NanoClown Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Introduction As some of you guys know, I have been looking to upgrade my Fluval Spec V to something larger. I have been looking for something less than 30 gallons that wouldn't take up a huge amount of space. I have had all in ones in the past, but I really wanted a sump with my next tank I was planning on setting up a 40B but I dont have the space for it anymore. Anyways, I met a local a few months ago who had a very nice Mr.Aqua 25g cube (18") that he was planning to tear down. Fast forward to today.... I am now the owner of said setup FTS September 29, 2014 Equipment List Tank: Mr.Aqua 25g Cube, 18"Drilled, with an internal overflow box which hides both the drain and return.Sump: custom acrylic 16.5"x16.5"x12" (~14 gallons, in reality probably only holds around 10)3 chambers (skimmer, refugium, return)Skimmer: Bubble Magus NAC 5.5 (extreme overkill but I don't mind )Return Pump: ViaAqua VA-1800 (480gph)Heater: Ebo Jager 100w (will probably be replaced with a Cobalt Neo-Therm)Controller: Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Lite - Plus, With ALC module to control custom LED array. Auto Top Off: Tunze Osmolator Nano 3152, 10g reservoir Lights: Custom LED array (rather simple with just white/blue CREE brand LEDs). It will be controlled by my RKL with an ALC module. I plan to upgrade to a NanoBox retrofit using 2 of Dave's 13up boards sometime in the future, but for now I'm going to stick with the current LEDs. Water Movement: Dual Jebao RW-4 pumps 4 Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 photo dump! excuse the messy couch lol http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo3.jpg.html'> http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo1.jpg.html'> drivers, control box, and ALC module already mounted inside the stand http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo2.jpg.html'> some shots of the lights it came with, for being a DIY fixture I am amazed with the quality that it is made out of. http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo1-1.jpg.html'> http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo2-1.jpg.html'> http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo3-1.jpg.html'> 4 Quote Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 wow! this is a really really nice setup. love the overflow. did the stand come with the tank too? everything fits so perfectly. Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 wow! this is a really really nice setup. love the overflow. did the stand come with the tank too? everything fits so perfectly. Thanks Ninja, I really like the overflow as well. The return is hidden very well inside of there for a sleek finish. I plan to paint the back wall black sometime when I get the chance. The tank came with the stand. The guy I bought it from made it, and the sump to fit perfect together. Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 Should be ordering some more things for the tank, I hope to have it all setup within the next couple of weeks. I still need to fill in my order at BRS, work out a deal for this RKL, and order a pair of Jebao RW4 pumps from ebay Quote Link to comment
CustomAquariumBx Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Wow this looks so good! I love how clean the overflow looks! 1 Quote Link to comment
AbeHeinkel Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Such a pretty set-up. Can't wait to see it stocked!! 1 Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 5, 2014 Author Share Posted September 5, 2014 Wow this looks so good! I love how clean the overflow looks! Thanks! I love how the overflow hides the return, but I think I might change some of the pluming from the return so I can put an actual bulkhead on the overflow box. We'll see if I do any mods before I get things filled up. Such a pretty set-up. Can't wait to see it stocked!! Thank you! It should look well stocked as soon as I move over everything from my Spec V. I've just been waiting on more equipment to come in before I do anything. I just ordered a pair of RW4 from ebay. They should be here next Friday Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 My pair of RW4s came in the mail today, Ill post up a couple pics of them a little later when I get home Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo1-2.jpg.html'> http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo2-2.jpg.html'> http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo3-3.jpg.html'> The instructions that they came with are almost useless, but if you are able to piece together the broken english then you should be good to go 3 Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 I got a chance to install a bulkhead on the return instead of it having hard plumbing like before. http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo2-3.jpg.html'> http://s1220.photobucket.com/user/to-turo/media/MrAqua%2025g%20Cube/photo1-3.jpg.html'> Overall I think this makes it look a lot more flush than it was before. I'm a happy camper 1 Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 I spent the whole day getting the tank set up! The water is still cloudy so i'll be sure to take some photos of the aquascape and sump after it clears up tomorrow. I'm still waiting for my RKL to come in the mail so that I could get the lights working on timers and such. Hopefully it gets here before I leave on a work-related trip this next week. I am assuming I can skip a cycle altogether or just have a mini cycle. All of the live rock that I used was already cycled together, I also added a few pounds of live rock from the Spec V that didn't have any corals on them. I made sure all of the rock was cured of pests and I even scrubbed them of hair algea and bryopsis before doing my aquascape. My Spec V now looks like a frag tank lol I plan to test the water parameters over the next week. I plan to transfer over all of my livestock after I come back from my trip. Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 I got a chance to take a few pics now that the water is a less cloudy. Cheers! (I still need to invest in a camera iphone pics ftw?) All of my wires are messy right now so I'll take some pics of inside of my stand later lol 4 Quote Link to comment
MrNanoReef Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Off to a great start! following your progress 1 Quote Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 sexy! looks soo good. this is definitely an upgrade to the spec 1 Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 Off to a great start! following your progress Thanks! I've been following your Mr.Aqua 12 gallon build. I am amazed with your DIY skills sexy! looks soo good. this is definitely an upgrade to the spec Thanks Ninja! I plan to move over the rest of my corals from the spec when I get back next week, right now I just have a few rocks with mushrooms in there. I'm excited to be able to keep more fish 1 Quote Link to comment
MrNanoReef Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Thanks! I've been following your Mr.Aqua 12 gallon build. I am amazed with your DIY skills Thanks man! Yours is looking great so far, did you make that overflow box? looking all pro 1 Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 Thanks man! Yours is looking great so far, did you make that overflow box? looking all pro I wish I had the skills to make an overflow box like this. Most of the DIY work was done by the previous owner, all I had to do was buy some equipment and get everything set it up 1 Quote Link to comment
Reefwiser Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 How are two RW-4's doing in the tank You must have had to turn them down some. Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 How are two RW-4's doing in the tank You must have had to turn them down some. Honestly I could have gotten away with just 1, but I like the added random flow that having 2 of them provide. I have them running on "C" mode (alternating mode) with about 4 second delay between the pumps. Intensity is only at 20% (2 lights on?) for each pump. If I go any higher it pushes over my sandbed. Overall I am very happy with the RW-4's, if I went bare-bottom on this setup I wouldn't mind turning them up a little bit more. For their size these pumps sure do have a lot of power, for the price they really can't be beat. Quote Link to comment
Reefwiser Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Thanks I was wondering if one would do. Also looking at the Riptide pump. 1 Quote Link to comment
NanoClown Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 quick update: going to go to the LFS tomorrow and pick up a few more small things. It looks like im all cycled already (I knew it would be short considering most of my LR was already cured and cycled). Hopefully i'll have all of my livestock transferred over this weekend. Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Great looking scape, perfect for a cube! Quote Link to comment
Begow Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Dude! The tank looks awesome, really digging your set up.. so clean! Quote Link to comment
reefernanoman Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Man, your setup is cool! Quote Link to comment
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