Drama's 150 Cube build (pics)

[Dramad1]

New tank, new build. Here is a Lil diary of the tank as the build progresses.

 

Tank: 36x36x27 starphire cube 150g Drilled on bottom w/ corner overflow

 

Stand: Blk Marineland w/ sliding sides

 

Sump: SkimzUP30 30x15x16

 

Return pump: Waveline Dc12000

 

Heaters: finnex 800w and temp controller w/ ehiem Jager 300w and marineland 250w back ups

 

Skimmer: Aquamaxx EM-600, about to trade down for the EM-200, may change it up down the road. Edit: new deltec 1456

 

Flow: 2x Maxspect gyre 230 w/new controller

 

Lighting: ATI 36" 10x39w, rebuilt with new fans and ballast. Still working on it. Plan to add some led strips later on.

 

ATO: TUNZE 3155 w/ 9g top off container

 

Rock: Aprox 100# mixed Florida, pukani, brs dry, tonga. 1/2 cured, other half.... need to build a scape, (I may switch to Blk reef saver rock)

 

Misc: BRS net top,2x dj power strips Tonga branch mag rock, maxspect spotlight, 17g quarantine, alternative reef 2 part epoxy scape maker ( might attempt to make a back wall rocky cover for overflow), reactors, pumps

 

Wanted for tank:

Doser

CA reactor

Bio media block

Canopy

Water tanks for storage fresh and mixed.

 

 

Goal for tank: Mixed reef/sps dominate fish farm.

 

 

Story of tank and set up:

Browsing the local forums, an awesome cube popped up for sale. I messaged the seller with my offer and he accepted. Woo-hoo!

Picked up the tank the next day and was surprised, it was brand new and big.

Pic

 

It's a Marineland, extra deep, starphire 36x36x27 cube.

Location, where do i put the tank? Corner or center of wall?where would you put it? Right now it's in the corner because the wife said it cuts the room in half being in the middle. I agree but like being able to access 3 sides being in the middle, 3 viewing angles, 3 maintence sides. In the corner, it opens the room back up, hides the overflow, looks okay, 2 viewing sides.

 

So...

over the past month, I've been trying to get missing pieces for this build. Sump, dry rock, flow, netting, plumbing, etc...etc...

Most of the missing pieces arrived today.

Few pics:

 

 

Now that enough of the pieces are in hand, it's time to get this build together and going. Assuming that I am not asked to work OT This weekend, I plan to get as much of this together as possible, build a rock formation, Screen top and hopefully button up this light and get it hung. But.... if asked to work, then I suppose I will. Need the extra cash, holidays are approaching.

 

I'll post up updates as they occur. Just wanted to share, document new build with a new thread.

 

Plumbing..... I have a durso pipe now, should I go with it or run herbie? Other options???

[pappadumplingz]

This looks like it's gonna shape out to be a great build. Will follow along.

[Dramad1]

Awesome...thanx^^^

 

The jungle of wires awaits

[Sancho]

Are there enough holes for a herbie?

[Dramad1]

Are there enough holes for a herbie?

I got 2x holes for 1 1/2" bulkheads. I can drill the back behind overflow for return or run it over the top

[Sancho]

I like the herbie style. They run quiet and that emergency drain is extra piece of mind.

[Dramad1]

Build begins.

 

1st, I installed a Lil t5 in the stand so I could see what I was doing

 

Next I unboxed the sump and assembled.

Very nice imo, has nice Lil features like, cord holders, dual level sock holders, probe rack, dosing tube holders, an ato section- small but okay, adjustable gate for skimmer level and finally covers (lids) with cord notches for Heaters or ato.

After unboxing, I leak tested the sump. Thought I snapped a pic but couldn't find it in my gallery. I left it filled all morning and then drained and dried at about 4pm, then placed in the stand on a piece of foam.

I then had to decide on plumbing. Ugggh. I went with the durso but may change to the herbie. The tank came with the durso set up and has been Drilled for all the syphon breaks (on return and drain lines). I'm going to install a screen on the drain to prevent anything from entering. Drain is 1 1/2" then reduces down to 1" after Bulkhead. Really kinda worried about it clogging. I also plan to do a acrylic cover for the overflow to prevent algae and critters from climbing over.

Your probably wondering, what are those cords in the above picture. They would be for the power center, 2 dj power strips. The power supplies fit perfect in the side opening and accessibility for equip plug in was easily in reach.

 

Wife walked into this when she got home from work, tank stuff everywhere, lol

 

Next up was the return pump. Unboxed and spent a half hour trying to get some vinyl tubing over the barbed fitting that came with the pump. I ended up heating up some water and letting the hose soak for 5 minutes at a time then worked the tubing onto the barb fitting Lil by Lil. I repeated the steps until the tubing was flush at the base of barb fitting the installed onto pump.

