Aquachristik's Red Sea Reefer 170

[Aquachristik]

After starting the aquarium hobby in freshwater (currently have 2 freshwater tanks, a 5 and a 55) I decided to dip my toes into saltwater thanks to the assistance of a friend with a great reef tank (Afishionado). In April 2020 I decided to get a Fluval 13.5 and built my first reef. I'd like to say it turned out pretty well for my first attempt.

It was run by a Sicce Syncra Silent 1.0, Kessil A80 Tuna Blue, VCA rfg, some inTank accessories for the "sump", an Innovative Marine fuge light, Eheim heater, XP Aqua ATO, and Hygger wavemaker. The Fluval will be sold in the near future, entirely as a package or in parts (if anyone is interested...).

So after a little under a year testing the waters in reef keeping I've decided to step up my game and get a RedSea Reefer 170 from SaltwaterAquarium.com! This time around I decided to start a build thread to get some input from the community as this will be a larger endeavor than the Fluval.

Currently have several corals that will be transferred as well as a green bubble tip anemone, a black clown, 6 line wrasse, cleaner shrimp, 3 sexy shrimp, pistol shrimp, and CUC.

Equipment List: (so far)

Sand
Caribsea Arag-Alive Special Grade
- mixed with some Fiji Pink from the Evo (pending)

Scape
Marco Rocks

Salt
Tropic Marin Pro Reef
Tropic Marin Classic

Supplements
Polyp Lab Reef Roids & Polyp Booster
Red Sea Reef Energy AB+

Dosing
Jebao WiFi 4 head Doser
Brightwell Reef Code A & B
Brightwell Aminos
AcroPower
Kalkwasser
Brightwell NeoNitro

Return Pump
Jebao DC Return Pump
VCA Red Sea Reefer Ultimate Return Line Upgrade Kit (Dual 1" RFGs)

Heating
BRS 200W Titanium Heater
Inkbird WiFi Controller
AC Infinity Cooling fan in the sump
Opolar fan on display

Lighting
2x AI Prime 16HD
3D Reefing Diffuser and shade

Wavemakers
2x AI Nero 3 Pumps

Skimmer
Reef Octopus Classic 110SSS

Refugium Light
Amazon grow light

ATO
XP Aqua Duetto
Duetti Lite I think its called?
Advanced Acrylics ATO reservoir (4"x16"x16")

Lid
ClearView Classic

Chemical Filtration
BRS Mini Media Reactor
- Brightwell Purit for now


Let me know if I left something out!

Also, give me a follow on Instagram if you can!

IG: Aquachristik

 

[DC Reefer]

Welcome to R2R!!!
i have a 170 also. I went with the clear view lid and very happy with it. I agree on not using the Kessil for the refugium, I started with one of the 80s and ultimately scrapped the fuge and went with a Nyos 120 instead.

mine is setup as a mixed reef and I am using a tunze 6055 wjich has worked well for me. Good luck on your build. BTW the Fluval looks great.

 

[Aquachristik]

Welcome to R2R!!!
i have a 170 also. I went with the clear view lid and very happy with it. I agree on not using the Kessil for the refugium, I started with one of the 80s and ultimately scrapped the fuge and went with a Nyos 120 instead.

mine is setup as a mixed reef and I am using a tunze 6055 wjich has worked well for me. Good luck on your build. BTW the Fluval looks great.

Thanks!
Another thumbs up for the Clearview, awesome. I saw the lids from Kraken and got sticker shock.
I appreciate your testimonial on the A80, I'm getting mixed reviews from people.

 

[DC Reefer]

Thanks!
Another thumbs up for the Clearview, awesome. I saw the lids from Kraken and got sticker shock.
I appreciate your testimonial on the A80, I'm getting mixed reviews from people.

the 80s are for really small tanks. I tried one on a 10 gallon coral QT and to get PAR of 180 I had to move my corals to just under 1 inch from the surface of the water.

 

[Aquachristik]

IT'S HERE!

Really happy with the overall look and quality. Also really like that all 3 sides are wide open for viewing, even with the support beam in the way in front of it.

Tank had a good lean forward so have to shim it up a bit to get it perfectly level.

Plumbed almost entirely, but not happy with the size of the hose that came with the tank. The Sicce 3.5 pump could not fit the hose easily even on the smallest fitting. Has anyone enlarged the factory fitting for the return pump to fit a larger gauge hose?

I've also seen the gang valve replaced on these tanks. Any particular reason?

 

[Aquachristik]

Got my package from 3D Reefing today. Unfortunately only the light shade for the AI Prime 16HD was included, no diffuser. I hope 3D Reefing can fix that quickly.

For now the shade does a great job at limiting the light bleed from Prime.

Update: 3D Reefing is sending the diffuser sheet. Great response time and quick action.

 

[Aquachristik]

Installed the VCA Red Sea Reefer Ultimate Return Line Upgrade Kit (Dual Random Flow Generators). Didn't like the long length of the original kit so I removed 1 loc-line, hopefully it doesn't suck any air in with the reduced length.

Hopefully it works as well as it did in the Evo!

 

[PeterC99]

Here’s my sump for my 170. Allowed me to fully stock the aquarium.

