Tycho's 70g Rimless Starphire Build

[Tycho]

Since I got into the hobby a year ago, I have been using this site as my main source of research for my own aquarium. And I have been inspired by many of the wonderfully detailed build threads posted here. I have always wanted to create one for my current tank, but never got around to it. Always too busy with work and life...

Now I'm kinda sick of that tank so I upgraded... So as luck would have it, I get another chance to do a build thread from scratch. Hooray for second chances!!!:spin1:

So before I start I should Mention a little about my current setup, as all my rock and livestock will transfer over to my new tank. Pardon the "not so great" photos. Im not trying to feature it. Just showing whats getting a bigger home.

Current tank
JBJ 28g LED 89w

Everything is getting too cramped and fighting! Poor Corals and fishies!

A couple more from far away...

 

[Tycho]

The tank i went for was the 70g Artisan II from Cadlights

 

[Laborator]

Subscribed- I am planning on upgrading my 40 Cadlights to a 70 did you purchase the stand as well?

 

[Tycho]

OK so I had some problems with my Cadlights tank...uhg!

When I opened up the box the tank was packed in, i noticed they packed the sump, plumbing, ect. INSIDE the tank with no foam padding to prevent it getting scratched up in shipment. Well, sure enough, I got scratches everywhere in the tank, so its going back and they have promised me a replacement tank to be swaped out with this one...[crossing fingers]

Getting responses back from them has taken some effort, but they have made me a promise to make a new tank and it was supposed to be shipped last tuesday. When I didn't receive a tracking number by friday I emailed again and they said it was going to ship that day.... Sooo, I guess I'll wait and see if it arrives next week like they promised. I know others have had similar issues with this company, but I don't want to turn this into a Cad bashing thread. Problems happen with shipping and the pallet weighed 350lbs on the truck. Im staying hopeful that I'll receive a beautiful replacement tank next week.:hmm2:

 

[Tycho]

Yes the stand is just ok. it's the really heavy pressboard with laminate covering.
The design is sturdy enough to hold the tank without problems, but it VERY easy to scratch up the finish. And the stand had no instructions. It took me several hours to put it together because of that.

 

[Tycho]

Here is the stand. The sump is huge, so there is way less space than i was hoping there to be for equipment and an ATO container. I plan on hiding all my electronics and stuff outside of the stand at this point.

 

[Laborator]

I hate hearing all this shipping debacle that customers go thru, I'm sure things will work out.

What type of lighting will you be using?

 

[Tycho]

Ill be shutting down my nanocube and moving equipment over to this tank and I have a ton of stuff from marine depot coming.

My current hardware includes an MP10. An RKE with lunar module. A BRS 5 stage RODI. And and ATO from autotopoff that i'll be running on my RKE

The stuff i'll be adding includes

Another MP10
Magdrive 9.5
Maxspect Razor 16k light fixture
Current USA arm hanging kit
dry rock from reef cleaners
Tons of Home Depot stuff!

 

[lockrookie]

tagging along i love rimless

 

[Tycho]

Here are some shots of the plumbing they sent with the tank.

The bulkheads look really heavy duty, but the pipes and fittings are not the schedule 40 / 80 stuff they sell at home depot.

...hmmm:strange:

 

[Tycho]

Aside from weird sized pipes, the plumbing kit is pretty complete and I plan to use the drain system as is.

On the return side, I seem to have found a problem. The pvc pipe for the the return has an OD. that is too wide to slide into the bottom of the bulkhead. There is no way it will go in without sanding.:worried2:

While fumbling around with some spare fittings, I found that a 3/4 slip will fit almost snug over the bottom of the bulkhead, so I just plan to build a standard pvc setup from that bulkhead down to the pump.

 

[Tycho]

Got some various goodies from home depot today

I really wish I could install this plumbing right now, but until the new tank arrives I am at a stand still. I'll be receiving the rest of my hardware spread out over next week and setting a goal to have water in the tank within the next 2 weeks.

 

[adamfajge]

Cadlights

Cadlights

Very interesting to see another problem with cadlights. Trust me its not the shipping its how Cadlights packaged everything. Makes no sense why they would do that and create problems. I was going to order the 100g Artisan and after emailing Eddie for a invoice he never got back to me. I live in PA and I think he does not want to ship this far. He quoted me $250 for shipping to my house. How much was your shipping? I am getting the same Razor fixture. I have currentyl a 46 bow. I am waiting to see if you get your new tank without problems. I guess you get what you pay for in this hobby when it comes to rimless tanks. Most manufacturers are more than twice as much as Cadlights for the same size tank. Good Luck I will have this beautiful fixture on a 6 year old cheap tank. If your comes out good maybe I will call Eddie again and see what the problem is. I assume you paid for everything except their lighting? Let me know. I would only want their tank and stand maybe the sump. I have the Remora on my tank also. I love that skimmer. After talking to Jason Kim from Aqua C I would probably get the new Remora Pro S in sump skimmer. Most poeple say their tanks are good but the stand is not. I have a stdandard OCeanic stand that came with my 46 bow and is hols real nice, IN your opinion is the Cadlight stand like Ikea quality or better. It worries me having all that weight on a stand that people said was junk. You would know having put it together if you feel confident having the tank on it. Anyway good luck and get back to me.
THanks
By the way I was going to get the white laquered stand. I have two kids and don't know if that would get all scratched up.

