Waterbox 130.4 Build (First Saltwater Tank)

[Chipper1978]

As a child, I had freshwater fish, but I’ve always been very intrigued by saltwater tanks. My boss getting one last year was the springboard for me becoming borderline obsessed with reefing forums and BRS TV (particularly 52 Weeks of Reefing). In January, I almost walked out of my local fish store with a BioCube. Little did I know that my wife’s advice to not make an impulse buy would lead to me ordering a Waterbox 130.4 (4 ft 96 gallon display with 127 total system gallons) two months later. After another two month wait (backordered), it is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve or the last day of school! My plan is to have a mixed reef of fish, LPS, and a select few SPS corals.

I’m hoping this build thread will both document my progress and highlight my successes and failures (I’m sure there will be many of both). I hope you enjoy! Here goes...

Water Movement
-Ecotech Vectra M2 Return Pump
-Ecotech MP40 VorTech QuietDrive Powerheads (2)
-Ecotech Battery Backup
-Tunze Osmolator 3155 Auto Top Off

Lighting
-Kessil A360X Tuna Blue (3) with WIFI Dongle
-Kessil Mounting Arms (3)

Filtration
-Nyos Quantum 160 Protein Skimmer
-Red Sea Filter Cups (2) with Poly Filtration and Seachem Phosguard
-MarinePure Biofilter Media Block
-BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor Deluxe with Sicce Silent 1.5 Pump (plan to only use carbon at first)

Heaters
-Cobalt Neo-Therm Submersible 300 watt Heaters (2)

Rock
-Marco Rocks (approximately 80 pounds) mix of Reef Saver, Shelf, and Foundation
-E-Marco-400 Mortar

Sand and Salt
-CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef Sand (80 lbs.)
-Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

 

[Chipper1978]

RO/DI
-75 GPD BRS 7 Stage Pro Plus RO/DI System
-Norwesco 65 Gallon Horizontal Tank
-32 Gallon Brute to mix salt

I built the stand with 2x4’s and plywood and installed the system on my own. This included adding two ball valves to allow for easy tank or bucket filling station. However, I had a plumber install a spigot for my water source and a waste line to my basement sump. Once they are in stock, I plan to get the BRS Water Saver Upgrade Kit to increase my production to 150 GPD and reduce waste water ratio to 2:1. Luckily my water pressure is a solid 68 PSI. Water appears to be coming out at 0 TDS. Water production has begun!

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Oh boy! Look at all the new toys! Sounds like a nice build, following.

 

[Chipper1978]

Tank will be going on a wall that my wife and I have struggled for years to fill with something nice. Problem solved. Haha! The wall is just over 5 feet and I feel as though the 4 foot tank will fill it nicely. I added some trim and 3 coats of semi-gloss paint to give a little more drywall protection and wipe-ability (not sure that’s a word) for any condensation.

Unfortunately, the tank location is parallel to the basement joists and does not go over any support beams. My engineer friend said it would probably be okay without additional support, but at approximately 1,500 pounds when filled with water, I didn’t want to take any chances. So, I installed 4 jack posts under the stand location. Pretty sure that if this reefing thing doesn’t work out, I could safely replace it with a hot tub. Oh well, better safe than sorry.

 

[Chipper1978]

20 gallon long QT and some other random supplies...

 

[Chipper1978]

Oh boy! Look at all the new toys! Sounds like a nice build, following.

To say I’m excited is an understatement! Thanks for following!

 

[Chipper1978]

Very happy with my progress over the last 3 days!

 

[Luibeatz]

Awesome progress, looking forward to see the end product.

 

[Blessed Tank]

I know you just got your tank, but any plans on what and how many fish you want? I have the same tank and I’m wanting to finish stocking mine with 13 fish. Would love to hear from someone with the same tank. Awesome rock scape too!

 

[Chipper1978]

Awesome progress, looking forward to see the end product.

Thank you!

 

[Chipper1978]

I know you just got your tank, but any plans on what and how many fish you want? I have the same tank and I’m wanting to finish stocking mine with 13 fish. Would love to hear from someone with the same tank. Awesome rock scape too!

Thank you! I spent days prior to the tank arriving working on the scape. Very happy with how it turned out.

I’m sure things things will change, but here is a pic of the fish I’d eventually like to have. Thinking a pair of clowns, a few cardinal fish, a few chromis, and one each of the others.

 

[Blessed Tank]

So close to 13 depending on each quantity of fish good to know. At 13 I feel like I’m pushing it but can definitely make it work. IMO you should add a leopard wrasse.

 

[sfboarders]

Wow! What an awesome setup for your first SW tank! Great choice of livestock too!

 

[Chipper1978]

So close to 13 depending on each quantity of fish good to know. At 13 I feel like I’m pushing it but can definitely make it work. IMO you should add a leopard wrasse.

That is a beautiful fish suggestion. Thanks! Live Aquaria says Expert Only, so that has me a little worried. But, maybe in time!

 

[Chipper1978]

Wow! What an awesome setup for your first SW tank! Great choice of livestock too!

Thanks! I’m very lucky!

 

[Chipper1978]

Today I installed LED lights in the sump, a BRS Deluxe GFO/Carbon Reactor (only running Carbon right now), and fired up the Quantum Nyos 160 Protein Skimmer to begin break in. I also fine-tuned the Tunze ATO.

 

[Blessed Tank]

That is a beautiful fish suggestion. Thanks! Live Aquaria says Expert Only, so that has me a little worried. But, maybe in time!

Once you make sure leopard wrasse is healthy in QT and eating frozen, it’s really not that hard imo. Mine did great in QT before being killed by my marble and Timor wrasse when being introduced. But you Can add multiple wrasses at the same time and they should be fine. Ik I only kept in QT but really it not uncommon to have a leopard wrasse so I’d Recommend it for you. I love halichoeres wrasses too. I also recommend a one spot fox face.

 

[Blessed Tank]

I just read ur fish list again so maybe not a one spot fox face with two tangs because that will increase the bioload a lot. If you get one tang then for sure get a fox face

 

[Chipper1978]

Once you make sure leopard wrasse is healthy in QT and eating frozen, it’s really not that hard imo. Mine did great in QT before being killed by my marble and Timor wrasse when being introduced. But you Can add multiple wrasses at the same time and they should be fine. Ik I only kept in QT but really it not uncommon to have a leopard wrasse so I’d Recommend it for you. I love halichoeres wrasses too. I also recommend a one spot fox face.

You are definitely giving me a lot to consider and I appreciate all the ideas. I love the one spot fox face. However, I’m pretty set on a kole tang and my son really wants a yellow tang. If I decide to add a third bigger fish, that would probably be the one I would choose. Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[doobin42]

Awesome build! I am starting my Waterbox 130.4 as well. Just a quick question... how did the red sea filter cups fit in the sump?