keywestreefer's Waterbox 130.4 Ultimate Dream Build

[SuncrestReef]

About to get that Apex control board built and the 130.4 plumbed.

Looks like an awesome build! Congrats on all the fun gear.

Once you have the basics configured on your Apex, be sure to read my 8-part Apex Programming Tutorial series here on R2R when you're ready to do some custom programming and automation: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/neptune-apex-programming-tutorials.700483/

 

[keywestreefer]

Looks like an awesome build! Congrats on all the fun gear.

Once you have the basics configured on your Apex, be sure to read my 8-part Apex Programming Tutorial series here on R2R when you're ready to do some custom programming and automation: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/neptune-apex-programming-tutorials.700483/

It’s gonna happen

 

[keywestreefer]

So...it’s been a busy weekend. Promise to post an update soon but here is a sneak peek...

 

[Peach02]

Looking great!

 

[keywestreefer]

Looking great!

Thanks so much, I have been sooooo busy with work and mods for this tank I have not made the time to update. Working on a quick post now

 

[keywestreefer]

Here comes the awaited update. With Covid going on and working in the travel industry, things have been quite crazy. I wouldn't change it for anything... so... Where do I start.

A LOT has happened in the last 8 days. I have ordered a few more accessories and some additional modules for the Apex. I will update the first post shortly. Few other things to update before the pictures come out. I am cycling both QT's now with Fritz. I lost all 3 fish in my fish QT. The first 2 were on day 2 and the 3rd fish today. All of my water parameters have checked out exactly as designed and the cycle is going as it should have. However, I am not going to put any more fish through that, and think there may have been some underlying cause there given the series of water testing. I have moved away from my "experiment" on cycling and am now dosing all tanks with ammonia and letting the Fritz do its thing. I just dosed the fish QT today to 2 ppm. The coral QT cleared the last ammonia in 72 hours. I just bumped it back up to 2 ppm today and will see if we are closer to coral. I have some assorted coral coming from Glass Aquatics in Texas. Anyone ever dealt with them? They seem to be a great company with the customer and concern and care for the livestock.

On to the update-

I have attached some wire to be able to drop the controal board to run the wires behind. I got pretty aggressive with my chord management. When I ran out of space for all my modules on the control board, the cord tracks went to the wayside and zip ties (I know, I know) and Velcro took over.

\

Next up was the John Guest mod to the DOS. BTW, I got a second DOS. The Trident cabinet looked pretty sad with only 1 DOS LOL. This was a pretty easy mod to do. Fount the connectors on amazon. Quick work with the Dremel and some teflon tape and away we went.


More to come...

 

[keywestreefer]

Following the DOS mods came the LSM. I was unaware the Radion's had a lunar feature. Now I am glad I got the LSM. When I received the 3 Lunar LED string, YIKES.... No way was this going to fly. Way to sloppy and was not happy with the cord visible between the lights. The cord was too short to run it down the arms and back up to the next arm.

Not to worry- a quick next day delivery from Amazon and a DC extension I made some quick work with solder joints, a heat gun, and some assistance from the handy dandy wire strippers. We now have some Lunar lights (that work btw) and more streamlined.

I also ran all the 1/4" tubing from the Trident/DOS cabinet. Hooked up a magnetic light sensor. Some new LED's that are controlled through Google Assistant, as well as the sample line to the sump from the Trident.
Here is the wiring for the door magnet and float valves to the BOB on the Apex-

The control board is spaced and full to the brim- The back of the control board now also has a second EB832 and will snap some photos (if/once) the wires are under control.

The Tank is "almost" ready for water...

A few other upgrades and changes have happened. If I have more time to share but now... onto mixing salt and spoiler alert...
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[Peach02]

Love the cable management idea for the board. Looking great

 

[keywestreefer]

Love the cable management idea for the board. Looking great

Thanks so much. Few things I would change if I did it all again, but really happy so far.

 

[Peach02]

Thanks so much. Few things I would change if I did it all again, but really happy so far.

what would you of changed?

 

[keywestreefer]

what would you of changed?

I would have moved from my apartment to a house to get a bigger aquarium.

Wire management would have been better planned out from the beginning. I would have changed the layout in the control board and I would not have mounted the MP40 Drivers. Other thing- I wish I would have space for is an external ato so I could add a fuge. There will be more, in sure.

 

[Peach02]

Can definitely relate. fair point I’m guessing due to mobius? And you could make it last longer but oh well. Your builds looking great ether way

 

[bigdog7]

So...it’s been a busy weekend. Promise to post an update soon but here is a sneak peek...

Soooo been watching your build. I have my tank coming end of July. I am starting to order parts and things now!!! I want to set up a similar
Manafold!!! Any way you happen to have the part list for your Manafold? I want to replicate what you have with Blue tubing! Also want to add flow sensors on the Manafold
Too.....

 

[bigdog7]

What brand UV?

 

[keywestreefer]

Soooo been watching your build. I have my tank coming end of July. I am starting to order parts and things now!!! I want to set up a similar
Manafold!!! Any way you happen to have the part list for your Manafold? I want to replicate what you have with Blue tubing! Also want to add flow sensors on the Manafold
Too.....

Sorry for the delay. Let me know if you still need this and I can send your way. However, now that it’s all said and done I have nothing hooked to it. Not sure I will hook anything to it, but...it looks cool. LOL

 

[keywestreefer]

What brand UV?

Aqua Ultraviolet 25W

 

[keywestreefer]

Little update, water is running, Fritz Turbo Start has been in for 5 days. Skimmer and UV are back on. Order of fish from @NYAquatic is in the QT. Coral delivery to arrive on Friday for the QT. All good stuff going on here. I need to modify the Skimmer ANC to be able to house a float switch. I gave also ordered a few more optical sensors for sump water levels for monitoring.


Overall tank shot-

Control Board

Sump area-

Skimmer, skimming away-

And my wife made me this really awesome shirt, they can be customized if anyone would like a shirt

 

[bigdog7]

Sorry for the delay. Let me know if you still need this and I can send your way. However, now that it’s all said and done I have nothing hooked to it. Not sure I will hook anything to it, but...it looks cool. LOL

Hey! No worries!! That would be amazing! Any reason why you have not used the manafold
Ye? What’s running the UV?

 

[keywestreefer]

Hey! No worries!! That would be amazing! Any reason why you have not used the manafold
Ye? What’s running the UV?

No reason other than I didn’t have anything to hook up to it yet. My media reactor is powered and my UV went closed loop and is powered by a separate Cor 15. I could have run the UV off the cor 20 but was told it wouldn’t have enough power. I never tested so cant confirm or deny...but... I’m running my return at 60% and getting 600 GPH. My UV is running at 11% and getting 385 GPH.

 

[keywestreefer]

Hey! No worries!! That would be amazing! Any reason why you have not used the manafold
Ye? What’s running the UV?

the picture is upside down it you get the idea.

coralvue metric to standard union. (Not pictured) going into the apex 1” Apex flow meter with a 3/4” reducer.
All the red Up from the return is 1” to the flow meter.
The first piece shown is the other side of the 1” union for the flow meter.
The main line straight up is 1” and reduced at the T to 3/4” for the manifold. Other than that it is all 3/4” parts. Send me a note if you want me to get you specific part numbers. The only thing I couldn’t find in black I needed to address was the reducing T. That required a little bit of paint .