450 Cube tank build thread. Here I go!
- Thread starter stlouisguy
- Start date
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Geo taking care of it. Said it came loose in shipping. Now to find a place to put it!!
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Well today was interesting. Its amazing what a drip can lead to. I saw a spot of water about the size of a dime this morning under the pipe that leads to the pump. So I figure I will just patch it before I go to work...........
3 hours later I have rebuilt the pipe from a 1 1/2" to a 2" with two 45 degree turns instead of 2 90 degree turns. It did help the micro bubbles some but I think the pump just has a design flaw in that it only have a 1 1/2" opening instead of a 2"
Piping turned out okay, best thing no leaks
Also got sand and a piece of LR into the fuge along with the lighting put up. Had to get it done as I got a shipment of cleaning crew from Hawaii and some from etropicals. Not real impressed with either
Here they are arrived and then floading in sump
Here is a shot of the fuge which is an old 55 I drilled and gravity feeds across to the sump
Now I need to get a very very clean hunk of cheato and let it begin to grow to get the pod population up. Put a few mollies in tonight to help the tank age. Got my first brown spots on the sand so was happy to see that.
So far my tests have had no ammonia nor nitrates which I think has to do with cooking the rock for three months with water changes. I do have a few aptasia showing back up but hopefully I will be able to stay on top of them
Here is a shot of today. More to come later
3 hours later I have rebuilt the pipe from a 1 1/2" to a 2" with two 45 degree turns instead of 2 90 degree turns. It did help the micro bubbles some but I think the pump just has a design flaw in that it only have a 1 1/2" opening instead of a 2"
Piping turned out okay, best thing no leaks
Also got sand and a piece of LR into the fuge along with the lighting put up. Had to get it done as I got a shipment of cleaning crew from Hawaii and some from etropicals. Not real impressed with either
Here they are arrived and then floading in sump
Here is a shot of the fuge which is an old 55 I drilled and gravity feeds across to the sump
Now I need to get a very very clean hunk of cheato and let it begin to grow to get the pod population up. Put a few mollies in tonight to help the tank age. Got my first brown spots on the sand so was happy to see that.
So far my tests have had no ammonia nor nitrates which I think has to do with cooking the rock for three months with water changes. I do have a few aptasia showing back up but hopefully I will be able to stay on top of them
Here is a shot of today. More to come later
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Took a break from the tank today. Looked over and saw my daughter watching snails going up the sides.
This is why I do it........
This is why I do it........
stlouisguy
Registered Member
double
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Another step forward 
As space is at a premium in the equipment room (might help if I was a bit smaller) I was at the junction of figuring out where to put the new calcium reactor. My original place isnt goiing to work because of my water storage, so I came up with the idea of utilizing the sump area.
The sump is huge, 4 ft x 4 ft, and the area above it has no use, so........ I decided to cut a piece of acylic the size of the base of the Geo reactor and attach it to the far corner of the sump with a piece of PVC being the brace. That way I can have the reactor near the sump (actually over it) and not lose any more room
Here is the piece just attached
Here is a few shots of the reactor on the new base with the co2 tank and ph monitor hooked up
Put a few monitors up on the wall with a little velcro
Tank is humming along, got the brown film everywhere with little sprigs of algae springing up.
More later
As space is at a premium in the equipment room (might help if I was a bit smaller) I was at the junction of figuring out where to put the new calcium reactor. My original place isnt goiing to work because of my water storage, so I came up with the idea of utilizing the sump area.
The sump is huge, 4 ft x 4 ft, and the area above it has no use, so........ I decided to cut a piece of acylic the size of the base of the Geo reactor and attach it to the far corner of the sump with a piece of PVC being the brace. That way I can have the reactor near the sump (actually over it) and not lose any more room
Here is the piece just attached
Here is a few shots of the reactor on the new base with the co2 tank and ph monitor hooked up
Put a few monitors up on the wall with a little velcro
Tank is humming along, got the brown film everywhere with little sprigs of algae springing up.
More later
drummereef
Team RC
Looking great! I hope you do a Seasl tank showing some day. 
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Cleanup is already in there, along with a few yellow tangs who are picking at it. Most will die off as the tank matures also, but they are on top of that.
stlouisguy
Registered Member
Enough pics of equipment..........
Here are a few. Just got the coral, I dont know if it will keep the color (not holding my breath) but it freakin glows.
Here are the sailfins I picked up today also
Here are a few. Just got the coral, I dont know if it will keep the color (not holding my breath) but it freakin glows.
Here are the sailfins I picked up today also
Fiziksgeek
New member
I love the school of sailfins!!!
I keep 4 yellows in mine. Nothing beats a school of tangs IMO.
I keep 4 yellows in mine. Nothing beats a school of tangs IMO.
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
dang that Ca Rx is HUGE. i'd be worried about bumping it and crashing it to the ground. can you strap it ot the wall for good measure?? would hate to see that pretty thing crash
nice sailfins. i keep forgetting how large your set up actually is.
Lunchbucket
nice sailfins. i keep forgetting how large your set up actually is.
Lunchbucket
stlouisguy
Registered Member
The sailfins are schooling great, all 4 swimming around the tank together picking at algae
I was lucky, LFS had them for $25 each. They are eating and very healthy
Going to move other fish from old tank down tonight
I was lucky, LFS had them for $25 each. They are eating and very healthy
Going to move other fish from old tank down tonight
stlouisguy
Registered Member
No worry about that. It weighs full about 50 lbs (25 lbs is media) and it is supported completely
Ironsheikh
New member
cubes are great for aquascaping -- I becoming a fan. I like the big chunks of rock which helps w/ the stacking no doubt
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
good that makes me feel better that it is supported completely. just checking 
Lunchbucket
Lunchbucket
Similar threads
