Scrapz's Ultimate Gamble 3x3 Cube Build.
- Thread starter scrapz
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scrapz
Saturation+100
Originally tore down the tank due the losing battle with AEFW. I would dip all my corals, everything would look great for a month or two and bam, out of nowhere they were everywhere again.:headwally: Eventually I just gave up and tore down my tank, only keeping my sump running for the few fish I had left, one being the first clown I got when I started the hobby. He's about 9 years old now.
Anyways, it's been a few years since I've had a reef tank up. Finally had to opportunity to resetup my tank.
The original plan was to to setup a Cadlights 48x24x20 rimless tank but a 3x3 cube showed up for sale for $75 bucks. Only downside was the corner had been chipped but was said to hold water. I figured it was worth the gamble so me and Jimmy007 headed out to to pick up the tank.
Anyways, it's been a few years since I've had a reef tank up. Finally had to opportunity to resetup my tank.
The original plan was to to setup a Cadlights 48x24x20 rimless tank but a 3x3 cube showed up for sale for $75 bucks. Only downside was the corner had been chipped but was said to hold water. I figured it was worth the gamble so me and Jimmy007 headed out to to pick up the tank.
scrapz
Saturation+100
The Geek List:
Tank: 36x36x22 Eurobraced /w rear center overflow.
Stand : DIY
Sump: Looking for a 32x32 cube.
Lighting: Undecided (I have an ATI 6x39, 250w and 400w Galaxy Radium 20k Setup, 63 3W Cree LED Setup) - We'll see, maybe everything will be retroed to work together..
Skimmer: SWC 230 /w new Laguna 1350 pump.
Return Pump: Undecided (Have a laguna 2400 but seems a bit excessive)
Flow: 2x Jebao RW-8 /w JBWave Controller. 1x Vortech MP40. 2x Tunze 6045
Tank: 36x36x22 Eurobraced /w rear center overflow.
Stand : DIY
Sump: Looking for a 32x32 cube.
Lighting: Undecided (I have an ATI 6x39, 250w and 400w Galaxy Radium 20k Setup, 63 3W Cree LED Setup) - We'll see, maybe everything will be retroed to work together..
Skimmer: SWC 230 /w new Laguna 1350 pump.
Return Pump: Undecided (Have a laguna 2400 but seems a bit excessive)
Flow: 2x Jebao RW-8 /w JBWave Controller. 1x Vortech MP40. 2x Tunze 6045
scrapz
Saturation+100
So first business is to leak test the tank and pray for the best but before I can do that, I'll have to get a stand built. Off to home depot I go, little did I know I would be going back 4x in the same day:facepalm:
Parts list for DIY Stand:
Makita Circular Saw (My first saw!) $139.00
9x 2x4 $35
1x Sheet of ply $17
4x8 3/4" Foam Sheet $20
A box of 3" deck screw $12
4' Empire Magnetic Level $30
Total cost came out to around $220. The stand itself cost around $60.
So my stands were being used to hold the Cadlights tank. Used my Chinese ingenuity and made a building station with cinderblocks and 2x4 supports. Time to practice my Vietnamese squat and build the stand on the floor.
Yeah, these cuts aren't so straight. So off to Home Depot I go again. This time I pick up this badboy.
Parts list for DIY Stand:
Makita Circular Saw (My first saw!) $139.00
9x 2x4 $35
1x Sheet of ply $17
4x8 3/4" Foam Sheet $20
A box of 3" deck screw $12
4' Empire Magnetic Level $30
Total cost came out to around $220. The stand itself cost around $60.
So my stands were being used to hold the Cadlights tank. Used my Chinese ingenuity and made a building station with cinderblocks and 2x4 supports. Time to practice my Vietnamese squat and build the stand on the floor.
Yeah, these cuts aren't so straight. So off to Home Depot I go again. This time I pick up this badboy.