 

[Aquachristik]

Outstanding, very clean. @PeterC99

Is that a Tunze chaeto reactor? How do you like it's performance?

What model Nyos skimmer are you running?

Is that container on the left the ATO reservoir?

 

[PeterC99]

Outstanding, very clean. @PeterC99

Is that a Tunze chaeto reactor? How do you like it's performance?

What model Nyos skimmer are you running?

Is that container on the left the ATO reservoir?

NYOS 120 Protein Skimmer (compact design)

Love Tunze Micro Algae Reactor. Will never run an aquarium without one. Grew chaeto like crazy and brought down high PO4 & NO3 to almost zero.

ATO reservoir was Advanced Acrylic 4 X 16 X 16.

Full disclosure - did add 25W UV light and used Tunze MAR pump for both.

 

[Aquachristik]

NYOS 120 Protein Skimmer (compact design)

Love Tunze Micro Algae Reactor. Will never run an aquarium without one. Grew chaeto like crazy and brought down high PO4 & NO3 to almost zero.

ATO reservoir was Advanced Acrylic 4 X 16 X 16.

Full disclosure - did add 25W UV light and used Tunze MAR pump for both.

Thanks for the info. Going to look into that reactor as an alternative to a traditional fuge.

 

[PeterC99]

Thanks for the info. Going to look into that reactor as an alternative to a traditional fuge.

Not a bad compromise. The Algae reactor sat where the RSR ATO would normally go. I found the RSR ATO too small and the 4 gallon Advanced Acrylic reservoir fit into the cabinet and usually lasted more than a week for top offs.

Was able to find Tunze MAR used for about $200. The only real issue is harvesting the algae - you have to tip the reactor towards you to access. Usually harvesting every 2 weeks.

Let me know if you do get it - there are some tips to optimize running it.

 

[Aquachristik]

Not a bad compromise. The Algae reactor sat where the RSR ATO would normally go. I found the RSR ATO too small and the 4 gallon Advanced Acrylic reservoir fit into the cabinet and usually lasted more than a week for top offs.

Was able to find Tunze MAR used for about $200. The only real issue is harvesting the algae - you have to tip the reactor towards you to access. Usually harvesting every 2 weeks.

Let me know if you do get it - there are some tips to optimize running it.

I really like that ATO reservoir, seems to fit like a glove. I've always thought that RSR reservoir was too small.

I will definitely let you know if I end up going with the Tunze Reactor. It might even fit inside the sump, right? Is that the MAR pump to the left of the skimmer?

 

[PeterC99]

I really like that ATO reservoir, seems to fit like a glove. I've always thought that RSR reservoir was too small.

I will definitely let you know if I end up going with the Tunze Reactor. It might even fit inside the sump, right? Is that the MAR pump to the left of the skimmer?

Correct - Tunze MAR fit inside the sump (where RSR ATO fits - this way it doesn't sit in any water and is easy to keep clean) and that is the MAR pump to the left of the skimmer. Output from MAR goes into sump return chamber.

 

[Aquachristik]

Got the leveling feet installed. Definitely better than having shims everywhere.

 

[Aquachristik]

Sump lighting installed! Auto on with the door pressure switch works flawlessly.

 

[Aquachristik]

Plumbing done!

Upgraded to 1" red schedule 40 PVC from BRS (have a few 24" pieces left over if anyone needs them). Followed the thread on here about updating Red Sea plumbing from metric to standard. Used the metric adapters on all 3. Upgraded the return piping with a 1" spigot and black vinyl tubing to better fit the Sicce 3.5 pump. Replaced the diaphragm valve with a Spears gate valve.

Painted the bottom of the sump white and removed the factory ATO float valve assembly.

Next up is building a small cabinet on the sides to house controllers and electrical equipment.

 

[Aquachristik]

Update:

• Finally found some AI Nero 3's at regular price at AquaCave.com!
  • BRS got them back in stock. Ordered from them instead.
• Also got a BRS mini media reactor and Sicce pump.
• Ordered the Reef Octopus skimmer from MarineDepot.com, the last one!
• Ordered the ATO reservoir from Advanced Acrylics. (4x16x16)
• Got some AquaMesh (black) from BRS to divide the skimmer and chaeto chambers in the sump
• Bought some BRS filter socks.
  • Still shocked someone hasn't 3D printed a sock holder that can house the standard 4" socks.
• Ordered the ClearView Classic lid.

Need to get going on the scape! Should be starting the cycle next week.

 

[Aquachristik]

Sump coming together.
Pump fitted
Heater in
Aquamesh fitted
Skimmer chamber barrier fitted so that water doesn't bypass the fuge

 

[Aquachristik]

UPDATE

BRS took one of the Nero 3's back, no questions asked. Kudos to them, great customer service. Hopefully I'll be getting a new one back soon.

SaltwaterAquarium.com said it was over the return period so I would have to take up the rattling Sicce Syncra 3.5 pump directly with them. It's taken quite a while for Sicce to get back to me on the issue. I've heard they have great customer service so I hope this is an anomaly. Hope it improves.

Recieved the ATO reservoir from Advanced Acrylics! Had to remove the foam on the right side of the cabinet in order to move the sump about 1/16" to let the reservoir fit. Thanks @PeterC99 for recommendation. I love it.