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Unread 03/13/2018, 01:41 PM   #1
SawCJack00
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Sawcjack00's Reefer 750 XXL SPS build

Good day peoples!

So I’ve been in the hobby for a while, and some of you may remember my coral farm – Northstar Corals (if anyone has frags from my babies, please message me as I’d like to get some of them in my new setup), but this will be my first tank build thread. So back in the day my wife and I decided to leave the frozen tundra of Minneapolis which is where I had Northstar Corals in the early 2000’s. We moved to the Tampa Florida area where I set up a 120 gallon SPS tank. That went well for a few years, but then I decided to take a break from reefing as we were travelling a lot. In 2011 I had an unplanned career change, and we decided to move to the Florida Keys where I could dive just about every day when I wasn’t working. I set up a Red Sea Reefer 350 in 2016, and it was really doing well on 9/9/2017. Unfortunately on 9/10/2017 a Category 4 Hurricane named Irma decided to visit my little island of Ramrod Key, and absolutely destroyed it. We were without water for 17 days, and without power for 28 days. I could not get enough gas to keep the generator running, and lost the entire tank after 7 days… Fast forward a few months, and we decide it was time to move again. I love the desert and grew up out West, and my parents live in the Phoenix, AZ area, so we decided that there were probably fewer hurricanes there, and that’s where we decided to make our home. Because home prices are MUCH lower in AZ, we went from an 1,100 square foot stilt home to a 3,400 square foot home in Surprise, AZ which cost us half as much as our Keys home… I think you know where this is headed… bigger house = bigger tank! That’s just math. So now we’ve arrived to the current time period, and I am setting up a Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL. This will be a full blown SPS tank.

Equipment:

Tank: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL – Tank 160 gallons – Total volume 200 gallons with an Artfully Acrylic mesh top.

Controller: Neptune Apex with all the bells and whistles

Lights: LED T-5 hybrid using 2 x 36” Aquatic Life 4 bulb T-5 fixtures with 3 Radion XR15 G4 Pros on each for a total of 6 Radion XR15 G4 Pros. May add some Reefbrite XHO’s later.

Return pump: Abyzz A100 feeding a Locline split with 2 VCA RFG nozzles

Circulation: 2 Maxspect Gyre 250’s and 2 Vortech MP40’s with Vortech battery backup.

Filtration: Reef Octo Elite 220 Int skimmer with auto neck cleaner and Avast skimate locker. Skimz MBR 157 Macro algae reactor. Emporer Aquatics 40W smart UV Sterilizer, 2 Little Fishies Phosban 150 reactor to hold carbon. Lots of Siporax.

Alk and Calcium maintenance: Not positive which way I’ll go. I have 2 Neptune Dos pump and reservoir combos and an Aquamedic KS1000 kalk stirrer which I will probably run to help keep PH up. I may go with a calcium reactor in the long run though.

ATO: Tunze osmolater with 73 gallon acrylic ATO tank from Advanced Acrylics

Heat: 2 Finnex 500w titanium heaters

Dry Rock: 120 lbs of Reef Saver from BRS using acrylic rods and E-Marco 400 to bond it all together.

Sand: 2-3 inches of Carib Sea Special Grade reef sand

I’m hoping to get it wet this weekend. I will post some pics shortly.

Thank you for looking and wish me luck!


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Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL

Last edited by SawCJack00; 03/13/2018 at 04:37 PM.
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Unread 03/13/2018, 02:30 PM   #2
SawCJack00
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So first the sad stuff. Here are some picures from the storm that changed our lives forever...

1. Our street the day before Irma

2. Our street from close to the same spot the day of Irma after the surge had receded.

3. View from our deck - 54" of storm surge above the ground - over 9 feet total storm surge on Ramrod Key.

4. view of our side yard from our deck. We lived on a boating canal, and you can't see where the canal is because the water is so high.

5. The storm surge took my jet ski from the trailer in the front of the house which was chained to our fence, floated it all the way around the house, and deposited it upside down on my boat trailer. Major PIA to get this resolved after the storm.


Attached Images
File Type: jpg Day before Irma.jpg (79.2 KB, 210 views)
File Type: jpg Day of Irma.jpg (63.0 KB, 203 views)
File Type: jpg View from Deck.jpg (81.6 KB, 190 views)
File Type: jpg Water Water Everywhere.jpg (59.5 KB, 186 views)
File Type: jpg Jet ski on boat trailer.jpg (64.1 KB, 204 views)
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Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/13/2018, 02:35 PM   #3
SawCJack00
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Some more pictures from Irma

1. This was a stilt house on our street. The living area is completely gone - deposited in the neighbors driveway primarily.

2. This house was at the end of our street. Quite a few news broadcasts happended in front of this house and the first picture.

