d2mini's 130g Rimless Cube

[Myst666]

d2 you have an AWESOME Tank. I have read this and found this thread by TBS. Your tank is Amazing. I am just starting out and your tank gives me something to look forward too. Keep the pics coming.

How are the Clowns????

 

[d2mini]

Thanks guys!

The clowns are doing great. They are loving their new home in the Ritteri!
Momma is still fat, but i have not yet found any eggs.
Maybe she is just fat?

 

[JasonD]

Nicely done tagging along

 

[Brwestern]

I should do another one and include a tour of the AWC.

I agree with you. I skimmed back over your AWC system since I'm getting closer and closer to finishing my build and now I'm thinking I need to go ahead and get a liter meter as well! Dangit. Lol. I had to buy my girlfriend new bedroom furniture since I am spending so much on the tank. Wonder what that'll cost me!

For all you people saying this is an expensive hobby, you weren't kidding!

 

[yoccm]

Just read through the thread - wow! Most impressive. I actually stumbled onto it while searching for info on the aqua photon fixtures. I am very interested in them and you are one of the few build threads I have found using them. Love to hear your opinion on their performance.

Thanks, Chris

 

[Jukas]

Now that you've had over a year with the tank, are you still happy with the dimensions?

I'm just starting the planning stages of a new build to a rimless tank and really don't think I want a 24" high tank, but was hoping to get my water volume to 120-130 gallons.

A 48l x 36w x 18h with a 16" high waterline would give 120g
A 48l x 48w x 18h with a 16" high waterline would give 152g

I'm just not sure how I feel about giving up that much floorspace. Your tank is one of the nicest rimless I've seen posted here in a long time so I figured I'd get your input. Do you wish you had gone bigger?

 

[Myst666]

Question about your second shipment of "The Package" from TBS.
Did you squirt scolding hot water in the holes to get the BAD Crabs out?
What effect does this have on the living stuff on the rock?

I recently ordered "The Package" from TBS, I had a bunch of the BAD Crabs, there
are still a few in there that we are trying to trap. I only have the first shipment, but it
does have a lot of life on them. I think we will try the hot water trick before we get remaining package.
The bags that the rock was shipped in broke and we had a few casualties, Porcelain Crab, Pistol Shrimp and some sponge. The rock still looks beautiful.

 

[d2mini]

Just read through the thread - wow! Most impressive. I actually stumbled onto it while searching for info on the aqua photon fixtures. I am very interested in them and you are one of the few build threads I have found using them. Love to hear your opinion on their performance.

Thanks, Chris

Thanks, Chris! The lights have performed very well for me so far. It's the 250w MH version. I was running an XM 10k and now I run the Geissmann Coral which i think is rated at 14k but is closer to the 10k xm in color, very white. The bulbs are all ATI blue plus but now i run one ATI purple plus in the mix. With either setup i've noticed that i have a $***TON of light! My tank is 24" deep and I've had trouble getting sps to survive in the center of the tank. My fixture was 6" off the water but I've had to raise it up to at least 9". So i guess the single 250w and 4 t5 is plenty of light!

Now that you've had over a year with the tank, are you still happy with the dimensions?

I'm just starting the planning stages of a new build to a rimless tank and really don't think I want a 24" high tank, but was hoping to get my water volume to 120-130 gallons.

A 48l x 36w x 18h with a 16" high waterline would give 120g
A 48l x 48w x 18h with a 16" high waterline would give 152g

I'm just not sure how I feel about giving up that much floorspace. Your tank is one of the nicest rimless I've seen posted here in a long time so I figured I'd get your input. Do you wish you had gone bigger?

Thanks! I've been very happy with the dimensions because it's perfect for the space I have. And I love the fact that it's a walk around cube. If I had more space I'm sure I'd want a bigger tank, but it's been a good size both spatially and financially.

Question about your second shipment of "The Package" from TBS.
Did you squirt scolding hot water in the holes to get the BAD Crabs out?
What effect does this have on the living stuff on the rock?

I recently ordered "The Package" from TBS, I had a bunch of the BAD Crabs, there
are still a few in there that we are trying to trap. I only have the first shipment, but it
does have a lot of life on them. I think we will try the hot water trick before we get remaining package.
The bags that the rock was shipped in broke and we had a few casualties, Porcelain Crab, Pistol Shrimp and some sponge. The rock still looks beautiful.

