Feeling Cubish? My new 50g cube

[Flipturn88]

After a successful first month, I wanted to show the progress of my newest tank--a 50g acrylic, bare-bottom, SPS/LPS cube. To wet your taste, here's a recent full shot:

And another

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Part One: The Plans

Previously, I had only a 46 gallon "mixed" reef. The lighting was barely adequate for SPS and the filtration was even worse. However, the tank managed and the corals grew:

I also had two strictly-softy tanks for my seahorses:

25g (H. reidi, H. comes)

20g (H. erectus pair)

Part of my motivation was to give all the seahorses more room, as well as combine their two tanks into one for easier feeding/maintenance. I wanted to create the "Ultimate Seahorse Heaven" that houses a variety of soft corals and other peaceful tank mates to accent the seahorses and pipefish.

But I was also sucked in by the beauty of SPSââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦

I decided to use my new 50 gallon acrylic cube for a SPS and LPS only tank, and I wanted to do it right this time around. Thankfully, Josh (aka majesticangelfish), my Aussie boyfriend, was coming to spend the Holiday season here, and I knew he would hook me up with the tank of my dreams. The details of the tank and its inhabitants will be revealed in the coming posts...

Please stay tuned!

 

[fade2black]

Nice cube. I just built a 70G cube and am in the process of moving my 50 into it.

 

[Flipturn88]

Part Two: The Transfer

It was messy business, But after a night's worth of work and pools of saltwater everywhere, the tank was finally reassembled.

Here are some more pics of the endeavour:

The temp coral tank

Kayla wasn't too thrilled with the state of her bedroom afterwards, but it was worth it...

Meet The New Seahorse Tank

As always, more pics to come...

 

[Flipturn88]

Part Three: The Seahorse Tank

Here are a few pics of the new seahorse tank and some of its inhabitants:

Seahorses

Female H. reidi

Male H. erectus

Female H. comes

Alligator Pipefish:

Other Inhabitants

Green Clown Goby

Corals

So where are all the SPS? Do not fear - they will be posted soon enough; I just want some suspense to build first.

Have a good one,
Kayla and Josh

 

[fishypets]

Flip,

Those are some awesome pictures. What camera are you using?

 

[SunnyX]

Amazing tanks and picture!!

Please give us more!!!

 

[majesticangelfish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6706787#post6706787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishypets
Flip,

Those are some awesome pictures. What camera are you using?

Cheers,

Just- Canon Powershot A95 and Olympus 7070.

We will be getting into dSLR later this year.

Josh

 

[majesticangelfish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6706814#post6706814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
Amazing tanks and picture!!

Please give us more!!!

more later...

:rollface:

 

[ReefRockerLive]

Those are some great coral pics!

 

[Flipturn88]

Part Four: The Cube is Born

The empty tank -

How to turn an aquarium into swiss cheese -

Important parts and equipment--accumulated from many excursions to Lowes -

Assembling the pieces to our plumbing puzzle -

More to come tonight...

 

[Flipturn88]

The new RO/DI (auto-topoff) system:

...runs into the bathtub, where the top bin collects the freshwater; the bottom bin is used for mixing up saltwater for changes -

I wanted to make water changes and topping-off less of a bother this time around, so auto-topoff switches were installed in the freshwater vat, as well as both the 50's and the 46's sumps -

(Switches and other misc RO supplies compliments of The Filter Guys)

Yes, there is more to come.

 

[Chrisrush]

I noticed that you have a Swim Atl parka in the background, I used to swim for them back in the early 90s.

I didn't notice any unions on your set-up, any reason why not?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Flipturn88]

The Final Steps:

Josh hard at work -

Two connected 30 gallon sumps for increased water volume and equipment storage, naturally -

And finally...we have salt water! (Seachem's new Reef Salt to be exact)

A final look at some of the plumbing. A Sequence Dart was hooked up later as a closed loop -

The sexy (yet expensive) Aqua Medic MH/T5 combo; 1 250W DE 10k halide and two 24W T5 actinic blues -

The first liverock (resting on an eggcrate shelf) -

 

[Flipturn88]

Drum roll...

A recent pic*

And FINALLY some of the coral -

Clams -

Of course, more pics (fish, coral, etc) to come later. In the meantime...have a good one!

* Note to any lurking members of the Tang Police (I happen to be one myself) - the tang's residency is only temporary; he is a current refugee and will be removed after further recouperation and growth /end defensive rant.

 

[Flipturn88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6714712#post6714712 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrisrush
I noticed that you have a Swim Atl parka in the background, I used to swim for them back in the early 90s.

I didn't notice any unions on your set-up, any reason why not?

Thanks,
Chris

That's awesome! I was big into competitive swimming until a recent shoulder injury halted any of my growing dreams. If you remember, who were your coaches?

There is one union in the piping that leads to the CL Sequence Dart. All other piping has multiple ball valves, mainly due to a lack of need for the unions, although they certainly wouldn't have hurt things. HTH

 

[NewSchool04]

the cube looks great! what are the dimensions and who built it?

 

[rjwilson37]

Very sweet kayla, I just love it!

Here is a link to the Nano I started for my Eel.

 

[Lunchbucket]

HOLY CRAP :eek1: that thing is AMAZING!

you drill enough holes in that tank? hope you used a lot of unions incase something needs to be changed

i LOVE that cream and blue clam!!
Lunchbucket

 

[TippyToeX]

Outstanding Kalya!! :thumbsup:

When those SPS mature/grow that is going to be even more of a rainbow.

 

[steve68]

sweet looking cube Kayla