Cafe 50 cube

[CafeReef]

Looks great. Love the Organization in the sump area. That website is pretty awesome had to bookmark it for future purchases. That sca is an awesome cheap skimmer. Loved the ones I've had.

Thanks, yea it doesnt seem to be a bad skimmer for the cost, definitly had it's share of micro bubbles, but tell me one that doesnt haha. I cut the barbed fitting down to be flush with the base then counter sunk it to spread the flow, Worked great, breakin is done though, bubbles are gone.

Thinking next week I'll move my clowns over and try and get my goby, will move my royal gramma last.

 

[CafeReef]

This weekend I began to migrate fish over from my current tank. I have decided to do this in weekly waves. Last week I moved my fire shrimp and skunk cleaner (as well as most of my hermits). Today I moved my first fish, my OC clown pair. So far they are doing well, just hanging in a corner. Next week will be my royal gramma and diamond goby.

 

[CafeReef]

might be talking to myself here, but here goes nothing haha.

My first major frustration of this build, and it wasnt caused by the build...Got my clowns moved over, felt that was a huge success and went very smoothly. A few hours later, I go over to my old tank and see my BTA, zoa's and my frogspawn are all closed up. I also notice, one of my plugs is flipped over (damn goby does this all the time). So I reach in to flip it back over and man, is the water warm. Check the temp, 84!. Look at my heater, stuck on... So, what was supposed to be a phased move, quickly turned into a move for everything. I was able to catch my goby and gramma easy enough, drip acclimated them while I got the corals temporarily situated on the sandbed.

Very happy with myself that I took the time to get almost all of them off my rock in the first tank weeks ago. The only things left in the old tank are my BTA, birdsnest and a zoa colony (they are all attached to a large rock).

Currently trying to "**** off" my BTA and get him to move off the rock so I can take the rock out and try to break it up to get the corals off. I really love the birdsnest, I know they are cheap, but I got it small and it's grown fairly well so I'd like to save it. The zoa's were a cheap $10 frag, but it was my first coral so wanting to tray and salvage as well, at least one head, Might need to look into fragging a polyp or two.

updated pic

 

[110GTJ]

I am in love with cubes and smaller tanks right now

 

[CafeReef]

I honestly would have loved to have had a larger cube. d2mini used to have a cube that was simply incredible and one of my favorite tanks of all time. I just don't have the house to support one. No good corners or larger spaces to place one....which sucks.

Ultimately my favorite tank and what I will like to have someday, is a 120 tall. I really like them a lot. the size just seems perfect.

 

[CafeReef]

Just realized I never posted my plumbing.

I have a herbie drain system with 1 1" bulkhead and 1 3/4" bulkhead...this wasnt intentional... I should have done 2 1" bulkheads. the 1" bulkhead is reduced down to 1" before and after the bulkhead, this is my full siphon, the other bulkhead is my emergency drain. about 2 " above my siphon pipe, I drilled the back for a 3/4" threaded bulkhead for my return. inside the overflow, I have a 3/4"xclose nipple going into a threaded 3/4" fip to fip 90, then my lockline screws directly into the 90.

return:

drain lines:

 

[homer1475]

You might want to put a union on either side of that gate valve. If you ever need to move the plumbing, you'll be glad you did. The unions are a lot cheaper then a new gate valve.

 

[CafeReef]

You might want to put a union on either side of that gate valve. If you ever need to move the plumbing, you'll be glad you did. The unions are a lot cheaper then a new gate valve.

Thanks for the advice, I am lucky in that I can get a new gate valve for around $5 (father owns a wholesale pipe and fittings company), the unions just clutter to much IMO. I have one so that I can get full access to the sump if necessary.

 

[gb530]

Awesome build CafeReef and really liking the sump layout! Might have to copy you on that one, haha. No need to whip out the tape measure but did you write any of the measurements down when you built it? Wouldn't mind taking a peek if you have the measurements handy.

What kind of corals are you planning on keeping? I am thinking about getting a single Radion XR30 for my 50g cube. Curious why you chose the XR15 over say the XR30 or another brand of LED (like the Kessil A360w)?

Your build will definitely help me out when it comes time to set mine up. I'm probably a few months out until I start ordering equipment.

 

[CafeReef]

I bought the ecotech marine package in february when it was the daily deal from SCA and the xr15 was included. The coverage from the 15 is just fine, I get really good coverage ground to surface.

