H8Mondays' Waterbox Frag 105.4 Build

[h8mondays]

Well over a year ago I had the good fortune of winning a Frag 105.4 system from Waterbox. Between house shopping, moving, quarantine and what feels like a million little setbacks, it's finally time to get this thing up and running. I've had months to plan and prepare and will be piecing the whole journey together here. Comments and suggestions requested and welcome.

Stocking List (as of 08/22/2022):
1 x McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (replaced one lost due to virus)
1 x Midas Blenny
1 x Royal Gramma
1 x Tiger Watchman Goby
1 x Purple Firefish
2 x Mandarins (M/F aquacultured)
1 x Blood Red Fire Shrimp
2 x Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
2 x Sexy Shrimp
2 x Tiger Conch
4 x Peppermint Shrimp
1 x Yasha gobi
1 x Tomini tang
1 x Pistol shrimp

Corals:
4 x Hammers (Multiple heads each)
12 x Torches (Getting a bit carried away)
4 x Assorted shrooms
1 x Gorgonian
1 x Duncan (splitting)
Many blastos

Nems:
4 x Rock flowers

CUC:
~50 Dwarf ceriths
~19 Nassarius
~20 Florida ceriths
~17 Astreas

Gear List:
Radion Xr15 Blue x 2
MP40QD x 2
Vectra M2
Reef Octopus Regal 150SSS
Osmolator 3155
Inbird ITC-306a with 2 x 300 watt titanium heaters
Octoaquatics baffle kit, heater holder, probe holder, dosing tube holder
Caribsea Fiji Pink Sand
Caribsea Life Rock
Fluval Marine Nano 20W light for the fuge
Python water change system with multiple hose sets
SIcce Ultra Zero Utility Pump
BRS 5 stage RODI system
2 x 75 gallon vertical water storage tanks
BRS Single reactor
Hanna Testors: Alkalinity, Phosphate ULR, Nitrate HR, Salinity
Refractometer (old school)
Milwaukee digital refractometer
Plenty more parts, pieces, testing kits....

 

[h8mondays]

Well over a year ago I had the good fortune of winning a Frag 105.4 system from Waterbox. Between house shopping, moving, quarantine and what feels like a million little setbacks, it's finally time to get this thing up and running. I've had months to plan and prepare and will be piecing the whole journey together here.

Gear List:
Radion Xr15 Blue x 2
MP40QD x 2
Vectra M2
Reef Octopus Regal 150SSS
Osmolator 3155
Inbird ITC-306a with 2 x 300 watt titanium heaters
Octoaquatics baffle kit, heater holder, probe holder, dosing tube holder
Caribsea Fiji Pink Sand
Caribsea Life Rock
Plenty more parts, pieces, testing kits....

I got the news about the tank on August 21st, 2020. Took about 4-5 weeks for the system to arrive. What a fun day that was. I didn't even have to bribe the delivery driver to stick around while I inspected the parts and pieces. With one exception, everything arrived in perfect condition. One of the boxes of stand parts took some damage that appeared to be purely superficial but later turned out to be a fairly significant dent in the primary horizontal plywood under the tank. A rubber mallet and a small piece of 2x4 took care of that.

I know folks around here are probably familiar with Waterbox. I was highly impressed with how the tank and sump were packaged.

 

[h8mondays]

The tank spent several months collecting dust while I started purchasing gear as it became available. Once I finished purchasing a house and finished prepping it for the move in I set up the stand. I added some Philips Hue lights and a motion detector. My wood floors are pretty soft so I added a sheet of plywood underneath the stand.

 

[h8mondays]

I started work on a control board as soon as I acquired the Vectra, MP40QDs, Osmolator and heater gear. I went through two iterations, then realized that I forgot about the skimmer's float switch connection to the control unit. Ended up improvising a bit.

 

[h8mondays]

I decided early on that I wanted a refugium, or at least the ability to add one in a clean and aesthetically pleasing way. I spent who knows how many hours scouring the web for ideas. It's actually how I ended up here. I picked up a baffle kit from Octoaquatics along with some other gear. Great stuff! After quite a bit of testing I settled on the baffle location along with the skimmer and the heaters. I also added a manifold to power a reactor. Set up the unions so I can expand or reduce the system.

 

[h8mondays]

Refugium layout from above. I don't have pictures of it yet, but I added some wire management.

