Red Sea Reefer G2 Reef Tank Build | Equipment and Costs

[@ericbowers71]

Some great equipment. I'm not a fan of the old school lighting. It will most certainly work but the current LED fixtures these days will work just as well and have a much smaller footprint, less heat generation, better power efficiency and take less power over all. I would've gone with either three Radion XR30 G6's or four Radion XR15 G6's on that tank, depending on your coral plans. No bulb changes needed... :)

[@zburnreefing]

I’ve used all 3 sources of lighting and still prefer MH. All comes down to personal preference though as all grow corals well under each type of lighting. My ATI all T5 fixture certainly grew my corals the fastest on prior tanks. Led still has coverage issues IMO and requires several units for me to be happy. Certainly a few fixtures is fine while corals grow in. Though a watt is a watt, so with several led units you get close to metal halide in terms of power consumption. A single XR30 consumes 200-215 watts, so slightly less than a 250 watt metal halide bulb, but I’d need multiple XR30s. The AI blades, ATI Straton, and Phillips Coral Care are finally getting there with spread and blanket of light. I’m tempted by those units for sure. I just like the look of my SPS under an old radium bulb and will ride the old train just a little longer. Thanks for the feedback though. You definitely can’t go wrong with radions!

[@HondaVlogs]

This is a total random comment, but as you can tell i'm into Honda's and Reef tanks. You sound really close to Garage Built Honda's/Jon Widmer on KZbin in just voice and style of videos lol. Either way, enjoying this build, I'm documenting mind on my other channel IsThisReefing but just enjoy the talking of the hobby. It's all you can get from people and everyone has an opinion. So, I super enjoy you just saying how you do things and I read the comments of people telling everyone how it should be haha. It's your tank! Just enjoy it.

[@queencityreefs]

Looking good 👍🏻 👌🏻

[@zburnreefing]

Thank you so much! Much respect!

[@hurricaneaquatics]

Instant Ocean regular is perfect if you plan on dosing Alk, Calcium Magnesium. I use Red Sea Blue Bucket, but of I were to do it again I would use Instant Ocean and Tropic Marin All for Reef powder to get the levels up. Kalkwasser yes, if you need. You can run you radium bulbs on that ballast for sure. I run 14k Hamilton bulbs with the Reef Brite Ballast and you could run the 20k as well.

[@zburnreefing]

Cool, I'll try a couple radium bulbs and see how they look. Running them at only 250 watts may result in them being too blue or not enough PAR, but sounds like its worth a shot!

[@zburnreefing]

I recall the old magnetic ballasts overdriving them to 300+ watts...which gave them good par and that crisp white color with good color pop.

[@hurricaneaquatics]

@@zburnreefing the REEF Brite electronic ballasts run my 36 inch fixture which is two 14k DE bulbs at 271 watts. A single ended Radium, the RB electronic would be fine. However, RB is now making a new magnetic ballast like you're looking for if you have the funds. It will drive the bulbs higher.

[@hurricaneaquatics]

@@zburnreefing Nice, what PAR were you getting on the your single ended MH with the T5 additions?

[@MW-ut3dk]

Agree with you completely-ran a 50 breeder for years using kalk, AFR, and Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt with nice growth and rock solid KH of 8.5-9, pH of 8.2-8.3. Cheap and effective without dealing with salinity issues with 2 part, and you get the nice pH bump. Now upgraded to waterbox 105 frag and just started dosing kalk after maturing the system for 8 months with all my qt’d fish. Now I’m using IO since I started the new tank with just Marco rock and fish (no need to waste $ on expensive salt). Haven’t changed salt back to TM Reef Pro and honestly the corals look great-alk of 9, pH 8.2, Ca, Mg, NO3, PO4 spot on. May start AFR again when kalk starts reaching its limits. Lots of people rag on IO but you really have to remember large public aquariums have used it for decades with great results. Just need to check parameters on any new bucket of salt to make sure chemistry is correct. Just my 2cents… your mileage may vary. Also sympathize with zburn’s coral pest experience-this time I dipped every coral I transferred from my old tank and I’m qting every new coral that’s going into the new tank.

[@gotriceb248]

I've got the same salt mixture on my first build and my Mg was super low since it seems to be made for fish only tanks i hade to dose a large amount of Mg and switch over to reef salt

[@zburnreefing]

Thanks for the reminder on this. I’ll use the salt up while I build my fish load then will move over to the Red Sea blue bucket I think - before corals start going in. I use to mix instant ocean with another salt to boost mag and calcium I recall with good success, but is kinda a pain. Definitely want mag elevated so as to keep alk/ca. balanced.

[@swissfragreefer]

❤Great content! Keep up the good work. Always like to learn new things😎🪸📸

[@zburnreefing]

Thank you so much for tuning in!

[@gregdepot]

Your running a heater controller not just the apex with the BRS heater right?

