SoCal's 60g SPS cube (2x2x2)

[Arkayology]

The plan is to do a SPS cube with a few fish that I have been wanting to keep for some time. The 60 cube (2'x2'x2') was ordered via my LFS and has a custom overflow and comes predrilled with a 1.5'' drain and .5'' return hole.

The List:
60g cube with DIY stand
used 20g acrylic sump
SLS Reef Optix III Plus MH HQI Pendent with 250w Galaxy E Ballast
x2 mp10es
200w aqueon heater
mag 7 return
BRS biopellet reactor
SWC 160 Cone Skimmer
JBJ ATO

Ok, here is the tank and sump.

Should be a good setup overall.

 

[jok3rqnk]

I am interesting in building one of this too... keep us updated... and good luck.

 

[antimatter]

What are your stocking plans?

 

[Arkayology]

What are your stocking plans?

I will be moving my SPS colonies over to this tank and adding more SPS!

As for fish, I already have:
x1 perc clown
x1 possum wrasse
x1 shrimp gobie

and plan to add:

x1 leopard wrasse
x1 flame angel
and maybe another clown, three blue chromis, blennie, or ?. I am open to suggestions if anyone has them.

I also plan on adding a haddoni carpet once the tank has matured a bit.

 

[ooja3k]

I will be moving my SPS colonies over to this tank and adding more SPS!

As for fish, I already have:
x1 perc clown
x1 possum wrasse
x1 shrimp gobie

and plan to add:

x1 leopard wrasse
x1 flame angel
and maybe another clown, three blue chromis, blennie, or ?. I am open to suggestions if anyone has them.

I also plan on adding a haddoni carpet once the tank has matured a bit.

The three chromis is a good idea. they will add some good movement and a small schooling action... A pair of clowns with a carpet is hard to beat though...

 

[jam05pr]

The stocking looks ok with the exception of the haddoni. The haddoni will eventually get too big to be in that size tank and you will most likely end up with half of that fish list when it is done with them lol. I currently have a ~16-18" across blue haddoni and only one fish remains in my tank, its the clown lol. The haddoni will also limit what corals you can have in your tank due to its size.

 

[antimatter]

I will be moving my SPS colonies over to this tank and adding more SPS!

As for fish, I already have:
x1 perc clown
x1 possum wrasse
x1 shrimp gobie

and plan to add:

x1 leopard wrasse
x1 flame angel
and maybe another clown, three blue chromis, blennie, or ?. I am open to suggestions if anyone has them.

I also plan on adding a haddoni carpet once the tank has matured a bit.

Sounds like it is going to be a neat tank. I really like the cube tanks

 

[Arkayology]

The stocking looks ok with the exception of the haddoni. The haddoni will eventually get too big to be in that size tank and you will most likely end up with half of that fish list when it is done with them lol. I currently have a ~16-18" across blue haddoni and only one fish remains in my tank, its the clown lol. The haddoni will also limit what corals you can have in your tank due to its size.

I have done some reading and I think that it is doable in the cube. There are many others with the 2x2 footprint that have had success with haddoni carpets in their tanks. Based on others experiences, I think it will be ok.

I only plan on having SPS near the top and a few types of zoas to cover the lower portions of the rock. I am not going to be doing any LPS or softies in the lower parts of the tank so the nem will be able to stretch out.

Any other thoughts/ideas? I would love to hear them.

 

[BlueTrig]

I love cubes can't wait to see your progress

 

[jam05pr]

I have done some reading and I think that it is doable in the cube. There are many others with the 2x2 footprint that have had success with haddoni carpets in their tanks. Based on others experiences, I think it will be ok.

I only plan on having SPS near the top and a few types of zoas to cover the lower portions of the rock. I am not going to be doing any LPS or softies in the lower parts of the tank so the nem will be able to stretch out.

Any other thoughts/ideas? I would love to hear them.

