Sunil's 24x24x12 Shallow Cube Build

[sunil6784]

After taking down my old 75 gallon mixed reef, I found I REALLY missed the hobby. Thanks to a great fiance, I am back with a Deep Blue Aquariums 24x24x12 30g shallow build. She URGED me to get a tank and get back in the hobby... she's great! She will be selecting the fish for the tank.

The tank will (eventually) be an SPS tank with a few fish. As of today, 1/18/12 tank is up and running and cycling. I plan on keeping this updated as a record of my work and to document the tank's history, something I failed to do for my last tank.

Building the stand

Mounted the American DJ Power Strip under the sump

Painted

Baffled Sump with Skimmer/Drain - Return - Fuge

Painted Back of Tank

 

[sunil6784]

BRS 75gpd Value Plus RO/DI
Incoming water is only 5 tds, outgoing is 0 tds

Filling Tank with Instant Ocean

Tank Aquascaped and Cycling with BRS Pukani Rock and 2 small pieces of Live Rock

Other Equipment:
Vortech MP10
SCA 301 Skimmer
Eheim 1000 return
Gl*******s Super Nano Overflow
Carib Sea Special Grade Substrate (1-1.5")
Tunze Osmolator Plumbed to Basement

 

[sunil6784]

Double Post

 

[Cmoua]

Oooh, great dimensions. I love these shallow/cube builds. subscribed to this thread.

GL with your venture

 

[Jon B]

Love the dimensions of this tank. I've thought about building something similar (perhaps 14" tall though).

Good luck. Keep us updated.

 

[Jon B]

Love the dimensions of this tank. I've thought about building something similar (perhaps 14" tall though).

Good luck. Keep us updated.

 

[sunil6784]

Finished the doors for the stand and the water has cleared up. Cycle has begun with a piece of a shrimp hanging in a filter bag.

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[sunil6784]

Finished the doors for the stand and the water has cleared up. Cycle has begun with a piece of a shrimp hanging in a filter bag.

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[sunil6784]

Updated a few things... Tank is cycled. Have a few clowns that I just got. True percs, female has a bit of Picasso in her.

 

[nikesb]

Watching, ive got the same size tank and the same light. What percentage are you running yours

 

[sunil6784]

Watching, ive got the same size tank and the same light. What percentage are you running yours

I have mine programmed for sunrise/sunset. Blues only at 10%, with a max of 17% white and 20% blue. With only fish right now, I don't have it turned up at all.

Honestly, I haven't played with the color combos all that much yet. I know I'll have to change it when I get some coral in the tank.

 

[Benar]

Great looking tank, I have something very similar! Tagging along

 

[premilove]

i have the same tank as well! how do you like that overflow?

 

[sunil6784]

i have the same tank as well! how do you like that overflow?

I love it. I love how little real estate it takes up in the tank. The tank isn't completely silent, but I think once the pipes get a little slime in them they will quiet down some.

 

[ReefPharmer]

very nice job on the set up. One thing I noticed is your power center is below the sump on the floor. I may be wrong here ofcourse but if that is the case, consider that if anything leaks, it will leak right onto your electricity.

 

[tydtran]

very nice job. The tank looks much bigger than it's dimensions.

 

[sunil6784]

very nice job on the set up. One thing I noticed is your power center is below the sump on the floor. I may be wrong here ofcourse but if that is the case, consider that if anything leaks, it will leak right onto your electricity.

Good eyes!

Leaks were a consideration. I cut an acrylic splash shield to go over the power center to avoid water splashes/leaks. I also raised the power center off the floor by 1.5" in case water does make it to the floor.

 

[nikesb]

Someone kindly got some par measurements for me with lights 10" off the water at various measurements, thought you would be interested in these for when u start getting corals in there

 

[sunil6784]

Appreciate it. I will use it as a reference, although it won't be for a while.

During Nemo (ironic name for us fish keepers) I lost power for about 30 hours. I lost one clown yesterday and looks like I am losing the other soon. I suspect the fish were already weak or sick and the power outage was too much stress for them.

My new plan is this. I will QT all incoming fish in a 10 g that I will set up and treat. I REALLY want to use the QT time to build up the strength of new fish before being thrown in with the chaotic flow of my tank. I had a QT set up for my old tank. I didn't bother with this tank since I was only stocking a few fish. The 30 bucks for a 10g set up Is worth it though.

 

[sunil6784]

Updated... 1 year later...