ReefWaters
Premium Member
I have started to use the mix of putty and gel as well. I found that neither work great on their own but they work great together.
240 Gallon Cube Tank Photo Diary
- Thread starter sonofgaladriel
- Start date
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
i keep forgetting to use the epoxy and super glue method. guess i should do that instead of straight SG so they hold better 
Lunchbucket
Lunchbucket
cleaning
cleaning
Noticed you said you'd clean the acrylic before taking more pics. Was wondering how you clean, with what devices or tools, what's the best way for acrylic not to scratch, and how much time it takes. The only reason I have been shying away from getting an acrylic tank was b/c I hear they always scratch so much and so easily - wondering your thoughts on this. Glass seems so much less prone to this issue.
Otherwise, cudos on on your whole setup ... it is just awesome.
Keep it up.
Matt
cleaning
Noticed you said you'd clean the acrylic before taking more pics. Was wondering how you clean, with what devices or tools, what's the best way for acrylic not to scratch, and how much time it takes. The only reason I have been shying away from getting an acrylic tank was b/c I hear they always scratch so much and so easily - wondering your thoughts on this. Glass seems so much less prone to this issue.
Otherwise, cudos on on your whole setup ... it is just awesome.
Keep it up.
Matt
sonofgaladriel
Shiny!
Thanks lowem! I use an old credit card to scrape the acrylic. If you're careful, you can avoid scratches, but inevitably, they happen. However, they don't really bother the viewing pleasure unless you focus on them. Scratches can easily be buffed out as well.
ReefWaters
Premium Member
What are the big reasons to stay away from glass on your next tank that you have found through your research? I have seen many "braceless" glass tanks from overseas. I guess the biggest question to ask, is which is more expensive, a 1" thick piece of acrylic or a 1" thick piece of glass? Also, I dont know how well it worked out, but I saw a thread where thy guy had a metal skirt frame made to go around the top, outside of his acrylic cube so that the acrylic wouldnt bow as much at the top and he didnt have to have any acrylic bracing. Just some thoughts..... 
sonofgaladriel
Shiny!
I'm staying away from glass for several reasons. First is the clarity issue, second is strength, third is flexibility, fourth is weight, and fifth is safety. I think acrylic proves better in all areas over glass.
The ONLY reason to consider glass for any tank, in my humble opinion, is for its scratch resistance and its relatively cheap cost for smaller tanks under 180 gallons.
On a tank 6'x6'x30" I would never consider glass, especially since I have kids and a pool table
I have considered the metal bracing around the top perimeter of this next big semi cube, but I'd much rather spend more for thicker side panels and keep the totally clean and bright look of the acrylic's polished edge.
Thanks for the input.
The ONLY reason to consider glass for any tank, in my humble opinion, is for its scratch resistance and its relatively cheap cost for smaller tanks under 180 gallons.
On a tank 6'x6'x30" I would never consider glass, especially since I have kids and a pool table
I have considered the metal bracing around the top perimeter of this next big semi cube, but I'd much rather spend more for thicker side panels and keep the totally clean and bright look of the acrylic's polished edge.
Thanks for the input.
sonofgaladriel
Shiny!
Thanks Max! Somedays if feels like yesterday, somedays it feels like a decade.
xtrstangx
Premium Member
No problem. I know how you feel.. seems like I've had this tank running forever.
I've been holding off buying corals till I get the new setup going. But once its up, I'm hoping to fill it with some nice SPS. You are first in line for frags.
The 6'x6' sounds huge. Is that the room behind the tank now?
I reread the whole thread today.. did you ever need a chiller?
I've been holding off buying corals till I get the new setup going. But once its up, I'm hoping to fill it with some nice SPS. You are first in line for frags.
The 6'x6' sounds huge. Is that the room behind the tank now?
I reread the whole thread today.. did you ever need a chiller?
sonofgaladriel
Shiny!
Yes, the 6x6 will most likely go into that spare bedroom behind my tank. The good thing about that is I can run the sump area through the wall into my furnace/storage room and really go to town with a larger sump/refugium/etc..
I have not yet needed a skimmer. My basement stays pretty cool with all of our trees and since its facing North. My tank did reach 83.5 last summer with the halides on full blast. Not too bad and nothing seemed the worse for wear.
I'm excited to see your new set up too. How's that comming?
I have not yet needed a skimmer. My basement stays pretty cool with all of our trees and since its facing North. My tank did reach 83.5 last summer with the halides on full blast. Not too bad and nothing seemed the worse for wear.
I'm excited to see your new set up too. How's that comming?
xtrstangx
Premium Member
Since Pat is moving to a bigger store, he has to order a complete set of new tanks. He's ordering my tank for me with that order. So I am getting a very custom tank for about the same price as an AGA 120g RR.
Only problem is he is moving a bit slower on his order than I had hoped/anticipated. He said the tanks will be ordered on Monday, but I think it will be another 4-6 weeks before they are finished building.
I'm excited though. I'm trying BB this time around, we'll see how that goes.
I saw you a few weekends ago working at Pat's new store in the mall. We were peeking through the holes in glass.
It'd be nice to put a sump in your the furnace room. I'm surprised you have your 240g on such a small sump, right now though.
Sorry to hijack your thread.
Only problem is he is moving a bit slower on his order than I had hoped/anticipated. He said the tanks will be ordered on Monday, but I think it will be another 4-6 weeks before they are finished building.
I'm excited though. I'm trying BB this time around, we'll see how that goes.
I saw you a few weekends ago working at Pat's new store in the mall. We were peeking through the holes in glass.
It'd be nice to put a sump in your the furnace room. I'm surprised you have your 240g on such a small sump, right now though.
Sorry to hijack your thread.
thesaent14
In Memoriam
hello i am looking to make my cube any of you can help me deside if i drill the bottom of the tank and make my overflow and returns from there o like in this post ? on the back of the tank whats beter
thanks
thesaent14
by the way this tank got me to like cubes is a nice worck of art man
thanks
thesaent14
by the way this tank got me to like cubes is a nice worck of art man
xtrstangx
Premium Member
thesaent: If the cube isn't freestanding in the middle of the room (viewable from all 3 sides), then I would put the overflow in the center of the tank. If it is going to be viewed from all 4 sides, then a center overflow is probably best.
Center overflows seem much harder to work on and look funny if you don't aquascape it right.
Have you thought about doing an external overflow? That will free up room inside the tank, but you'll still have the benefits of a drilled overflow and room to work.
Center overflows seem much harder to work on and look funny if you don't aquascape it right.
Have you thought about doing an external overflow? That will free up room inside the tank, but you'll still have the benefits of a drilled overflow and room to work.
sonofgaladriel
Shiny!
Hi mwood!
Currently, I don't have any problem with humidity as the room the 4x4 is in is 30'x24' with a 12' ceiling and a large open stairway leading to the open first floor only 10 feet from the tank.
If I move the 6x6 into the spare bedroom, I doubt I'll have any humidity issues in there either as that room is 20'x 16' also with a 12' ceiling. If I do run into any humidity issues, it will be very easy to install a vent fan running to the outside of the house, or purchase a small dehumidifier for that room.
Similar threads
