MARINECRITTERS Redsea Reefer 350 [Archive] - Reef Central Online Community

MARINECRITTERS

08/23/2015, 08:05 PM

This is a build thread for my new Redsea Reefer 350.
The plan is to have it SPS dominated with a few eye catching LPS and softies. It will be a relatively low nutrient system as I am carbon dosing with bio pellets; the tank will be fed adequately.

Here we go :)

MARINECRITTERS

08/23/2015, 08:08 PM

I started the tank with dry fiji reef rock; I chose this rock due to its aesthetic yet natural appearance.
The aquascape is somewhat minimalistic and very open.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6201_zpsyl3wklfm.jpg

The tank is lit with two Radion XR30w pros (G3's). I used their RMS kit to mount them.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6202_zps0l66lij9.jpg

The flow is provided by a Vortech MP40 quiet drive and a tune silence 1073.050
I am still debating on whether or not I need another Vortech
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6203_zpsimkxbkyd.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

08/23/2015, 08:16 PM

I have everything (except my lights) hooked up to a neptune apex. Still some minor cable management to do.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6204_zpsmucelmdo.jpg

I am running a vertex omega 130 protein skimmer; I had to make an acrylic stand to raise it up a few inches though, the sumps on these tanks are surprisingly deep. The bio pellet reactor is made by reef dynamics; it is directly plumbed into the intake of my skimmer.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6205_zpsxsrz2n8y.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0004_zpsrmmkgz8f.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

08/23/2015, 08:23 PM

I will be dosing three part as soon as I start adding corals. I have three 1.1 ml/min peristaltic dosing pumps that I will configure with the apex.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6211_zps9ksew8eh.jpg

PsymonStark

08/24/2015, 09:02 AM

Nice! Following.

undbulsu

08/24/2015, 09:07 AM

I have a reefer 450 and a vertex omega 150 and need a similar stand for the skimmer. Did you make that yourself?

CaminDFW2

08/24/2015, 09:14 AM

Good build so far.. I have a 250 - I'm using 2 MP10's, Two AI Primes and 1 Kessil 160we.

CafeReef

08/24/2015, 11:12 AM

this is how I would get divorced. my wife would murder me if I had this setup...but damn'd if I don't want it!

I'll probably end up with a CAD Lights setup. risky, but might be more doable when it comes time to upgrade. Love your build, Ill be watching.

BigJohnny

08/24/2015, 11:16 AM

Looks great man, can't wait to see her up n running. I had a vertex 150, best skimmer ever, good choice.

What dosing pumps are these?

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/24/76df4cd6f4add1f355803570391326af.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

08/24/2015, 02:20 PM

I have a reefer 450 and a vertex omega 150 and need a similar stand for the skimmer. Did you make that yourself?

I made the acrylic stand myself; it's a lot nicer looking then egg crate and PVC :)

MARINECRITTERS

08/24/2015, 02:22 PM

They are identical to the BRS peristaltic dosing pumps except blue. They are only sold by my LFS as far as i'm aware.

MARINECRITTERS

08/24/2015, 02:28 PM

Little update.
The tank has been cycling for almost 3 weeks now (the dry rock was curing/cycling in a brute container for an extra 4 weeks) and I believe the cycle is near completion.
I have been feeding one silver side each week to kickstart biological processes and now the ammonia and nitrate is at 0.
I have also been using Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6219_zpsydshhkjy.jpg

stevenc1187

08/24/2015, 02:34 PM

Nice

nuxx

08/24/2015, 02:38 PM

Nice and clean, looks good :)

omegasoldier123

08/24/2015, 03:00 PM

Very nice setup! I have the same setup with same skimmer. I love the skimmer, but man was it hard to get broken in! I am trying to do a build thread as well but for some reason the forum errors out when I try to add pictures... any ideas? Beautiful setup by the way!

MARINECRITTERS

09/04/2015, 04:40 PM

Update!
Managed to pick up a couple nice pieces and some starter fish.

This green carpet anemone was worth the risk in my opinion; the majority of the fish I plan on adding are quite active so they should be safe.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6255_zpsntep6ubs.jpg

I also picked up some species of gorgonian/sea fan. I know its NPS and I will be reading 2-3 times a week.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6253_zpscfiujqh9.jpg

Also bought a pair of grade A picasso clowns
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6237_zps2uszgflx.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

09/04/2015, 04:43 PM

I'm experimenting with zeovits new line of automatic tabs; ill swap out these amino acid tabs every 3-4 months
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6262_zpsm5zzxodw.jpg

I might end up using this tune 6020 behind the rock work if necessary.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6264_zps0bguw6zc.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

09/04/2015, 04:44 PM

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6244_zps1pfudln6.jpg

Mark9

09/04/2015, 05:04 PM

Looking great, love the nem.

