SuncrestReef's Red Sea Reefer XL 425 build

[SuncrestReef]

According to "tony" at Aqua UV, the ports need to be oriented facing up in order to purge the cylinder of air and maximize the sterilizer's efficiency. This of course makes for excessive elbows and takes up much more real estate. Did you consider this? What are your thoughts?

There was barely room to fit the UV inside the cabinet as is, so no way to rotate it upwards. If there is any air inside, it's only about 1/8" at the top so the bulb is always submerged, so I'm not concerned.

 

[SuncrestReef]

Tank looks Great.

As far as that slab ofCoraline. In some ways its good you removed it. Mine flakes off all the time and you never know...some day you may have had a Coraline Wall avalanche.

Now that you did... if you broke it up and packed it in tiny baggies, it would sell like hotcakes. for folks who are starting up new tanks.

I thought about offering pieces of coralline to others, but the whole reason I removed it was because it was starting to get covered with bubble algae, so I didn't want to spread that to other people. You're welcome!

 

[SuncrestReef]

Today is the one year anniversary of this unnamed acro colony in my tank:

2018:

2019:

It’s difficult to tell from the photos, but it has nearly tripled in size and is encrusting over everything, unfortunately killing my Oregon Tort in the process. But I got a replacement tort and placed it far enough away this time.

 

[lexinverts]

Today is the one year anniversary of this unnamed acro colony in my tank:

2018:

2019:

It’s difficult to tell from the photos, but it has nearly tripled in size and is encrusting over everything, unfortunately killing my Oregon Tort in the process. But I got a replacement tort and placed it far enough away this time.

I got a frag from that colony right before Jorge sold it to you. My frag has turned into a small colony! One of my favorite acros.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I'd stay that's progress. Haha. Nicely done.

What's ur trace / aminos weapon of choice for dosing?

 

[Trailermann]

Neptune's own website says the PMUP can be used to feed reactors. Perhaps the support guy should talk to the marketing guy to get their stories straight.

My PMUP has been running 24/7 for over a year on my refugium with no problems. (taken offline for routine cleaning every six months)

Good news, possibly my problem was with feeding the calcium reactor with constant resistance allowing only a couple of drops at a time.

 

[SuncrestReef]

Today I picked up a nice frag of Jason Fox Lime Light Hydnophora.

 

[SuncrestReef]

And here it is after an hour in the tank. The polyps didn't take long to come out.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Score

 

[Daveobrien]

I thought Hydnophora were an aggressive genus. Is that not true, are there species which aren't as aggressive - is this one of them?

 

[SuncrestReef]

I’ll be out of town for the next 5 days, so I set up some spare webcams to help me keep an eye on everything:

Between that and my Apex, I’m all set!

 

[Daveobrien]

I like your passion. I setup one overall camera a few years ago, after I over tightened a threaded pipe and left for a week long international business trip. Now I can just see if the overall equipment room is "okay" or "flooded".

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Will definitely have cameras in mind for the next trip around the reef sun.

Everything looks great! Where ya off to? work or pleasure?

 

[Daveobrien]

(Lets pick on SuncrestReef for a few minutes.)

Hey, how come you didn't add an orange or yellow filter to CooperCam2 (showing the main tank). It's just too blue. You've got a few spares, I've seen your compare-n-contrast tests of different brands.

I think you could improve this setup in prep for your next trip.

 

[VB313]

I love this build thread cant wait to get my 425xl dream going....
is there anything you would change about your build or over all do different ?
any issues with the Radion XR30w Pro G4 LEDs? ive heard a lot of mixed reviews

 

[MacKrell]

How do u like the nyos skimmer?

 

[jamesrb]

I get a lot of questions about my mixing station, so I'll provide some detail here and a parts list:

A. (qty 2) Norwesco 75 gallon storage tanks with 1.25" threaded bulkheads
B. (qty 1) Mixing pump with 1" male threaded input and output
C. (qty 2) 1.25" threaded male to 1" slip adapters
D. (qty 2) 1" threaded female to 1" slip adapters
E. (qty 5) 1" slip unions
F. (qty 3) 3-way Y fittings
G. (qty 3) 1" T fittings
H. (qty 7) 1" ball valves
I. (qty 4) 1" 90 degree elbow fittings
J. (qty 3) 1" slip bulkheads
K. (qty 2) 1" male slip to 3/4" female threaded adapter
L. (qty 1) 3/4" male threaded to 3/4" camlock female coupler
M. (qty 1) 3/4" camlock male to 3/4" barbed hose adapter
N. (qty 1) 3/4" braided hose
O. (qty 2) Hose clamps
P. (qty 1) 3/4” male threaded to 3/4” barbed hose adapter

Optional parts for Apex automation:
Q. (qty 3) Neptune optical water sensors
R. (qty 2) Magnet mount for optical sensors
S. (qty 1) FMM
T. (qty 1) PM2
U. (qty 1) EB4
V. (qty 1) Heater
W. (qty 1) Temperature probe
X. (qty 1) Salinity probe
Y. (qty 1) DOS
Z. (qty 1) Long AquaBus cable to Apex (if in a different room)

Here are the parts annotated in photos:

Hello,
I hope this questions hasn't been asked already, I searched through the thread and didn't see it.

Just curious... Where did you purchase all your plumbing parts from?

I need to start to build my RO mixing station as soon as possible.

Thanks,
James

 

[SuncrestReef]

Hello,
I hope this questions hasn't been asked already, I searched through the thread and didn't see it.

Just curious... Where did you purchase all your plumbing parts from?

I need to start to build my RO mixing station as soon as possible.

Thanks,
James

I got mine from a variety of sources because I couldn't find everything I needed from a single supplier at the time:

Pipe: https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/b...e-grade-colored-5-pvc-pipe-1-schedule-40.html

Elbows: https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/biotek-marine-furniture-grade-colored-1-pvc-elbow.html

3-way elbow: https://formufit.com/collections/3-way-pvc-corner-elbow/available-colors_orange+size_1-in

Valves and other fittings:
http://pvcfittingsonline.com

 

[jamesrb]

I got mine from a variety of sources because I couldn't find everything I needed from a single supplier at the time:

Pipe: https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/b...e-grade-colored-5-pvc-pipe-1-schedule-40.html

Elbows: https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/biotek-marine-furniture-grade-colored-1-pvc-elbow.html

3-way elbow: https://formufit.com/collections/3-way-pvc-corner-elbow/available-colors_orange+size_1-in

Valves and other fittings:
http://pvcfittingsonline.com

Thank you very much! that helps a lot!

James

 

[SuncrestReef]

Since I had several unused ports on my Apex breakout box, I added a series of float switches to my sump. I came across this handy magnetic bracket to hold 4 float switches:

Magnetic Extendable Layered Float Switch Holder | Printed3D.Parts

This is a magnetic layered float switch holder. It has a center track allowing the positioning of multiple float switch holders (like shelves). It is a very modular design that allows the positioning of the holders virtually anywhere on the track. This way you can accurately measure the distance...

printed3d.parts

I placed it in my sump and adjusted the positions of each float for various conditions:

• 6 - Water too high
• 5 - Water above skimmer chamber limit
• 4 - Water at normal level
• 3 - Water too low

Now I can program my Apex to react to various water level conditions. The switch numbers correspond to the port on my breakout box. Previously I had a hodge-podge of float switches and optical sensors (including the ATK sensors), but this will allow me to clean up my wiring and Apex code.