Cost of Setting Up a Red Sea Reefer G2 Reef Tank that is SPS Ready

[@dereks3207]

fellow utahn, (draper) and man, im so glad i put a fan on my tank this year. its so nice not having to worry about the heat quite so much.

[@Dambrah]

I like how abruptly the video ends. its like you wife just came into the room to say you spent how much??? great videos keep the content coming, happy reefing.

[@zburnreefing]

Yea, I’m kind of hoping my wife doesn’t check this one out…😬

[@Desmo1]

As a hobbyist that's been in the game for over 20yrs, the best advice I could give anyone coming into the reefing game is to BUY SOFTIES! If you want the best chance to keep your money in the tank, it's to buy softies. Everything else is much much more likely to be a rental coral, ESPECIALLY SPS.

[@Desmo1]

@@zburnreefing I don't know of a single reefer who hasn't had their tank crash, and in most cases multiple times. I don't care how long you've been in the hobby, or how much automation you have implemented in a system, or how great you are at maintenance, if you've been in the hobby long enough you know the inevitable. Recouping some of your loss by fragging is NOT something the average hobbyist can or will be doing, so in general the principle still stands. I'm just being real, and trying to give the best advice for the noobs.

[@zburnreefing]

​@@Desmo1 I'm afraid all I can really agree on is that softies are less sensitive than SPS and a great starter coral. I am an average hobbyist, don't believe in automation, and have fragged countless SPS corals and have sold them locally to fellow reefers... so I can't really agree with you on those other points or "principles." Maybe, I've just been really lucky. This is the beauty of the hobby I suppose...everyone has different experiences and there are multiple ways to be successful. I hope the video viewers don't just listen to me, but also take into consideration others' experiences, such as what you are describing. I appreciate you sharing your advice and helping folks out!

[@Desmo1]

@@zburnreefing I think you actually do agree with me however, I think the disconnect is the idea that because you personally have found some success in the fragging game, that somehow translates to the broader point. It doesn't. I would also say in general automation is a great backup to the inevitable and inherent behavior of humans, in where you will falter on your maintenance/dosing. Automation is a great backup to that, not that automation doesn't bring its own issues, but you see what I mean by how complex and varied the hobby is? At the end of the day "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong". Best to give yourself the best chance for the inevitable is all I'm saying.

[@brian-te4xs]

Thanks to your suggestion Re: the ATO Bin/Pump. My Sicce 50 does an excellent job. No more slime issues because of stagnant water. Your tank is coming along - cool ! Much appreciated, Brian

[@zburnreefing]

No problem! Glad it’s helping!

[@CO.Reefing]

Crazy how much we spend on our tanks now a days haha. That isn't even counting fish and coral huh.

[@zburnreefing]

100% agree. Can’t think about it too much 😂….and the tank is basically bare…once I’m done with livestock we are talking used car prices almost 😅

[@Joaquin-227]

Don't forget your: Vortech Battery Backup for power outages. The expenses never end.

[@zburnreefing]

Ugh…yea, just never ends. I do have a little generator ready just in case, but a vortech battery backup would be nice as it’s a chore to get the generator out.

[@shimmerysparkles123]

I sub'd because you talked about cost. I've been accumulating salt water tank supplies for years and I always get discouraged for one reason or another … when it comes down to it, i want to know about cost. Thank you for being open and honest. I might not ever live long enough to have my own saltwater but I've not thrown in the towel quite yet. (Threw away a lot of stuff when i moved to a much smaller place though. 😢. About 5 things were over 100 bux, but oh well).

[@zburnreefing]

Keep at it! A successful saltwater tank can be done for much cheaper than what I spent on this particular tank. Check out this video - it may help give you some ideas 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnzYiouGfsipesU

[@Windgoddess540]

Amazing set up! My only question is will you be having softies and LPS still or will you be going purely SPS now?

[@zburnreefing]

Thank you! My plan is to pack the top half of the rock work with sps, then slowly fill in sand bed and any lower gaps or shaded areas with LPS and softies.

[@stuartkowald2943]

Here in Australia just the Tank, lights, roller Matt, skimmer, return pump, fan, wave maker, 4 head dose, ato, heater, maintenance kit. Some would argue that’s enough 12k plus live stock plus power. If you want a controller drop another 6k. This is why it takes me 4 years to set up my tanks 😢

[@zburnreefing]

I agree, costs are getting out of hand. It’s nice to have a plug and play system, but could have pieced together another system, likely half the price. May not be rimless, may require to do my own plumbing, etc, but more money for corals :)

[@stuartkowald2943]

Sorry to say second hand market in AUS is ridiculous it’s only $100 off new. And we have limited options here on tank suppliers so it Cade, Aqua One, water box (limited) and red sea so not many cheaper options so plug and play is about the best way to go

[@arch22rami]

Great aqua

[@ssjeter22]

Great Video i have the same tank not nearly as much equipment but you have a great set up!

[@Njwobrien]

At 9:00 i'd put a little wave pump in that skimmer chamber. There is a lot of crap just sitting on the bottom - wasting away. Not ideal.

[@zburnreefing]

That’s a really great idea. I’ve done it both ways, but in this tank, at least at the moment, I’ve decided to leave it undisturbed so I can easily find it to remove during water changes. Definitely builds up though, so a pump is more set and forget. To be fair, there are countless breath taking tanks with 1-2 inches of detritus mud built up in their sumps (i.e., Sanjay’s tank). Another example of why the hobby is so fun; there are multiple ways to have success.

