My Shallow Cube Build Thread
- Thread starter cham
- Start date
cham
New member
Quick update.
I've changed my sump plumbing 3 times looking for the ever elusive micro bubble free environment without fliter socks. Pretty tough to do when your pumping 2500 gph through a sump but I think I may have finally got it.
I can run without filter socks now and not have any micro bubbles although I'm not happy how things are mounted so I will do some mounting tweaks.
I also added two phosban reactors to the sump area to run my GFO & carbon. I also bought a dual swith top off system from autotopoff.com to install in my sump area. I had a huge accident that I don't even want to talk about. :mad2:
And I got some polishing equipment for my acrylic. Really does well on light scratches and the overall shine!
Put a couple Koralia's in the tank too. Wanted some more flow, I should be in the neighborhood aproaching 3,000 gph or about 85 times turn over per hour. The sand is staying in place, its a real random flow, but the chromis look exhausted.
I've changed my sump plumbing 3 times looking for the ever elusive micro bubble free environment without fliter socks. Pretty tough to do when your pumping 2500 gph through a sump but I think I may have finally got it.
I can run without filter socks now and not have any micro bubbles although I'm not happy how things are mounted so I will do some mounting tweaks.
I also added two phosban reactors to the sump area to run my GFO & carbon. I also bought a dual swith top off system from autotopoff.com to install in my sump area. I had a huge accident that I don't even want to talk about. :mad2:
And I got some polishing equipment for my acrylic. Really does well on light scratches and the overall shine!
Put a couple Koralia's in the tank too. Wanted some more flow, I should be in the neighborhood aproaching 3,000 gph or about 85 times turn over per hour. The sand is staying in place, its a real random flow, but the chromis look exhausted.
143gadgets
New member
I have to agree the tort is really nice!!! Awesome additions.
cham
New member
Ok, its been awhile and I'll give some updates.
I had an almost system crash after my RO/DI float valve stuck open all night and I woke up to an overflow in the garage and a tank salinity of 1.010 or about 15 ppt. I brought it up to 25 ppt over the course of that day and then spent almost 10 days bringing it the rest of the way back up.
So far I haven't lost anything although I have a colony that was already having troubles before it came into my tank that I'm worried about. Other than that all my corals are totally washed out so that will take time to come back.
I changed my sump auto top off to include a dual ATO switch from autotopoff.com. I've used these before and they prove to be very reliable and with a back up switch I feel like I can sleep at night now. I am also running my RO into a bucket first and pumping the water to the tank with a aqua lifter pump. Now my RO can stick all it wants and it will only flood my garage with fresh water. I am also thinking of putting a small pump and kalk into this bucket and plugging the pump into my RK2 to switch on when PH gets below a certian point (a DIY kalk reactor of sorts), but so far my PH stays rock solid all night at 8.10 and 8.16 during the day so I'm happy for now.
I also solved the micro bubble issue. Since I'm now running a full syphon on my main drain it doesn't have any micro bubbles in the line, so all I had to do was to submerge the pipe where it enters my sump and BINGO. Now I can run filter socks only if I want to, not because I have to.
I also added both Koralia's and I really like them but I'm in the market for more flow. I have aproximately 2500 gph in there now but it is verrrrrry disperced and random. You would NEVER guess its more than 1000 gph or so.
I added two phosban reactors to run my GFO & Carbon.
I picked up one HUGE blue acro colony last week and one that I am not sure what it is. I will also need to put my frag system in play this week because I have 5 more colonies that I bought from "copps" in the livestock for sale section. I still can't believe what I spent for those corals but I will just say I definately qualified for his free shipping offer on orders above $300.
Here are a few pics
And my new toy for viewing and taking pictures!
I had an almost system crash after my RO/DI float valve stuck open all night and I woke up to an overflow in the garage and a tank salinity of 1.010 or about 15 ppt. I brought it up to 25 ppt over the course of that day and then spent almost 10 days bringing it the rest of the way back up.
So far I haven't lost anything although I have a colony that was already having troubles before it came into my tank that I'm worried about. Other than that all my corals are totally washed out so that will take time to come back.
I changed my sump auto top off to include a dual ATO switch from autotopoff.com. I've used these before and they prove to be very reliable and with a back up switch I feel like I can sleep at night now. I am also running my RO into a bucket first and pumping the water to the tank with a aqua lifter pump. Now my RO can stick all it wants and it will only flood my garage with fresh water. I am also thinking of putting a small pump and kalk into this bucket and plugging the pump into my RK2 to switch on when PH gets below a certian point (a DIY kalk reactor of sorts), but so far my PH stays rock solid all night at 8.10 and 8.16 during the day so I'm happy for now.
