60 Gal Cube Build...... help wanted!

[likefish]

Well here we go again. What started as a trip to the Orlando Fish store circuit "to look around" turned into another tank purchase.

I ordered a marineland reef ready 60-gal cube 24x24x24. It is a rimmed tank with corner overflow. It will be going in a livingroom corner and be an upgrade fromm my BC29.

The BioCube has been great and is growing nicely but the fact that it has no sump and is such a small body of water makes it a chore to keep stable from time to time.

Soooo..... 60gal cube is on the way. I will be custom building a stand, sump, gravity ATO, light hood (must have as it is in our seating area for watching TV).

I would appreciate any suggestions on the build as I want to do this tank right the first time! Used equipment is always an option so if you are cleaning out the garage and have pieces you think might be a good fit please PM or add to the thread.

The plan is a LPS/softie dominant tank:

Select Palys
Alveopora
Torches
Frogspan/Hammers
Duncan
Acans
Blastos
Rics
Encrusting montis

BTA on an island

I plan to keep the flow to a minimum but design it so that the torches sway nicely. I won a Squib at an ORCA raffle last fall and plan to use it on a return. I considered closed-loop but i think it might be unnecisary complication for the tank i am after.

I already have all of the above mentioned corals (minus the alveopora R.I.P). Most of these will becoming from my 120 SPS dominant tank and I plan to kick the flow up a bit more in there!

Jump on board and help me design a sweet tank! Suggestions and comments and equipment ideas appreciated!

I will be logging the build here to keep track of my progress!

Thanks for any and all input!!

 

[likefish]

My 8 month old 120

My 1 year old BC29

 

[likefish]

I do not intend to use any automation on this new build. I want to include a gravity fed ATO with float valve. Kalk can be added by ato, hopefully the demand will not be too great that this will not be sufficient!

Lighting is another concern. i love encrusting montis and the wife will want a clam in this tank i am sure. I would love to use a "black box" LED setup. They seem to provide alot of "bang for the buck" and the coloration seems pretty nice. Any thoughts on these?

 

[likefish]

Right now shopping for :

-Protein Skimmer (Suggestions on size and brand?)
-Base Rock to build Bonsai structure (I intend to seed with live rock from other systems)
-Lighting
-Submersible Return pump (Suggestions on size and brand?)

This will be fun!

 

[Techbiker]

Algea scruber, or a Reef Octopus
Dry live rock
Black box ( 6 different colors with a automatic dimmer)
Eheim 1260

Your tank looks awsome!

 

[likefish]

thanks Tech... I did some homework and Eheim 160 seems to be the right pump. Going to split the return to power a 3/4 SCWD and the rest will go to the return.

Found rock today also!

now to get that group buy going on the black box!

 

[Reefmedic79]

Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris!!!!!

I'm using an Eheim 1260 now on my 40 and it's fairly quiet once I padded the sides with some sponge filters. Pricey but a workhorse of a pump.

You may want to look into building your sump as well to utilize all the space you can in a 24x24 area. We can get together if you'd like to brain storm.

As for a skimmer, I really like my 4" Reef Octopus rated for a 100G.

 

[likefish]

dont judge me jason....

thanks for the input. Eheim it is and the reef octopus seems to be the most bang for the buck. Looking into sumps it seems a 20 Tall is the best "off the shelf" option with a 10 gal for an ATO resivoir. It should all fit in the stand. Need to build a stand and light hood.

Gonna go with the black box for lights. Just trying to figure out a color.

any and all input appreciated! Picking the tank up at coral-con and then the build begins!

 

[1Sik1500]

Where did you get or order your 60 gallon cube from? Im in the market for one.

 

[likefish]

pm sent 1Sik1500.

 

[likefish]

Anyon eknow of any reasonable prices on glass or Acrylic? I would love to build my ATO res and Sump but off the shelf tanks seem ssoo much less expensive.

Im a big skycraft fan but they usually dont have any quantity of acrylic, just lots of diff size and thickness scraps.

 

[Techbiker]

Anyon eknow of any reasonable prices on glass or Acrylic? I would love to build my ATO res and Sump but off the shelf tanks seem ssoo much less expensive.

Im a big skycraft fan but they usually dont have any quantity of acrylic, just lots of diff size and thickness scraps.

Let check on Aquatic Eco systems, they had not long ago name brand sumps for 75 dollar on special, I may go tomorrow morning there i need some plumbing, and i will check for you.
Buy acrilic is expensive if you buy it new sheet

 

[likefish]

good news and bad.

The shop i bought my tank from received the wrong tank from there distributor. And according to them Marineland is no longer making the corner overflow with bottom plumbing?

Good News: I got upgraded to a deep blue for the same cost!

Just gotta wait for it to arrive!

 

[lusenut2]

Thats GREAT news.

 

[likefish]

Went to pick it up and another mistake by the shipper led to it being a Deep Blue EDGE! Rimless!

Gotta love it when mistakes work in your favor!!!!

Now the fun begins.......

 

[eg8r210]

Wow, looks like it is really working out for you. I can wait to see it come together.

 

[likefish]

The plot thickens! My wife has decided that she does not watn me changing the BC29 because it is doing so well. She suggested I "just set up another tank!" I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!!

In an effort to figure out where and how to build it in the limited space i have i came up with the idea to add it my 120 system. This is where the tank will be going. (nevermind the temporary stand, its just to see how it would fit )

All of the space under it to the wall is available for a sump. 4' wide, 2' front to back and 36" high. I will be building the cabinet it sits on so i can adjust the dimensions as needed. I could potentionaly have another 120 for a sump but my budget wont like that.

 

[likefish]

This is a picture of both sides of the wall. My plan is to use the sump under the cube as a "common sump" for both tanks. This will alow for 1 skimmer and i can dose and heat one large body of water.

 

[likefish]

Under the 120 is my 40gal breeder currently being used as the sump for the 120. I intend to use it as a frag tank. Now i have to figure out how to plumb this beast before i start building a stand.

The thought is to have the 2 tanks both drain into the large sump under the cube. In this sump i will place skimmer, pumps, heater, doser, ATO. I am currently running an algae scrubber on the 120 as well and might try to incorporate this in the large sump.

With this large sump supplying both tanks I am a bit stumped on plumbing my 40breeder frag tank under the 120.

I will have to cut holes in the wall between the 2 tanks. Would like to plumb in the frag tank without having to hard plumb it into the large sump (ie. Bulk heads and ridgid PVC). Cant think of a way to do it though considering it will be at the same water level as the other sump. ????

 

[Techbiker]

What about building a big enough to put a Refugium for both and it can only beligthed at nigth, it will be so cool