MARINECRITTERS

09/11/2015, 10:24 PM

Lots of coral frags arrived today!
Current tank chemistry: Alk-7.36DKH, Ca-420PPM, Mg-1350PPM
I am keeping my alkalinity low to prevent stn/rtn while running bio pellets

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6267_zps1mloppgm.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

09/11/2015, 10:25 PM

Bonsai
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6269_zpss17uuzk9.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

09/11/2015, 10:25 PM

Cali tort
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6270_zpsou1ggz8n.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

09/11/2015, 10:26 PM

Red Dragon
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6271_zpscte5hfdw.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

09/11/2015, 10:27 PM

RR Red Diablo
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6272_zpsiuxan0iz.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

09/11/2015, 10:28 PM

ORA SSC
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6277_zpsap4oon3c.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

09/11/2015, 10:29 PM

Red Planet
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6278_zpsuzvchynz.jpg

nuxx

09/14/2015, 11:28 AM

Red Planet

Nice haul :)

MARINECRITTERS

11/01/2015, 05:39 PM

Update:
A lot has happened, not sure were to begin...
First off, the green carpet anemone decided to turn rogue (most of them do), it ironically ate both of my clowns and surely would eat anything else i put in the tank. It had to go.
So after massaging the anemone's foot for a good hour or two, it finally let go. I gave the anemone away for free to a local reefer with a bigger tank.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6290_zpsarwlklqu.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

11/01/2015, 05:41 PM

I have gone ahead and added a golden dwarf moray. He is a very model citizen and eats like a pig.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6294_zps715choxs.jpg

Also added a naoko wrasse to the tank.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6384_zpsuzsqw8mw.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

11/01/2015, 05:43 PM

A small school of red spot cardinals is arriving tomorrow. Anyone have any experience with them?

PsymonStark

11/01/2015, 07:00 PM

seamonster124

11/01/2015, 07:07 PM

That's terrible news! How very sad. That's nature for you!

Yes, nature....put a nem in a brand new tank and it doesn't like it. How weird is nature.....

Spartanman22

11/01/2015, 07:11 PM

Nice pickup with the Golden Dwarf Moray. It's an amazing fish! Great personality and wonderful for reefs. Mine never bothered anything and I had some small fish and inverts. Unfortunately I found mine dried up under the couch this morning...make sure you have a tight fitting lid/screen. My tank was covered with a screen lid and he still squeezed his way out

MARINECRITTERS

12/06/2015, 06:41 PM

Update!
Added a Yellow Tang, Melanarus Wrasse, and a Picasso Clown. The Naoko and Melanarus were not getting along so I decided to get rid of the Naoko. The Melanarus actually serves a purpose, he decimated all the red flatworms in my tank.
The Red Spot Cardinals did not fair very well and I lost all four within a month... definitely not going to try those again.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6435_zpsdmcddksy.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6450_zpsnw0zvk6p.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6440_zps2r3vlt1e.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6427_zpssrapxych.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6439_zpsspnoxd96.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6443_zpsbaivp2fb.jpg

Added a Tiger Shark to the tank as well :)
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_6463_zpsmdegheny.jpg

PsymonStark

12/07/2015, 03:08 AM

Do you ever think, hmmm, the 450 would have maybe been better? Like second thoughts about the 350. Could you show us pics of your sump setup?

PsymonStark

12/07/2015, 03:10 AM

Do you have just the single mp40 on there? How does it perform in the 350? What do you have it set to?

MARINECRITTERS

01/02/2016, 01:34 PM

Do you have just the single mp40 on there? How does it perform in the 350? What do you have it set to?

Just one mp40; I have it on reefcrest mode at about 80%.

MARINECRITTERS

01/02/2016, 01:40 PM

Update!
Purchased two female lyretail anthias, a Carberry Anthias, and an ORA whitespotted filefish.
I also picked up a new acropora sp. (acropora plana?)

http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/rhysjenson30/IMG_6677_zpsl6g6cb1e.jpg

http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/rhysjenson30/IMG_6694_zpsdo4pxapk.jpg

http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/rhysjenson30/IMG_6698_zps6kp4kyuh.jpg

http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/rhysjenson30/IMG_6710_zpsg2fd9ap3.jpg

Vertex Omega 130 is doing a great job so far.
http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/rhysjenson30/IMG_6711_zpsaexoyp9r.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

