45 DD RR Cube...First Dream Build PICS!
- Thread starter FiShScaLe
- Start date
Nice, I've got a similar setup but mine is the 45 gallon Oceanic Tech tank. Almost all of the same equipment too, except I have the Apex, a Proflex fuge, and 2 MP10's, but everything else is almost the same. It's an awesome setup, but I wish I went a little bigger..lol You may want to shop around for a decent chiller because the lights and all of the equipment keep the tank pretty hot. I run my MH's 7 hours a day and keep the house at 74-76 degrees and the tank got up to 84 degrees, even with fans running over my fuge and the open top. I know the RKE is setup to shutdown the lights, if it gets too hot but your lights might be going off a few times a day..lol I just added a Oceanic 1/15 HP chiller I had laying around and now the tank stays at 79 degrees. Tagging along to see it up and running..
Been very busy with school latey but have had time to work on the tank just havnt updated. Here are some recent progression pics so far. Soon as I get my RO unit saalt rock and sand were rdy to rock :bounce1:!!
A pic of the girlfriend painting the stand before she got bored in 5 mins and I finished myself lol.
The stand finished painted white
A pic of the girlfriend painting the stand before she got bored in 5 mins and I finished myself lol.
The stand finished painted white
Heres the silicone I used first which wasnt the right one or color so I had to gut the sump and redo it
Happy I had to redo it though I changed a few things around and added eggcrate into one of the baffles as you can see in the pick for filter floss/ carbon to sit on.
Heres the tank coming along
Two new toys I picked up for only $300 a RKL plus and 3 Pump BM doser for Mag/Alk/CAl
Here it is installed, head unit is on the side of the tank for easy access
Heres the light poles hung evenly and holding the light
Heres underneath the tank so far
Happy I had to redo it though I changed a few things around and added eggcrate into one of the baffles as you can see in the pick for filter floss/ carbon to sit on.
Heres the tank coming along
Two new toys I picked up for only $300 a RKL plus and 3 Pump BM doser for Mag/Alk/CAl
Here it is installed, head unit is on the side of the tank for easy access
Heres the light poles hung evenly and holding the light
Heres underneath the tank so far
Finally put it in my room. Heres a view without the front panel on because im putting it on last still some stuff to do under the stand. as you can theres a side panel cutout which will be the only access to the sump when the front panels put on. its more than enough space to access anything under the sump.
This is what it will look like when the panels on. I still have to put some molding on but that will come last
This is what it will look like when the panels on. I still have to put some molding on but that will come last
chrishayes
New member
Nice work fishscale! Looks like youre moving right along. Nice score on the equipment!
You can just use a downturned street elbow in the fuge to allow the water height to go to the rim then use a downturned street elbow into the return with a hole drilled in the top of it(or is it the bottom) then use an old powerhead air line and silencer. The further you insert it the higher the water level. With the level of flow youll have its silent and with the fuge inside the sump like we have theres no worry of a flood. The only problem I have had is bubbles. I mean I went to great lengths and gave up a lot to use the bean system that gets me zero bubbles with 500gph then this stupid fuge with its 50gph or whatever its getting throws bubbles like crazy. I had to extend the drain over to the skimmer section just for it to go through the bubble trap. Obviously this defeats the purpose of getting pods to the tank and not in the collection cup...so if you got a better idea im all ears! I think im gonna play around with the depth of the downpipe from the bulkhead to see if I can get less bubbles.
keep up the progress, youre almost there!
You can just use a downturned street elbow in the fuge to allow the water height to go to the rim then use a downturned street elbow into the return with a hole drilled in the top of it(or is it the bottom) then use an old powerhead air line and silencer. The further you insert it the higher the water level. With the level of flow youll have its silent and with the fuge inside the sump like we have theres no worry of a flood. The only problem I have had is bubbles. I mean I went to great lengths and gave up a lot to use the bean system that gets me zero bubbles with 500gph then this stupid fuge with its 50gph or whatever its getting throws bubbles like crazy. I had to extend the drain over to the skimmer section just for it to go through the bubble trap. Obviously this defeats the purpose of getting pods to the tank and not in the collection cup...so if you got a better idea im all ears! I think im gonna play around with the depth of the downpipe from the bulkhead to see if I can get less bubbles.
keep up the progress, youre almost there!
chrishayes
New member
oh also, that clamp light is gonna **** you off. Itll be in your way and get covered in saltcreep. I reccomend hanging it from the frame above then you could just pound a nail on the far leg somewhere to catch the cord. That will allow you to just swing in right out of the way. Im debating whether to keep the coralife mini I stole off my sons 8g plant tank or just go with what I described above. Mines gonna stay visible so I like the finished look of the coralife plus it doesnt leak light out like the clamp lamp. However the clamper allows for a much brighter bulb along with cheaper bulbs being easily available at wallyworld so I can have the wife pick em up while shopping...
