5' X 5' Cube - 500 Gallon system

Nice.

I'll be following this as I have a 5' x 5' x 2.5 planned for my extension later this year.

Good luck.

From the wet and miserable UK.

Matt
 
Re: 5' X 5' Cube - 500 Gallon system

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6923864#post6923864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wade2185
I am in the process of upgrading to a new tank. The new tank is going to be 60" X 60" X 29". It will mainly be an SPS tank. It will be made out of acrylic. Steve West is my inspiration for this tank. I currently have a 90, 120 and 55 all plumbed together. I am going to use alot of existing compenents but I also need to add some new stuff. I need some advice.

Protein Skimmer - I currently have an ASM G4 skimmer. I love this skimmer. I am trying to decide how to upgrade this. Should I just add another ASM G4 or G5 and run 2 skimmers or is there a better way?

Calcium Reactor - I currently run an Aqua Medic calcium reactor which is rated for 250 gallons. Should I just add another Aqua Medic reactor or what?

Closed Loop - I want to do a closed loop similar to Steve west. I would like to run 2 different pumps for the closed loop. I am trying to not have any powerheads in this tank. If I do run powerheads I will run 2 Tunze Stream 6080 (already have them). How big do the 2 closed loop pumps need to be? Any one have any suggestions out there?
Click to expand...

Steve Weast's system has inspired many including me. Good luck and very nice!

Ted
 
This is a great thread. I'm in the early planning stages for replacing me current 48"x48"x24" cube with a 72"x72"x30" cube and sure could use some of the advice already given to you on this set up. I too was debating between going with 3 closed loops or Tunze. I'm still on the fence at this point.
My tank will be 3, most likely, 4 side viewing so I wanted all plumbing to be invisible, thus hidden closed loops through the bottom were the best method. However, the Tunze really pack a punch in terms of flow at a greatly reduced enery cosumption. But there are those darn cords to hide.
Tank looks awesome. Can't wait to see you put it all together.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7410242#post7410242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SERVO
Here is a good start

http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=6

There is a great few pages in Sprungs Reef Aquarium Vol 3 (Science Art and Technology) on all of the alternatives to the classic CSD. The design of Borneman's toliet valve surge I think is great. If something fails, you lose your surge, but not your floor. These things are really easy to make. I would highly recommend Delbeek and Sprungs new text.
Click to expand...

Very cool! I went to the link above and it sounds great! Are you saying that the new Sprungs Reef book has diagrams, etc? After reading the above link I need to see some pictures in order to have it make complete sense.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7410242#post7410242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SERVO
Here is a good start

http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=6

There is a great few pages in Sprungs Reef Aquarium Vol 3 (Science Art and Technology) on all of the alternatives to the classic CSD. The design of Borneman's toliet valve surge I think is great. If something fails, you lose your surge, but not your floor. These things are really easy to make. I would highly recommend Delbeek and Sprungs new text.
Click to expand...

Very cool! I went to the link above and it sounds great! Are you saying that the new Sprungs Reef book has diagrams, etc? After reading the above link I need to see some pictures in order to have it make complete sense.
 
Thanks asnatlas.

Ive been browsing ReefCentral for a good while. Since keeping marines which has been getting on for 3 years, and found it a great place to source info and reference.


Matt
 
Drilling for bulkheads (this is not me).

18384DSCN1827-1.JPG


Plumbing the new Hammerhead pump that will run the closed loop island.

18384DSCN1829.JPG


Here is the Hammerhead pump after the plumbing was completed.

18384DSCN1854.JPG
 
Made a rack for stacking my rock and forming the island around the closed loop returns. Now I just need to cover it with egg crate.

18384DSCN1860.JPG


18384DSCN1866.JPG


18384DSCN1868.JPG



I will be converting every thing over this coming weekend from my existing tanks to this one. I will post more pics next weekend.
 
Its alive! After 16 hours of work on Saturday my tank is finally going. What a pain in the butt! I had a 55, 90 and 120 that I tore down and converted over to this new tank. Now the real work begins - Aquascaping. All I had time to do this weekend was get everything changed over and to a point where it could "survive". Now I need to get more rock and start arranging everything. Here are a couple of pics:

18384DSCN1883.JPG


Here is a picture of the CL island that I am building. I am in the process of hiding the 4 1" CL returns. I think it is coming along well. :)

18384DSCN1886.JPG


Here is a pic of the other side of the island.

18384DSCN1887.JPG



Over all I am very happy with the way this tank is turning out. The overall flow right now is very good. I will be switching out my 2 Tunze Streams in the near future for 2 larger ones with controllers. Once I do that I will be set as far as flow goes.
 
Great job! I'll bet you're glad to be at this point! The closed loop island looks great. Did you put an alternating device, like an OM, on the closed loop?
This is a beautiful set up! Please keep sharing the pics!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7558481#post7558481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sonofgaladriel
Great job! I'll bet you're glad to be at this point! The closed loop island looks great. Did you put an alternating device, like an OM, on the closed loop?
This is a beautiful set up! Please keep sharing the pics!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the nice comments. Your tank is one of the tanks that inspired me. I cant wait to see what you do next...

As far as the CL goes I was originally going to use a OM 4 way on it. I changed my mind though. The Hammerhead pump pushes alot of water. With the OM 4 way my main concern was having water blast from each return as the other 3 were off. I decided instead to put ball valves on all 4 CL returns. I have 2 of the returns throttled back and 2 wide open. This allows me to adjust my flow as I need. I also put loc lines t's on the end of each CL return so now I have 8 CL water returns that I can position however I want. In the future I am going to upgrade my Tunze Streams and put them on a controller (possibly get a wavemaker?). I feel that once I do that I will be able to accomplish the random flow that I would have gotten from the OM 4 way unit. I am very happy with the way it has turned out.
 
Very, very nice. The depth of the tank is quite stunning and you did an awesome job hiding the CL system.
 
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