My 330 Gallon Cube Project

Aaron, ya, I am not really sure at the moment exactly how the rock formation is going to look. I have a few ideas in my head. Most likely a canyon between the rocks. Not sure how they will drop off. If you have ideas, go ahead and send them my way.

Theron
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12312629#post12312629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kar93
Looks Good, The tank looks like its going to be great.I love the way acrylic looks compared to glass but just curious why you went with the bracing when the it is 1" thick?
Click to expand...

Even though it is 1" thick, it still needs a brace. Atleast that is what James said. Since it is in wall, no reason not to have one. In fact I like having it there. The euro brace gives me a ledge to lay on when I access the tank. I kinda need to lay down low to get my hands down to the bottom of the 30" tank.

Theron
 
i think the canyon is the best formation because it looks good (imo) but if you are having corals and things (which you most probably will have then it will have to be a pretty shallow one because the corals will need room to grow so if you are planning to have corals you might need to change the formation into a drop off or something
 
I thought that with 1" no brace was needed but James is the expert and better safe than sorry, right? What will you be using for flow, Vortechs?. Aaron, Just curios why it would need to be shallow?
 
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i mean that the rock will have to spread out instead of built up because otherwise the corals wont have room to grow upwards if you know what i mean but you might not have to do this if you are clever enough to create it so you dont have to do this
 
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The rock can be however really IMO, Lets say a Monti was right at the top of the rockwork when it grows right to the top of the water it wont just stop growing, it will continue to branch out. If you got that. Anyway lets get back on topic.
 
Here is an update:
I decided to tackle the electrical job myself. 3 20 amp circuits from the garage to the basement. The job ended up being much more time consuming than I thought. I have much respect for electricians. Running the wire in a hot dusty attic was not fun. But I got it all done. I passed the final inspection yesterday. Some pics below.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516123793/" title="Electrical Rough-in by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2326/2516123793_ea3e76cc43.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Electrical Rough-in" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516125035/" title="Electrical Rough-in by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2516125035_4207aa6e5a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Electrical Rough-in" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516949120/" title="Electrical Rough-in by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2315/2516949120_126abc57d1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Electrical Rough-in" /></a>


Added insulation to the wall to help dampen the noise.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516951544/" title="Electrical Rough-in by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2516951544_b70132acb6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Electrical Rough-in" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516952818/" title="Electrical Rough-in by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/2516952818_3cdbbf45b8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Electrical Rough-in" /></a>

Here is a shot of the ventilation ducts. I was only allowed two holes on the side of the house, so I have two 6 inch vents to the outside. Problem is I have two vent fans for fresh air. One blows in, one out. But I also have a protable a/c unit that needs two ducts. So I am sharing the vents with the two. I am going to place some nice back draft dampers to restrict the flow in one direction. It is alittle ugly but it should work.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516132267/" title="Electrical Rough-in by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2516132267_a8dbbbff92.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Electrical Rough-in" /></a>
 
Added many receptacles around the tank. I am hoping to eliminate all power strips. Each receptacle is GFCI. The room has 19 of them. The ones above and under the tank have a switch for each receptacle in the box.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516959110/" title="Receptacles by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2305/2516959110_5f39c6a841.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Receptacles" /></a>

Above the tank.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516137433/" title="Receptacles by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2516137433_cb78ea0974.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Receptacles" /></a>

Below the tank.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516138627/" title="Receptacles by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/2516138627_0482bc85aa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Receptacles" /></a>

One recept. for fans and one for a/c
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516963216/" title="Receptacles by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/2516963216_2298120bc6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Receptacles" /></a>

In the garage, conduit to basement
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2516141465/" title="Conduit by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2516141465_4759653726.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Conduit" /></a>

So that is where I am so far. I am hoping to finish the drywall, texture, and pait this weekend. My goal is to add water on Monday.

Theron
 
just found this thread. Looks like it is coming along quickly....looking forward to seeing water in the tank.
 
Sweet build and yes James makes an awsome tank. There is a LFS who has a 36 cube he built for sale and would love to jump on it but dont have the room. Plus after talking with James he has about a 6 month back log:eek2: Keep the pics coming!
 
Ok, I made quite a bit of progress with the tank room this week.

The walls are pretty much finished in the room. I mudded, taped, textured and painted. I put two coats of primer and two coats of hi gloss paint on the walls. I just need to add some trim around the tank. I think it looks pretty good. Not bad for my first time with drywall.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2541010678/" title="2008-05-31_21-33-11_1498 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2123/2541010678_eaf4836fc4.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="2008-05-31_21-33-11_1498" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2541009298/" title="2008-05-31_21-32-45_1496 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2192/2541009298_a153f91a03.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-05-31_21-32-45_1496" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2541010014/" title="2008-05-31_21-33-03_1497 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2541010014_c42f9e2c85.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="2008-05-31_21-33-03_1497" /></a>

Sink ready to be plumbed.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2541008038/" title="2008-05-30_08-21-18_1487 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2541008038_a2d9ba8713.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-05-30_08-21-18_1487" /></a>

Under the stand, closed loop bulkheads in place with ball valves.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2540187693/" title="2008-05-31_21-32-29_1495 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/2540187693_3813c63caa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-05-31_21-32-29_1495" /></a>

Filled the tank with tap water to do a leak test. Three of the hayward ball valves had a small leak. Good thing about these ball valves, they are easy to dismantle. I took them apart and cleaned the insides and now not a drop. I purchased them on ebay new, but they were a little old.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2540190517/" title="2008-05-31_21-33-40_1500 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2540190517_a6affe8097.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-05-31_21-33-40_1500" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2541012162/" title="2008-05-31_21-34-38_1503 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2541012162_469313c34d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-05-31_21-34-38_1503" /></a>

Tomorrow I hope to get the CL pumps plumbed and running. Then drain the tank and start filling the tank with RODI water. It is going to take a few days to make the water.

Theron
 
Ok, it is starting to get fun now. Here are some pics of what I have done in the last week or so.

I plumbed in the closed loop pumps. Two Sequence Barracudas.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2572540587/" title="2008-06-12_01-46-57_1551 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2572540587_c6d15cda83.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-06-12_01-46-57_1551" /></a>

Sump is in place.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2572541585/" title="2008-06-12_01-48-29_1555 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2572541585_2cb9b0818e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-06-12_01-48-29_1555" /></a>

I built some platforms out of pvc to support and lift the rock from the bottom. The pipe is plumbed to the closed loop pump and will have loc-line hidden in the rock structure.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2572527833/" title="2008-06-08_20-26-33_1509 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2572527833_7fa12d747a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-06-08_20-26-33_1509" /></a>

The rock is in place with a canyon in between. The rock on the left is not finished. I am waiting for some loc-line parts that I ordered to show up before it is done.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2572533695/" title="2008-06-11_21-55-29_1539 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/2572533695_05313c4649.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-06-11_21-55-29_1539" /></a>

Behind the scenes.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2572529973/" title="2008-06-10_23-29-25_1531 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2572529973_6343ae0d95.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-06-10_23-29-25_1531" /></a>
 
Sand, seaflor special
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2573367012/" title="2008-06-12_08-25-04_1557 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2573367012_4048cbd455.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-06-12_08-25-04_1557" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2573363638/" title="2008-06-11_23-36-06_1550 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2573363638_ed5fb687d1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-06-11_23-36-06_1550" /></a>

Now just waiting for it to fill up.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25155538@N02/2572536263/" title="2008-06-11_23-35-19_1546 by tluttmann, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2572536263_b468ba295b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2008-06-11_23-35-19_1546" /></a>

Theron
 
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