 

Got the return in and moved on to the gyre. I must admit, I felt a Lil cheated after the unboxing. I ran an older 150 on a 125g I had set up and that gyre felt beefy, build quality on point, small controller. It just felt more.......better. I unboxed this newer gen 230 w/ controller and...... controller was awesome but the gyre itself seemed cheap, thinner plastic, almost looked kinda tweeked in the box, smaller than I imagined, after a quick once or twice over, seemed like the build quality was lacking and they were being pumped out by children in North Korea. I'm hoping once the tank is wet, that the performance of the new gyre is up to par for my tank. I was planning on ordering another 230, but now may be looking into the 250 or 280 with another controller or just skipping all together and going with a pair of mp10's or one mp40. I may he over reacting at this point, I just felt like I received a cheaper version of the original.

Here's the controller which looks awesome and has great reviews

 

Playing with placement on the tonga mag rock. I tried to put it on the overflow but the stand pipes are in the way for the magnet.

 

After all this, I mounted the ballast and controllers, no pics but will snap some tomorrow. I did a Lil wire management as well as cord labeling for easy plug and un plug. I then had to pick it up for the night. Dinner and kids

Still need to install ato, Heater, make screen top, install reactors,ore wire and tube management, water mixing and storage station. I can keep going but...........it's getting there.

 

I did have a question. It is about my heater. Unfortunately it is to big to fit in my sump with out getting in the way of my skimmer and or filter socks. Would it be okay to mount the heater behind the overflow? Water level seem to stay the same, I don't see why I couldn't but thought I'd ask and or verify if this is okay/ good or bad idea.

More tinkering with the build tomorrow. Updates as they happen.

thanks for stopping by.

[pappadumplingz]

Damn that is one sexy sump. Seen a few people buy some pre fab sumps and they all loom really nice. You have really gone all out with the gear.

[Dramad1]

Damn that is one sexy sump. Seen a few people buy some pre fab sumps and they all loom really nice. You have really gone all out with the gear.

Thanks, the sump is pretty sweet. I was originally looking at a biotech sump as they have many cool features and build quality is top notch, but this one was a few hundred cheaper but with a lot of cool features as well.

As far as equipment, I'd rather take time getting what I would like on a system than buying cheap, then upgrading, then upgrading again etc. I know , hypo- crit, lol.

You will spend way more doing it that way then just saving and buying a piece at a time and waiting for set up. It's pricey though for sure. Having a sick as reef tank though.....................................................

 

 

 

......-priceless?

[Dramad1]

Cooked some rock that I had laying around yesterday as well as some brs dry rock. I may have cooked it to long because it exposed some nasty stuff inside of rock.

I'm letting it all dry out right now but am having thoughts of even using any of it. I'll get some pics of the actual rock later so everyone can see what I'm referring to.

 

I also worked on a screen top. I have a glass top but figured I make a screen one for better water to air mix esp during summer.

.

Shoot gotta head into work I'm late more updates later

[jedimasterben]

dayum.

[Shoob1e]

what did you build the screen out of looks nice.

[Dramad1]

what did you build the screen out of looks nice.

Thanks, I found some vinyl screen kit at a local tool store and some brs 1/4" netting. I also Drilled two holes and notched out the edges on 2 sides of the top and installed rubber grommets for the gyre cords, still completely removable with out having to unplug or reroute cords.

 

Still waiting to hear back from real reef about some new Blk real reef rock. It looked awesome at macna.

Tomorrow is election day, boss gave me the day off. Guess I'll go vote early. Who you voting for? I'm still undecided.

I am also supposed to receive my new skimmer tomorrow but I just checked tracking and it's showing, delayed. So if not tomorrow, hopefully for sure by Wednesday. I'll post some pics when it arrives. I'm excited, not a kz rev m. But close.

Updates as they happen, thanks again for checking out the build.

[Dramad1]

Lil unboxing for everyone.?

 

 

 

 

 

Like a glove!

 

 

Enjoy, I know I do

[Dramad1]

Diy cheato reactor, once wet it will be installed on this tank. Grows cheato like a boss and houses tons of pods.

Crappy night pic

Bored.

[Cencalfishguy56]

Diy cheato reactor, once wet it will be installed on this tank. Grows cheato like a boss and houses tons of pods.

Crappy night pic

Bored.

only took you forever to get another tank up lol

[Dramad1]

It's an addiction, you know this! I kinda enjoy taking my time and piecing a system all together as well.

I'm debating sand or bb right now. I love the look of sand but hate the tritous and nasty build up inside. Bb is awesome but you have to scrub the bottom of the tank all the time, only looks good for a week before having to do a good cleaning. The reflection my fish get, trips them out sometimes. Starboard?

I think I'm leaning toward sand just for the fish and Lil critters that will enjoy it. Wrasse's, jawfish, snails, conchs etc etc. Special grade. I would do Blk but hate that magnetic crap in it and always end up catching a piece in the mag cleaner eventually scratching the glass up.

Glass or bb.

