Build thread: 50 gallon cube

[aiber]

Hello, I have decided to return to this beautiful hobby after around 10 yrs. I consider myself a beginner mostly so please don't you are going to find anything revolutionary here. The extent of my learning comes from watching YouTube videos, searching on google and reading forums here on reefcentral.

I am starting this build thread to document the process for myself and to get some advice from fellow reefers. My goal, like most others, is to gradually build the system that is pleasing to the eye. Further, the thread is going to be as detailed as possible so that even the most novice reefer could follow along.

Here goes!

Set up will be the 50 GALLON PNP SYSTEM EcoTech Marine Edition system from scaquariums. I did some research and decided on this set up because it includes almost everything that I need to start.

Tank: STARFIRE Glass Size: 24"W x 24"L x 20"H
3 1" hole drilled in order to be able to use the Herbie Overflow System.
Sump (19-3/4"W x 16-1/2"L x 13"H) with three chamber. Going to build a ATS later for my main filtration.
One SCA-301 65 Gallon skimmer
Atman Ph2500 Return Pump 400GPH which I am planning to upgrade. Any suggestions?
Stand solid plywood.
Lighting for Tank EcoTech Marine Radion Gen 4 XR-15W-Pro (XR15WG3PRO) with Tank Mount System (XR709-15)
EcoTech Marine VorTech MP10wQD Propeller Pump (MP10WQD-US)
EcoTech Marine ReefLink (BR10-US)

I ordered this system last night.

I just ordered Salt, Power strip and Refractometer from Amazon and RO/DI with flush from BRS.

Any questions or comments would be welcomed!
Albert

 

[river2reef2024]

Sounds good to go. Don't forget an ATO also didn't notice a heater in the mix. Post some pics of the tank when it arrives

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[aiber]

Thanks for the input.

Regarding the heater, I don't think that I need one. I live in South Florida and keep my house at 75 F.

Regarding the ATO, for now the plan is to just make sure to check the water level everyday.

 

[aiber]

Ended up buying the heater!

Just wanted to update my progress. ***Remember, this may seem boring to some of you but when I was starting out, I would get frustrated because I couldn't understand most of the stuff so I am going to try to be as basic and detailed as possible for the newbies.***

Received the RO/DI unit from BRS and started making water. Works great and the water tested ideal. Also, received my 35 lbs. of BRS Pukani Rock. It is still in the box so didn't bother to take a picture of a box. I am attaching below a picture of where I will be making water and curing my rock. Also, see the stuff I have purchased.

40 lbs. Caribsea Ocean direct Live sand.
DIY Rimless Cover from BRS
Eheim Water Heater
Waterproof Timer
5 1" Unions
That Red Sea Salt bucket is like 11yrs old but sealed so I think it should be good. Actually found it in a corner of my garage.
Reef Link
Power Strip
Couple of thermometers from Walmart
Instant Ocean Salt
Refractometer
Milwaukee TDS Meter.

Thoughts, comments or questions are welcomed.

 

[TokiHacker]

Ended up buying the heater!

Just wanted to update my progress. ***Remember, this may seem boring to some of you but when I was starting out, I would get frustrated because I couldn't understand most of the stuff so I am going to try to be as basic and detailed as possible for the newbies.***

Received the RO/DI unit from BRS and started making water. Works great and the water tested ideal. Also, received my 35 lbs. of BRS Pukani Rock. It is still in the box so didn't bother to take a picture of a box. I am attaching below a picture of where I will be making water and curing my rock. Also, see the stuff I have purchased.

40 lbs. Caribsea Ocean direct Live sand.
DIY Rimless Cover from BRS
Eheim Water Heater
Waterproof Timer
5 1" Unions
That Red Sea Salt bucket is like 11yrs old but sealed so I think it should be good. Actually found it in a corner of my garage.
Reef Link
Power Strip
Couple of thermometers from Walmart
Instant Ocean Salt
Refractometer
Milwaukee TDS Meter.

Thoughts, comments or questions are welcomed.

Good choice on the heater. Heaters are used to maintain temp at a firm 79 degrees. As for the salt, if its clumped I wouldn't use it.

 

[aiber]

Check out what arrived this morning!!

I have to go to work so I just unwrapped the packaging to grab the pump. Placed the pump in my RO/DI container and added salt to begin circulating. Will circulate for 24 hrs and check salinity when I get back home from work. When salinity is right, going to fill up the tote where the rocks are to begin the curing process.

Comments welcomed!

 

[river2reef2024]

Congrats new tanks are always exciting

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[aiber]

Congrats new tanks are always exciting

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Last night I tested for salinity and was getting a reading of 1.020 so I added some salt. This morning it is at 1.030! Obviously, I added too much salt. Now I am going to have to pump some water into the rock tank and dilute it with RO/DI.

