d2mini's 130g Rimless Cube

D2mini, you have done an outstanding job thus far with your tank. It's so well put together! I can't wait to see it stocked and maturing.
 
Nice build!! you did exactly what I imagined on doing to my future tank which placing the vortech inside the overflow. Do you happen to know how deep is the dimension of your overflow stick out? I'm afraid it'll take up too much real estate inside my tank...
 
d2mini said:
Water is going in!!!

Got my overflow installed thursday night, starting putting in water yesterday.
This is all the water i have so far, still making/mixing 30 gallons at a time. Got about 90 gallons in so far. Over the top of the first vortech.

744992687_6QbDS-O.jpg



Started my skimmer going, just to test it out. Nothing to skim being that it's pure brand new water.
744992579_sss9C-O.jpg



Here's the overflow innards.
You can see the wiring for the lighting and vortechs going down the dry pipe.
Also the dry-dock for the vortech motors.
I have a strainer for the 1" main drain (short one in the middle) but haven't put it on yet.
The one on the left is the 1" emergency drain. 3/4" return split to two loc-lines.
744992658_PGBqT-O.jpg


744992639_PJ9qq-O.jpg



And the front of the overflow. Two areas on each side for taking in water plus the slot at the top of each side for surface skimming.
744992606_Jc3hB-O.jpg
Click to expand...


That a very nice design.
 
d2mini said:
Thank you very much, everyone! It's great to hear such nice comments.


Thanks! This was not my idea actually. I was going back and forth, really leaning towards doing a closed loop system but my tank builder (kyle at sapphire aquatics here in houston) came up with this idea. So I can't take credit. He was really good at listening to what i wanted to accomplish, the style of plumbing I wanted to do, etc and then designed the overflow with everything considered. What I needed to do though was figure out how to get the wires down the 1" dry pipe. NONE of the plugs would fit! So I was able to open up the vortech wave driver boxes and luckily the main power wire loom had a "connector" at the circuit board and i was able to just unplug them, run the wire down and replug into the other half of the connector soldered to the circuit board. The lights was a little more complicated but same idea. Luckily all the wiring came into the end of the fixture behind the same plate that gets removed to install the bulbs. But in this case each wire had to be disconnected individually. Once disconnected the loom could be pulled out and sent up the dry pipe from below and then everything reconnected. Overall, it was all a lot easier than it could have been, that's for sure.
The only thing I'm a little worried about is working around those Vortechs and not blocking too much flow to the outer corners of the tank with rock and stuff.
Click to expand...


I was just about to ask how you got those wires down that small pipe. Very creative indeed. What type of corals are you planning to host? SPS, LPS, mixed?
 
epleeds said:
question about the light hanger. Did it come with light, or did you get it somewhere else?

thanks...
Click to expand...

It did come with a very similar kit but that kit didn't have the nice connection at the ceiling. The one that came with it just had a loop at the end of the wire that i suppose you would have attached to hooks in the ceiling. This kit was the Sunlight Supply hanging kit and it came complete with long wood screws for studs (which i was able to use) and big toggle bolts.
 
mnml said:
I was just about to ask how you got those wires down that small pipe. Very creative indeed. What type of corals are you planning to host? SPS, LPS, mixed?
Click to expand...

Thanks. :)
A mix of stuff. I'm an equal opportunity reefer. :bigeyes:
 
One of the most important design aspects to me is how the tank is incorporated into the decor of the rest of the home. You have done a superb job in this aspect. I can't wait to see more.
 
Dennis...
I hope you understand how HIGH you have set the bar here with your build :artist:
Please.........please......do NOT let us down with a "poorly" designed Aquascape...:hmm4:

J/K.... :lol: I too can not wait to see more :D
 
Well, the major stuff is done!
The tank is running!

Here's a pic of the completed overflow plumbing.
Main drain with strainer and the emergency drain poking it's head above water.
It's running DEAD SILENT!
Thanks, Herbie! :dance:

745841959_AibTG-O.jpg
 
I was just at all about fish yesterday!
They are a haul for me though. I live near the IKEA on I-10.
So I usually hit up City Pets, T&T or Fish Gallery.
But Kevin does have some of the best corals in town.
3rd Coast Corals has also been getting in some nice stuff. They're off 290/Antoine. Same space as Sapphire Aquatics.
 
Yeah, he's a good guy. I bought three zoa frags and a kenya tree from him yesterday. Only had 25 bucks left and needed a koralia nano, he let me have it.

I've never been to T&T or city pets.

I'm really looking for LFS's that carry nice equipement. I'm looking to upgrade to a 58g and don't want to buy everything online.
 
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