Red Sea REEFER XXL 750 Build Thread with Shadowbox
- Build Thread
- Thread starter ThriftyOregon
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OP
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Thanks I’ll definitely keep you all updated with my trial and errors
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No, once you get an edge going it rips right off like a vinyl sticker, just a very strong sticker. After a while you get use to the direction it wants to be pulled. one direction and it will shread into strips, the other direction and it will pull in nice sheets. I would say I got 75% of it in several good sheets, but the 25% remaining was a little bit of a PITA. A razorblade might help getting some of the little strips started tho.
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The anticipation is killing me. While I wait for my non-broken tank to come in, I set up a quick saltwater mixing station in my garage. The room off my garage is a laundry room with a large slop sink so I set up the BRS RODI unit under the slop sink and ran the blue outflow hose for the RODI water through the garage wall and into the container on the right. I put a float valve on here that will stop the flow of RODI when the container is full.
The Container on the left will be for saltwater mixing. I ran the piping though the bulkhead all the way to the bottom of the container then placed a Tee fitting with two 45degree spigots off it to keep the water circulating and the salt dissolved in the water. I won't be able to use this for auto water changes as the room with the tank is too far away but at least this will save me from lugging 5 gallon buckets to and from my LFS with water.
The Container on the left will be for saltwater mixing. I ran the piping though the bulkhead all the way to the bottom of the container then placed a Tee fitting with two 45degree spigots off it to keep the water circulating and the salt dissolved in the water. I won't be able to use this for auto water changes as the room with the tank is too far away but at least this will save me from lugging 5 gallon buckets to and from my LFS with water.
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Sorry....not sure if I sent this...here is my build thread...
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...&share_tid=538349&share_fid=1020&share_type=t
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Sorry, for the lack of updates guys, life keeps getting in the way of this build. But things ARE moving ahead. Just picked up one of these babies. I got inspired by a recent BRSTV episode about using the Neptune DOS for autowater changes and decided I needed to do this to give myself the best chance of success. I'm going to rune PEX tubing from my saltwater mixing station into my attic and down to the tank. My tank is on the other side of the house from the garage (where the mixing station is) which is somewhere around 100-150 ft so I'm hoping there's enough power to push/pull the water there.
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As for the shadowbox, I started pulling vinyl off the back of the tank and it came off MUCH easier than I anticipated. Without any struggle I was able to get the whole thing off in one complete sheet.
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Also built the shadowbox structure. I used fence pickets from Lowes 5in wide x 6ft long. It was light as a feather and it'll make it easy to mount to my stand. I also used Luon plywood for the backboard. I spray painted the fence pickets black and painted the plywood a blue.
Here's a pic of the box with acrylic in front. This is before the acrylic is modified to make it more hazy
I mounted a Philips Hue light strip with 1 extension on the left half of the shadbox as a trial. I like the idea of the philips hue because I can sync this up with the tank lights and adjust the color/intensity throughout the day to try to simulate sunrise, full sun, and sunset. I need to build a small lip on the top of the box to hide the LED lights from the strip, I didn't think of that originally. I am a little concerned that the power of the Philips Hue strips might not be enough to light the shadowbox when the AI Hyrdas are up and running too so this is a trial of the shadowbox and 1 Hydra on at the same time. It looks like it might be ok. On here the acrylic is not "hazy" enough so I plan on taking an 800 grit sander to it to try to make it a little more opaque.
Started playing with making structures to go in the box. Made some shapes out of cardboard and used spray foam to try to make them look like rock. Will eventually spraypaint them black or brown. Also bought a few sponges to try those out too. We'll see how this all works
Here's a pic of the box with acrylic in front. This is before the acrylic is modified to make it more hazy
I mounted a Philips Hue light strip with 1 extension on the left half of the shadbox as a trial. I like the idea of the philips hue because I can sync this up with the tank lights and adjust the color/intensity throughout the day to try to simulate sunrise, full sun, and sunset. I need to build a small lip on the top of the box to hide the LED lights from the strip, I didn't think of that originally. I am a little concerned that the power of the Philips Hue strips might not be enough to light the shadowbox when the AI Hyrdas are up and running too so this is a trial of the shadowbox and 1 Hydra on at the same time. It looks like it might be ok. On here the acrylic is not "hazy" enough so I plan on taking an 800 grit sander to it to try to make it a little more opaque.
Started playing with making structures to go in the box. Made some shapes out of cardboard and used spray foam to try to make them look like rock. Will eventually spraypaint them black or brown. Also bought a few sponges to try those out too. We'll see how this all works
Following this thread. Mine will be delivered Monday. Can't wait to have it set up. Good luck with your build.
OP
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Thanks good luck to you as well. If you do a build thread let me know, I'd love to see what you do
Things are moving slow with me, not too many days off from work recently but I think I'll be FINALLY getting the tank wet this weekend so I'll start posting more then
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Fabricated the inserts in the shadow box and attached one half of the light strips to the top. I had to order another sheet of acrylic bc the spray froasting didn’t work out, it was too opaque and didn’t show any details behind the acrylic. I’m going to try lightly sanding it with 800 grain sandpaper next
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Also started messing with a rock scape. I’m using CaribSea Life Rock which is a dry manufactured rock. We wanted to go with the separate islands look. I think we’re happy with this. I ordered some mortar from BRS to make it more secure.
As you can see, we’re expecting our first child in about 6 weeks so I’m rushing to get this up and running before baby comes!
As you can see, we’re expecting our first child in about 6 weeks so I’m rushing to get this up and running before baby comes!
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This weekend things finally got moving! I had to hire a moving company to help me get the tank lifted and up on the stand since this thing weighs 400+ lbs empty but they finally were able to come which means I finally got to start setting up the tank!!
Got the aquascape into the tank. The mortar didn’t hold at all so I basically had to start from scratch and build it on the spot. Pretty happy with the way it turned out
Finally starting getting it wet after all these months of planning
Got the aquascape into the tank. The mortar didn’t hold at all so I basically had to start from scratch and build it on the spot. Pretty happy with the way it turned out
Finally starting getting it wet after all these months of planning
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Once the tank was full we could finish the shadow box. We put the inserts in and I bought a couple fake plants from a local hobby store to see if I could make them look like acros and Sea fans...
Here’s the final product. Really anxious to hear what you guys think. I’m really happy with it. It was such a headache putting it together and lots of mistakes were made but I think it adds a really cool dimension to the tank
What I like about the Philip’s hue light strip is I can adjust the colors and intensity and eventually I’ll have it sync up with the Hydras to mimic sunrise, daylight, sunset and moon lights. Here I was just playing with some different settings
Would love to hear your thoughts, let me know what you guys think
Here’s the final product. Really anxious to hear what you guys think. I’m really happy with it. It was such a headache putting it together and lots of mistakes were made but I think it adds a really cool dimension to the tank
What I like about the Philip’s hue light strip is I can adjust the colors and intensity and eventually I’ll have it sync up with the Hydras to mimic sunrise, daylight, sunset and moon lights. Here I was just playing with some different settings
Would love to hear your thoughts, let me know what you guys think
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Thank you, I’ll definitely check it out. Good luck to you as well
OP
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Yeah no problem, I’ll do it after work. I need to get a lens to filter out the blue bc my phone makes the top of the shadow box look really bright, that’s not how it looks in person
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