Help me design my new 12inch starfire cube

[reefer1024]

I am in the planning stages of my next tank and seek the advice of the many experts here on RC. I am upgrading from my 2.5 pico to a 12 inch starfire cube.

Hear are the corals that will be making the move:
acros
monti caps
enchino
zoas
ricordia florida and yuma
candy can

Fish will be a few 1 inch trimma gobies

Filtration will be a simple Hang on tank filter with carbon, purigen and polyfilter. water quality will be maintained with weakly water changes

I am seeking advice on what kind of light. I would like to add more acros and a pink birds nest. I also hope to keep my tank cool by only using AC and fans (no chiller). I am thinking about getting an aqua medic 70 watt pendant with 14k or 20k bulb. I have no experience with metal halids so i need to know if this is a good idea.

Nothing is set in stone yet so I would like to hear what everyone thinks about this setup (especially lighting) before I have the tank built.

Thanks in advance for all your help
-Brent

 

[reefer1024]

Cmon now i see lots of people looking. Nobody has an opinion about this light?

 

[cherubfish pair]

just curious how much the tank will cost being starfire glass if you don't mind.

 

[miwoodar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10430677#post10430677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefer1024
I am thinking about getting an aqua medic 70 watt pendant with 14k or 20k bulb. I have no experience with metal halids so i need to know if this is a good idea.

Welcome to RC!

70 watts would do fine. The tank is so small the entire footprint will get nearly direct light.

Have you ever seen these videos? They have a lot of good ideas incorporated within...

ninjafish's tanks (links can be found here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1023650)

Or here:
2gal pico tank (http://102tech.com/fish/PicoMovie.wmv)
Latest Tank video with Mantis Shrimp (http://www.102tech.com/fish/mantis.wmv)
7.5gal Cube Video (http://www.truenorthreef.com/newcube.wmv)

 

[reefer1024]

Cattleman: The tank will be built by Visio, cost $100

Miwoodar: Thanks for the links. Ninjas tanks r sweet

Do u think i will have heat issues with such a small tank?
14k or 20k?

Thank U please drive through.

 

[rutledgek]

I am going to build a very similar tank. I was looking at the JBL K2 70W clip on lamp. My tank will not be as seemless as ninjafish's tank, but on the back, I will put an overflow on the outside. At the bottom of this box will be a 3/4" hole dirlled. I am going to use 3/4 vynil tubing to the pump and then out to a SCWD. One output will go out near the top of the tank opposite of the overflow box, the other output will go out on the diagonal bottom.

 

[RobSW1]

if you really are going to build a starfire cube, you dont want to ruin it with a HOB filter that will stick out like a sore thumb. Get that SOB drilled and use a 10 gallon tank as a sump....it will look much better and kepp some equiipment out of the tank.

 

[reefer1024]

Rob i see what your saying, but because my tank is going to be on my desk in my bedroom i don't really have room for a sump and i don't want the extra noise of an overflow. Besides the hang on in my 2.5 is pretty much invisible they downtube is behind rocks and the top inch and a half that u can see has zoas on it.

rutledgek, your tank sounds cool post some pics when u get it set up. I have been toying with the idea of a closed loop with a SCWD to keep the ugly powerheads outa my tank, but im not sure yet i got to research more.

more opinions are welcome

 

[psidriven]

imo a better option is to run a canister filter instead of the hang on back. this will give you more flow, the option of using a scwd, running a chiller (in case you need one later) and larger filtration area while still keeping things quiet. you can even use the glass intake/output pipes from ADA (or another source) and clear hoses for a super clean look.

 

[rutledgek]

I will. It may be a while. i just ordered the diamond hole saw. I need to get another peice cut as I thought I had 14" pieces so I had a bottom cut to match that. Then there is just the external overflow box.

 

[cherubfish pair]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10463514#post10463514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefer1024
Cattleman: The tank will be built by Visio, cost $100

Can it be drilled and what's the shipping cost?

 

[reefer1024]

PSI: thats a good idea. I dont know why i never thought of it. I am considering doing the canister.

Cattleman: It can be drilled. I am ordering it through my LFS. Here is there website though www.clearforlife.com/ My 2.5 is one of there beta tanks and I gotta say its a lot cleaner than the typical 2.5 you see at petco or whatever. The silicone is perfect.


I would still like to hear what people think about the heat from a 70 watt hqi over a 7.5 gallon tank.

peace be with u : )

 

[psidriven]

I had a 150 hqi metal halide about 10 inches over a 16 x 16 (i think, can't remember exact dimensions right now) and the tank did get up to 90's in Los Angeles summer. After seeing the temperatures get that high, I took care of the heat issues by using computer fans blowing onto the water surface.

So, if your summer home temps get up into the 90's, you'll probably have issues that can be resolved by using a fan and some sort of top off (manual, drip or ato).

Hope that answers your questions. Feel free to ask if you don't understand the lingo. Lingo was my biggest problem when first starting out in reefing.

 

[reefer1024]

thanks i think that answers all my questions, But if anyone has any ideas or suggestions let em rip.

 

[reefer1024]

Ive been doing more reading and I found this tank of the month.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/totm/index.php
The tank is about the same size the one i plan to build, but uses a 150 watt pendant instead of the 70 I was planning. Do you think i would be better off with a 150??? Remember i plan to use either a 14k or a 20k bulb by itself. Help me im so confused : )