Rea Sea Reefer 250 - first ever tank!

[byront]

So I took the leap and grabbed a 3 year old Red Sea Reefer 250 off a fairly old gentleman for a solid price. Cost me $1500nzd ($1000usd) for the following:

1. Red Sea Reefer 250 - serial says it’s a V3, but it has a regular older style sump - so need to investigate.
2. Vectra S2 Pump
3. Reefer RSK-600 Skimmer
4. Ehiem 150W heater - will need another and a controller

Was pretty dirty spent the best part of 4 hours with citric acid to clean it all down. But now she’s looking mint!

First upgrade will be the replacing of the valve for a spears gate one, and then I’ve got some XR15 lights and mounts coming from forum members here. Just need to find some MP40’s to finish off the starter build!

Will attempt to do the valve this weekend, and then can do a leak test hopefully! The space it’s destined for requires painting over Easter before I can fill it properly.

More updates coming!

 

[CasperOe]

Best of luck! Cant wait to see what you make of it!!

 

[parclife]

Good luck with the build!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Best of luck with the new tank!!

 

[byront]

Right leak test done - it leaked surprisingly - so had to fix that quickly!

new valve system arrives today - so will remake that asap, and I fitted a 16mm spigot to the return pump. So should be good to go on that part.

Onto the next part - please roast my aquascape - it will be fixed vs balanced rock at the moment.

 

[byront]

Tank got move to its final resting place last night - just waiting on some plumbing to be able to put my aquascape and sand in.

looking forward to starting the cycle!

 

[byront]

Aquascape is in! Changed the design right up to the end, still not sure if I need to go higher a little on one side still.

Small human wants a shipwreck at the bottom also!

Just waiting on some plumbing to arrive to button up all my connections - tempted to fill with Tap/Salt combo so at least I can let the tank settle before pumping starts next week.

 

[byront]

New overflow pipe made to sack off the diaphragm valve the Red Sea came with. Used a spears gate valve, 25mm ID pipe work and a Red Sea return valve adapter.

Spare heater arrived also today, inkbird ITC-306A arrives this weekend, the can setup temp control.

Just need some reinforced PCV pipe - 16mm ID to used on my return pump and I’ll be good to start the cycle!

 

[byront]

Modified my sump to accept the Reefmat 500 that’s coming. Will adjust the plumbing to drive the regaulr and emergency drain into the Reefmat.

This means my ATO container is now going to have to be alongside the sump, but it means the new ReefATO+ that’s on order will work effectively.

Also have added my MP40 wave makers and not sure if placement is ok? One is high and at the front. One is low and towards the back - to ensure flow is fully around my system.

Last thing on my list to get done before I can start the cycle is mount my lights. Had to move a shelf up 70mm (2.75”) to gain enough clearance to the tank. Still not sure if the mount for the XR15’s will work, but worst case I can use a track mount extrusion and bolt it direct to the shelf.