450 Cube tank build thread. Here I go!

[stlouisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8523616#post8523616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by "Umm, fish?"
First off, thanks! I've enjoyed watching your build.

Regarding your aquascaping, that canyon in the middle ... well, it's just too centered and too straight to the back of the tank. The idea is to pull visitors forward towards your tank with the mystery of where that canyon goes. If they can see the back of the tank, there's no mystery. Does that make sense? I learned that trick from landscape design. You never allow someone a clear view to the back of your yard. Breaking up the view draws people in and make them want to explore.

And that's really what we're trying for here, right? We want people who see our tanks to want to jump right in and explore.

Thanks again and good luck.

I agreee completely. As I said it is a work in progress. As I looked at it last night the canyon didnt accomplish what I wanted, which is what you alluded to. I am going to redo the canyon to go at a 35 degree angle or so from the ront right(big pile) to a gentle curve to the left, so when you look you see the canyon curve away from you, buy you dont get to see the end of it, with the rock lower in the front rising to the back along canyone wall

Hard to explain what I want, will just need to fiddle with the rocks and go from there

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. This has really been an adventure and I enjoy you all tagging along with someone who really has no clue what they are doing

 

[stlouisguy]

Okay a few updates tonight

First the blue piece of plastic I found for the back of the tank. It is held up with velcro and is easy to put up and take down

Also got the cabinet put on tonight. Few trip pieces didnt fit but overall it looks exactly as I wanted. I cant recommend Pat (the guy who did it) more. I have his card for anyone who is interested

Before install. He build everything at his shop and brought it over. Made of Mahogony

Finished

With doors open:

It look just fantastic IMO. Rock formation pics next

 

[scarletknight06]

wow, that is incredible. One of the nicest setups I have ever seen. It will be stunning for years to come.

 

[stlouisguy]

Redid the rocks. I cant get the pictures to show how open it is. Hopefulle the design comes through

Now I just need to figure out how to stop the microbubbles. Going to get about 4 tubes of silicon and go to town on those damn joints!! :lol:

 

[marino420td]

August 14th- 1st post of this thread
November 13th- Corals in Tank

That is quick for a project of this magnitude!

The woodwork looks great. It gives the tank a whole new look. And I like the rockwork. I would love to check out this beast sometime when I'm in St. Louis.

A 450 gallon reef tank and a plasma screen TV all in one room. I would never leave the house.

 

[stlouisguy]

Your welcome anytime. I think I am going to be part of the SLASH tank tour in December.

Oh and dont forget the pool table on the other side of the room

 

[sarmck]

stlouisguy -

I've also been tagging along with the thread. The tank looks great with the new aquascape. And the cabinet work brings it all together as a fantastic display already.

I'll look for this one in the TOTM as it matures.

Great job.

Ron

 

[stlouisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8541350#post8541350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sarmck
stlouisguy -

I've also been tagging along with the thread. The tank looks great with the new aquascape. And the cabinet work brings it all together as a fantastic display already.

I'll look for this one in the TOTM as it matures.

Great job.

Ron

thanks for the kind words, but that is a pipe dream. I still have much to learn before that would happen.

It has been a learning experience though, thats for sure!!

 

[clamdigr]

Awesome tank stlouisguy, LOVE the rock layout! A few thoughts about the micro bubbles, are they being generated in the sump or fuge or by the skimmer and being returned to the tank? Also, is the intake for your return pump big enough? Could be the culprit also.

 

[stlouisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8541536#post8541536 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clamdigr
Awesome tank stlouisguy, LOVE the rock layout! A few thoughts about the micro bubbles, are they being generated in the sump or fuge or by the skimmer and being returned to the tank? Also, is the intake for your return pump big enough? Could be the culprit also.

Thats the mystery. Being generated before the pump (know this by a filter sock made the pump pull more and bubbles increased) from the sump. Skimmer dumps to fuge, then to sump in seperate chamber. Pipe is recommended size for the hammerhead. Im at a loss.

 

[bradleyj]

1st off, let me say, I just spent the last hour reading thru all of your posts and you have done an incredible job in the amount of time taken. I just went thru this last April, buying a much larger tank then my other one and I know how overwhelming it can get, trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Your aquascaping looks great. The problem with the microbubbles is one I had also, what I finally did was to place a large sponge under the baffle that divide my sump from my effluent from my skimmer to the section of the sump that my return is in. I had a hard time believing that those microbubbles could travel that far to get back to the return of my pump, but they were , and now that the sponge is in place, I have no more microbubbles.
If you can take a few pictures showing where your skimmer is dumping the water into your sump and where your return is, we might be able to give you more insight on your problem. Again, my hats off to you. Your tank is awesome.
Brad

 

[Bax]

Awesome wood work!!!

 

[Madhouse]

damn dood.. sick setup..!

 

["Umm fish?"]

That looks really, really good!

 

[stlouisguy]

Wanted to give an update on the air system I got. For the last week it has kept the fish room at a nice 74 degrees, water temp hasnt gone over 79 degrees with the lights on for 12 hours and I am getting about 3-4 gallons of water out of the air daily, so overall I am pleased with the unit (shown a few pages back). Only concern is it if runs continuously how long will it last.

Ordering clean up crew today and put a few test corals in tank. Zoos opened up right away and the sps look happy.

Will hopefully add part of the old tank this weekend to the new tank (rock) and will update pics

 

[sonofgaladriel]

Absolutely beautiful. Top Notch! Gotta love those cubes!

 

[Kyle12781]

Wow, this tank looks awesome. Someday when I have room I might be doing the same thing after reading this thread. Just read through the whole thing and I give you props on your set up. Nice Job.

 

[stlouisguy]

quick update -

Nothing but equipment problems. I got a pinpoint thermometer wireless because I thought it would be nice to not go into tank room to check temp. Today it was registering 147 degrees!! I think it may be malfunctioning LOL Called marine solutions and they took care of it right away.

Then tonight I got a big box dropped on my doorstep. It had Geo on the side of it YEAH!

Now although it took almost 2 months to arrive, I have heard the performance is the best. I opened the box from the top as stated and lifted it out of the box. It was wrapped in bubble wrap which I carefully took off. Here where I am confused

After taking it out I noticed the pump wasnt attached to base, but there were lots of gouges and scratches around the base where the pump sits. Then I noticed there had been one screw that must have been holding the pump on, and the top of that screw had been sheared off.

Then right before I threw away the bubble wrap I noticed a black ring. Started looking and I found 4 of them. Not packed, nothing, just loose in the packaging. Have no idea what they are for (to go under the screws for the pump??) Then I found 2 white screws, Im guess to hold the pump on (it takes 4)

Frustrating to pay so much and not have the details taken care of. Oh well.

It looks like the beast I need. Hopefully it will perform

More later

 

[asnatlas]

Did you let GEO know ??

 

[stlouisguy]

Sent PM to him. Understand this is a build thread and all experiences, good or bad, will be posted.