 

[h8mondays]

So all of the above is a year and about four months worth of time compressed. Other than adding a third Radion or a couple of MP10s, I've acquired everything I could possibly want to get this puppy started up. Here's where it all came off the rails. I leaked tested my sump first. All was fine there. Then came the tank. What can I say? I had intended to fill it to just below the overflow with RO water and let it sit. I got about 20 gallons in before it was obvious that I had a problem. I bought a brand new level to use when I built the stand. I had several that were too small and one 6 footer that I used to install draining pipe years ago that was all beat up so I figured I would go the safe route. Well, the brand new level was off. The water on the left side of the tank was a good 1/4" above the water level on the right. smh. I checked that level soooo many times during the build. Pulled out my beat up level and it clearly indicated the stand was off. So that is basically where I am at now. Waiting on a few days off to pull the tank off of the stand and get it in level. The good news is it has given me time to iron out my RODI set up and to continue to optimize the plan. ;Bookworm;Blackeye

 

[Adrift]

Very nice aquarium. Good luck to you. Surprised you did go Nyos with all the eco tech stuff you got . Think I’m going to get a waterbox next after I finish my planet aquarium build. But that would be predator Fowlr though don’t want two reef tanks.

 

[h8mondays]

Very nice aquarium. Good luck to you. Surprised you did go Nyos with all the eco tech stuff you got . Think I’m going to get a waterbox next after I finish my planet aquarium build. But that would be predictor Fowlr though don’t want two reef tanks.

Thanks! I started out dead-set on copying the Waterbox build in all respects, but I really liked the Reef Octopus.

 

[Sgchick]

Just got my Frag 105.4 today and have much of the same equipment right down to the Octoaquatics baffle. How did that seem to work when you had things up and running? I did copy their build and bought the Nyos skimmer, but thinking of going with a fleece roller instead of skimmer. Not sure yet. Sorry about your leveling problems. Hope you get things worked out and up and running soon.

 

[Sgchick]

How are things going? Any updates? I finally got my 105 up and running. I'm new to sumps so it's been a challenge , but fun!.

 

[h8mondays]

How are things going? Any updates? I finally got my 105 up and running. I'm new to sumps so it's been a challenge , but fun!.

Haven't gotten the tank leveled yet, but I added some new shades to the Radions. Cemisfun11 printed them and I love them. At seat level you could stare straight into the lights. That's not going to be a problem now. Will also add some reflective lining to them shortly.

I have some time off coming in the next two weeks and I'm going to get the tank level or die trying. ;Dead

 

[hubcap]

man, thats a beautiful setup. i'm not that lucky, but, thanks for taking the time and bringing us along on your trip.

 

[Jgerm]

Great equipment selection!

 

[Jgerm]

Is the plan to have a mixed reef?
Just a quick suggestion before you start running everything, might want to change out the zip ties for Velcro strips behind your controller board. If you need to remove something malfunctioning, zip ties create more headaches. Always love seeing another WB frag getting going!

 

[tescalante]

I’m looking at the frag 85, which has the same sump layout and size. Want to run a refuge the same way you did, looking good. I’m not sure about the filter socks, hear so many not liking the maintenance on them or the potential clogging. Thought about running a roller filter but seems that would involve custom work on the sump which I want to avoid. Newish reefer here, what about just running filter cups with some floss and media bags below, seems like this would be a simple fix???? Please advise on this idea.

 

[Jgerm]

I’m looking at the frag 85, which has the same sump layout and size. Want to run a refuge the same way you did, looking good. I’m not sure about the filter socks, hear so many not liking the maintenance on them or the potential clogging. Thought about running a roller filter but seems that would involve custom work on the sump which I want to avoid. Newish reefer here, what about just running filter cups with some floss and media bags below, seems like this would be a simple fix???? Please advise on this idea.

I run cups with filter floss instead of the socks. Change it every 5 days. No issues at all.

 

[h8mondays]

Is the plan to have a mixed reef?
Just a quick suggestion before you start running everything, might want to change out the zip ties for Velcro strips behind your controller board. If you need to remove something malfunctioning, zip ties create more headaches. Always love seeing another WB frag getting going!

Will definitely start as a mixed reef. I keep teetering on adding a third XR15 so I can experiment. Also, I went to my first coral show recently and scored a Hydros starter system in a silent auction. Guess it's really a blessing that I haven't put water in it yet.

 

[h8mondays]

Almost have the RODI production system complete. I had great psi prior to Hurricane Ida. Right at 75 psi before now just under 60 so I added a booster. Forgive the wire management as I had just set up the booster and was testing it. Note to self, if you're going to test a booster pump when you are near storage capacity go ahead and hook up the pressure switch. I'm pretty sure you can blow the canisters right out of the mounts. Got a little crazy with the flex hose. Just wanted to try it out. You have to be generous with the pvc cement with it but it works great

BRS 5 stage RODI system
2 x 75 gallon vertical water storage tanks
Fluval SP4 primary pump
Sicce Wave pump for stirring
Fluval E300 Heater
Blue Sea Systems cable clams for through bulkhead fittings

 

[h8mondays]

Just a PSA on the SP4. Mine started leaking after I moved my RODI setup to its final location. Front housing split in the screw hole. Easy enough to order a new piece. While waiting I went out and bought a Sicce ADV 7.0. It leaked right out of the box. Pulled it apart and regreased the o-ring. Didn't help. Tossed it in the spare sump gear box until I have the time to look at it closer.