3. Another destroyed house...

4. A picture of the radar from my cell phone when Irma made landfall. We were at the blue dot. Unlike most, we did not evacuate. I have now evacuated permanently...

5. My Reefer 350 the day I ran out of gas for the generator - 7 days after the storm...


Attached Images
File Type: jpg Example.jpg (57.6 KB, 158 views)
File Type: jpg Example 2.jpg (51.1 KB, 151 views)
File Type: jpg Example 3.jpg (66.2 KB, 148 views)
File Type: jpg Radar.jpg (22.9 KB, 168 views)
File Type: jpg Reefer 350 day gas ran out.jpg (82.0 KB, 260 views)
__________________
Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/13/2018, 02:40 PM   #4
SawCJack00
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Now for some positive stuff!

1. Aquascape with no lights - dry

2. Aquascape with lights - dry

3. Overhead of the aquascape

4. The right side bommie made from 4 Reef Saver Rocks and some rubble bonded by e-marco 400 with 3/4" acrylic rods stuck into a 1" thick cutting board for a stable base. It is rock solid - literally. Picture is sideways though...

More to come... Stay tuned!


Attached Images
File Type: jpg Aquascape dry no lights.jpg (42.1 KB, 226 views)
File Type: jpg Auqascape lighted dry.jpg (35.9 KB, 242 views)
File Type: jpg Aquascape top view dry.jpg (79.7 KB, 179 views)
File Type: jpg Right side bommie before sand.jpg (54.7 KB, 179 views)
__________________
Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/13/2018, 03:18 PM   #5
plyle02
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Looking good buddy!!!


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Perry

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Unread 03/13/2018, 03:21 PM   #6
nogascans
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Following along on this. Sorry for damage caused by Irma. SE GA went thru a couple of bad years now as well with storms!.

I did a 750XXL this past December 2017, and would be glad to answer any questions you may have related to set up and use.

I have way too busy to post a tank build but its mostly SPS and livestock had been brought over from working tanks (90 and 60) I owned.

Best of luck!

Sincerely,

David


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Unread 03/13/2018, 04:58 PM   #7
dream54ing
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Glad you made the move! Nothing crazy happens here in AZ! well, just the sizzling heat for 4-5 months! Tagging along!


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Unread 03/13/2018, 06:24 PM   #8
Bulldog88
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Love the aqua scape!


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Unread 03/14/2018, 08:25 AM   #9
reefmutt
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Man, that was a crazy storm. Have friends in Florida and the stories and images were crazy!
Love the scape. Very cool.
Interested to watch his develop.


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Current Tank Info: 53x32.5x26 190g dt 60g of sumps 3 tank-100 gal frag system 6xAI prime 8xt5. 4x maxspect gyre. Skimz Dual internal sicce pump skimmer Deltec PF601s ca rx+Kalk stirrer
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Unread 03/14/2018, 09:17 AM   #10
SawCJack00
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Yeah it was life changing, and unfortunately the area I lived in (Mile Marker 16-40) was devastated. We were at Mile Marker 27. Big Pine Key and Ramrod Key (the island I lived on) were the two hardest hit.

My wife seems to think that my interior decorating skills are lacking... but I disagree. Take a look at the image below. I call this look "Modern Chaos" I really think I nailed it!


Attached Images
File Type: jpg Modern Chaos.jpg (37.4 KB, 219 views)
__________________
Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL

Last edited by SawCJack00; 03/14/2018 at 09:27 AM.
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Unread 03/14/2018, 10:43 AM   #11
dream54ing
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SawCJack00 View Post
Yeah it was life changing, and unfortunately the area I lived in (Mile Marker 16-40) was devastated. We were at Mile Marker 27. Big Pine Key and Ramrod Key (the island I lived on) were the two hardest hit.

My wife seems to think that my interior decorating skills are lacking... but I disagree. Take a look at the image below. I call this look "Modern Chaos" I really think I nailed it!
LOL, that's how my dining room, adjacent to my tank, looked like for the first 2 months after the move! now its organized "Modern Chaos"!


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Unread 03/14/2018, 01:01 PM   #12
SawCJack00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dream54ing View Post
LOL, that's how my dining room, adjacent to my tank, looked like for the first 2 months after the move! now its organized "Modern Chaos"!
Unfortunately, I have to get it cleaned up quickly since we're shopping for furniture for that room tomorow night...

By the way, I'm a die hard Laker fan too!


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Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/17/2018, 08:23 AM   #13
DanConnor
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Hey Bill- quite a story! I had some awesome frags from you back in the day, but unfortunately was out for a few years so don't have any now. My favorite was a purple and green acro... Is it your profile pic?


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Unread 03/18/2018, 12:05 PM   #14
DesertReefT4r
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Welcome to Az.