CoralsAddiction
Active member
Fujimoto aquariums in Gardena can make you a sump that size for dirt cheap.
scrapz
Saturation+100
Thanks, that's who this tank is originally from. I called and asked them to replace the bottom panel but never got a call back.
Guess I'll give em another call..
scrapz
Saturation+100
RIP. Leak detected.. :sad1:
Or at least I thought it was leaking. After going through the whole tank I found the source of the leak. Thankfully it wasn't from the corner but from the overflow. Still I went ahead and got some aquarium sillicone and ordered a 3"x22" piece of glass so I could give the chipped corner a little more support.
So while that is being taken care of, time to test some lights. Oh yeah, meet my first inhabitant.
First is a 250w Radium 20k on a Galaxy ballast. There seems to be some shading on the sides but the color is just amazing.
Next is a ATI Sunpower T5 6x39 I picked up for $180 from Eric Torres. Fixture was in pretty much perfect condition with no rust on the inner panel.
The coverage was much better with all t5.
As far as the led setup. Billyzbear (on RC) is waiting on some parts to arrive from stevesled.com and is going to help me wire it up.
Whatever lighting I decide to go with will be a mix of two. Either T5/LED, T5/MH or MH/LED.
That's it for now until I acquire a new sump.
I am looking for OLDSCHOOL SPS if anyone has them available.
Or at least I thought it was leaking. After going through the whole tank I found the source of the leak. Thankfully it wasn't from the corner but from the overflow. Still I went ahead and got some aquarium sillicone and ordered a 3"x22" piece of glass so I could give the chipped corner a little more support.
So while that is being taken care of, time to test some lights. Oh yeah, meet my first inhabitant.
First is a 250w Radium 20k on a Galaxy ballast. There seems to be some shading on the sides but the color is just amazing.
Next is a ATI Sunpower T5 6x39 I picked up for $180 from Eric Torres. Fixture was in pretty much perfect condition with no rust on the inner panel.
The coverage was much better with all t5.
As far as the led setup. Billyzbear (on RC) is waiting on some parts to arrive from stevesled.com and is going to help me wire it up.
Whatever lighting I decide to go with will be a mix of two. Either T5/LED, T5/MH or MH/LED.
That's it for now until I acquire a new sump.
I am looking for OLDSCHOOL SPS if anyone has them available.
Last edited:
rickztahone
New member
I hope there are no further leaks. Good luck with your project!
dodgerblew
Team RC
Alright, Vinhs on his way back!
billyzbear
New member
I think we should put it up to a vote on the lighting.
I vote 400w mh with 20k. You have the right reflector for it.
Can you add a lip on stand to help support tank?
I vote 400w mh with 20k. You have the right reflector for it.
Can you add a lip on stand to help support tank?
scrapz
Saturation+100
@blkg35
No, sadly it did not. One of my favorite acans, I got it back in 2010 I believe. Never morphed colors on me.
@pga
It's not as fun when it's safe. Tell Jamie I'll be over soon enough for some frags.
@billy
I really like MH but it just doesn't cover enough area. I could raise it higher but it would need to go up another 6. I really just want a mixture of different lights to fiddle with.
This is what I was thinking of doing. The two rear leds are going to help the shadowing in the back while providing high par for my stags. The front led will be placed whatever I decide to place the last island or with just really wide optics in the center
@everyone
Thanks!
No, sadly it did not. One of my favorite acans, I got it back in 2010 I believe. Never morphed colors on me.
@pga
It's not as fun when it's safe. Tell Jamie I'll be over soon enough for some frags.
@billy
I really like MH but it just doesn't cover enough area. I could raise it higher but it would need to go up another 6. I really just want a mixture of different lights to fiddle with.
This is what I was thinking of doing. The two rear leds are going to help the shadowing in the back while providing high par for my stags. The front led will be placed whatever I decide to place the last island or with just really wide optics in the center
@everyone
Thanks!
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