260g cube build

[speedstar]

OK I have had this tank sitting around now for months, it is time to get started on it. Tank is 50X50X24
The Plan

1) Basement Sump
2) Flow return will be a Seq 3200 Alternating 2 eductors
3) CL on iwaki70 on oceansmotion 4way
4) Bare Bottom
5) Lighting will be 2 400w 10K's(light mover) w/t5 for blues
6) Geo Ca Reactor
7) H&S skimmer current, will be upgrading too a octopus nw300 (money dictates this, wish i could afford bigger H&S)
8) Top off's via litermeter 3
9) Going to complete the stand in ceramic tile (really liked this on my last tank)
10) Tank will be SPS dominated
11) going to try for a more open look but the problem is i have too many corals that need space on rock.
12) Convince the girlfriend it isn't to big for the living room.

Hopefully now that I've made this post i'll get in gear and get it built up.

 

[invincible569]

John, cant wait to see you start on this! Especially the ceramic tile for the stand.

 

[speedstar]

This is my old cube tank, I really liked the tile on it as it matched the fireplace tile as well. Gonna do this one similar, but will also have a half tile on the top before the tank.

 

[clamdigr]

Looking forward to following your progress John.

 

[JGermanow]

John, The Tile looks great! I might have to borrow this idea for my next tank. I will be following this thread. Good luck on getting motivated.

 

[invincible569]

That tile does look nice!

Is that your wife and your protector?

 

[TriGa22]

This is going to be awsome!

 

[Purple Haze]

Any pics of your current tank? The links seem to be broken from what i've found in this forum in some of your old posts.

 

[speedstar]

The old cube tank was torn down due to money / divorce etc. The only thing i didn;t like about it was the 30inch depth. Thats why this one is only 24"

My current tank is a 150g
Here are some quick pics of it.

 

[speedstar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10326878#post10326878 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by invincible569
That tile does look nice!

Is that your wife and your protector?

Ex-wife and dog died of a strange spinal disorder. It is the only pic I have showing the fish stand. We still get along fine so there is no bitter problems or anything.

 

[speedstar]

Oh boy this stand is huge, my girlfriend is gonna kill me. Good thing she has a whole room for her scrapbook hobby.

 

[speedstar]

Finished sanding all edges smooth. Picked up the tile and got it cut as needed. Had to modify my original tile ideas alittle due to me skirting the stand in half inch and not 1/4, but all should look good when done. Tiled pics by sunday im hoping.

 

[Genin]

I can tell this is going to be a great build. That's funny that your girl's hobby is scrapbooking, that's my wife's hobby and how I get away with my reef crap also.

 

[clamdigr]

LOL...My wife is into that stuff too...I get away with alot with the reef tank because of it....plus I built her craft room way bigger than my fish room.

 

[speedstar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10337166#post10337166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clamdigr
LOL...My wife is into that stuff too...I get away with alot with the reef tank because of it....plus I built her craft room way bigger than my fish room.

Amanda's scrap room is pretty big also, I have a shelving desk project ahead of me in there though. Some of that stuff is pretty cool. the cricut die cutting machine is one thing i like. The scary part is we have more into scrap crap than into fish tanks. Time for me to catch up

I've begun to lay out the tile.

 

[clamdigr]

Looking good John, I love the look of the tile. I don't remember the layout, is the tank going on a wall or in a corner? How many sides viewable?

 

[speedstar]

Against a wall three sides viewable. One right next to couch, I'll put my name on that spot. I'm just worried about the lilttle one or the one on the way (Nov 7) wanting to jump in. I built this stand low as I like the top down prospective. Stand is only 18" in height.

 

[speedstar]

Small setback this evening, I thought after 2hours my tile would have setup enough. I couldn;t lift it off, but sure enough as soon as i flipped the stand todo another side. The tiles started to slide they all ended up on the floor shattering three of them. Grr what luck ive had lately. Well one side is now set again. Gonna let it set overnite. Going to get some 10minute epoxy todo the other sides tomorrow. Just didn;t want to spend the extra money on epoxy, but i have very little patients.

 

[clamdigr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10340790#post10340790 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by speedstar
Against a wall three sides viewable. One right next to couch, I'll put my name on that spot. I'm just worried about the lilttle one or the one on the way (Nov 7) wanting to jump in. I built this stand low as I like the top down prospective. Stand is only 18" in height.

Jump in your seat or jump in the tank? Canopy or open top? Even if they don't try to go for a swim, things may get tossed in. I used to maintain a reef tank at the middle school my wife worked at, semi open top, I found popcorn, paperclips and change in there, including pennies. Closed it off after that.

Found this in my tank once......OK, I put it in there but still..

 

[reefnetworth]

i too have little patience with tile. 465 Sq Ft in kitchen and dinning area. try Liquid Nails, i guarantee they will not slide after 20 minutes!
place it on the tile and wood and let it cure about 3 minutes first. then stick em together with even weight distribution, and grout away the same day!
JDM