0.2KGal Reefer

[DrunkG0D]

Hi Reefers,

First post for me with the intention to document my new build. This will be an upgrade from my current 20Gal softie tank which has been running for a year. Learnt so much from all the fellow reefers here and the ones I've met so thank you everyone.

Past experience: Few years doing freshwater and planted aquariums. Got bitten by the marine bug and now that's all I can think about.

 

Reefer: 750XXL

Tank Size: 180x65x60

Total Volume: 200Gal

 

Let's get started:

So since my place is getting renovated I started planning on how to get the system all setup and built in to make it all look pretty. Else the CFO will not give the approval. Started out with a hand sketch for the ID's to plan it all out. The idea is to have a 8-10ft section cutout of the cabinets to fit the 6ft and to allow for a future upgrade to an 8ft (). It will also allow a minimum of 1ft on either side of the tank so that I can clean it easier.

After sketching this out by hand, ID couldn't figure out what I wanted so had to do something better:

Renovation works scheduled to complete by end of August after some delays so have taken the liberties to start purchasing the equipments. The equipment schedules will be as follows:

1) Quantum 220

2) 2 x Vectra M1

3) 2 x Gyre 250

4) Neptune Apex

5) 3 x DOS

6) 1 x Aquatic Life T5

7) 4 x Kessil A380

8) 1 x Kessil H380

9) 1 x Teco 1000

 

Most of the stuff has arrived but I can't possibly have them at home, so my office is now storage and it's getting to be abit cramped.

More updates soon...

[daveyy]

6) Aquatic Lift T5 Hybrid Set? Nice! But is this set at 110v? U intending to use a step down converter ?

[DrunkG0D]

 

10 minutes ago, daveyy said:

6) Aquatic Lift T5 Hybrid Set? Nice! But is this set at 110v? U intending to use a step down converter ?

From what i read on their brochure and user manual they are using universal HEP ballasts which allow for use with local supply:

Universal HEP ballasts work with 100-277 volts/ 50-60 Hz.

So I won't need a step down converter, what I do need to do is change the plug heads on the cables. Pic of the T5 Hybrid:

 

[Ranz]

200g is a lot of water and if to include sump as well - you may want to consider using compressor instead of chiller. 

[daveyy]

 
From what i read on their brochure and user manual they are using universal HEP ballasts which allow for use with local supply:
Universal HEP ballasts work with 100-277 volts/ 50-60 Hz.
So I won't need a step down converter, what I do need to do is change the plug heads on the cables. Pic of the T5 Hybrid:

 

Ahh! Previously when i enquired they are quite inconsistent with the reply hence I didnt buy it.

How did u ship it over? Or you handcarry from US?

[DrunkG0D]

24 minutes ago, Ranz said:

200g is a lot of water and if to include sump as well - you may want to consider using compressor instead of chiller. 

I thought about this for a long while. In the end decided to go with the chiller because it's simpler to install for now. CFO will kpkb if I have to buy a seperate compressor cos house already got 8 compressors. 

 

But I did leave space in the false ceiling to run additional a/c for the compressor for the future upgrade. 

[DrunkG0D]

22 minutes ago, daveyy said:

 

Ahh! Previously when i enquired they are quite inconsistent with the reply hence I didnt buy it.

How did u ship it over? Or you handcarry from US?

 

I ordered a ton of stuff and got my forwarder to send it back from the US for me. Overall everything came in about 20% cheaper.

[DrunkG0D]

My current 20Gal. Had issues with algae outbreak and cyano about 2 months ago. Started dosing nopox and 30% water change every Sunday. Everything cleared up but when I went overseas for a week last month had a mini outbreak of what seems like Dino. Measured my nitrates at 0. Reduced nopox dosing did a massive cleanup now everything back under control.

Planning to convert this tank in to a quarantine tank/frag tank once the main is completed. Photos from a month ago.

Loving this bounce.

[daveyy]

I ordered a ton of stuff and got my forwarder to send it back from the US for me. Overall everything came in about 20% cheaper.

