the few hours I've had it, it's Inflated exponentially. I think the lights were too much at the LFS.

 

[tcarter1936]

That's good to hear another good trick is to put them on a ceramic disc to keep them just slightly off the sand bed mine had a problem with being agitated from my Hermits crawling over it constantly

 

[David M.]

Finally! The last rock is curing.

And I'll be using at least 2 of these tanks in the sump for marine pure balls and refugium. They're 3g 1.5g and 5g. Which ones I use depends on what I can fit in the sump.

 

[David M.]

Return pump tubing installed, and the 1.5g and 1/2g in the sump. 1.5g will be the marine pure, and 1/2g will be chaeto.

 

[tcarter1936]

I use the marine pure blocks in my 180 and my 240 will have two in it as well. Amazing surface area, good product

 

[David M.]

We have water! Well... 20g of water. Should be full by Sunday, then I can throw salt in. And start my cycle!

 

[David M.]

I use the marine pure blocks in my 180 and my 240 will have two in it as well. Amazing surface area, good product

That's what I've been reading. Just have to convince myself to spend the money on them.

 

[NeptuneGarden]

BRS did a nice quasi-scientific test on the different rocks vs marinepure for surface area. The data speaks for itself. To be most effective definitely need to try and get flow through the marinepure block. If you can get the water flowing through the block properly one cube of marinepure media can have the same bio-active surface area as a gigantic pile of rock.

 

[tcarter1936]

That's what I've been reading. Just have to convince myself to spend the money on them.

All I had to do was look at the price of live rock lol, but my main motivation is I enjoy feature rock structure and cringe when I see piles of rock, it opens up all kinds of possibility for structure design when your not bound by the amount you must have. 4 months with marine pure and no regrets yet.

 

[David M.]

Installed the power strip, and two of the controllers. Also did some more cable management. Pretty happy with the results but may tweak it a bit. Been busy today!

 

[Branespikin]

Love that tank! Had it for a week in storage and than had to drastically downgrade to the 250. Starting a tank build thread myself. Good luck.

 

[David M.]

We have water, salt, and lights! Once I dial in the salinity I'll throw a bottle of bacteria in there and kick this thing off. And I must say, once the return is dialed in this thing is dead quiet. Also redid the cable management and added some LED strips under the stand in each compartment.

 

[Salty1962]

Very nice build. Keep us posted!