New Build CadLights Artisan II 50 gallon cube- From start to finish- Help appreciated

[champion6sigma]

Greetings,

I'm starting this thread to share, with the reef central community, our journey in the creation of a beautiful small aquarium for our home.

I appreciate your feedback, thoughts, and help; I am a beginner and this is the first time with a setup that has a sump and complex plumbing. Thank you!
eric

:fish2:

Cad lights 50 gallon cube artisan II
Cad lights PLS 150 conic skimmer
Cad lights 500 gph return pump
Cad lights ATO system
Cad lights BR1 Media Reactor - en route
Cad lights LED Sump light white and blue
Ecotech Radion XR30w pro gen III
Ecotech Radion Custom mount
Ecotech Vortech MP40 w QD (2) - en route
Ecotech Vortech mp40 foam guards for powerheads - en route
Ecotech Vectra M1 2000 gph adjustable return pump - en route
Ecotech vectra M1 british to american fittings for PVC - en route
Ecotech battery backup (2) - 1 en route
Ecotech Reeflink

 

[champion6sigma]

Arrival of some of the parts

Arrival of some of the parts

Simply receiving the package took month and a half due to back-order. Then UPS transport employee gives me difficult time, didn't allow time to inspect possible damage. Thankfully, no damage, cosmetic or other seen. Cadlights stand is nice, doors are slight misalligned. Magnetic closure mechanism needed tweaking but is working better on left door now. Actual tank looks perfect.

 

[champion6sigma]

Progression - plumbing and water test, leak soon

Progression - plumbing and water test, leak soon

Tank on the stand at this point. Plumbing is completed thanks to help I found here. Thank you. Durso pipe stock from cad lights, herbie drain system is possible still. One ball valve and some pvc piping with some elbows and also some green flex tubing. I'm considering making some changes....I'm having issues with noise, air, possible flow problem. As I add on more of the equipment, I mount things to stand, I need to diagram and consider a new plumbing setup and how things will fit. The dorso pipe shown there has since been corrected so hole is in center pipe and not on side as shown.

Is PVC louder than flexible tubing? How long does tubing last? PVC? What are the best valves to get for a system? Why?

 

[champion6sigma]

no leaks no malfunctions still have noise issue

no leaks no malfunctions still have noise issue

Skimmer in, tested. Pump tested, does some work...but how well? I don't think its anywhere near 500. New pump on its way. Water is fresh water for leak testing and electrical test. ATO reservoir pictured, I need to mount that in there soon.

I'm not sure about the class recessed lid. I need a lid to fight hair, dander, dust, etc...I tried the lid on tank and I ended up getting a little condensation. This was before the light install, will need to see how it looks after light is running, and once all components are running. Not sure best way to combat condensation.

 

[champion6sigma]

Let there be light

Let there be light

Radion XR30W pro gen III is running, mounted, and connected to reeflink! I have no idea how to use this thing! Very cool. The mount is best mount i could find for radion. Notice something cool? NO WIRES SHOWN. I picked this mount because wires are hidden completely, and its height adjustable; much better than the ecotech options. Easy to mount with two holes in cadlights stand. The stand is solid shiny black metal, very heavy, and matches the aquarium perfectly. The padding under tank and between stand is not laid out perfectly and needs adjustment when the tank is moved to permanent location.

Shown are the pipes included. To replumb or not to replumb, that is the question.

 

[champion6sigma]

Mr. DJ Power strip (2) - will be ordered soon
Decent power surge strip with flat wall wart to outlet (extreme low profile) to connect to the 2 mr dj power strips, and anything else necessary.
Dry rock and live rock - will be ordered soon
Live sand - will be ordered soon ( I'm thinking natures ocean #1 white. I will have lots of flow and dont want a sand storm. Will #1 stay on sea bed or do I need thicker?
Nutri Sea Water - 2 containers already here, not sure if I want to go all nutri sea water for initial setup. Its a lot of money for water
Salt Mix for future water - will be ordered soon
Custom wire management for all the ballasts of the ecotech stuff, the controllers for ecotech, and all the wiring of the equpment in sump and the dj strips and the power surge, etc... (unsure what i will build or find)
rubbery cabinet liners for bottom of sump, the styrofoam will be removed that came in packaging of tank.

