93 cube build

[slm222]

I'm starting this thread to document my second tank which should show to be a long process as I want to do it right. This will be set up in my Newhouse which we are closing on Thursday, that's why it will take awhile painting and flooring and all. Input would be greatly appreciated.

Tank: 93 cube marineland Frameless RR 30x30x24 (already purchased from reef valley for an awesome deal)

stand: I want to custom build it.

lighting: ? I'm leaning towards the Ai Sol, Maxspect Razor, or a custom Rapid LED. I know I want sunrise and sunset programs

skimmer: bubble Magnus Nac 6 or7

sump: ?

Stock: just know it will be mixed coral and fish.... I'd like to do ORA snowflake clowns. Maybe a flasher wrasse.. Not sure what else. For coral I like Zoas a lot and sponges. I just know I want color and diversity. Maybe a small school of blue/green reef chromis

[Zack]

Why not the hydra or the vega?

Just curious, btw, post some pics of the tank, that tank sounds AMAZING.

[footballdude2k3]

What are you doing for flow? If you are open to it, I would do VorTech Pumps and Radion lighting, they work together and have a ton of options, i.e thunderstorm.

[slm222]

Why not the hydra or the vega?

Just curious, btw, post some pics of the tank, that tank sounds AMAZING.

Lighting I'm open to whatever is good out there. I'm just going on what I have read. If there's something that is more effective for reef keeping.
i will get pics as soon as I can I have it stored away asto not damaged the move.

[slm222]

What are you doing for flow? If you are open to it, I would do VorTech Pumps and Radion lighting, they work together and have a ton of options, i.e thunderstorm.

I was thinking of doing vortech pumps.i did notice they were connectable and thought that was a cool feature.


Not sure what to do for a return pump. The equipment it has is rated for 700gph.

[Zack]

I'd go hydra, especially if your thinking sols. Same price point, much better controls, much more led colors, and a much more "new" fixture.

[slm222]

Im looking at the Hydra and it looks nice. id like to see the actual colors in a tank in-person. or atleast get feedback from someone who has it. On another note does anyone have any advice on an ATS system versus Filter sock and Skimmer?

[Zack]

I'll let you know when i get mine!

[slm222]

21403214042140521406my 3/12 year old for comparison...eh he is happy.

[reefreak]

WOW! Stunning tank! Looking forward to this build.

[Zack]

I've actually seen this in person before. Do they offer a center overflow option?

[Madfragger]

I'm jealous!! I saw this tank at a store in Austin few months ago and fell in love, been planning on upgrading to it in the near future. Great foot print and being frameless makes it even better!

[slm222]

Thanks I love the foot print. I don't think they offer a center flow. But that sounds like an awesome idea

Building the stand is the next step. Every stand I've seen is just the plywood holding up the tank. Every time I build something I always use a frame of 2x4 or 4x4. So I'm wondering if anyone has any advice

[reefreak]

I've always liked the dsa stands for the rimless tanks, I think they're neat might wana check them out.

[slm222]

any advice on how many power heads I should use. I was thinking an MP40. but giving the price is one sufficient or would to be better. or should I go with jbj or hydor.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

you could probably do 2 MP10s on opposite sides, instead of 1 mp40. you would have more control in your sw movement in the tank. or 2 mp40s opposite sides

4 mp10s, with 2 on each side spaced diffferently would me neat too for different sw movement

in addition you also have your return too

[BBQHILLBILLY]

congrats on the tank, very nice looking tank

[Madfragger]

I'm planning on this exact tank in the near future as far as the stand goes I'm going with Marineland's Ventura stand for the price I don't think I could build a stand cheaper and its always easier if for whatever reason if there's a warranty issue with a tank if the manufactures stand is being used then there can be no finger pointing saying the stand was not built properly. I don't knkw about Marinelands warranty but there are a lot of manufactures that will not warranty a tank if their stands are not used.

As far as flow goes I'm waiting on my 2 Jabeo wp25 to come in from the group buy should be plenty of flow from thw videos I've been seeing on these bad boys at only a fraction of the cost of the vortexs

[Madfragger]

As far as the JBJ go I have the 2 1600gph with the ocean pulse on my current 65g (36x18x 24) and I personally don't like the amount of flow I'm getting from them in this tank so if I decided to use them on the 93 I get another set of them. Plus they're big and bulky in my tank

[Big_Pun]

at elegant reef they have a 36x36 cube with one mp-40 and it produces good flow. the diff is it has a over flow in center but without that you should be better off. so yes on 40 should be fine until things grow

[Paul28]

Very nice tank your going to love those overflows they take water from the bottom and top I love mine

[footballdude2k3]

I have always had the best luck with VorTech, I am getting 2 MP40's for my 125.

[slm222]

Very nice tank your going to love those overflows they take water from the bottom and top I love mine

Thank you. I love that style of overflow since the first time I saw it. it never made sense in my find to grab only water from the surface and upon sitting and watching my biocube take water from top and mid bottom I always see more trash being sucked in the bottom that the top.

[slm222]

I have always had the best luck with VorTech, I am getting 2 MP40's for my 125.


Im really leaning towards the Vortech pumps and radion pro for my lighting and flow needs. and a sicce 3.5 for the return line. I like the flexibility and controls offered by vortech

[Madfragger]

Sounds like its going to be an awesome setup!!

[slm222]

Been a little bit. But I'm in my "new to me" house. Got the wood floors laid and furniture moved in. So time for an update. I just cut the wood for the tank stand. Because I want it taller than 28 inches, which is the factory stand that can be purchased with the tank, I decided to build a stand that is 34 inches tall with the dimensions of 30 x 30. I have to build it into sections to be able to fit through the doorway since my fish room only has a doorway of about 28 inches. So this should be interesting, I will post pictures as I go along. So feel to critique so I can get it right on the first go around. I'm build the frame out of 2x4s and the top will have a 3/4 inch piece of plywood for the tank to sit on.