Picture of DT. Really like how it looks.

 

[MCX23]

Will definitely be following along, I'm a complete newbie and am in between the 50 PNP from SC and the JBJ 45 all in one. Anxious to see this come to life.

 

[aiber]

Good choice on the heater. Heaters are used to maintain temp at a firm 79 degrees. As for the salt, if its clumped I wouldn't use it.

By the way, the salt was totally sealed and was not clumped.


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[aiber]

Will definitely be following along, I'm a complete newbie and am in between the 50 PNP from SC and the JBJ 45 all in one. Anxious to see this come to life.

Great. I have followed many build threads. Any questions or comments, just let me know.


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[aiber]

Update

1). Rock is still in the tank curing with a skimmer. The skimmer is really producing some nasty gunk. I received my Red Sea testing kit and will test the water this weekend.

2). Ordered and received two pumps. The Cobalt MJ900 and the Tunze 1073.02. Going to use the MJ900 for my closed loop Algae Turf Scrubber (ATS). Using the Tunze as my return pump replacing the pump that came with the system.

3) Since I bought the overflow cover and Rimless Cover, I am annoyed because the plumbing for the return line protrudes beyond the plane of the cover so I am going to modify the plumbing so that the overflow cover will then be flush against the overflow.

4) Probably going to just begin designing my rock formation next week sometime. Even if the rock is not fully cured, I figure That it could just continue curing in my display. Maybe not, though. We will see.

5) Heading the Home Depot today to buy the remaining plumbing fittings I need to plumb the system and the closed loop ATS. Want to complete all of the plumbing this weekend.

Thoughts or comments?


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[aiber]

Update:

I did some plumbing today!

Yesterday spent like an hour at Home Depot purchasing all of the fittings and pvc. Today, I took about an hour completing the plumbing in the sump. Nothing fancy but I think it'll do the job. Another note; I have spent hours researching the Algae Turf Scrubber (ATS) philosophy and I decided to try it out. That is the contraption in the middle.

Tell me what you think.

 

[aiber]

Water!!!

Water!!!

UPDATE!

Rock,Sand and Water in the tank!! Really cloudy. Was I suppose to clean the live sand?? I also added some regular Aragonite that I found at a local nursery.

Good news!

1) No leaks! The plumbing is working great. The Herbie overflow is really quite. Glad that I bought the gate valve to tweak the drain.

2) The ATS scrubber is working great for now. Let's see if I ever actually grow some algae. The flow looks great and even. If/when building an ATS (which is really easy) I recommend that you definitely buy the Dremel. I was able to cut a nice straight and even opening and it paid off because the waterfall is very even and covering the entire screen.

3) Can't wait until the water clears up. Hopefully tomorrow morning? I am wondering if the sand will even out itself or not. Does anyone know? I guess I will know sooner or later. The rocks are not fancy looking or anything. I like a lot of rock. I bought 35 lbs. of Pukani from BRS and they actually sent 40 lbs.

Small problem!

1) One of the light sockets did not work. I have to go to home depot tomorrow to exchange. No big deal.

Hope you enjoy the pics.

 

[rtparty]

Need to drop the water level in the sump a bunch! When power goes out, you will flood the sump and your house.

I would have also added multiple unions to your drains. When something goes wrong, unions are life savers.

Here is a picture of my 50g cube plumbing setup. It has changed slightly. The middle pipe now has a gate valve and is the main drain. The 1" pipe on the left is now the emergency drain

 

[aiber]

Thanks for the advice.

I have the unions but just did not see the need to add them to the drain pipes. In case i need to move the sump??

Regarding the water. Just siphoned some water out. Water level lowered!

 

[rtparty]

Thanks for the advice.

I have the unions but just did not see the need to add them to the drain pipes. In case i need to move the sump??

Regarding the water. Just siphoned some water out. Water level lowered!

You're welcome.

Pipes get clogged, things leak, sumps need to be moved in an emergency. Always, always plan for the worse. Unions save a lot of headaches.

Turn your return pump off now and watch how much water backflows into the sump. Make sure it can handle a power outage without flooding

 

[Turbomark]

Quick question... How are you maintaining the water level for the skimmer? In reality your water level should be such that the water is flowing over the sump partitions and is at a lower level in the return pump compartment

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[Turbomark]

Your sump water level should be approximately here.

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[d0ughb0y]

nice tank.

I am currently setting a similar tank and building a plywood stand.
can I ask a favor? can you take pictures of all around the insides, top (close up of edges/corners), and sides.
I want to build the stand exactly like what you have.
The bottom (where the sump is on), sits on the ground right? (not elevated).
Can you also measure the height of the piece that goes across in front of the tank?
does the door close flush to the top edge? (like is there a small overhang on the top so when the door is closed, it is flush with the top?
does it come with a shelf?

thanks.