dabob79
New member
So, I've been buying parts and planning this build since March, but I had to wait till we moved before I could set it up. That was probably a good thing actually, because I've been known to be a bit impulsive and having to wait allowed me time to do research and change a few things that will make this a better build in the long run! lol
So, to start off I bought a Marineland Rimless 93 gallon cube with their Ventura stand, a second generation Eshopps R-100 sump/refugium, and Eshopps PSK-100 in-sump protein skimmer. Then I set off planning the plumbing, making a parts list, and dreaming of a beautiful reef in my living room. Also from my LFS I picked up a lightly used Gen 2 Radion XR30W and used MP40 with the Reeflink. I knew the Radion wasn't going to be quite enough to cover a 30x30 cube so I decided to add some T5 supplementation. After a brief search I landed on the LET Miro-4 T5 retrofit kit, which is four, 24W 2 ft bulbs. For bulbs I chose 2 Blue Plus and 2 Coral Plus by ATI. I also set about ordering all kinds of goodies from Amazon and Bulk Reef Supply, like my return pump, heater, and other essentials. I'll list all those parts below.
Shortly after that I was reading about Eshopps 3rd generation sump/refugiums recently being released, and after doing some reading decided I HAVE to have the newest one! So after a quick call to my LFS, I packed up the unused 2nd generation sump and took it back for a trade-in on the new one. All it cost me was the $30 difference! I have to say I LOVE the layout and look of the 3rd generation sumps, this is definitely one of those instances where I was happy I was forced to wait to set this thing up.
I knew I was going to need to build some sort of canopy for my lights since I was adding the T5s, so I got with my crafty uncle and threw something together in an afternoon that I'm quite happy with. There's a center-cut hole that the Radion rests in, which puts it approximately 12" above the water's surface. The T5s are mounted on either side of the Radion, 2 on each side. There will be pictures below.
I initially went with a Reefkeeper for control, but after stewing on it for a few months I sold it and bought the Apex. This is another one of those cases where I'm glad a waited. After reading reviews on the reefkeeper and seeing what the Apex can do, I decided the extra couple hundred dollars was well worth the extra piece of mind I would have. I even popped for the lab grade pH probe lol I also got the I/O breakout box and a couple of float switches for my ATO.
We finally moved in to our new place two weeks ago, and the build has begun! Please ignore my mess and partially set-up entertainment center, all the parts haven't arrived yet lol. I would have preferred the tank be a little further away from the window and entertainment center, but this place was smaller than I thought it was (or my new furniture is bigger than I thought it would be!).
Initial placement:
Canopy on and LED lighting added in stand:
Sump in place a plumbing finished (for the most part):
Top-down view of the sump through empty tank:
It's wet! Leak testing right now, will drain and make adjustments and setup the Apex before final fill. This is with all lights on, Radion on 14k preset at 65%:
Closeup of the canopy and lights:
Equipment List:
Marineland 93 Gallon Rimless Cube
Marineland Ventura Stand
Custom canopy
Ecotech Radion XR30W
LET Miro-4 24W T5 Retrofit Kit
Eshopps 3rd Gen R-100 Sump/Refugium
Eshopps PSK-100 Skimmer
Jebao DC-9000 Return Pump
Finnex 300W Titanium Heater
BRS Single Reactor
Vertex Sensor-Mag Probe Holder
Digital Aquatics Float Switches - ATO
Tom Aqualifter 3.5gph - ATO
Jebao RW-8 Wavemaker
Ecotech Vortech MP40 pump
Ecotech Reeflink
Neptune Systems Apex Controller with Lab Grade pH Probe
Neptune Systems I/O Breakout Box - ATO
Agriculture Solutions Salinity Refractometer
BRS 4 Stage Value Plus 75 GPD RO/DI System
Supernight LED lighting strip
More to come!
So, to start off I bought a Marineland Rimless 93 gallon cube with their Ventura stand, a second generation Eshopps R-100 sump/refugium, and Eshopps PSK-100 in-sump protein skimmer. Then I set off planning the plumbing, making a parts list, and dreaming of a beautiful reef in my living room. Also from my LFS I picked up a lightly used Gen 2 Radion XR30W and used MP40 with the Reeflink. I knew the Radion wasn't going to be quite enough to cover a 30x30 cube so I decided to add some T5 supplementation. After a brief search I landed on the LET Miro-4 T5 retrofit kit, which is four, 24W 2 ft bulbs. For bulbs I chose 2 Blue Plus and 2 Coral Plus by ATI. I also set about ordering all kinds of goodies from Amazon and Bulk Reef Supply, like my return pump, heater, and other essentials. I'll list all those parts below.
Shortly after that I was reading about Eshopps 3rd generation sump/refugiums recently being released, and after doing some reading decided I HAVE to have the newest one! So after a quick call to my LFS, I packed up the unused 2nd generation sump and took it back for a trade-in on the new one. All it cost me was the $30 difference! I have to say I LOVE the layout and look of the 3rd generation sumps, this is definitely one of those instances where I was happy I was forced to wait to set this thing up.
I knew I was going to need to build some sort of canopy for my lights since I was adding the T5s, so I got with my crafty uncle and threw something together in an afternoon that I'm quite happy with. There's a center-cut hole that the Radion rests in, which puts it approximately 12" above the water's surface. The T5s are mounted on either side of the Radion, 2 on each side. There will be pictures below.
I initially went with a Reefkeeper for control, but after stewing on it for a few months I sold it and bought the Apex. This is another one of those cases where I'm glad a waited. After reading reviews on the reefkeeper and seeing what the Apex can do, I decided the extra couple hundred dollars was well worth the extra piece of mind I would have. I even popped for the lab grade pH probe lol I also got the I/O breakout box and a couple of float switches for my ATO.
We finally moved in to our new place two weeks ago, and the build has begun! Please ignore my mess and partially set-up entertainment center, all the parts haven't arrived yet lol. I would have preferred the tank be a little further away from the window and entertainment center, but this place was smaller than I thought it was (or my new furniture is bigger than I thought it would be!).
Initial placement:
Canopy on and LED lighting added in stand:
Sump in place a plumbing finished (for the most part):
Top-down view of the sump through empty tank:
It's wet! Leak testing right now, will drain and make adjustments and setup the Apex before final fill. This is with all lights on, Radion on 14k preset at 65%:
Closeup of the canopy and lights:
Equipment List:
Marineland 93 Gallon Rimless Cube
Marineland Ventura Stand
Custom canopy
Ecotech Radion XR30W
LET Miro-4 24W T5 Retrofit Kit
Eshopps 3rd Gen R-100 Sump/Refugium
Eshopps PSK-100 Skimmer
Jebao DC-9000 Return Pump
Finnex 300W Titanium Heater
BRS Single Reactor
Vertex Sensor-Mag Probe Holder
Digital Aquatics Float Switches - ATO
Tom Aqualifter 3.5gph - ATO
Jebao RW-8 Wavemaker
Ecotech Vortech MP40 pump
Ecotech Reeflink
Neptune Systems Apex Controller with Lab Grade pH Probe
Neptune Systems I/O Breakout Box - ATO
Agriculture Solutions Salinity Refractometer
BRS 4 Stage Value Plus 75 GPD RO/DI System
Supernight LED lighting strip
More to come!
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