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Tank history 29g tropical ,55g cichlid tank, 20H softy reef, 29g mixed reef, 20H brackish goby & puffer tank, 55g mixed reef, 6g Nanocube softy lps reef, 40B sps reef, 75g sps reef, 75g sps reef in bu

Current Tank Info: 75g sps reef build in the works.
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Unread 03/18/2018, 09:02 PM   #15
SawCJack00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanConnor View Post
Hey Bill- quite a story! I had some awesome frags from you back in the day, but unfortunately was out for a few years so don't have any now. My favorite was a purple and green acro... Is it your profile pic?
Hey Dan, good to hear from you. Yes I think it is the one in my avatar. That was a very cool piece! I know Joe Berger had some frags from me, but I'm sure they survived some of the issues he was having. Battlecorals sells my A. Clathrata on their site. I might pick up a piece from him whenI'm up and running.


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Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/18/2018, 09:03 PM   #16
SawCJack00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertReefT4r View Post
Welcome to Az.
Thank you. Glad to be here!


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Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/19/2018, 03:23 PM   #17
Wrangy
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Well that was a roller-coaster of emotions to read!! I'm glad to hear that you're in a safer hurricane free place to live now and that you've got your groove back on in the hobby man!

I can't tell what I like more though, "Modern Chaos" or the scape I'm definitely tagging along mate


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Unread 03/20/2018, 09:12 AM   #18
SawCJack00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wrangy View Post
Well that was a roller-coaster of emotions to read!! I'm glad to hear that you're in a safer hurricane free place to live now and that you've got your groove back on in the hobby man!

I can't tell what I like more though, "Modern Chaos" or the scape I'm definitely tagging along mate
Thank you Wrangy.

Unfortunately I needed a plumbing part that I had to order (being delivered today), so I didn't get water into it this past weekend. Going out of town this weekend, so no point in starting it up then leaving, so the plan is to get it going early next week. I'll be finishing up plumbing and setting up the QT this week. I'll get lots of new pictures up next week when it's all cleaned up and either filled or filling.

Here's my fish stocking list in the order of addition. Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions, or sees any issues. Most of these I've had before.

School of Dispar Anthias
School of Springeri Damsels
Trio of Leopard Wrasses
Regal Angel
Watanabei Angel
Candy Cane Hogfish
2 Picasso Clownfish
Purple Tang
Powder Blue Tang
Achiles Tang

Any other additions that anyone can suggest?


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Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/20/2018, 09:37 AM   #19
SawCJack00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nogascans View Post
Following along on this. Sorry for damage caused by Irma. SE GA went thru a couple of bad years now as well with storms!.

I did a 750XXL this past December 2017, and would be glad to answer any questions you may have related to set up and use.

I have way too busy to post a tank build but its mostly SPS and livestock had been brought over from working tanks (90 and 60) I owned.

Best of luck!

Sincerely,

David
Hi David, I should have responded sooner, but is there anything to watch out for in terms of setting things up on the 750? I'm pretty much using the stock plumbing other than hard plumbing the return pump. What equipment are you using on yours?


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Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/25/2018, 03:53 PM   #20
Sisterlimonpot
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Bill,
I too just moved to the area, I'm south of you in litchfield park. I'm tankless at the moment, in the beginning stages of an in wall leemar 300 gallon.

I look forward to seeing your tank come to life.


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Current Tank Info: 300 in progress
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Unread 03/26/2018, 07:09 AM   #21
SawCJack00
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Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot View Post
Bill,
I too just moved to the area, I'm south of you in litchfield park. I'm tankless at the moment, in the beginning stages of an in wall leemar 300 gallon.

I look forward to seeing your tank come to life.
Hi Jimmy, That sounds awesome. i really wanted to do an in wall tank with a fish room, but my wife just wouldn't go for it. I'm happy with the Reefer 750 so far though.

Do you have a thread started for your tank yet?


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Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/28/2018, 08:01 AM   #22
SawCJack00
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Water is entering the tank... will post more pics once I have things tidied up a bit.


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Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/28/2018, 11:43 AM   #23
Sisterlimonpot
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don't tidy... I want to see the progression, from a mess, to an organized mess to, the final state!!


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Jimmy
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Dishes are done man!

Current Tank Info: 300 in progress
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Unread 03/28/2018, 01:41 PM   #24
SawCJack00
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You asked for it Jimmy. Please don't judge


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File Type: jpg Filling Tank.jpg (40.6 KB, 92 views)
__________________
Bill Bramucci

My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2670607

Don't forget your towel!

Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL
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Unread 03/28/2018, 03:05 PM   #25
Sisterlimonpot
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That's nothing, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel for your build... I can still look behind me and see the light at the beginning of the tunnel.






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Jimmy
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Dishes are done man!

Current Tank Info: 300 in progress
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