I also solved the micro bubble issue. Since I'm now running a full syphon on my main drain it doesn't have any micro bubbles in the line, so all I had to do was to submerge the pipe where it enters my sump and BINGO. Now I can run filter socks only if I want to, not because I have to.
I also added both Koralia's and I really like them but I'm in the market for more flow. I have aproximately 2500 gph in there now but it is verrrrrry disperced and random. You would NEVER guess its more than 1000 gph or so.
I added two phosban reactors to run my GFO & Carbon.
I picked up one HUGE blue acro colony last week and one that I am not sure what it is. I will also need to put my frag system in play this week because I have 5 more colonies that I bought from "copps" in the livestock for sale section. I still can't believe what I spent for those corals but I will just say I definately qualified for his free shipping offer on orders above $300.
Here are a few pics
And my new toy for viewing and taking pictures!
Mykel Obvious
New member
Ok, where are the copps frag pics... I'm about to cross over into free shipping land myself :sigh: this hobby is as expensive as target shooting... I need more money or fewer $$$ hobbies :lol:
cham
New member
lol, I know. I can't believe I bought those from him but his corals are sooooo incredible. Some like I've never seen in my years in this hobby. I have a LFS I prefer doing business with but I couldn't pass up on these "copps" corals.
Here is what I bought:
Copps’ turquoise hoek
Copps’ milli XXlarge
Yellow tip pink prostrata XXlarge
Bright pink table
Lime PL mimic XXlarge
The XXL's really boosted the prices but I'm hoping to get some good size colonies out of them. I pick them up on thursday.
cham
New member
Thanks!
My LFS can tell you how much I bugged the CRAP out of them until I found the two perfect pieces of rock for my tank. Because I went with custom acrylic I knew that I wanted two solid pieces of rock so that there are no chances for a rock slide.
A couple FTS from today. This is not the correct coral aquascape, I have some stuff sitting where I don't want them in order to accomidate the new incoming colonies. Colors are VERY washed out from the hypo salinity incident (now I'm sure I don't have ich
)
Mykel Obvious
New member
Well, I'm doing this tank as a mix of LPS, Zoas, Shrooms and SPS with no colonies, only frags, so I'm going with the "regular" sized copps pieces... I'm still learning and want as much diversity as I can get for now... I plan on a nice custom rimless upgrade in a few years, so I should have some nice colonies to place in it by then
Your tank is one of my inspirations... just love the super clean look you've created with the minimal rock and large open sand areas... I'd really love to do the same thing in, say, a 3'x3'x2' cube (come on Lotto!!)
Yeah, John has some BEAUTIFUL stuff... wish I had more money to get a frag of everything :lol:
I'm gonna get the hoek, milli and Lime mimic myself, along with about 5 or 6 other frags... if he's still selling in a few months, I think I'll have to go back for one of each of the encrusting Monti's... hmm, I might have to take a second job
cham
New member
I want some softies in mine too.
I just got a frag of the spiderman zoa that I love.
Good luck with your system mykel. Feel free to PM me with any questions when you start your build.
BTW, if I were to do it again I would of done a 30x30x18 cube. Its a perfect dimension for a single pendant and is big enough to be useful.
I just got a frag of the spiderman zoa that I love.
Good luck with your system mykel. Feel free to PM me with any questions when you start your build.
BTW, if I were to do it again I would of done a 30x30x18 cube. Its a perfect dimension for a single pendant and is big enough to be useful.
lovetoreef
New member
that is looking great!
your tank inspired me to give mrc a try - i had them build me a custom 25 gallon nano - it turned out great and tim did a wonderful job!
does copp have a site or is he on reefcentral?? Thanks.
your tank inspired me to give mrc a try - i had them build me a custom 25 gallon nano - it turned out great and tim did a wonderful job!
does copp have a site or is he on reefcentral?? Thanks.
lovetoreef
New member
chris -
thanks i actually just found his thread - some amazing pieces! maybe we could do a group buy of sorts to save on shipping! i will shoot you a pm on dfwmas.org - thanks.
gm
thanks i actually just found his thread - some amazing pieces! maybe we could do a group buy of sorts to save on shipping! i will shoot you a pm on dfwmas.org - thanks.
gm
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
Sorry if it's been answered, but where did you get your ignitus anthias?
