Stpatrick's Red Sea Reefer 425 xl build

[Stpatrick]

Awesome updates! Exciting to get some sticks in there - keep us posted on how they do. Your pics are great, and the scape is awesome if I didn't mention it earlier.

Should see great results from the Hydra, and the AB+ schedule is probably the best thing you coulda done. You've probably already check with the store on PAR range for their corals, but 550 seems a bit high in the middle of the tank.

Awesome. Yes. These are par monsters. I put the lights in to acclamation mode at 35% reduction. I am still getting 200 At the sand.

 

[naterealbig]

Ah, perfect. If it were me, is be shooting for 200-400, with 200 in the lower portion of the tank and 400 at the top of your rock work. Looks like you are spot on!

 

[Stpatrick]

I got the control system installed last night. I had an extra Samsung tab laying around so I incorporated into this build. I’ll be able to control lighting and pretty much all other functions from this one location.

 

[Stpatrick]

I had some extra time yesterday so I started working on the wire management in the control systems location. All the wiring will be neatly put back here. A Plexiglas panel will go directly in front. Still working on the color palette for the panel. That’s where I will mount all the other Apex control modules. I will be placing a small shelf on the lower half of the front panel. There I will place the four head dosing pump. It’s temporary until I get the Apex dose. This is not a cheap hobby LOL.

 

[Stpatrick]

I still need to pull the protective plastic off but I think it turned out very well. I may do below the shelf and down satin black above the shelf in a satin white. Thoughts?

 

[dantimdad]

Nifty! I like it!

 

[ncaldwell]

Nice little set up there, reminds me of something on mine I just did last weekend. Great minds and all that

 

[Stpatrick]

Nice little set up there, reminds me of something on mine I just did last weekend. Great minds and all that

I love the way that looks. Especially the black tubing. Good job!

 

[Stpatrick]

Nifty! I like it!

Thank You.

 

[Stpatrick]

Plexiglas installed. Magnets in place. Dosing pump in place. Now I just need to add color to the back of the panel. And maybe route my two been a little better.

 

[naterealbig]

Plexiglas installed. Magnets in place. Dosing pump in place. Now I just need to add color to the back of the panel. And maybe route my two been a little better.

Just got caught back up with the thread - things are looking pro!

Great idea with the tablet, and super cool mounting spot!. Definitely adds a unique aspect to the system and really makes it look technical. I did something similar with an old gen 2 iPad I got on eBay, except I bought a commercial anti theft kiosk and mounted out to my stand.

The work you did in the electrical equipment cabinet looks slick. The dosing setup looks on point too!. Where did you find the decorative nuts that you used to mount the acrylic sheet?

Any livestock updates? Keep up the awesome work!

 

[Stpatrick]

I Never get tired of this view.

 

[Stpatrick]

Just got caught back up with the thread - things are looking pro!

Great idea with the tablet, and super cool mounting spot!. Definitely adds a unique aspect to the system and really makes it look technical. I did something similar with an old gen 2 iPad I got on eBay, except I bought a commercial anti theft kiosk and mounted out to my stand.

The work you did in the electrical equipment cabinet looks slick. The dosing setup looks on point too!. Where did you find the decorative nuts that you used to mount the acrylic sheet?

Any livestock updates? Keep up the awesome work!

Thanks for the kind words. Appreciate it. Those aren’t decorative knots on the plexiglass. Those are magnets. And then the bracket is half inch angle aluminum from Home Depot as well. Eventually the aluminum will be painted. I think I plan on putting limo tent on the front of the Plexiglas.

Not much going on by way of corals at the moment. I still have some strange bacteria bloom going on inside the tank. The system is completely cycled. I may do a 25% water change today. I did pick up some Zoa and random SPS that’s in the tank. They’re more like guinea pigs than anything else. I do have some high-end SPS set to arrive in the next week or so.

 

[Stpatrick]

Look what showed up yesterday. Rather than a fuge I decide to go with algae reactor. There’s just not enough space anywhere to accommodate a big enough fuge. I think this reactor will do the job. It’s freaking huge. Four Chambers with a lot of capacity.

 

[naterealbig]

Thanks for the kind words. Appreciate it. Those aren’t decorative knots on the plexiglass. Those are magnets. And then the bracket is half inch angle aluminum from Home Depot as well. Eventually the aluminum will be painted. I think I plan on putting limo tent on the front of the Plexiglas.

Not much going on by way of corals at the moment. I still have some strange bacteria bloom going on inside the tank. The system is completely cycled. I may do a 25% water change today. I did pick up some Zoa and random SPS that’s in the tank. They’re more like guinea pigs than anything else. I do have some high-end SPS set to arrive in the next week or so.

I see - thank you for letting me know. Very clean install....

I have found the water changes didn't help on my system for bacterial blooms, but it would be worth a shot for sure. I was running a barebottom with minimal rockwork, so much different than your set of circumstances.


I agree with you on the "View". When the display lights are off, I will be happy to watch my equipment! Lol lol

 

[Stpatrick]

The giant algae reactor seams to be clearing up the bacteria bloom. So far so good.

 

[O'l Salty]

Had some extra time during the Christmas time off. So I decided to build a canopy for my reefer 425 XL. It actually turned out pretty nice.

I think I decided to go with two hydra 52’s for my lighting. They will be supplemented with 4 HO T5s. This will be a SPS dominate tank. Does anybody have any experience with the hydras?

That canopy looks awesome. How did you attach it to the light?

 

[Stpatrick]

So I end up tearing the tank down. I moved in to my new house. The rock structure didn’t transport so well. So I ended up starting from scratch. Almost. I like it better than it was before. Lot more organic in my opinion.

 

[Stpatrick]

I also received my new command control center

 

[Stpatrick]

Here’s how the rock scape turned out. Second time‘s a charm. I really love the way it turned out.