Ya, that's one of those things that I don't know if I'd want to condone but it is an option. I only did it with the first batch. The second batch I left alone because I knew it was even more full of life than the first batch and I didn't want to lose any of it. Not sure if I posted this pic but I found this guy recently. I think he took off with my new baby clam! I never even found the shell. He was cool looking though, eh?

 

[Myst666]

You take such great pictures! My tank still needs to finish the cycle but I think I am going to yank the rocks and try the hot water. I also read that club soda will get them to come out too. I will try both to see which one works the best.
Thanks for the reply.

M

 

[yoccm]

Dennis - thanks for the info on the lights. Aquarium specialty is running a deal on the 3 x 250W 6 foot unit - marked down from $3200 to $2100. I am seriously considering going for it. I was really leaning toward the ATI PM because of all the color choices in bulbs. This fixture uses 12 36" T5s as supplement to the 3 MH bulbs. Using 14k on the MH and mixing Blue and Purple on the T5s should give me great color like the ATI but also give me the shimmer and PAR of MH.

 

[yoccm]

Scott at Aquarium Specialty is holding the 3 bulb 72" unit for me. Seems like a great price! He is also willing to throw in 3 SE 250w 14 K Aquaconnect mogul bulbs at half off and give me a break on the T5 bulbs as well. My tank is going to be 26" deep and I have plenty of room to raise the fixture so s/b ok. How do the reflectors on the MH and t5s seem? Good quality? Also, was planning on timing lights using Apex - do you know if they are controllable?

Sorry for all the ?s but you are the only guy I've found running this fixture. :spin1:

 

[d2mini]

Sounds like a great deal!

My lights are running off my Reefkeeper Lite. There is one plug for the MH and two for the T5's. So first one set of T5's come on, then the other set, then finally the MH. Reverse at night.

Just curious... had you weighed any of the LED systems against this unit, like the Aqua Illumination ones? I was thinking of eventually picking up two of those which should be perfect over my tank. But not for a while. A little pricier up front but bulbs costs add up quick. 2 of those with controller are around $1200. Almost what i paid for this light. I might need a third though depending on the light spread.

 

[yoccm]

Trust me I have been all over the map on trying to pick lighting for my tank! I did look at the AI LEDs. For my 72 l x 30w x 26 h tank I would need the 6 unit fixture which would run upward of $3,300 and I was a little worried that would cover the 30" width of my tank. The cost could quickly be recouped in reduced electric bills and no bulb changes but from all the reading I've done it still seems like an emerging technology. Not sure I am ready to pour that kinda $$$ into LEDs until they perfect them a bit more.

I have also really wrestled with the all T5 vs MH/T5 combo thing.

I think I am ready to bite the bullet and go with the Aqua Photon fixture.

Looking at your pix & vids you have such a natural look to your tank which I am sure has something to do with the lighting you are using.

Thanks for the advice on the lights, I will let you know if I get the Aqua Photons.

 

[d2mini]

Cool, i was just curious. You'll love the fixture.

Oh, and i forgot to mention... the only thing I think can be improved is access to the bulbs. You have to remove 4 screws to remove the side panel. So you have to be careful when doing this right over your tank... dont want to lose the screws in the water!

Also, I have the 24" fixture over 36" cube and it's plenty of light. I like how i have lower light areas around the outside and high light in the center. And I don't get the light spill on the floor.

 

[yoccm]

O.K. Dennis you got me thinking. I've spent the last 2 hours going back thru various posts on the AI LED fixtures. Actually would not cost any more than the discounted Aqua Photon once I purchase all the bulbs. Not to mention the added electricity and bulb replacement costs going forward.

Couple things that have caught my attention:
1) a number of tanks showing great coloration and growth under the AI units
2) great controlability with the supplied controller
3) got REALLY excited when I saw that apex is coming out with a module that will be specifically geared to control the untis
4) the ability to change/upgrade going forward and to swap out optics so easily
5) ability to add additional units if necessary to the rail system

Maybe rethinking the whole thing!!!!

 

[Brwestern]

Those AIs are supposed to be great. I just bought the pacific sun metis led...not modular, but similar. Id bet on LEDs. Everywhere in every industry is moving that direction.

 

[yoccm]

Yeah - seems like it is definitely the future. Also, just found the VDM module on the Neptune website that will control the AI units - cost is $99.

 

[ReeVo]

Gorgeous looking tank man.
That is a piece of art.


What Kelvin is your megachrome bulb?

 

[Charley Diesing]

very nice.

 

[InvaderJim]

Love it. Really like the naturally look you've got going on.