Just a thought
Just a thought
First off Chris you've been a great inspiration to my tank I must say thank you for that! I have an idea for fuge drain to get zero micro bubbles. I'll have to make a stop at home depot to get some PVC supplies though. Ill post pics of it during the build/when its done. As for the clamp light your absolutely right. Only reason Its on there is cause i got it for free but I'm definitely going to change it. Hopefully I can find a cheap 12 inch PC light like the one you have on your fuge now. Im also going to add some black background paper to the fuge baffle to keep light only in the fuge.
So the RO/DI unit is getting ordered this week so I'm hoping by next Friday the tank will be filled.
So the RO/DI unit is getting ordered this week so I'm hoping by next Friday the tank will be filled.
chrishayes
New member
im anxious to see what youre thinking!
Sorry for the lack of updates over the past 5 months but work has been crazy. Finally got my room recarpeted after a hurricane hit and flooded my room so things are finally moving along. Final piece of equipment I need is the RODI unit which I should have before valentines day. Got pukani rock from BRS in last week which is great, very light with tons of places to add corals. Got the plumbing done and filled it up with freshwater for a test run. Only problem im having is that on these DD cubes the locline sticks out of the water and sucks in air creating micro bubbles in the tank which I cant stand. Im in the middle of getting that fixed right now though. For now here are some picks of the tanks plumbing and sump area finished.
I plumbed the fuge, reactors and return to the tank off of the ehiem 1260 I bought a few weeks back. Chris I followed through with idea for the fuge light and hung it from a beam on the top of the tank so its now in my way and cant fall in the water.
Picture of the back of the tanks plumbing.
Side view of the sump
This is all I have for now, but should be plenty of updates within the next month. Im hoping to have the tank cycling in the next week or two.
I plumbed the fuge, reactors and return to the tank off of the ehiem 1260 I bought a few weeks back. Chris I followed through with idea for the fuge light and hung it from a beam on the top of the tank so its now in my way and cant fall in the water.
Picture of the back of the tanks plumbing.
Side view of the sump
This is all I have for now, but should be plenty of updates within the next month. Im hoping to have the tank cycling in the next week or two.
chrishayes
New member
Hey hey, blast from the past! Glad to see you didnt give up. I wondered many times what had happened to my tanks near twin. Keep the work going itll get there.
Things are under way after way to long of waiting :celeb3:. My RODI unit is ordered and on its way from BRS should be here Wednesday of next week. I decided to go with the 75 GPD 6 stage deluxe unit from BRS. I also picked up the last pieces for my ATO and my salt today from a LFS in the area. Theres going to be a lot of work for me Wednesday and a lot of water making but by Wednesday night the tank will be filled, rock and sand will be placed in, and ill be impatiently waiting for it to cycle.
200 gal. bag of TMPR (Been using this stuff for years swear by it)
Rockwork that i put together. Going for a minimalist look instead of the rock wall I usually create...
Heres a top down of the rock. The pink Styrofoam is cut out to exact size of the tank dimensions so all the pink you see will be sand.
I also decided to sell my BM 3 pump doser and pick up this bad girl. I figure it will save me money in the long run and probably keep my cal, alk, and mag levels a bit more stable.
Thats it til wednesday. Cant wait til its up and running I have the urge to buy fish and corals so bad lol. See you guy in a couple of days!
200 gal. bag of TMPR (Been using this stuff for years swear by it)
Rockwork that i put together. Going for a minimalist look instead of the rock wall I usually create...
Heres a top down of the rock. The pink Styrofoam is cut out to exact size of the tank dimensions so all the pink you see will be sand.
I also decided to sell my BM 3 pump doser and pick up this bad girl. I figure it will save me money in the long run and probably keep my cal, alk, and mag levels a bit more stable.
Thats it til wednesday. Cant wait til its up and running I have the urge to buy fish and corals so bad lol. See you guy in a couple of days!
danreefman
New member
I would stick with the doser, good luck keeping your levels more consistant than dosing. I started with dosing and had a buitiful tank, switched to calcium reactor tried three diferent ones, went back to dosing
Dont mean to high jack ,Just my 2 cents
Dont mean to high jack ,Just my 2 cents
xcorallusx
New member
very nice I miss my arboreal snakes, I sold them when I went to college and then I got into reef tanks and havnt had the time or money to get another GTP or ETB.
Quick update, RODI came in today. Ill have it all set up by tomorrow along with starting an acid bath on my rock. Once the rock is fully cured the tank will be ready to cycle. Im hoping by saturday I can have some picks up of it filled with rock and sand. Here are some pics of the RODI unit from BRS. This thing is sweet id highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unit.
So im about a day away from having the tank set up and cycling. Only thing holding me back is that I have to wait on water to be made, being made as I write this.
Heres the dry rock getting an acid bath
Tank with just sand in it
RODI hooked up and running
Float Switch I hooked up
Id say in another 8-10 hours Ill have enough water to fill the tank and sump. Ill have a few more updates by the end of the night.
Heres the dry rock getting an acid bath
Tank with just sand in it
RODI hooked up and running
Float Switch I hooked up
Id say in another 8-10 hours Ill have enough water to fill the tank and sump. Ill have a few more updates by the end of the night.
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