Red Sea Reefer 450 Build

[Lostreefin]

Here is my build I started about 90 days ago. I haven't had a tank in about 10years, but I've been in the hobby for a long time. I'm super excited and must have gained some patience because time has flown by. This is a Red Sea 450 with a COR-20, eShoppes skimmer for now, gravity fed RO ATO from a setup on the other side of the wall, and a 5' Hamilton Cebu Sun with 3-250watt 14k, and 4-T-5's. I've got some work to do on the dry side, but happy with the build so far. I love the R2R forum and have stolen lots of great ideas!

 

[Brew12]

Looks like you are off to a great start!

What are your long term plans for stocking?

 

[Lostreefin]

Looks like you are off to a great start!

What are your long term plans for stocking?

All SPS, maybe a few clams, and medium load of fish.

 

[Brew12]

All SPS, maybe a few clams, and medium load of fish.

I'm liking it. Can't wait to see what you can do with this tank!

 

[Lostreefin]

Build thread update, roughly 6 months in. Hair algae cleared up like magic. A batch of fish made it out of quarantine. A few corals finally got glued in place. It's starting to look like something!

 

[OffTopic]

Loving the build, nice yellow tang a personal favorite fish! I will be following along

 

[Lostreefin]

Update at 7 months. Hooked up a calcium reactor, and added a 3rd mp40. Several frags are encrusting and growing. Next set of fish come out of quarantine this weekend. Here are a few pics of different parts of the rockwork, equipment pics to come later.

 

[Lostreefin]

Added a calcium reactor a few weeks ago. I bought a used Bubble Magus on EBay. Took me a little while to find that pump housing was broken just enough to cause the impeller to fail. Then I found that someone glued the pvc to both sides of the pump, so I couldn't replace the Atman pump. I was about to throw it out the window. Then I got the idea to get a better pump and change the plumbing over to Standard from metric, add push connects, and even add a bubble counter. It turned out pretty good.

 

[Lostreefin]

Here is my tank photo update. I'm still waiting for the coralline to come in and am struggling to balance nutrients, feeding, and algae, but coral are growing. I'm feeding so much to keep nutrients up that I'm wondering if dosing nitrate and phosphate is better just because my fish will still graze and help me with algae like they did originally. Because now the fat suckers won't eat the stuff on my rocks.

 

[Mike.P]

Here is my build I started about 90 days ago. I haven't had a tank in about 10years, but I've been in the hobby for a long time. I'm super excited and must have gained some patience because time has flown by. This is a Red Sea 450 with a COR-20, eShoppes skimmer for now, gravity fed RO ATO from a setup on the other side of the wall, and a 5' Hamilton Cebu Sun with 3-250watt 14k, and 4-T-5's. I've got some work to do on the dry side, but happy with the build so far. I love the R2R forum and have stolen lots of great ideas!

This looks awesome! How did you adapt the RS plumbing to standard PVC? I have one of their tanks coming, and can't figure it out.

 

[Lostreefin]

This looks awesome! How did you adapt the RS plumbing to standard PVC? I have one of their tanks coming, and can't figure it out.

I just used the standard pvc fitting that was the closest and used A LOT of Teflon tape and it's held up well. I was nervous about it, but it went together ok. Be careful though RS plumbing is somewhat thin and if you used way too much you could split the fitting. There are a lot of people here on R2R that have done it all, twice, so read up. I think there may even be a metric/standard fitting now that you can get from somewhere. I have to give credit to @Broadfield , he is who I used for inspiration on my plumbing and build, check him out.

 

[Lostreefin]

I also need to show off my Clearview Lid that I got to protect my fishies. I hated the idea on my rimless, but hated the idea of finding a fish on the floor more. I'm getting ready to try a blenny and a diamond goby so I knew I would have to have one. It looks awesome, easy to clean, fits perfect, can't say enough about good things about this solution!

 

[Mhart032]

This looks awesome! How did you adapt the RS plumbing to standard PVC? I have one of their tanks coming, and can't figure it out.

This is what you need exactly. I used Monster plumbing teflon, dont need as much and it bonds well.

3/4" x 1" Sch 80 PVC Reducing Male Adapter - MPT x Socket 836-102

 

[Mhart032]

Looks great btw! im working on a 450 reefer myself. its up and running, with the manifold and all like broadfields but i made a few changes to better fit the system.

 

[Mike.P]

I just used the standard pvc fitting that was the closest and used A LOT of Teflon tape and it's held up well. I was nervous about it, but it went together ok. Be careful though RS plumbing is somewhat thin and if you used way too much you could split the fitting. There are a lot of people here on R2R that have done it all, twice, so read up. I think there may even be a metric/standard fitting now that you can get from somewhere. I have to give credit to @Broadfield , he is who I used for inspiration on my plumbing and build, check him out.

This is what you need exactly. I used Monster plumbing teflon, dont need as much and it bonds well.

3/4" x 1" Sch 80 PVC Reducing Male Adapter - MPT x Socket 836-102

Awesome, thank you both so much!

 

[Lostreefin]

Ok haven't updated in a while, here are a few photos of my dry side controls area.

 

[Blitheran]

Looks good! Lol you made your fish lazy

 

[Lostreefin]

Here are a few pics before some updates.

 

[LadyMac]

Beautiful!

 

[Lostreefin]

Update, still dealing with algae. Coraline finally is coming in pretty well, dosing nutrients was the most important thing. I have read tons of experienced reefers say to get more N and P, "just feed more", well that never worked for me, and I fed ridiculous amounts. Auto feeder feeding double amounts 4 times a day, and multiple cubes, could never get there. Dosing was key to getting nutrients in balance, don't hesitate to do it. Tank looks ok in pics, but dinos/diatoms/cyano creep in after a few days....