New Guy with a Red Sea Reefer 450 build!

[Rscott]

Well how the hell did i get here? I would have to say scuba diving. My wife and i learned to dive and fell in love with reefs and the scuba sport a few years ago. Upon returning from a scuba trip a few years ago, we stumbled into a LFS and saw our first reef tank. I was immediately interested but it just wasnt the right time. After a few years of falling asleep to YouTube videos by tidal gardens and others i decided to finally jump in.

I have made several posts on this forum about this and learned lots and got lots of interesting opinions. My original plan was $2500 and a Red Sea reefer 250. So much for that idea.............

I started poking around recently at some LFS and stumbled upon an insane deal. A former Red Sea dealer had two tanks in stock. A reefer 350 ( black) and a 450 ( white) both still in the crates never opened. Dated from 2017.

After talking to the owner, he tells me i can have either tank for the same price.
Both below retail of the 350!

I was not planning on a large ish tank because my house is not that large but i needed a white setup. The entire house is white. The black tank was not going to go well with the wife. I also know the recommend size for a beginner is a 120......

So needless to say a 450 was put into the back of my truck. The journey now begins.....

Follow along with me as i make mistakes, learn, enjoy, cry and hopefully at the end of it all, have my own little piece of the ocean.

 

[Rscott]

Getting this beast out of the truck was a task!!!

I took the crate part today and took it out piece by piece. My wife and i could not lift the tank alone out of the truck. Fortunately, i had a workbench on wheels that was the exact height of my truck. We managed to slide it on the work bench with a blanket under it just to get it out of the truck. A few friends came by the next morning to help me get it in the house.

The night before with excitement, i cleaned up the house and prepared to build the stand. The stand is dang near as heavy as the tank.

 

[Rscott]

Getting the tank mounted this morning was a trick. A few friends came by to help me lift it. We finally got it into place.
I was concerned about leveling. I read a post by someone who says his tank cracked because it was not leave.

Mine was about .2 degrees out of level with no shimming. Several people have said that is fine and not to worry.

Thoughts.......

 

[Rscott]

Next purchases and plans

While i picked up the tank. I also pulled the trigger on a Vectra M1, 80 pounds of Carib sea special grade sand and giant bag of Red Sea salt.

My next immediate purchase will be to pick out some rock as well as build a mixing stations.
I also plan to reinforce the floor.

As of right now i am planning a mostly dominant SPS tank with a few LPS. I do love BTA’s like most so i may try one or too.
I plan to go slow and be patient. I have lots to learn in regards to water chemistry.

 

[Rscott]

Added my first fish today!

Yes i seriously spent $5 on fish sticks just for this picture

 

[Butuz]

Awesome, good luck!

 

[Rscott]

Time to rock and roll.

After much debate over the expense.
I decided on life rock from Carib sea.

Mostly for the following reasons

• I have little to no artistic ability and the shapes are easy to work with
• I am hoping the purple color helps me with algae growth and the ugly stage
• I liked the look of it

Cons—- EXPENSIVE!

My LFS carried it at twice the price of BRS. I bought 25 pounds from the LFS to be a nice guy and support local business.
The shapes are AWESOME. I feel like even i will be able to have a nice aquascape.

I took advantage of the BRS may sale and ordered 60 more pounds and 20 pounds of shapes.

Also picked up a 5 stage BRS RODI, test kits, the Reef mature pro kit for cycling and 4 Eheim heaters.
2 heaters are 300 watts for mixing station. Then i bought 2 250 watt versions for the tank.

 

[Rscott]

I was on the fence with this but i pulled the trigger on an Apex Today.
A gentlemen on the forum here on reef2reef was selling a new unopened one he bought for a project.
I got a nice deal on it, sooooooo we now enter the apex phase!

My BRS order arrives tomorrow and the apex next week.

Still unsure on lights and skimmer.

Right now i love love love the Kessil A360X. I know radion is the the favorite but i love the low profile sleek look of the kessil and love the shimmer

Maybe 3 of them for my tank. OUCH!!!! $1600! (Lights controller and brackets)

So much for that $2500 budget.

As recommended by many, i am taking my time, i will not buy lights just yet, holding out until the tank has cycled and is ready. Probably 4 -6 weeks away from lights

What say you R2R community?
Do i need the skimmer for cycling? I heard now because we dont want to remove nutrients from the water?

Thinking about a reef octo classic 150...... Any ideas?

 

[Rscott]

Building a manifold

Deciding to do a hard plumbed manifold before adding water. Probably easier i assume.
Can anyone recommend a diameter for the main manifold?
1/2 3/4? I would like to order some sears valves and plumbing while its on sale. Will probably order some nice colored stuff.
Will have lots of pics this weekend from aquascaping I’m sure.