01/02/2016, 01:48 PM

So far the tank has been doing great. I have only experienced a few coral deaths - all of which I know the cause of.
The tank's parameters have been very stable: alkalinity hovering around 7.4-7.6 DKH, calcium around 420 PPM, and magnesium around 1300 PPM

My plan is to start adding zoanthids to the tank. I don't have much more room for sps (anticipating growth) and I would like to cover the lower light areas with zoas. So far I have some tyree armageddons but they have proven to be extremely slow growing. I purchased one polyp about 3 months ago and only one new polyp has grown.

http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/rhysjenson30/IMG_6705_zpsqgzvh9yg.jpg

ScubaNemo

01/02/2016, 06:09 PM

Sorry about the clowns. I started setting up a reefer 350 myself so I will follow this post

oseymour

01/02/2016, 07:05 PM

MARINECRITTERS

01/03/2016, 12:24 AM

How is the Vertex Omega 130 working on your Reefer 350? Did you wish you went with the 150?

I am waiting on my Reefer 350 to arrive - I am running the Omega 130 on my current 50 gallon tank. I would love the extra sump space for a recirculating biopellet reactor.

And how much did you have to raise the skimmer? Instead of an acrylic stand I was thinking of using the 1 inch thick marinepure block.

I would say go as big as possible with the skimmer. I would have used the 150 if the 130 was not on sale :)

I lifted the skimmer 1.5" but it still took a week or so for it to 'break in'

MARINECRITTERS

02/20/2016, 11:18 PM

Update picture. I added a second MP40
http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/rhysjenson30/IMG_6731_zpswy3v406x.jpg

oseymour

02/21/2016, 06:51 AM

Update picture. I added a second MP40
http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/rhysjenson30/IMG_6731_zpswy3v406x.jpg

Nice! What levels are you running them on?

MARINECRITTERS

02/21/2016, 12:58 PM

Antisync Reefcrest at about 70%

MARINECRITTERS

02/21/2016, 01:02 PM

If anyone is wondering what setting I run my LED's, here you go http://ecotechmarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Ecotech_CoralLab_WP1.pdf
I am using the SPS AB+ at 80% with an extended moonlight period. The graph is meant to mimic T-5 lighting, specifically, ATI bulbs.

MARINECRITTERS

02/21/2016, 01:05 PM

http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/rhysjenson30/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-21%20at%2011.03.53%20AM_zpszt7rdl1w.png

MARINECRITTERS

02/16/2017, 04:04 PM

Update: The tank is quickly approaching 2 years now and I want to share what's going on!
I have not seen any casualties in close to one year and all the corals are thriving. The most major setback I have faced is an infestation of acropora eating flatworms… It really sucked as I lost some of my most prized pieces: RR red diablo, a huge colony of acropora speciosa, a large colony of acropora turaki, a colony of garf bonsai, and a few other rare pieces.

After consistently dipping all of my surviving colonies, this is what my tank looks like roughly 1 year after the infestation
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_9373_zpseu8ta3a8.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

02/16/2017, 04:05 PM

One of my favourite pieces, favia sp.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_9363_zps02xfhrmu.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_9370_zpsen1r1yzh.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_9365_zpsnghieqxr.jpg

RR Strawberry Shortcake, an extremely slow-growing coral in my experience.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_9367_zpssxm7sisr.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_9368_zpsvsk2tswe.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_9371_zpsjej9wct8.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_9374_zpsgg24bimf.jpg

Lastly, I have moved to a more simple filtration approach. I have found that simplicity is key to a stable reef tank and to achieve this I have removed a lot of the 'bulk' that used to be in my sump. Right now I am only running a skimmer, gfo reactor, and a couple marinepure blocks in the baffles of my sump.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_9377_zpsl72qfnls.jpg

MARINECRITTERS

03/04/2018, 08:17 PM

Update!
The tank has been up for almost three years now; I figured some new photos were due.
No new inhabitants have been added to the tank in the last year or so… I chose to let the few corals I have grow into a reef rather than stuffing a bunch of tiny frags together.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0264_zpsorrk7qt4.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0266_zpsmjlez7in.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0267_zpszechlxfa.jpg

Huge piece of war coral has grown in nicely
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0268_zpsgzl5xd81.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0269_zpslepxp5py.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0270_zpsauunvkt2.jpg

Strawberry Shortcake acro has been encrusting rather then growing upward…
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0271_zpsgbvcgemp.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0272_zps2xwb88t7.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0273_zpslximhepf.jpg

I am still maintaining a very simple filtration setup. Only a skimmer, filter socks, GFO reactor, and marine pure blocks are being used; I have found the more complex a system, the more likely things are to fail.
http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w481/MARINECRITTERS/IMG_0274_zpsr7rdiwho.jpg