[@Skull_CB_TV]

Amazing!!!! Also what size is your tank?

[@zburnreefing]

Hi there, thank you! The tank is the 350, so the display is 72 gallons, about 90 gallons total water volume with the sump. It’s roughly 4 feet wide. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@ericbowers71]

Not bad. I’ve got a bit over $14,000 in my Reefer 350 G2+

[@spicyreef]

👍 nice How r ur CO2 levels down there?

[@spicyreef]

I’m under 2k for my 150g…

[@zburnreefing]

Ph is definitely low…haven’t gotten around to addressing that yet…may need to pull some air from outside somehow…another thing to do!

[@zburnreefing]

Nice! Buying anything used at all? Keeping under 2k is very good!

[@davestephens9463]

That’s insane!! I could never afford that

[@stevenengle8516]

In your opinion is that fan worth it. I have a 120 gallon Cade and been trialing out fans for my tank from Amazon non really do the trick but I saw that vornado fan and wasn’t sure if it was worth it or not. Let me know a good reduction of heat from that fan if you can. Thank you

[@zburnreefing]

I was originally going to do 2 of the little vornado fans, but one is doing the trick. It keeps my tank 78-79. It kicks on with my apex. Ambient temperature in the basement where tank is, is about 73-74 degrees. I am running metal halides though. If you are not running metal halides I think one will do the trick. I’ve tried a lot of the aquarium clip on little fans and they just don’t push enough air or would burn out on me in 3-6 months.

[@svsleipnir]

Refugium water level is way too high for the height of the baffle from the sock compartment.

[@Greethid]

Money spent on hobbies is not wasted 😉

[@TheJohnny220]

Are you in America or Canada. What currency are you talking about please.

[@zburnreefing]

US dollars

[@LTVRZ]

What is the green glow device,? On the left and right upper corner, feeding ??

[@zburnreefing]

Hi there, yep, that is a feeding cup. It ensures when you drop pellets they sink into the water column rather than float immediately down the overflow.

[@KingQuetzal]

I have that same feeder. Can you explain the cup a little more. The food drops in and then sits in the cup and slowly flows out/down so it doesn't go into the overflow? Is it just a mesh bottom with solid sides?

[@zburnreefing]

Here is a link so you can take a closer look 👉 krakenreef.com/products/kraken-reef-feeder-filter-cup-v2 It has a honeycomb bottom and slits on the side that goes around the outside bottom half of the cup. The cup sits low enough under water so once the food starts sinking it drops low into the water column instead of float to the top and down your overflow. Here is a link to another product that basically does the same thing 👉 www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquamaxx-mfr-1-magnetic-feeding-ring.html Hope that helps!

[@acidtester303]

I've easily over shot 5k setting mine up

[@Brett5106]

Did he faint, after the grand total?

[@zburnreefing]

😂

[@shimmerysparkles123]

Do you pay monthly for the ring cameras ?

[@zburnreefing]

Ah yes, I believe around 10 bucks a month. I added the cameras to my existing home plan, so I suppose it’s not an additional cost. 😬

[@calleq]

Six months old? You are keeping your sand tight!!

[@zburnreefing]

Yea, for the moment it’s still looking fresh, haha! We’ll see how long that lasts. Though my conch has been working overtime!

[@elchappo1320]

Its gonna be hard to keep that sandbed clean

[@zburnreefing]

Yes, indeed it will. Let’s see how long it lasts before I slowly start siphoning it out. It’s already blowing around everywhere, 😑

[@RatherBeTraveling]

Yep, I have a good size car sitting in the dining room. 26K

[@A-GoldenBar]

Waterbox aio 50.3 seems affordable

[@zburnreefing]

Yea, looks nice. Closer in comparison to a reefer 250, size wise. Price is cheaper because doesn’t appear to have a sump, return pump, etc. Once you get all your gear, you may find yourself in a similar boat 😬

[@adamdavis307]

reefing is an expensive hobby. lol. my red sea max nano cost me like £2500 by the time I had put everything. I already know that when i move and get a 250l it is going to cost between £5000-£6000. i could cry.

[@zburnreefing]

I agree…plus my tank is pretty much bare still…add in some more coral and the cost starts to really get up there!

[@imCXS-zh2yt]

Heck, yeah! 8K. I love when my freshwater friends complain about their 20 dollar fish dying.

[@nickm9922]

Haha indeed 😂 Planning my "dream tank" atm, 10k without fish is minimum when im gonna start... expect it to reach 20k 3 years in 😟

[@imCXS-zh2yt]

@@nickm9922 see you in divorce court

[@nickm9922]

@@imCXS-zh2yt i managed to talk her out of a big wedding 😉 so we will manage i recon 😂

[@TheDesertraptor]

US dollars. That's 10K Australian

[@76honda76]

It’s just money. Easily make it back every Fridays.

[@zburnreefing]

Dang, you getting paid every Friday? 😎 haha, jk

[@anthony8022]

I shouldn’t have watched this video because I just calculated how much I spent. 😂 Without any livestock and live rock I’m at around 15k.

[@zburnreefing]

15k and no livestock? I’m doing pretty good then!

[@anthony8022]

@@zburnreefing Nope no livestock in that total. I sold a few of my rare angels, butterfly, and one tang that wasn’t getting along with anyone. So with fish it would probably be 30k.

[@rommel5241]

Only mistake you have done so far as I can see is keep a total. I would Nix that. lol.