How is your experience with the forwarder. If it is good. Could you share / recommend ? Thanks

[DrunkG0D]

1 minute ago, daveyy said:

 

How is your experience with the forwarder. If it is good. Could you share / recommend ? Thanks

 

I've been using them for a number of years now. Will PM u. They charge by weight over volume now which makes it cheaper for bulkier purchases.

[Admiraltian]

1 hour ago, DrunkG0D said:

My current 20Gal. Had issues with algae outbreak and cyano about 2 months ago. Started dosing nopox and 30% water change every Sunday. Everything cleared up but when I went overseas for a week last month had a mini outbreak of what seems like Dino. Measured my nitrates at 0. Reduced nopox dosing did a massive cleanup now everything back under control.

Planning to convert this tank in to a quarantine tank/frag tank once the main is completed. Photos from a month ago.

Loving this bounce.

Nice!!

[Jeebusai]

12 hours ago, DrunkG0D said:

My current 20Gal. Had issues with algae outbreak and cyano about 2 months ago. Started dosing nopox and 30% water change every Sunday. Everything cleared up but when I went overseas for a week last month had a mini outbreak of what seems like Dino. Measured my nitrates at 0. Reduced nopox dosing did a massive cleanup now everything back under control.

Planning to convert this tank in to a quarantine tank/frag tank once the main is completed. Photos from a month ago.

Loving this bounce.

Love the bounce too! Haven’t seen a green one in flesh. Camping here to learn! 

 

[DrunkG0D]

21 hours ago, Admiraltian said:

Nice!!

Thanks 

[DrunkG0D]

10 hours ago, Jeebusai said:

Love the bounce too! Haven’t seen a green one in flesh. Camping here to learn! 

 

Took 2 more photos under different lighting conditions last night.

These guys are super easy to keep being mushrooms. I got them from a super cool bro from the forum. When i first got the bounce I didn't secure it to the rock so they kept floating around the tank and wouldn't open up and the bubbles started to look really deflated. After 2 days I decided to just glue this bugger down and it took off from there. I think they just need a little bit of time to settle down.

I have this guy in a medium flow area of the tank around the middle of the tank between both A80's. Dosing redsea reef nutrition A+B everyday and feed a mix of goldpods+reef roids+mysis twice a week to keep all the corals and fish happy.

The bro I got this from says you can feed it a piece of shrimp but gotta take it slow and watch the bounce engulf it. Haven't tried that yet cos I'm abit too lazy and impatient.

I should try to frag this piece sometime.

[Jeebusai]

7 minutes ago, DrunkG0D said:

Took 2 more photos under different lighting conditions last night.

These guys are super easy to keep being mushrooms. I got them from a super cool bro from the forum. When i first got the bounce I didn't secure it to the rock so they kept floating around the tank and wouldn't open up and the bubbles started to look really deflated. After 2 days I decided to just glue this bugger down and it took off from there. I think they just need a little bit of time to settle down.

I have this guy in a medium flow area of the tank around the middle of the tank between both A80's. Dosing redsea reef nutrition A+B everyday and feed a mix of goldpods+reef roids+mysis twice a week to keep all the corals and fish happy.

The bro I got this from says you can feed it a piece of shrimp but gotta take it slow and watch the bounce engulf it. Haven't tried that yet cos I'm abit too lazy and impatient.

I should try to frag this piece sometime.

Let me know if u frag. I start saving first (but may not be enough lol). Do U get diatoms when u dose reef energy? I don’t dare to dose now. According to a few bros. It’s a confirm thingy diatoms will appear the next day after dosing lol

Saw this at a LFS. When I enquired the price I almost fainted lol

[DrunkG0D]

17 minutes ago, Jeebusai said:

Let me know if u frag. I start saving first (but may not be enough lol). Do U get diatoms when u dose reef energy? I don’t dare to dose now. According to a few bros. It’s a confirm thingy diatoms will appear the next day after dosing lol

Saw this at a LFS. When I enquired the price I almost fainted lol

Bro this piece nice! Can share whats the killer price? Once I frag will drop you a PM  I don't think they are worth the asking price TBH. I did see a really really nice orange and red bounce the other day at a LFS but not for sale.

