new 60x60x28 cube reef

300fowlr

New member
Hello all
Sorry for posting this late as I meant to show more in progress construction type stuff. I have been a frequent visitor but havent posted much as I just had a 300gal fowlr (as name implies) and was forced to move for a road widening project so decided to sell my old one and build a tank like Ive always wanted. A big cube! A 60x60x28 acrylic tank with center overflow for maximum swimmage! It is currently set on its stand in the middle of its own dedicated room. Im doing this kind of minimalist style. Just an outer brace on the tank no cross bracing and lights mounted from the ceiling. I plan to aquascape the same kind of way. Small groupings of rocks and lots of open areas. Sump underneath with an antique dry sink which is connected to an as yet to be completed fill station in my basement. Everything is plumbed and wired just have to hook up RO and pump in basement. Still have to finish plumbing the tank as well.

Lights are 8 seperate LEDs mounted to an aluminum tube frame with all the wiring hidden and connected through the ceiling into my attic space. I wrapped all of the tubing in carbon fiber vinyl. The stand is 2.0" steel 5/16" wall, all welded up. The doors will be alumacore which is a sign product. Its a plastic core with aluminum bonded on the face, very light and tough. Also corrosion resistant. They will be covered in carbon fiber as well. They will hang on turned stainless steel caps. Its the simplest thing I could think of. Simply the doors have corresponding holes in them and they just hang there, let gravity hold them on. The face of the steel caps is exposed and looks pretty good. I will never have to replace a hinge again.

Anyway, Ive got everything to finish but a heater. Got skimmer, pumps, rock, sand, so on. Will post pics hopefully tomorrow.

Would like to say thanks to all those who have posted here. There is so much information here that can help those that follow from making unwise and costly mistakes. Believe me Ive made some doozies.
If I havent said so, this will be a reef tank this time.
Thanks
Rick
 
here are some pics. forgive the paper on the acrylic, want to protect it as much as possible while filling it.

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131007_191304_483.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131007_191304_483.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131007_191304_483.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131007_191313_981.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131007_191313_981.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131007_191313_981.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131007_191344_497.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131007_191344_497.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131007_191344_497.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131007_191353_771.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131007_191353_771.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131007_191353_771.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131007_191401_832.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131007_191401_832.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131007_191401_832.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131007_191417_822.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131007_191417_822.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131007_191417_822.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131007_191459_946.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131007_191459_946.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131007_191459_946.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131007_191529_597.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131007_191529_597.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131007_191529_597.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131007_191548_090.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131007_191548_090.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131007_191548_090.jpg"/></a>
 
Only next to the rimless of sexiness is a walk around cube

That made me laugh, thanks. I badly wanted a big rimless but no one wanted to build it. This is 1" acrylic all the way around and still had to eurobrace it. Im a tall guy and wanted to be able to view down as well.
 
Sweet tank man! I briefly looked at those dimensions too. I love a walk around tank to so I'll be following this one

Corey
 
That made me laugh, thanks. I badly wanted a big rimless but no one wanted to build it. This is 1" acrylic all the way around and still had to eurobrace it. Im a tall guy and wanted to be able to view down as well.

Glad I could make you laugh. If you went to 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" you would have been good.
 
That is one beautiful tank. Now, with it being in the middle of the room, I hope the floor joists are reinforced :) Good luck with the rest of the build. I'm happily following along.
 
update
added sand and rock, some of the plumbing. 2 1.5" drains, four .75" returns

this is looking up the overflow from underneath the tank
<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131013_164158_181.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131013_164158_181.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131013_164158_181.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131013_164135_475.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131013_164135_475.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131013_164135_475.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131013_164145_225.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131013_164145_225.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131013_164145_225.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131013_164256_561.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131013_164256_561.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131013_164256_561.jpg"/></a>

this is the side seen as you walk into the room, please keep in mind Im trying for a minimalist style look, no obtrusive cabinetry and ample open sand areas for larger fish and swimming room. Intend for the smaller fish to hang around the rocky areas, darting in and out as larger fish go by.
<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131013_164406_614.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131013_164406_614.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131013_164406_614.jpg"/></a>

walking around counter-clock wise
<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131013_164504_487.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131013_164504_487.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131013_164504_487.jpg"/></a>

looking out the entry doors
<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131013_164330_184.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131013_164330_184.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131013_164330_184.jpg"/></a>


<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131013_164341_908.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131013_164341_908.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131013_164341_908.jpg"/></a>


<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/user/smcorolla/media/IMG_20131013_164348_693.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/smcorolla/IMG_20131013_164348_693.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131013_164348_693.jpg"/></a>

will probably fill in a little more here and there
 
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