100 gallon miracles cube build

danrobberg

danrobberg

New member
So I think it's time I start my own build thread. I just completed the aquascape (actually my brother who is much better than I am at it did) on my 100 gallon cube tank and want to show it off. I will start from the beginning however.

I have been out of the hobby for about 5 years do to having to take my 120 gallon tank down because I got a job that temporarily moved me out of state. I knew someday I would be back and after much begging of the wife that time has come. I ordered my ghl Mitras light way back in May. This was the very first step to starting the tank. My original plan was a 93 marineland cube but due to very poor quality I decided to have a custom tank built by miracles in Canada. I built the stand myself out of oak 1x4's and some oak plywood. I couldn't believe it but my wife gave me the go ahead on a dreambox for a sump. Royal Exclusiv is awesome to work with and I couldn't be happier. I have a bubble king double cone skimmer with rd3 pump. Return pump is a rd3 80 watt pump. Heaters I kept simple and since I have always had luck in the past went with jäger heaters. I am new to controllers so I am starting with an apex jr. Someone on the forum posted a sale at Drs. Foster and smith and I was able to get two mp40's at 25 percent off. I purchased the plumbing from brs and went with 1 inch schedule 80. For my overflow I went with a reef synergy 16 inch overflow and have it plumbed for a bean animal style drain. It is dead silent along with all the other equipment. The dreambox is located in the basement on a counter I built specifically for it. I bought my live rock from live rock and reef. It is stunning and am very happy with it. I got 20 pounds of gmp premium and 40 pounds of buna ultra. This has been a long process but am thrilled to finally have the tank cycling. Tons of pictures to come soon.
 
I have all the pics on my phone but if I try to upload them they come up as thumbnails. Is there a way to make full size pics with out using photobucket or a similar service?
 
Finally a few pics
 

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Really good looking setup you got there. The Dreambox really complements everything. How have you liked your Mitras leds? From the pictures it seems you have them hung up quite high and that it really covers the whole tank well. Have you any plans for livestocking? :)
 
I really like the spread of the Mitras. I think the software leaves a little to be desired. I think other led have much easier control settings but once you figure it out it's not bad. I have them 12 inches above the water which is the recommended height. I have my first sps frags arriving on Wednesday. Quick question, is it normal to use more alk buffer than calcium buffer for esv bionic? I also recently changed the plumbing. I replaced the return line and used 1.5 inch schedule 80 and wow did it increase flow. I have two very small tangs and two gobies that are doing well. I am dosing nopox and nitrates are undetectable and phosphates are at the lowest color on Red Sea test kit. I have the two vortechs on reef crest in a master slave relationship. The tropic Marin bioactif salt mixes well but has a dkh under 6 which I find strange.
 
Loving that dreambox. Sounds and looks like a nice setup. I have a Miracles tank sitting in my dinning room I need to hurry up and set up myself.
 
danrobberg said:
The tropic Marin bioactif salt mixes well but has a dkh under 6 which I find strange.
Click to expand...

I have also used Tropic Marin bio-actiff salt and had low alkalinity, which seems to be common with it. In UK forums there is some talk about the subject. Otherwise was really good salt. Now I have been trying Aquaforest reef salt and have been very happy with that :)
 
Helfish thanks for the info. I think I will keep using it. My thinking is that it will be easier to raise it to where I want it then to have a salt that mixes to high and have to try to lower it. I don't even know I would do that. The salt mixes real well and doesn't leave any residue. Anybody have any insight on whether or not it is fine to add more alk buffer with the bionic two part than the calc? Also looking at the ingredients I saw that there is copper in the alk buffer, was a little surprised by that.
 
Forgot to mention in first post the tank is 32x32x24. 3 sides starfire and bottom eurobrace. I've mentioned in other threads that I picked the tank up from miracles in Canada and got a tour of their facility. I was very impressed and fascinated with how the tanks are built. Two tanks they were working on that looked amazing were a 15 foot long glass tank and an 8x3 foot tank I wish I could have taken home. Photobucket is a pain to download pics to but when I do I will post a bunch more.
 
It took him about 10 hours. The pics don't do it justice. Il try and take some better ones. I hope that maybe Slief who now works for Royal exclusiv can get the Florida location to start stocking some Dreamboxes. The shipping is what is hard to swallow. The price of the equipment and the sumo actually isn't that bad it's the freight that makes the price so hard to pull the trigger on. If they can get some stock stateside that would reduce the price significantly.
 
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