My 33 Gallon Oceanic Cube Build (Image heavy)

[fantastic4]

Just completed the build last night 09-12. What do you think? Now slowly adding corals. Monitoring all equipment.

33 g Oceanic Cube
Sumpless system with Aquafuge and CPR Lights
Remora Pro
Current USA Sunpod 150w 15k
CurrentUSA PC 80w (only have actinics turned on)
50-60 lbs live rock
50 lbs live sand
RedSea Wavemaster with Maxi
Chaeto for nitrate reduction

Had to extend current stand by 8" to accomodate the cube. If interested in how this was done, please reply and I'll post build picts.

Aquafuge on back

CPR Aquafuge Lights (I like them a lot)

Tank shot from where I sit in my office

same angle, but closer

Left side view

Anouther left side view

front views

 

[jasutton]

dude i love it, and i agree i love the CPR fuges...but hate the pumps inside.

Man i love cubes...i went 20L but wish i went with the cube...you are rubbing it in too.

nice work man

 

[fantastic4]

Thanks jasutton, took a long while to do the rock work and many many hours looking at RC posts on cube rock work. Agree with you on the Remora Mag pump, looks ugly. I bought the skimmer box for the mag, however, I have not put it in yet as I want to drill it with holes near the bottom so the skimmer will not run dry if my water level gets a little to low.

 

[fantastic4]

Needed to extend my existing stand by 8" to accomodate the new tank with Aquafuge on back. Here are a few pictures on how I did it.

A run down to Lowes and back with a few 2X4's, new oak top, plywood and oak skins for side of false 8" back to be built.

Decided on plywood with 2x4's as support. The ply wood is held in place by small braces. Note, the braces only hold the plywood top in place.

 

[fantastic4]

My Helper

Level test

A Oak top will cover the exiting table top and 8" extension. The top is Oak and will have sides bullnosed with router and then stained.

Top with routed sides

 

[fantastic4]

Top ready for stain

Stain complete

Table with 8" false back in place

Visited walmart and picked up a campers blue bed styrofoam. Cut to fit and placed on top of existing table and 8" extension. The new oak table top was then placed on top. This was done to even out any awkward angles from back to front. Although I tried hard to ensure 8" back was exact height as existing table top. (You can see the blue camper's cushion sticking out the back, this needs to be trimmed)

An exact sq cube cut was made on the existing cushion to be placed under Oceanic tank sides for safety concerns with wood touching bottom middle -- just in case.

 

[fantastic4]

Transfer begins... former existing 10 gallon shown

Hex tank broken down and fish transfered to cooler -- poor fellows. I was racing against the clock now.

No leaks (remora drain pipe to be removed)

 

[fantastic4]

Water dirty from live sand transfer (running Ehiem canister to clear)

Rock work begins, almost done

Done

 

[drummereef]

:thumbsup:

 

[jasutton]

god that rock is sexy


By the way...my pumps were really ugly and i did what you are about to do (boxes on the outside) and everything looks so much cleaner (AND PURPLE!!)

man i wish i went with a cube...next year when i move i may...you have inspired me!!

 

[1jared1]

Nice tank.

 

[Copacetic]

Great aquascaping. Awesome tank. Keep us updated
-Raz

 

[kase]

love the stack. you have an eye for art or something like that.

 

[fantastic4]

Thank you, thank you, to kind. Will post pict updates as the coraline grows and new coral frags are added.

 

[Henry22]

How many fish do you have, it looks like you have a mated pair of maroons(one really big female) and a occelarris if you added him, that might cause some problems, just putting that out there. Looks really good though.

 

[alien9168]

Beutiful! I too love the rockwork.

 

[fantastic4]

Everyone, Thank you for the nice comments,


Henry22, you called it right on the spot. I have a mated pair of maroons with a giant female that I really love. The false percula did not make it through the first night, the juvi percula was sucked into the mag 5 protector intake. I felt really bad as I should have known better. Now I have the mag sponge on the intake. Will be placing the Remora skimmer box on soon. Other fish include 3 chromies, 2 damsels and a coral beauty. I also have a scooter blenny that eats dry food, can't believe it. The fish load is a bit high, but so far they look healthy and no fighting.

 

[Milhouse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8149337#post8149337 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fantastic4
Other fish include 3 chromies, 2 damsels and a coral beauty. I also have a scooter blenny that eats dry food, can't believe it. The fish load is a bit high, but so far they look healthy and no fighting.

A bit high(is that 9 fish total in there?)? I think you have about 5 fish too many in a tank that size. Not trying to be a negative nelly, but I wouldn't put more than 3, maybe 4 fish in a 30g. I feel bad enough having 4 fish in my 37g cube.

 

[fantastic4]

agreed, have been thinking about giving away the damsels and chromis.

note: these fish were all together as part of a used 37 gallon tank I bought a while back. Also keep in mind I have a Ehiem canister running carbon and polyester to remove phosphates as well as the Remora Pro and a medium Aquafuge plus water changes.

 

[NYproDJ]

looks great... hope you got your "FREE FISH" that came with the tank lol