[Madfragger]

I have the factory stand on mine and I really like being able to get to th bottom of my tank without a step stool but the extra room underneath the stand would have also been nice. I would have had room for my PC4s and cords had I had the extra height in the stand. Looking forward to seeing the progress.

[slm222]

Thanks. That's the exact reason I wanted the taller tank. I wanted everything to be able to fit under the stand without have to build any additional storage

[Madfragger]

Just out of curiosity how did you get the tank in the fish room?

[slm222]

Turn it on its side. And carried it in.

[Madfragger]

Lol guess I didn't think that question thru

[slm222]

Here's the stand I came up with. Each half is 15x30x34.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/16/evy3eme9.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/16/ru3ejegu.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/16/y3abaje8.jpg

[slm222]

Made some changes and turn the legs around to gain more room under stand. Checked everything and it came out level.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/17/eryrahyv.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/17/vude2aqa.jpg

[Madfragger]

Nice looking stand man!

[slm222]

Nice looking stand man!

Thanks. I just got the tank and foam on it and will upload pictures soon.

[Madfragger]

Awesome when do plan to get get it wet?

[slm222]

After I get the plumbing in which I just got the 20 gallon I'm going to use for the sump and need to order the sump kit from ebay unless I can find someone I can pay to cut the plexi glass for the dividers.

[slm222]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/17/a9ypy9et.jpg

[Madfragger]

On a few of the tanks that I made into sumps I went to home dwpot to buy the plexi glass, they also sell a cutting for a few bucks

[Madfragger]

A cutting tool* I can't type today

[slm222]

Halfway done with the stand. Just need to trim it out tomorrow and paint it. Then bring it in and start putting water in it. Sand and rock hopefully next week.

[slm222]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/26/ygy7uja7.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/26/u8amusat.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/26/pamyba7a.jpg

[slm222]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/27/a8evanu7.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/27/u5a8e5y4.jpg

[reefreak]

Looking good!

[slm222]

Thanks. I hope to have it painted and ready to add water tomorrow.

[slm222]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/evuhu6er.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/9uqa9age.jpg

[slm222]

Sand and rock in. What'll y'all think.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/10/upasyzyp.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/10/ujy3e9ed.jpg

[slm222]

Got the sump and plumping mostly done. Just missing 2 more 45s.

Tank already has about 88 gallons in it and has been cycling.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/08/jygatute.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/08/resa9eze.jpg

[BBQHILLBILLY]

great job on that stand

[Zen Reef]

Looks great! They sell an all plastic hose bib valve at lowes and Home Depot. Should be the same thread type as the brass one you have there. I would switch out for the plastic one.

[Big_Pun]

Looks great! They sell an all plastic hose bib valve at lowes and Home Depot. Should be the same thread type as the brass one you have there. I would switch out for the plastic one.

Agree buddy did this mistake and had so many problems with fish. Didn't figure it till he was so fed up and we tore down tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)

[ramsey]

Looks great! They sell an all plastic hose bib valve at lowes and Home Depot. Should be the same thread type as the brass one you have there. I would switch out for the plastic one.

For sure! Brass is an alloy made from COPPER and zinc. I'd get it out of there right away and possibly test for copper if you've had any of your water run through it.

[slm222]

I did it till I could find the PVC one. Have run water through it yet. Thanks for the heads up. That's what I was looking for but Home Depot where I'm at didn't have one. I'll go to lowes. Glad y'all caught it before I lost any fish!

[slm222]

Ok, I've had everything running for a bit and I must say the speedline dc pump is quite.

Another good note is I've seen a lot of pods all over every glass surface. I have a lot of base rock and only seeded with a 1 pound piece of live rock from my biocube. Has been running since December 18th. Awaiting lights and thenwill transition everything over from the bio cube.

[slm222]

hydra 52 and director in. Thanks to Andres on coming over and adding an extra pair of hands and eyes. 0 on nitrates, phosphates and ammonia. Fish going in tonight and coral on the weekend after a thorough dip so this tank can be a entirely and 100% pest free. At least that's the premise. I know ill accidentally get them in sooner or later. But pods are everywhere.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/16/myhytuhy.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/16/abahyras.jpg

[slm222]

Heres my Settings on Director

23335

[slm222]

Anyone have any advice or tips for taking pictures with led lights? I'm getting bands going across when I try.

[350gt]

Bands across??....

Use manual mode and nothing else.... Idk what kind of camera ur shooting with but white balance is what u need to adjust to get accurate colors.

I took a few new ones the other day but want to take some more when i get time..

Tank looks good... Thanks for scooping up that allan sized frag... Did it make the trip okay?

[slm222]

I figured out the banding issue. I'm using an dslr nikon the pictures come out good. The banding happens on my phone camera. Appreciate it, the frag made it great and only had a small piece frag itself.

[Andresm]

Love the tank, can't wait to see the growth in it.. Had fun help u, even though i didn't do much lol

[BattleAthletics]

What happened to this? Sold it yet?

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

[slm222]

Hasn't sold yet, but it is for sale. Hopefully I can get it sold soon. All my coral has been moved over to andresm tank until the new tank is stable.

I have a 120 I'm setting up right now in a different room I got for a great price from ratatooey.

[BattleAthletics]

Nice man, have you been by glenns place?

[slm222]

I went by once. Bought several nice things. I want to go again once the tank is stable and ready for coral. Andres lives down the road from me, he went the other day and for a couple nice things he showed me.


You go by there recently?