I have a cheap thermometer, the old school one and a digital one not shown in pics
I have a decent refroctometer
I have a pH chemical to get pH to right levels


Not sure if I will need :
Chemicals to help with cycling and getting water to correct parameters
Heater
Cooler ( I hope to God not, I don't have the space)
Controller (almost everything I have will be run by reeflink) or have on/switches easily accessible, so I actually wouldn't need one that does a lot)
UV filter?
Better skimmer
Better media reactor (not even sure how necessary this is)
a return nozzle in tank with splitting flow head
Other recommendations?

 

[panhandler01]

I would definitely get a heater. Probably a 200 watt. Chances are you won't need a chiller. A UV sterilizer can sometimes help but the vast majority of tanks that I have seen run just fine without one.

 

[b7fig]

Looks very nice so far, all high end stuff!

 

[champion6sigma]

I would definitely get a heater. Probably a 200 watt. Chances are you won't need a chiller. A UV sterilizer can sometimes help but the vast majority of tanks that I have seen run just fine without one.

I think I will be getting a heater, and perhaps if I need cooling my only option might be a small fan inside the stand to turn on when needed. I live in San Antonio, TX so our outside temps can get to 105 degree F. Texas is a different type of heat than many places. I do keep our central air at around 72, 73. During winter I allow house to get to 69/70 and rare use the heater. Once the pumps and ballasts and all electrical equipment is mounted inside the stand I might be able to get a better idea of fluctuations. I do think all the ecotech stuff (the ballasts are massive) and the backups (2) are going to generate heat. I'm going to have at least 10 or 11 items eventually plugged into a power strip. The vetra is going to be high wattage same as the radion.

I'm seriously considering getting an apex for some additional peace of mind. I like idea of it being able to turn things off, to have a reliable temp, ph, salinity monitor, i can get water leak monitors and i will have a power strip thats good. Sad thing is I might need two of those things unless I just put most important stuff on the one 8 outlet strip and keep the rest going to something else.

A small tank is turning into so many thousands, and I haven't even gotten more fish, sand, or live rock, dead rock yet.

What heater do you recommend? One that works good with apex, and if I get a controller, I won't need one with fancy temp readouts or controlling. I have to make decision soon on apex because unlike plumbing...I have to drill into the stand to mount this excessive equipment piling up and I have a tiny 2 foot by 2 foot x 3 ft space. Maybe slightly less height. Everything has to be mounted perfectly and I'm going to have so many wires that need to be corralled around the top of the inside stand. Theres going to be all the ecotech controllers too besides the power stuff and possible apex. and probes. Decision on apex and plumbing will be done in next 3 days. I have to have this tank completed and moved to permanent location prior to thanksgiving day.

 

[CafeReef]

Very nice, I know people have issues with cad lights but for the price I almost find them hard to beat for what you get in a rimless setup. Im extremly interested in their 68 or 80 setups

 

[champion6sigma]

Very nice, I know people have issues with cad lights but for the price I almost find them hard to beat for what you get in a rimless setup. Im extremly interested in their 68 or 80 setups

True, customer service issues that I've experienced were not expected. I think they need a larger workforce, would help part of the issues.

I'm looking at my cadlights now, with murky freshwater, but I can already imagine in my head how great its going to look once the saltwater is in, the sand and rocks, and my lighting is tuned to where it needs to be. My vectra pump will be in on Friday, my two vortech mp40's are coming in on thursday. I'll make a decision on the other equipment by wednesday evening. My tank will be fully running sometime next week and I'll be requesting some specific help on acclimation, fish, etc... I will use enough nutrisea water, live rock, dry rock, basic salt water mix, and chemicals so that I can add the 4 fish we have from the red sea max to the cadlights. I'm seriously considering pulling the trigger on an APEX....but my new issue now that it will be completely dead in the event of a power outage. My wifi will be dead, router, and all components except for my vortech and vectra pumps. The vectra pump alone should allow my tank to flow so that major catastrophe doesn't happen. I also need to have a wireless outlet with ethernet in it so that I can do a direct connect from apex to the outlet since my router is not too close nor do i want wires running around visible. Plus I'm not sure how it works connecting the battery backups to the apex along with the daisy chain on the vortechs. I'm also freaking out about space. If I get the apex it would be with the lab grade pH probe, the temp probe, water leak module, and salinity probe, and probably will get a finnix titanium heater. I wouldn't need any ecotech modules. I had wanted the mr dj power strips but I guess the apex would make them unnecessary. I would also get one cheap fan that at minimum is aquarium salt water area rated...for stand to get a few degrees of cooling in summer if necessary.

