Sam’s Waterbox Reef Pro 180.5

Saminpa · Dec 21, 2020

Here is the start of my Waterbox Reef Pro 180.5 journey!!!!!!

Saminpa · Dec 21, 2020

November 24th it arrived

Saminpa · Dec 21, 2020

Stand built and lifted in place. 4 suction cup lifters, me and a friend on each end. Talk about an adrenaline rush to be able to get the 414lb monster lifted up!!

Saminpa · Dec 21, 2020

Working out the scape. I numbered the rocks so I could reference the pictures and numbers to replicate it in the tank.

Saminpa · Dec 21, 2020

Rock in the tank. Mortared together with emarco cement. 120lbs of CaribSea Life Rock. Yes that’s under the old 1-1 thought process. Missing lbs of rock made up with 2 marine pure 8x8x4 blocks in the sump.

Saminpa · Dec 21, 2020

Water in the tank and lights on. 3 Radion G5 Pro’s. Tank is turned on & cycling as of 12-10-2020. Pic with the tree is the view from my man chair

Jminasalli · Dec 21, 2020

Interested to see how this progresses I started my cycle on my wb180.5 last Friday 12/18. So similar timing. Did you use the stock plumbing and what are you planning for control panel?

Saminpa · Dec 21, 2020

Build Equipment List:
3 Radion G5 Pro
2 Red Sea Reefwave45 Gyre
Red Sea RSK600 Protein Skimmer
Sicce Syncra ADV Advanced 7.0 Return Pump
JBJ Auto Top Off
Tunze 8831 Refugium Light

Saminpa · Dec 21, 2020

Jminasalli said:
Interested to see how this progresses I started my cycle on my wb180.5 last Friday 12/18. So similar timing. Did you use the stock plumbing and what are you planning for control panel?

Yes I lm keeping things simple for now so I used the stock plumbing. I’m up in the air as far as a control panel. Still deciding what approach I’d like to take.

Jminasalli · Dec 21, 2020

Saminpa said:
Yes I lm keeping things simple for now so I used the stock plumbing. I’m up in the air as far as a control panel. Still deciding what approach I’d like to take.

This is mine I am waiting on my second eb832. I made it out of 1/2” marine board.

Saminpa · Dec 21, 2020

Jminasalli said:
This is mine I am waiting on my second eb832. I made it out of 1/2” marine board.

Looks great man

Pat Clyne · Jan 5, 2021

I just received my 180.5. I am having problems with the cabinet installation with a panel "N" cross member. Looks like I received the incorrect hardware.

Saminpa · Jan 6, 2021

Pat Clyne said:
I just received my 180.5. I am having problems with the cabinet installation with a panel "N" cross member. Looks like I received the incorrect hardware.

If I’m correct that’s the small piece that is the last step right? We all had that same problem because the instructions are incorect. It should have been in the instructions to put the piece in before the last side panel. I had to take things back apart along with everyone else unfortunately.

Trey · Feb 3, 2021

I love your rock work it looks awesome

ShepherdReefer · Feb 3, 2021

Looks great...following.

Saminpa · Feb 6, 2021

Trey said:
I love your rock work it looks awesome

Thank you

thewedge · Feb 28, 2021

Tank is looking great. Would love to hear any updates. May I ask where your ato reservoir is? From what I've been able to tell, there's an external reservoir included that is meant to go in the left side of the cabinet. But it seems you were able to use that for your controller, which I would like to do as well. Haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I'm in the planning stage.

Saminpa · Feb 28, 2021

thewedge said:
Tank is looking great. Would love to hear any updates. May I ask where your ato reservoir is? From what I've been able to tell, there's an external reservoir included that is meant to go in the left side of the cabinet. But it seems you were able to use that for your controller, which I would like to do as well. Haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I'm in the planning stage.

When I purchased mine it was the “reef pro 180.5”. The ato reservoir is actually one of the sump chambers. The new 180.5 models now have the separated ato reservoir

Trey · Feb 28, 2021

Saminpa said:
When I purchased mine it was the “reef pro 180.5”. The ato reservoir is actually one of the sump chambers. The new 180.5 models now have the separated ato reservoir

I repurposed my “ato” to add additional water volume. Just ran a line from the manifold for a low flow area that could be used as a fuge, frag area, or anything else I suppose.

thewedge · Jul 16, 2021

Thanks for your replies. I finally placed my order last weekend! Working on my equipment order. And a 2nd mortgage . Would love to see updates on your builds