Just make sure you watch the haddoni. They tend to form a vase shape at night and will stretch upwards higher than you may think. Also, unsuspecting fish may wonder in the anemone and will definitely become dinner. If you keep the SPS high enough you will be ok. When I said outgrow I didnt really mean it would reach 2x2 but it will make that cube tight depending on your rock work. Haddonis love to dig their foot in the san and right under the rock so make sure it is secure.

I have a 24x24x18 that I am setting up and thought about putting my current haddoni in there but dont want it to end up turning into an anemone tank lol.

 

[Arkayology]

Just make sure you watch the haddoni. They tend to form a vase shape at night and will stretch upwards higher than you may think. Also, unsuspecting fish may wonder in the anemone and will definitely become dinner. If you keep the SPS high enough you will be ok. When I said outgrow I didnt really mean it would reach 2x2 but it will make that cube tight depending on your rock work. Haddonis love to dig their foot in the san and right under the rock so make sure it is secure.

I have a 24x24x18 that I am setting up and thought about putting my current haddoni in there but dont want it to end up turning into an anemone tank lol.

Thanks for the advice. I plan on having one or two bonsai-ish pillars in the tank with a fairly open feel to it. I think that if I give the haddi a side to itself along the back wall it will have plenty of room. I do worry about the Leopard Wrasse and the carpet, but have been told that the Leopard should be ok.

Do you have a build thread for your cube? I am curious how you are building yours.

 

[jam05pr]

Do you have a build thread for your cube? I am curious how you are building yours.

Nope no build thread yet. When I officially start I will make one. I've got pretty much everything I need with the exception of a light. I was going to go diy led like I have on my other tank but don't know yet. Decisions decisions lol

 

[Arkayology]

Nope no build thread yet. When I officially start I will make one. I've got pretty much everything I need with the exception of a light. I was going to go diy led like I have on my other tank but don't know yet. Decisions decisions lol

I am still uncertain about LEDs. I have seen tanks that look great with them and seen ones with the same fixtures that are terrible in color and growth.

 

[Tank2379]

I want to wait 3 years before I see a system that has a 3 to 5 year life span of LED without replacing them or going bad on them... then I am sold on the LED stuff...

 

[Arkayology]

I may be eating crow... I have seen some of the new fixtures and pricing from MACMA and am very interested in the new Ecotech Radion fixture. One of these would be enough for my SPS/clam/nem needs. I would think I could get great growth and coverage from the Radion. But AI just lowered their prices...

 

[Tank2379]

I may be eating crow... I have seen some of the new fixtures and pricing from MACMA and am very interested in the new Ecotech Radion fixture. One of these would be enough for my SPS/clam/nem needs. I would think I could get great growth and coverage from the Radion. But AI just lowered their prices...

+1 on the Radion LED I am going to be getting them in 2012 by that time they should hve been tweaked up and hopfully Apex would have made or have them working on there dimmiable module...

 

[Arkayology]

My stand is finished thanks to the help of a local reefer. It seems very stable. The only issue that I foresee is that there are not any 2x4s running vertically in the front of the stand where the doors are. There are two in the back and the top of the stand sits evenly on the boards. I was assured that this would be ok and I think so too. Any comments?

Going to drill some 2'' holes on the top of the stand for the drain and return and start getting the plumbing done. It should not be that hard. I think I am going to do a stockman style pipe or try out this product called the "maggie muffler" that my LFS is hocking. I might try it and do a review.

Still contemplating a single Radion LED for this tank... I think that with smart SPS placing I can have the whole tank lit and thriving under just one Radion with SPS up top and zoas at the bottom. Judging from PAR readings that I have seen, I should pull somewhere between 150-200 at the bottom at 100%, which is more than enough for zoas. The light spread should also cover the 24x24 tank dimensions.

 

[Arkayology]

Bit the bullet and pre-ordered a Radion. I hope this thing is worth it.

 

[g35mike]

Can"t wait to see what this thing looks like finished!

 

[afernandez]

I love the Stand looking forward to the build