New Red Sea 900 G2+ build

[petcellar]

Hi y'all! I'm new to reef2reef. I've been in the hobby about 20 years or so..... but to varying degrees. Life happens.... and sometimes I get just too busy to give it the time it needs.

I've had a little 8 gallon nano with softies in it for the past several years, but that's the only actual reef tank I've had for a long time. I had a 150 gallon custom Dutch Aquarium System tank that I had set up as a fish only saltwater... with a Niger Trigger and Emperor Angelfish along with a few small fish.

Unfortunately, my DAS tank started leaking and gave up the ghost. It was about 25 years old (was used when I got it) and showing signs of wear. I think its about done.

I started looking into getting a new tank to replace it..... and I feel like Rip Van Winkle

Most of my tanks have been Oceanic in the past - and that's no longer a thing. Doesn't look like DAS does anything these days except commercial type systems. Trickle filters were state of the art last time I did a setup.... and they appear to have gone by the wayside. Last time I set up a 55 gal reef I used Fiji Live rock from Walt Smith... and that's not happening any more.

Looks like I have a lot to learn

I ended up settling on a Red Sea system. I know they have had some trouble in the past... but I thing the plug and play aspect will help me get my feet back on the ground. Hopefully they have figured out the seam issues for the G2 series. Fingers crossed.

Might do a FOWLR type system.... but thinking about finally doing a big reef setup! This tank has so much potential.

 

[petcellar]

Tank is so heavy I had to get movers to help get it into place! Working on finishing the stand and getting the sump set up. Sticking to the Red Sea plug and play system so really nothing very exciting right now.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Welcome!

I'm looking forward to some pictures of your build!

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Sticking to the Red Sea plug and play system so really nothing very exciting right now.

Nothing wrong with calm and quiet progress either!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[petcellar]

Just saw this thread

ANOTHER Red Sea Reefer Max Failure

A year ago I emailed Red Sea about the tell tale signs I had of impending seal failure. I was assured with "Your current aquarium is a "V3A" model which already has the numerous structural updates in G2 such as thicker glass, extra fortified seams and reinforced cabinet. The only differences...

www.reef2reef.com

I'd hoped the G2 had escaped the seam problem..... maybe not

Guess I should have sprung for the S series if I was going to go Red Sea

Oh well.... Looks like I should invest in some clamps !!

 

[petcellar]

Been busy with work.... so unfortunately progress has been slow. But the sump is in place and I'm getting it plumbed! So far its been very straightforward. I do wish Red Sea had put numbers on the parts to match their blow apart diagram they use for directions... but really hasn't been hard to figure out so far.

 

[petcellar]

I was a bit torn on how to set up the split sump. I was tempted to use the smaller add on sump separate as an ATO... but the tank is 22 gallons and it just seemed like such a waste to use such a fine tank for ATO water.

I toyed with the idea of using it for a hospital tank as well.

After some thought I decided to plumb it together with the main sump... I think I'll use it for a refugium.

For those of y'all with Red Sea split sumps, how did you utilize it?

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I think I'll use it for a refugium.

I'm pro refugium. Great place for pods!

 

[petcellar]

I've tried a refugium once before. It was the Ecosystem refugium by Leng Sy. I used the Miracle Mud and all.

The macroalgae grew great. But it was just a little HOB system... probably better for a 20 gallon tank than the 55 I was trying to use it on. Also, I was trying to use it without a skimmer.

It just wasn't big enough to handle the job all by itself.

In this case though I think I'm going to try to use it with the skimmer, and I think it will work out a lot better.

 

[petcellar]

Finally finished up the stand and have the doors on!
Stand seems solid but a little disappointed with the latch hardware... Looks a little flimsy.
Doesn't look like it will last me opening and closing the doors for the next 20 years.
But I guess for that matter the seams may not last that long
Would make more sense to me to just have some handles. I guess it would spoil the look of it.

Anyway - now the fun part! Have to set up all these new toys in the sump and try to get them to fit... And manage the cords somehow.

 

[petcellar]

Beautiful display at the Tennessee Aquarium!!
I've never had SPS..... But maybe someday

 

[petcellar]

Planning on checking out Reef Stock tomorrow!

 

[petcellar]

Installing the slide out control panel in the cabinet....

 

[petcellar]

Installing the lights...

 

[petcellar]

Thinking maybe I should having going with the hanging pendant rather than the mounting brackets for the lights.

The MAX setup comes with three 160 lights. I don't think there is going to be any way to space three lights out evenly because the middle of the tank contains the overflow. I think its going to be a bit unsettling with unevenly spaced lights, but I guess it's not the end of the world.

I installed the Reefbeat app and connected the light. The connection is a little flakey and I've already had trouble with losing connection to the light multiple times tonight. I was able to get the light to reconnect by unplugging and plugging it back in. Hopefully after I get the schedule all fixed up I won't have to mess with it as much.

A little disappointing its showing signs of being so buggy, though. However, I do have an Android phone, so maybe the iPhone experience is better? I don't know.

 

[petcellar]

I've been scouring Reef2reef for mixing station examples and going to have to get to work on this as well.

I'm not planning on doing anything very complex. However, I've been doing things the old fashioned way with a trash can and a bucket, and that's going to be very inefficient for a tank of this size.

 

[petcellar]

Working on setting up the ReefLED 160 lights. I opted for the mounting brackets rather than a pendant mount.

However, I was having trouble with the lights sagging. I tried tightening up the screw on top and ended up just busting the little plastic spacer that these come with.

Searched Reef2reef and came up with this....

How to stop a RedSea Reef LED Mount sagging?

I have recently bought a few RedSea LED 90's and got the aluminium universal mounts to go with them, but have noticed that they keep 'sagging' and angling downwards. I have attached a couple of photos. I thought it was because the screw needed to be tighter, but when I tried to tighten it, I...

www.reef2reef.com

So it looks like I'm not the only one.

I guess it actually makes sense for them to tilt inwards a little... keeps light from spilling over the front of the tank. It looks a little tacky though.

Going to be 3d printing some of those thicker spacers from the links above to replace the one that I broke.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Beautiful display at the Tennessee Aquarium!!
I've never had SPS..... But maybe someday

My wife and I love that aquarium! They have a lot to look at there

 

[merkmerk73]

Following this build

I'm also interested in the 900 G2

I have some questions:

-What are the dimensions of the sump chambers? Specifically the skimmer section
-How much space do you have in the dry cabinet area after the extension (refugium section) is installed?


I think the lights sagging a bit is intentional and it helps keep the lights from blinding you

I would have gone with 4 lights though on a tank of that size, without question.