Thanks for the comments

 

[Dub_G]

Welcome to Reef2Reef and to your new addiction. This is a great place with a lot of people that care about fellow readers and want to help. If you have questions reach out to the community.

Sounds like you got a great deal on the tank and I'm looking forward to your build. As you've said - take it slow and enjoy your little slice of the ocean.

 

[Rscott]

Welcome to Reef2Reef and to your new addiction. This is a great place with a lot of people that care about fellow readers and want to help. If you have questions reach out to the community.

Sounds like you got a great deal on the tank and I'm looking forward to your build. As you've said - take it slow and enjoy your little slice of the ocean.

Thanks for saying hi and reading my new adventure!

 

[Rscott]

Just a teaser pic from the UPS guy today!
Will
Post a full follow up later

 

[Rscott]

Tank update

Lots going on this weekend. The lovely UPS go brought me several packages from BRS.

4 Eheim heaters showed up
I purchased two 250 watt versions one as a backup for the sump

I also purchased 2 300 watt versions for the mixing station down stairs. I was hoping the larger ones will help with the warming time for mixing salt water. They were a good deal.

I wanted the cobalt heaters but they dont make one big enough and at literally 4 times the cost it did not make sense.

I am unsure if i will let the heaters control them selves or if i will allow the apex to run them. Time will tell!

 

[Rscott]

RODI system

I purchased a 5 stage BRS RODI system that will go in the basement at the mixing station.
I decided on the pro version with the pressure gauge and the TDS meter. I got a good deal on it during the may sale so i figured why not.

 

[Rscott]

Rock work.......

I started to plan some rock work today. I have a total of 85 pounds of life rock from Carib sea.

I purchased some locally to help out my LFS but was hard to justify the expense. I purchased another bunch from BRS.

I have 45 pounds of what Carib sea calls “shapes” and 40 pounds of foundation rock.
I am trying to not create a cluttered aquascape and want lots of open space

I have been struggling with what to use to glue the rock together.

I have heard many things and heard others are no good.
Some people say Gorilla Glue or Super Glue Gel is fine. Others say it killed there whole tank.
I purchased 5 tubes of “coralCrete” epoxy putty but have not been happy with it and its very expensive. I am not going to spend $200 in glue for crying out loud.

I am contemplating using silicon. I have seen a video of a guy on you tube using it. After all, its what holds my tank together so why cant i use it with rock. The GE silicon says right on it, aquarium safe so why not?

Here are some preliminary pics. I keep going back and forth but the very last picture is a setup I’m leaning towards. I want one feature to the left of the tank and one to the right with an open middle tank.

Time will tell how this goes.

 

[LittleMaui]

Looking good! The only recommendation I would have, and wish I had done, is to keep the rockwork lower in the tank. If you plan SPS corals, they will grow high in the tank. If your rockwork is high, you will not have the benefit of seeing the tops of your corals. Attached is a picture of my Reefer 450 at 3 years old.

 

[Rscott]

Looking good! The only recommendation I would have, and wish I had done, is to keep the rockwork lower in the tank. If you plan SPS corals, they will grow high in the tank. If your rockwork is high, you will not have the benefit of seeing the tops of your corals. Attached is a picture of my Reefer 450 at 3 years old.

Thank you for the comment!
Do you know approximately how many inches from the top of the rock work to the tank you left?
I was trying to build something a little taller but i am wanting SPS and was thinking about exactly what you have mentioned

Any recommendations on height I appreciate.
Also, can i get a picture of your sump? Very curious on your setup!

 

[Westside Guy]

I also plan to reinforce the floor.

The weight of the water alone in the DT, sump and reservoir is 998 pounds and when you add the weight of this tank and the cabinet that is an absolute must!

Also is the air vent on the floor to the left of the cabinet an exhaust or a return? If it is an exhaust you will need to watch out for temperature changes in the tank.

 

[ruth howard]

Your tank is looking good! The only suggestion I have is to pull it away from the wall about 4 to 5 inches. You, at some point will need to get behind it. Trust me. Have fun!

 

[Rscott]

The weight of the water alone in the DT, sump and reservoir is 998 pounds and when you add the weight of this tank and the cabinet that is an absolute must!

Also is the air vent on the floor to the left of the cabinet an exhaust or a return? If it is an exhaust you will need to watch out for temperature changes in the tank.

It is a return vent


I am surprised this is not a more debated topic.
So many people have big tanks here on a second floor and never discuss this.
Now i am not to concerned given the fact that we live in a brand new house.
Also the main steel beam the holds the entire house up is 6 inches from where the tank is and rungs across the back of the tank.
The wall that the tank is up against is mounted on top of the steel beam that runs the span of the house. Of course that beam is also supported by Steel posts into the foundation.

What have others done in regards to floor supports