 

[champion6sigma]

one more piece of the puzzle

one more piece of the puzzle

Just arrived today.

Just placed a HUGE order at BRS website. Will have some pic updates on tuesday when it arrives. Wednesday is goal to have tank setup process in its permanent location.

 

[JaihWill]

I'm new to the hobby, what all came with the tank? What did you have to purchase separately ?

 

[champion6sigma]

cad lights

cad lights

I'm new to the hobby, what all came with the tank? What did you have to purchase separately ?

Heres the link to the website.

http://cadlights.com/

They offer multiple systems, each with their own components; would be best if you see their site and each shows what it comes with.

Mine came with just basics, I still needed lighting and a power head, and I've been adding and upgrading to the stock cadlights items.

 

[champion6sigma]

new delivery

new delivery

Ecotech Vectra centrifugal pump arrives and second battery backup!

 

[champion6sigma]

one more shipment after this

one more shipment after this

Apex, heater, probes. Cooling fan.

 

[champion6sigma]

Making a board of electronics

Making a board of electronics

I hate wires!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

20 amp GFCI installed. Most of the stuff installed. Still need to install some apex stuff. the controllers for pumps aren't shown yet, I still need to add ATO to sytem and br1 media reactor.

Bottom line,

If you have space for a larger tank, do not EVER .....ever get a 50 gallon cube or smaller. EVER

 

[champion6sigma]

Beautiful finish but still much to be done

Beautiful finish but still much to be done

On my tank, no wire is visible except for one on the wall to the right of the tank (not visible directly in front or on left side of course).

All electronics, controllers, etc...hidden in tank stand.

Though everything is running, I had an issue with my own stupidity and trying to update ecotech stuff that is not able to be updated. Calibration to the xr30w is complete. the vectra calibration is complete. i need to call ecotech tomorrow to figure out how to reset my controllers for the mp40's.

Live rock is in tank, my four old fish from red sea. 60 pounds of natures Ocean white #1, 6 containers of nutriseawater, multiple containers of salt water, heater is installed on automatic, apex I'm still trying to figure out. WXM will be ordered because website on reeflink is not great. App on android is better. I still need it for vectra, but I'll use apex more often soon enough. I'll take some tank shots soon during day of nemo and his friends. I need to test out my water parameters. I need to install salinity and ph probe. I need to add ATO. The media reactor will be here soon and i'm debating not even installing it, since I have no room. I have to reorganize my stand as it is. Safety hazard with wires. I also have to install the water leak detection module.

 

[Reef noob_]

wow, looks great! I'm subbing to see further progress.

I was just working on my wiring for the reefkeeper i'm using on my new build last weekend and i felt like a spider with all those wires hanging around lol:spin3:

 

[Spectral_Ranger]

On my tank, no wire is visible except for one on the wall to the right of the tank (not visible directly in front or on left side of course).

All electronics, controllers, etc...hidden in tank stand.

I've had a CAD Lights 100g running for eight months or so now and love the tank, stand, and sump. Customer service, not so much, just like everyone attests. About the electronics in the stand, aren't you worried about the humidity and the associated rust/corrosion? I had left a metal clamp on the rim of the sump for a week or two, and when I pulled it out it had quite a bit of rust on it. I mounted my Apex and associated electronics to the side of the stand and tried to make it as neat as possible. Would rather it be hidden, but not so much that I'd risk headaches associated with equipment going bad. I'm not saying it will, it's just something I worried about.