Talk to steve at SCA about building you a package deal, he can include a radion xr30 or xr15 and save you some $$.

This was my original design, I actually stole part of the design then changed it to include a media rack section. I can easily take measurements if you'd like. My water overflows are 7" and walls are 8". The sca 301 skimmer needs to be submerged 6-9". I was able to use glass from the included baffles, didnt need to buy anything extra other than GE2 silicone and a glass cutter.

 

[aaron1129]

Made myself a DIY filter sock holder today. Couldnt find one I really liked online and the one's I was ok with were $30+. For $3 this will do just fine.

Could you walk me through how you made this? I am about to attempt to make one. I tried with a piece of acrylic, but it snapped on me when I was drilling the hole.

 

[CafeReef]

Could you walk me through how you made this? I am about to attempt to make one. I tried with a piece of acrylic, but it snapped on me when I was drilling the hole.

Sure thing.

It's just two parts, 1/2" pipe hanger (i believe 1/2") but could be adjusted to your needs, just buy a few and see which hangs best then return the others.

The ring is a 3" pvc slip coupling that I cut to make it smaller. Then all I did was line it up for the height I wanted. Used pvc cleaner, then pvc primer and then finally pvc cement. then I hung it up from the ring for a day letting the hanger sit flat/level so it wouldnt slide or move while the cement cured.

So far it works great. 4" draw string socks slip right over it and I sinch them over the ring, the extension coming down from the hanger is then inside the sock and kind of helps the sock keep its form and not float away.

If using socks with an attached collar just cement the pipe hanger to the outside of the coupling.

 

[aaron1129]

Sure thing.

It's just two parts, 1/2" pipe hanger (i believe 1/2") but could be adjusted to your needs, just buy a few and see which hangs best then return the others.

The ring is a 3" pvc slip coupling that I cut to make it smaller. Then all I did was line it up for the height I wanted. Used pvc cleaner, then pvc primer and then finally pvc cement. then I hung it up from the ring for a day letting the hanger sit flat/level so it wouldnt slide or move while the cement cured.

So far it works great. 4" draw string socks slip right over it and I sinch them over the ring, the extension coming down from the hanger is then inside the sock and kind of helps the sock keep its form and not float away.

If using socks with an attached collar just cement the pipe hanger to the outside of the coupling.

Thank you so much. I have been trying to figure this seemingly simple DIY project for a week now. haha. My grandma loves sewing and I found a good template for filter socks online, and sent to her and she made me like a half dozen and said it barely cost her anything to make. Off to lowes.

 

[CafeReef]

Thank you so much. I have been trying to figure this seemingly simple DIY project for a week now. haha. My grandma loves sewing and I found a good template for filter socks online, and sent to her and she made me like a half dozen and said it barely cost her anything to make. Off to lowes.

no problem at all, I make my wife make me filter socks, SOOOO much cheaper. She can knock out a dozen socks for me in about an hour, so every few weeks I put her to work.

Been tempted to sell them to members of my local club even, save everyone some $$.

 

[pelphrey]

Glad to see these tanks more and more. I am leaning towards a SCA tank myself!

 

[CafeReef]

Glad to see these tanks more and more. I am leaning towards a SCA tank myself!

my only complaint is I should have gone with the 80 gallon haha. but I am very happy with it

 

[pelphrey]

I looked at the 90 gallon cube, but for the same price I can get the 120 & for a $100 more the 150! I'm leaning towards the 120 at the moment.

 

[CafeReef]

I looked at the 90 gallon cube, but for the same price I can get the 120 & for a $100 more the 150! I'm leaning towards the 120 at the moment.

Yea, I would have liked to have gone larger, but it is in my living room and the supports under it are not the greatest, so had to go smaller. Also the reason for the 50 vs larger was the added cost of equipment. I have expensive taste unfortunately, paying $1200-2000 for Radion's was something I didnt even want to try and explain to my wife.

 

[Bossy @ Belgium]

Nice tank! I'm tagging along to see the progress.

Really like the organisation and neatness in the cabinet!

grts Bossy

 

[HuskerBioProf]

Thanks for the advice, I am lucky in that I can get a new gate valve for around $5 (father owns a wholesale pipe and fittings company), the unions just clutter to much IMO. I have one so that I can get full access to the sump if necessary.

What company is it? I am new to the Omaha area and am largely dissatisfied with the PVC selection at Home Depot. Haven't found a place to get more specialty fittings yet. This plumbing is really clean.