My Newbie Reefer 450 Build

diablo2112 · 02/12/2018, 01:54 PM

Hello! Been lurking here for a bit, and thought I'd introduce myself. Have done FW for a very long time, finally decided to try out a Reef Tank. Moved into a new home a few months ago, and had a nice spot for the new build. It backs up against our guest bath, and I have a water supply and drain just behind the wall, which helped immensely in setting up ATO and AWC.

Being nearly completely new to this, figured I'd read as much as I could find. The forums here have been invaluable, along with the BRS videos. Was about to order a new Red Sea Reefer series when a Reefer 450 showed up for sale locally in Albuquerque. Picked this up, and spent a small fortune on the rest of the gear. Roughly a dozen trips to Home Depot, and viola', all plumbed

Anyway, the tank is still cycling (3 weeks now), and coming along nicely. I built a SW mixing station in my utility room, and plumbed a 70' pex line from it to my tank through the walls of my house; my wife nearly had a heart attack when I told her what I wanted to do. Also ran a 4-conductor cable at the same time, should I want to connect switched or aquabus at some later time.

Using this line, I setup an AWC system, and it's been working great (I change 1 liter/day at present, more to debug the system as the tank is still cycling). I'll eventually change 5-6 liters/day to accomplish a 30% monthly change. Also automated my RODI system, via the Tunze controller. Love the Neptune Apex, a really well-implemented system all around. Hooked up the flow controllers, and have lots of data and sensors to play with. I have a second DOS system, and will use that for 2-part once things get running.

Have setup my QT tank this weekend, will start my first livestock there for the remaining 4-6 weeks of cycling the DT. And, I intend to keep reading and learning; thanks to everyone that's contributed here, it's been invaluable for us newbies.

Let me know if you see anything I've done wrong or could improve upon in the photos below, I really am rather new at this...

JUNBUG361 · 02/12/2018, 11:11 PM

Nice setup. What type of lied lights are you using? And mounts?

diablo2112 · 02/13/2018, 11:37 AM

Maxspect Ethereals. Got a decent deal on 4 of them, advertised as used. Was sent new units, so that worked out nicely. Since I had the spare 4th light, using it on the QT which would otherwise be complete overkill.

erics3000 · 04/01/2018, 03:09 PM

Nice Build. I am just about getting ready to order a reefer 450 myself. I was going to order a 250 but figured the 450 would give me more room for fish. Is there anything you regret about the 450? I am thinking of adding in a fuge on the right side where you have your chiller.

Celtic_Fox · 05/02/2018, 12:54 AM

Hi Diablo 2112!

I've some questions relating to the chiller on your system. (I have the same tank and it appears the same chiller, but have not started it up yet.

)

1 - Is your chiller the 1/10 HP model?

2 - What temperature, or temperature range, are you attempting to keep your tank at? (And how much cooler than the room ambient temperature is that?)

3 - Is the chiller doing a good job keeping it at your desired temp? (Or is it laboring and has to run often and for long periods of time?)

4 - How far from the wall is your tank? Are you experiencing any ventilation issues and problems caused by heat building up in the stand?

Sorry for the barrage of questions and thanks for any answers you have time to give.

02/12/2018, 01:54 PM	#1
diablo2112 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 0	My Newbie Reefer 450 Build Hello! Been lurking here for a bit, and thought I'd introduce myself. Have done FW for a very long time, finally decided to try out a Reef Tank. Moved into a new home a few months ago, and had a nice spot for the new build. It backs up against our guest bath, and I have a water supply and drain just behind the wall, which helped immensely in setting up ATO and AWC. Being nearly completely new to this, figured I'd read as much as I could find. The forums here have been invaluable, along with the BRS videos. Was about to order a new Red Sea Reefer series when a Reefer 450 showed up for sale locally in Albuquerque. Picked this up, and spent a small fortune on the rest of the gear. Roughly a dozen trips to Home Depot, and viola', all plumbed Anyway, the tank is still cycling (3 weeks now), and coming along nicely. I built a SW mixing station in my utility room, and plumbed a 70' pex line from it to my tank through the walls of my house; my wife nearly had a heart attack when I told her what I wanted to do. Also ran a 4-conductor cable at the same time, should I want to connect switched or aquabus at some later time. Using this line, I setup an AWC system, and it's been working great (I change 1 liter/day at present, more to debug the system as the tank is still cycling). I'll eventually change 5-6 liters/day to accomplish a 30% monthly change. Also automated my RODI system, via the Tunze controller. Love the Neptune Apex, a really well-implemented system all around. Hooked up the flow controllers, and have lots of data and sensors to play with. I have a second DOS system, and will use that for 2-part once things get running. Have setup my QT tank this weekend, will start my first livestock there for the remaining 4-6 weeks of cycling the DT. And, I intend to keep reading and learning; thanks to everyone that's contributed here, it's been invaluable for us newbies. Let me know if you see anything I've done wrong or could improve upon in the photos below, I really am rather new at this...

04/01/2018, 03:09 PM	#4
erics3000 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Palm Bay FL Posts: 2,957	Nice Build. I am just about getting ready to order a reefer 450 myself. I was going to order a 250 but figured the 450 would give me more room for fish. Is there anything you regret about the 450? I am thinking of adding in a fuge on the right side where you have your chiller. __________________ Eric (Red House for my 300 display 600 system) Current Tank Info: 600 gallon system with 300 display

05/02/2018, 12:54 AM	#5
Celtic_Fox Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Fremont CA Posts: 83	Hi Diablo 2112! I've some questions relating to the chiller on your system. (I have the same tank and it appears the same chiller, but have not started it up yet. ) 1 - Is your chiller the 1/10 HP model? 2 - What temperature, or temperature range, are you attempting to keep your tank at? (And how much cooler than the room ambient temperature is that?) 3 - Is the chiller doing a good job keeping it at your desired temp? (Or is it laboring and has to run often and for long periods of time?) 4 - How far from the wall is your tank? Are you experiencing any ventilation issues and problems caused by heat building up in the stand? Sorry for the barrage of questions and thanks for any answers you have time to give. __________________ Current tank info: Red Sea Reefer 450 / Three Radion XR15w G3 Pros / Custom Lifereef Signature Series CLF1, SVS3-24 Skimmer, and Refugium / Barr Aquatics KR1020 Kalk Reactor / JBJ Arctica Chiller 1/10

02/12/2018, 11:11 PM	#2
JUNBUG361 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA Posts: 1,091	Nice setup. What type of lied lights are you using? And mounts?

02/13/2018, 11:37 AM	#3
diablo2112 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 0	Maxspect Ethereals. Got a decent deal on 4 of them, advertised as used. Was sent new units, so that worked out nicely. Since I had the spare 4th light, using it on the QT which would otherwise be complete overkill.