[@zburnreefing]

I picked up the brs heater controller when I picked up the heaters so I could regulate temp during the cycle. Now that I have the apex, I was planning to just use that to run when the heaters are on. Is that a bad idea or will that not work? I recall this is how I did things with my old apex jr many years ago.

[@gregdepot]

@@zburnreefingyes kinda a bad idea, heaters constantly turn on and off so it will burn out the apex socket. But you cab use it as a back up fail safe with wider range so you know if the controller fails and to keep it from failing on. Its cheaper to replace the controller at $50-60 vs the apex bar at 2-300

[@zburnreefing]

@@gregdepot thanks, I’ll do that!

[@gregdepot]

@@zburnreefing i may at some point also, I have the A3 JR so don’t have the outlets currently, but have 2 brs heaters each with their own inkbird

[@MoparCrazy803]

I love instant ocean but if your going reef you should use Reef crystals. It will leave a residue in your mixing container but still one of the best salts in my opinion. Now if you want to raise the bar I would use fritz. Anyway, that's a great looking tank and nice equipment. Looks like you're off to a good start.

[@zburnreefing]

I’ve used instant ocean, reef crystals, Red Sea, oceanic, and one or two others. I don’t think they make oceanic anymore, but recall having good success mixing instant ocean and oceanic back in the day. Tbh, I never noticed a difference in growth or coloration as I switched salts. I’ve always just liked IO since it mixes up nicely and quickly. This next round I will move over to reef crystals or Red Sea. Thanks for the feedback!

[@MoparCrazy803]

@@zburnreefing Sounds good, I know your no rookie at reefing. Which method of dosing are you using once you start introducing coral to the system? I personally like Kalk but some live by the 2 part.

[@zburnreefing]

@@MoparCrazy803 I know a little haha, but still learning and appreciate the advice. Some things have changed in the hobby the last few years as well since I’ve been out. The plan is 2 part dosing for now. I’ve actually never used kalkwasser or a calc reactor. One of my past sps dominant tanks that really did well was a challenge with 2 part. I was having to dose quite a bit so maybe a hybrid approach with kalk and 2 part may be something to think about if I can get some sticks growing well.

[@MoparCrazy803]

@@zburnreefing Yes sir, I've seen some great Reef tanks using a little bit of both. I'm a Kalk guy myself but will use 2 part when things decide to get out of wack. Plus Kalk is a lot cheaper but I think the downfall is having to mix so much. I was thinking about trying out BRS 2 part but Brightwell aquatics has a Code A and Code B 2 part that I'm using now. I'm happy with the results so far.

[@simonlockley-evans3925]

Personally I would only use that salt on a fish only system. Before adding any corals I would do an I.C.P as you may need to dose trace elements.

[@zburnreefing]

Hey @simonlockley-evans3925, any recommendations on salt? Would prefer something with an alk close to 8-9. Thanks for the help and guidance!

[@KentuckyReef]

@@zburnreefing I have a sps tank that I have been running reef crystals on for 8 years. It mixes “dirty” (leaves brown film in mixing container) but works fine. Save your money.

[@jesusbarajas9444]

Going for a 350 G2 also

[@zburnreefing]

Excellent choice, I’m really happy with this tank. No regrets….other than the usual thought of wishing I would have gone bigger!

[@jesusbarajas9444]

@@zburnreefing Yups. I'm going from a 40g to this one.. but will do for now. In years to come we'll see if we go bigger 😅

[@CO.Reefing]

Check out my IM 25 gal video and check out that stand. I got it at IKEA! That might look good and work as storage for that ATO container!! Looking good so far though.

[@zburnreefing]

Nice! I just checked out your channel and subscribed. I picked up an IKEA ATO cabinet over the weekend. Just need to find time to throw it together.

[@CO.Reefing]

@@zburnreefing Awesome. Thank you. Can't wait to see how it came out and how you will use it.

[@Jay-uy2fj]

Isn't the Reefer 350 G2 $2399??

[@zburnreefing]

I believe so…just not on Black Friday 😎…all Red Sea tanks were marked down around Thanksgiving time through cyber Monday.

[@stuartkowald2943]

I am sure your happy that’s all you paid as if you price that up now you can double it (June 2023)

[@tellinustr8up]

i would take ecotech lights over the red sea ones any day

[@bwtegu7135]

Scored my reefer 250 w apex, two primes and all the bells and whistles for $500 on a letgo estate sale

[@zburnreefing]

My goodness, what a score my friend. More funds for corals and fish!

[@zburnreefing]

If you haven’t already, be sure to do a leak test and look over those seams closely. If the tank is already setup, congrats!

[@GoldenPreacher]

Mine cost $25k just to start!

[@zburnreefing]

😳!

[@seancolinclark]

Get rid of that flipper before it scratches your tank. Pick up a Tunze care magnet instead.

[@zburnreefing]

Wow, really? Is this from personal experience? I’ll go check out the tunze version, thanks for the warning.