 

[Laborator]

Ill be shutting down my nanocube and moving equipment over to this tank and I have a ton of stuff from marine depot coming.

My current hardware includes an MP10. An RKE with lunar module. A BRS 5 stage RODI. And and ATO from autotopoff that i'll be running on my RKE

The stuff i'll be adding includes

Another MP10
Magdrive 9.5
Maxspect Razor 16k light fixture
Current USA arm hanging kit
dry rock from reef cleaners
Tons of Home Depot stuff!

Now you really got my attention! That's the light I was getting, I'm debating on wether to get the 24 or 27 inch fixture, I'm currently using a Evolution 150 Watt for my 40 Cadlights and would probably still use it depending on how it would look over your setup.

 

[adamfajge]

I got the 27". For only $50 more with the 10%

 

[Tycho]

I just got the call from Fed Ex freight and my replacement tank arrives this wed morning.... YAY!

 

[Tycho]

Very interesting to see another problem with cadlights. Trust me its not the shipping its how Cadlights packaged everything. Makes no sense why they would do that and create problems. I was going to order the 100g Artisan and after emailing Eddie for a invoice he never got back to me. I live in PA and I think he does not want to ship this far. He quoted me $250 for shipping to my house. How much was your shipping? I am getting the same Razor fixture. I have currentyl a 46 bow. I am waiting to see if you get your new tank without problems. I guess you get what you pay for in this hobby when it comes to rimless tanks. Most manufacturers are more than twice as much as Cadlights for the same size tank. Good Luck I will have this beautiful fixture on a 6 year old cheap tank. If your comes out good maybe I will call Eddie again and see what the problem is. I assume you paid for everything except their lighting? Let me know. I would only want their tank and stand maybe the sump. I have the Remora on my tank also. I love that skimmer. After talking to Jason Kim from Aqua C I would probably get the new Remora Pro S in sump skimmer. Most poeple say their tanks are good but the stand is not. I have a stdandard OCeanic stand that came with my 46 bow and is hols real nice, IN your opinion is the Cadlight stand like Ikea quality or better. It worries me having all that weight on a stand that people said was junk. You would know having put it together if you feel confident having the tank on it. Anyway good luck and get back to me.
THanks
By the way I was going to get the white laquered stand. I have two kids and don't know if that would get all scratched up.

The $250 he quoted you for shipping is exactly what I paid for shipping to Portland.

I did order my setup without their lights, or return pump.

As far as the stand goes, Im pretty confident that it will hold the tank with no problems. I would say, as far as pressboard goes, it's about the heaviest stuff around. The way it's fastened together is totally the same as Ikea furniture.

The fake wood grain covering on the stand is not so much easy to scratch, but very easy to ding up. If you dropped a hammer, or a wrench on it from higher than 6" it would make a ding in it for sure. That being said, I have stood on top of it and tried shaking it back and forth. The stand doesn't wobble one bit. I think it's solid.

Here are a couple photos of the fasteners and how they connect at the corners.

 

[Tycho]

Now you really got my attention! That's the light I was getting, I'm debating on wether to get the 24 or 27 inch fixture, I'm currently using a Evolution 150 Watt for my 40 Cadlights and would probably still use it depending on how it would look over your setup.

I ordered the 27" fixture. I have yet to find a single photo of this light on top of coral yet, so I plan to make a day out of taking photos and videos of this thing as soon as I install it. It's pretty much made for this size tank, so I'm very excited.

 

[adamfajge]

Are you going to have the light sit on the tank or are you hanging it? Its very light so I would think having it sit would be ok. Now that he quoted me and you the same price I think this is the reason he doesnt want to sell me a tank or return an email. I guess he quoted me too low for the shipping to PA. It was also for the 100gallon which he still said its a 350lb pallet.'

 

[Tycho]

I talked with them about the shipping before had, and what I was told is that the particular service they use from Fed Ex freight is $750 rate, however they have a deal with them, since they use them in bulk. I believe the price is flat rate anywhere, so Im sure your location isn't why he hasn't responded.

I think their Office is just short staffed. I know that since I have been dealing with them (about a month), that Eddie has been out doing big installs. The girl that has answered a few times at their office actually gave me his cell number one afternoon so i could get a hold of him.

I will be hanging the light. I like the idea of having my rimless tank be truly rimless with nothing gripping the edges. Also I can adjust the height that way.