d2mini's 130g Rimless Cube

[artchang]

Sorry I used the wrong word, I mean the fitting in your bulkhead.
and i also found the answer, anyway thanks for your reply.

 

[mklukas]

Wow, amazing tank you have there so far! I've been kicking around the idea of doing a cube style tank and this is an inspirational build to say the least. Can't wait to see it stocked!

 

[d2mini]

haha, i have a long way to go before anyone gets to come inspect it in person.


Richard shipped out my TBS rock/sand (package part 1) this morning! Should be able to pick it up this afternoon! Woohoo! :bounce3:

 

[kmu]

Awsome reef tank...

 

[Lyfey]

Beautiful setup, I still have to catch up on most of the reading. I am interested in the itech skimmers now Do you have any previous expirience with them? Again.. beautiful!

-Chris

 

[d2mini]

Part I of "The Package" has landed! :dance:

 

[hihikeke]

I love your home more than the tank

 

[NaClCrocodile]

Pics NOW!

 

[trb]

I hope you invite some local reefheads to check it out!

Lol, yeah man invite us over. We'll bring our own drool cups.

MARSH Tank of the Month celebration at Dennis' house!!! LOL! Maybe you can win sooner based on the beauty of the tank itself, not necessarily just on the livestock. The tank is looking good!!!

Did the airport guys look at you funny when you were taking pics of the boxes?!? LOL! At least your shipment didn't get snowed in and delayed with the freezing weather we are having like some people's shipments have.

 

[d2mini]

Did the airport guys look at you funny when you were taking pics of the boxes?!? LOL! At least your shipment didn't get snowed in and delayed with the freezing weather we are having like some people's shipments have.

No, they were hiding indoors from the cold. They just wheeled by stuff outside and left! :lol:

7 boxes, 350lbs total but that's including a lot of water weight.
100lbs of sand and probably 100lbs of rock this shipment. More rock and my cuc coming in a couple weeks, once this stuff cycles.

It all fit in the hatch of my A3 with room to spare!

Here's a couple teaser pics...

This is a pic of the sand, but the rock is bagged the same way. Quadruple bagged in heavy duty plastic and then in a styrofoam box inside the cardboard box.

Richard sent me some REAL nice large pieces in various shapes. Most boxes just had ONE piece of rock in them. The rock has tons of nooks and crannies. And none of this was taken from the reef! All aquacultured!

I think I saw a gorilla crap burrow into the sand and I already heard some clicking noises so I'll have to get started on some traps. But I also saw lots of snails and what I believe is a porcelain crab. Right now I'm waiting for the water to clear so I can shoot a few pics.

 

[mcdonaldtj]

This tank looks awesome. I wish I had the room for a big cube.

V/Tim

 

[karsco]

D2 great build! I have almost the exact same setup except you have a nicer tank, lights, house etc. :fun2: I got the package from TBS about 5 years ago and it is some nice rock. It is a little dense but the life on it is incredible when you first get it. Even 5 years later I have sponges, feather dusters, urchins etc pop up out of nowhere. The one thing you need to watch for is hitchhikers, crabs, mantis shrimps etc. I had countless crabs and about 4 mantis shrimps that wreaked havoc in my tank when I first set it up. If you need to get them out I recommend doing a high salinity dip (especially for the mantis they are tough bastards) to get them out of the rocks they are in. Also get ready to do lot's of water changes because of the diverse life you will get some die off. (but I am sure you already knew this)

I love the clean lines and great planning. I wish I would have thought of your ideas for mounting the vortech's that was a great idea. You will love the Itech skimmer, I am only running a 100 on my 140 cube but will probably upgrade to the 200 when I get this tank more heavily stocked. They pull the nastiest skimmate of any skimmer I have ever owned. Enough of my rambling great job, and look forward to watching your progress.

Scott

 

[d2mini]

Karsco, thanks for the tips and comments!

I've heard of the high salinity dip, but how high exactly? I hear the clicking noises but at this point I don't know where those little buggers are. I was going to try the coke bottle traps, especially since I won't be feeding the tank for weeks and figured they would be hungry.

 

[kevantheman35]

sounds like your in for a battle man, best of luck! cant wait to see pics with the rock in

ps. prey their just pistol shrimp making the clicks

 

[SawdustInTank]

That's a very nice tank you have there. Keep the pics coming.........

 

[karsco]

D2,

Yes try the coke bottle traps first, I caught some of my crabs and one of the mantis with this method. For the high salinity dip take some of your tank water (whatever volume you need) and just add some salt until you get it in the 1.30 range. I use a five gallon bucket and a few gallons of water when I was dipping my rocks. It takes a while to figure out where the "clicks" are coming from but if you watch the tank you can figure out where they tend to hang out. The mantis & crabs would be good little scavangers in your sump (if you have a spot for them) if not you might ask some fellow reefers if they want them. I have noticed they actually sell some types of mantis now. At the time they were ripping through my snail population and I was frustrated so mine got the flush, but looking back I should have tried to find them a home.

Good luck,
Scott

 

[d2mini]

Thanks!

 

[theyammieguy]

Looking good man.

 

[gtfourmn]

Very nice tank. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

[Hollywood1]

This tank is beautiful, great design, keep us updated