450 Cube tank build thread. Here I go!
- Thread starter stlouisguy
- Start date
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Started on the light rack tonight. About a week away from starting to fill the tank.
Going with Unistrut for the frame. Put extenders on the ends to install my acyntics. The frame will be attached to a unistrut on the ceiling tomorrow on a track, so I can slide the entire unit to the side of the tank to work inside. Will also make cleaning and replacing bulbs a snap. Will post a few pics when it is done
I plan on putting bulbs on either end and down the middle to help me get the blue. Nice things about this is I can expand or change at anytime
Here it is:
Going with Unistrut for the frame. Put extenders on the ends to install my acyntics. The frame will be attached to a unistrut on the ceiling tomorrow on a track, so I can slide the entire unit to the side of the tank to work inside. Will also make cleaning and replacing bulbs a snap. Will post a few pics when it is done
I plan on putting bulbs on either end and down the middle to help me get the blue. Nice things about this is I can expand or change at anytime
Here it is:
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Double post
stlouisguy
Registered Member
I an concerned about possible rust. Has anyone ever used this before with success?
scarletknight06
New member
wow great job. I love the cube tank, and the equipment and fish room is excellent to boot.
One suggestion pertaining to that portable A/C unit:
Don't extend the exhaust any further than the exhaust piping that it came with. The unit cannot exhaust the heat, and therefore cool the room as efficiently, nearly as well if the exhaust isn't extended.
In my old apartment (finished attic of a house with no central A/C) we had one of those portable units. We bought some extra dryer exhaust ducts to be able to move the unit further away from the window and more towards our bedroom, and were advised that this was actually not letting the unit cool as well as it could/should. Well we took off the exhaust extension and whadda ya know the unit was able to keep the attic 3-4 degrees cooler than before, with roughly the same outside temps.
One suggestion pertaining to that portable A/C unit:
Don't extend the exhaust any further than the exhaust piping that it came with. The unit cannot exhaust the heat, and therefore cool the room as efficiently, nearly as well if the exhaust isn't extended.
In my old apartment (finished attic of a house with no central A/C) we had one of those portable units. We bought some extra dryer exhaust ducts to be able to move the unit further away from the window and more towards our bedroom, and were advised that this was actually not letting the unit cool as well as it could/should. Well we took off the exhaust extension and whadda ya know the unit was able to keep the attic 3-4 degrees cooler than before, with roughly the same outside temps.
stlouisguy
Registered Member
I have thought about that, but I think I have the answer for that. They sell fans that fit inside of piping to help move air along. If I find it is a problem I will get one and or two to move the air along to the outside. total length of my exhaust is 15 feet.
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Got the light rack done. Here are a few pics and a video of the rack moving
Here it is over the tank and then moved to the side
Here it is over the tank and then moved to the side
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Did a final buff tonight. Wife snapped a few pics as she thought it was funny I was inside my tank
Bought sand today, plan on filling to begin mid next week. Hope to move the rock in the following weekend. Just waiting on my marine depot shipment for final bulkheads and icecap lights
More to come
Bought sand today, plan on filling to begin mid next week. Hope to move the rock in the following weekend. Just waiting on my marine depot shipment for final bulkheads and icecap lights
More to come
AVALover5498
*Zoa Freak*
I can't wait to see this tank set up...i'm gonna watch this thread!!!!
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
how did the buff go? crystal clear?
all i could think of in the buffing pics is BIG GUY IN A LITTLE TANK
Lunchbucket
all i could think of in the buffing pics is BIG GUY IN A LITTLE TANK
Lunchbucket
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Where does the time go!!!!!
Tank is finally ready, just going through a bit of rinsing. Will be putting sand in tomorrow and starting the fill from the ro/di unit. Thought I would update my lighting and skimmer since I have it done.
Lighting is 4 x 400 watt Ushio 10k in Luminarc III minis. Acentic is 4 x 95 watt VHO super acentic. All is mounted on a rack that slides to the side when I need access to tank.
Here is some pics of the lights on the rack and the tank with and without them
With and without acentics
Here is the skimmer finally hooked up, just changed for leaks as water comes out the air intake with fresh water in there but should perform great. Its a custom Geo
And maybe the best upgrade so far, My old 61" TV which is 5 years old doesnt fit anymore with the tank going in, so the wife thought we should get a better TV that wouldnt be affected with the light from the tank
50" Pioneer Plasma that is just sick!
More to come as the sand goes in and the tank fills and is aquascaped.
Rock has been cooking almost 3 months now so should be ready to go
Thanks for reading!
Tank is finally ready, just going through a bit of rinsing. Will be putting sand in tomorrow and starting the fill from the ro/di unit. Thought I would update my lighting and skimmer since I have it done.
Lighting is 4 x 400 watt Ushio 10k in Luminarc III minis. Acentic is 4 x 95 watt VHO super acentic. All is mounted on a rack that slides to the side when I need access to tank.
Here is some pics of the lights on the rack and the tank with and without them
With and without acentics
Here is the skimmer finally hooked up, just changed for leaks as water comes out the air intake with fresh water in there but should perform great. Its a custom Geo
And maybe the best upgrade so far, My old 61" TV which is 5 years old doesnt fit anymore with the tank going in, so the wife thought we should get a better TV that wouldnt be affected with the light from the tank
50" Pioneer Plasma that is just sick!
More to come as the sand goes in and the tank fills and is aquascaped.
Rock has been cooking almost 3 months now so should be ready to go
Thanks for reading!
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
you have to be kidding me!! you get a huge new tank AND a huge new TV?? come on man.
that light rack looks nice. where you get the luminar mini's from?
keep us posted as things come along
Lunchbucket
that light rack looks nice. where you get the luminar mini's from?
keep us posted as things come along
Lunchbucket
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Best part was my wife thinks it was her idea. She mentioned it and I said no, I can cut into the wall to make our old one work, she thought about it and said she wanted it to look nice, the more I said I could do more deconstruction to make it work, the more she thought she wanted it.
Its a perfect world, the Cardinals Won the series and my new tank starts to fill tomorrow
Its a perfect world, the Cardinals Won the series and my new tank starts to fill tomorrow
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Got the minis from thereefstop dot come Mark found them for me and they work perfect for my space with the eurobrace
scarletknight06
New member
looks good. how tall is your skimmer?
cwegescheide
YOU have been ignored!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8354120#post8354120 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
Started on the light rack tonight. About a week away from starting to fill the tank.
Going with Unistrut for the frame. Put extenders on the ends to install my acyntics. The frame will be attached to a unistrut on the ceiling tomorrow on a track, so I can slide the entire unit to the side of the tank to work inside. Will also make cleaning and replacing bulbs a snap. Will post a few pics when it is done
I plan on putting bulbs on either end and down the middle to help me get the blue. Nice things about this is I can expand or change at anytime
Here it is:
So those are Luminarcs right? So the socket looks like it butts into the side of the reflector? Great setup btw. Looking great so far!
Chris :thumbsup:
aztbs
Active member
I didn't see it mentioned - is that a lot of rust on the stand? Was it powdercoated or spraypainted? With all of the careful details you have worked on, I am surprised you did not have it sandblasted and re-powdercoated.
I am jealous of your fish room, I wish my house that kind of extension. I think I would have painted the concrete in there because fish rooms can look so cool.
Your old tank is beautiful, I can't wait to see how this turns out.
I am jealous of your fish room, I wish my house that kind of extension. I think I would have painted the concrete in there because fish rooms can look so cool.
Your old tank is beautiful, I can't wait to see how this turns out.