I dried out my rock in the sun for a few days after a lil acid bath. I then went through my rock and picked out the yucks with dental tools and a nylon brush. Lots of dead crap and stuff I didn't want in this tank. It is now sitting in a tote of water for a week to leach out any left over acid or phosphate or whatever may be in it. Then I will dry it out again and attempt a scape after. This is all left over rock from my last 3 tanks. I have about another 50# of cured pest free rocks in my 34 and a quarantine tank that I plan to use to help reseed this rock.

Up in the air about a scape atm. Low profile scape or a couple columns with tables popping out here and there or the old pile o rocks to a floating stack

Humm

I'm blabbing, thanks for stopping by . I've got 2 days a week to try and put this all together, working alot on it lately in preparation and plans to get wet asap. Still want to figure out a few more things.

Ordered my doser yesterday .

[Dramad1]

Happy early black Friday to me

[Dramad1]

Lil update:

 

Installed the ato

 

Worked on cleaning up the wiring and labeling switches/cords

 

Lil side out controller stand

 

 

Worked on some of the scape, glued and epoxied. Plan to finish up dry rock tomorrow. Still have about 40# of live cured rock to play with.

 

 

 

Picked up a couple bags of special grade. I'm not sure how deep I want the sand as of yet. I may need another bag or 2

 

 

Picked up some accent lighting and mounting clips for my ati fixture.

 

 

I made a Lil doser shelf. I need to sand it up and mount in the cabinet and figure out my containers as well as get some tubing. Anyone know where I can get some nice tubing for the doser. From doser to sump and doser to containers. Is regular airline tubing okay? My old bm had some neoprene style tubing. I have looked around and haven't found much besides what appears to be standard airline.

 

This weekend I plan on rinsing the sand, finishing up gluing and epoxy the dry rock, finish wiring, figure out hanging spot and install mount for light, picking up 80g of scripts then maybe make a second trip for another 80g and hopefully if all goes well....start filling this baby up.

 

I have 2 other tanks that will eventually transfer into this tank. Plan to help the cycle along with Dr tims amoninium chloride and microbacter7. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll have time to get it completely filled this weekend but I'm going to try. Super close now.

[Lawnman]

That's a big ass cube!

[Dramad1]

That's a big ass cube!

Lol

[Lawnman]

Lol

Following

[Dramad1]

So 80# of sand has been rinsed thoroughly and placed in the tank, I'm looking at 1 1/2"-2 1/2" spread through out the tank, debating on another 20#'s for some wrasse that likes to burrow at night or that sifter or shrimp I may want down the road. What do you think?

 

 

I spent most of my morning procrastinating about the tank and then spent the afternoon back and forth to the hardware store trying to find the right bolts and butterfly flappers for my ati hanging kit. I got that finished up, just finished dinner with my boys and now am trying to finish up gluing and epoxy ing the rock scape.

I Plan to get water tomorrow. I need some hose or tubing to transfer water to the tank since I don't have my water storage set up atm. It's about 50' run from my closest door to the tank.

Still need to figure out the doser location and tackle the rest of the wiring. My light is still a jumble of wires. I need to solder the power wire, fan and plug on, then figure out how to fit all that mess inside the light and close it up then mount the reefbrites.

So I'm in a time crunch. Seems like so much to do still. Hopefully I can get the tank filled and start the cycle already. Probably gonna be without a light for a minute but I can go without while the tank does its thing for a month.

More to come, I'll keep ya posted, thanks for stopping by

[mpsti05]

I think that's plenty of sand! Looking good

[Dramad1]

Update:

 

Still not wet?

Just when things were starting to move with the build, I had to put it on hold.

 

So, I have a 10 bulb powermodule that I had planned to send off to Dave for rebuild. Long story short, what i wanted would have required the led components to be ran outside the fixture, lol longer build time not to mention the light was a complete tear down, rewire and rebuild. After thinking about the cost and shipping to and from as well as the exterior components...... I backed out and just decided to find a sunpower instead.

Dent and ding sale had some 8x39w for 460$, so I grabbed one up. It arrive packaged like New. I can't find a ding or scratch on it besides a small scratch on the protective film of the acrylic splash guard.

 

Picked up some bulbs from bra and used some points I had built up. Got all 8 bulbs for  $100 + tax. Great deal imo, thanks brs.

[/bra.

 

So today I plan to tackle mounting my reefbrites into the fixture but not exactly sure how to go about it. Can I get some advice from the community with some pics for as visual guide for me to understand what I'm doing and get an idea how to mount.

 

I lined up the reefbrites on the side of the fixture. After looking at it, I'd like to try and mount them on the bottom angle of the fixture, kinda tilting inwards but still able to turn the leds to the angle I desire. In doing so, I don't want to block the slide for the splash guard. Can I get some ideas, pointers possibly pics of your mounting style.

 

I'm hoping to get the reefbrites installed on fixture and then hang the light today. Then finish up my wiring, install fan in cabinet where sump is, build an acrylic box or something to block off my dj power strips from the moisture in the cabinet from the sump. Then get it wet.