[DrunkG0D]

23 minutes ago, Jeebusai said:

Let me know if u frag. I start saving first (but may not be enough lol). Do U get diatoms when u dose reef energy? I don’t dare to dose now. According to a few bros. It’s a confirm thingy diatoms will appear the next day after dosing lol

Saw this at a LFS. When I enquired the price I almost fainted lol

At the moment I think my dosage of reef energy is low. Only 2ml/day of each cos not alot of corals. Maybe halve the recommended dosage and see how the tank reacts?

[Jeebusai]

Just now, DrunkG0D said:

At the moment I think my dosage of reef energy is low. Only 2ml/day of each cos not alot of corals. Maybe halve the recommended dosage and see how the tank reacts?

Maybe wait a while. Don’t dare to do anything funny now lol. Just changed lights also. Nowadays I feel less is more. Lol

[DrunkG0D]

Just now, Jeebusai said:

Maybe wait a while. Don’t dare to do anything funny now lol. Just changed lights also. Nowadays I feel less is more. Lol

I totally agree with you on that. Less is definitely more. When i went away for a week I itchy backside added chemipure elite + ask my helper to dose the nopox for me. Come back nitrate 0 and dino everywhere. After that quickly water change, deep clean, vac sand and throw the chemipure away. Managed to bring things back around.

[DrunkG0D]

So moving on with the planning for this build, the idea was to have a waste pipe and fresh water incoming supply terminate inside the store room and having the RO/DI unit installed in the store room. Carpenters will recess and install a false wall with laminate to hide the raceways to run the following:

1) Pipes and tubes for fresh RODI water, waste from tank due to water change, and possibly to house the whole ATO inside the store instead of using the Reefer's ATO tank

2) Raceways for all lighting cables from the APEX up into the flip up shelf so I hide all the ugly bricks inside without cluttering up my main control cabinet

3) 4 single sockets from 4 individual circuits to power the whole system without fear of overloading any particular circuit

I will run 3 x EB6 from APEX to power everything which based on current plans will have extra sockets on each of the EB6 should I need to add additional equipment down the road. In the end the goal is not to see any of the raceways. Unfortunately Maxspect doesn't do a GYRE that has the cable on the outside of the tank. May consider changing to Ecotech's MP series wavemakers if the cables become and issue later on.

Issues faced during this whole time is ID and contractors think they know how to design the system when I repeatedly tell them to use my designs... For those interested. Current state = Giant mess. Ceiling just plastered.

[LoReNsIa]

wow!!! impressive built!!! 

camping here for more updates! 

[Jeebusai]

Looks impressive bro. Have u thought of extending the store/access to tank like an enclosed area and add a fancoil. So u can turn the air con on 24/7. Can use existing compressor. Just a thought 

[DrunkG0D]

1 hour ago, LoReNsIa said:

wow!!! impressive built!!! 

camping here for more updates! 

Thanks  still a long way to go...

[DrunkG0D]

1 hour ago, Jeebusai said:

Looks impressive bro. Have u thought of extending the store/access to tank like an enclosed area and add a fancoil. So u can turn the air con on 24/7. Can use existing compressor. Just a thought 

Originally I wanted a whole room to myself... but alas this proposal kena rejected. Parliament no pass this motion. Never thought of enclosing the whole area though... I don't think at this point is feasible cos the whole plan was to open up the whole floor with minimal walls/doors etc. I did the same thing in my office with about 12 tanks in 1 room and 2 AC to chill everything at the same time. Overall this was cheaper than running all the chillers and the space was more comfortable to work in. 

Not sure if I should share the whole floor plan but what the heck. My wife and I wanted a lot of open space, as much as possible for the kids to run around and burn their energy. Initially was considering a peninsula tank to act as a separator but in the end went with a normal style tank against the wall. So this current build will be opposite the dining and kitchen.

I am praying everything works out with the main tank then I can figure out where and how to install a livestock quarantine and coral quarantine system.

[Jeebusai]

Open concept is good bro. Happy Wife is happy life. Land area at least 1800 sq feet? Nice!