Kingpo's 70 gallons cube thread
 

Greetings everybody!

This is actually my second post on RC but I thought I'd give it a shot and present my new project to you.

As I was explaining in another thread, I usually post on French speaking forum (I'm from QC, Can) so the first few messages will mostly consist in presenting what I did to get where I am at now. After that, I'll feed this thread as the project evolves.

A little background. I started reef keeping in October of 2006 when I decided that I wanted to try my hand at keeping a saltwater aquarium. Did a lot of reading and got a little discouraged by the price tag attached to bigger setups. So I went for a nano aquarium and documented most of what I did here: http://nanonoob.blogspot.com. I only had this tank for about 7 months when we decided to move. Scared of not having the time to take care of it, I sold the tank and moved into the new house.

I didn't think the urge to start a new tank would come knocking so fast. So 6 months after moving into our new home, I had to plan for a new aquarium.

Working with the space I had, I decided to go for a cube that would measure 26x26x24. I decided I wanted to have a sump underneath and that was pretty much it.

So I placed an order for a custom made cube. It was built by Miracles in Mississauga, Ontario.

Here are my initial plans (please excuse the French markings):
http://www.reefconcept.com/forum/fil...e_haut_194.jpg
http://www.reefconcept.com/forum/fil...e_face_124.jpg

As you will see, I didn't do exactly as planned but who does in this hobby right? :D

So my tank took some time to build and I got the steel rack much faster...

http://www.reefconcept.com/forum/fil...small2_174.jpg
http://www.reefconcept.com/forum/fil...small1_114.jpg

I also took this time to work on my sump. I worked with a 15 gallons Hagen aquarium (24x12x12) that I divided into 3 sections: water from the tank, refugium and skimmer and water return pomp.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...separation.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...sump_final.jpg

Water test was pretty conclusive

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b.../test_deau.jpg

The only thing I wish I had done differently in there would have been to make the middle glass pane of the last baffle higher since it doesn't affect the water level anyways. It would have allowed the water in the middle section to raise when the pump stops without it spilling over to the return pump section but it really isn't a big concern.

Time waiting for the cube also allowed me to start thinking about how I would build the cabinet. My wife wasn't interested in seeing me setup a tank in the living room and promise to build something around it so I had to make sure it was all done at the same time :p I don't regret this since it is obviously harder to do wood working and such around a tank that's full of water and life.

I created 3d plans in Sketpchup, a free piece of software from Google.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...n_de_face1.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...n_de_face2.jpg

Finally
 

Yes, finally, I got the tank from Miracles (almost 2 months waiting because it fell during Christmas time).

The ReefConcept store up here managed to get a custom overflow box built in circle and I was pretty happy with that. They also drilled the bottom of my tank for me so I could place a durso type standpipe in there.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...e_on_stand.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...d_overflow.jpg

Since the tank is going in a corner, I painted the two back faces in black (my previous one was blue and I wanted to try this color instead).

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/03_paint.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...d_paintjob.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...d_paintjob.jpg

Lookin Good, Subscribed,

Quick water leak test... Lighting isn't complete on these :D


http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...eau_small1.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...eau_small2.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...eau_small2.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...eau_small4.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...eau_small3.jpg

Cabinet, half completed. I simply built a wood rack behind the tank's steel rack and covered it with MDF. The top was also build of wood and sealed with a good primer paint.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b.../meuble_lr.jpg

LR
 

Added about 100 pds of live rock. It's mainly fidji rock but I do have a few "heavier" rocks that are less porous.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/LR_small.jpg

I then completed the cabinet. Here are a few shots...

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...uble_face2.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...uble_face1.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...uble_face3.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...s_ouvertes.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...ur_locline.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...eur_reelle.jpg

Stand and Tanks looking great. Are you going BB?

A few shots of the sump and skimmer (octopus RC 2000) :

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/decante1.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/decante2.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/decante3.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/decante4.jpg

Thanks, no I'm not... sorry, I am posting message after message as I am bringing this thread up to speed as to where I am at today.

After the cycle was through, I introduced the first fishes and some members of a clean-up crew :

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...qua_droite.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...qua_gauche.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...se/baboune.jpg

You can see some cyano on this next one as I had some on the LR when I bought it. Pretty much all gone now except for a little bit in my sump (less flow).

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...ose/snails.jpg

A mush that was on the LR...

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...arose/mush.jpg

The tank as of today! Thanks for your patience, this is pretty much how the tank looks today. I will keep you guys posted on the evolution of my project. Don't hesitate if you have any questions!

One of the next things I want to work at is isolating the doors to hide some of the lighting spill over...

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...cube_salon.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZibLLfyzkfE

Very nice!! I like the built in look.

Spleify

Thanks for the comment! :)

I'm sold!
I'm tagging along to this thread

Great set up/nice tank

Felix-

what lighting are you gonna have/ any corals u have in mind?
Do you have temp issues?

Looks great man...can't get enough of it...mOre PICS!!!

Thanks,

For lighting, I currently have 4x24w t5s (24", 2 actinics, 2 10k) but I am also expecting a 20", 250 watts Sunpod that should be arriving soon. Obviously, temp isn't an issue yet but I'll let you know if that remains true when I install the 250w HQI lamp.

As for corals, I have no specific idea in mind except that I want to be able to maintain a great variety. That's why I'm going the HQI way. I don't plan on a tank fully loaded with SPS as I don't necessarily want to run a calcium reactor but a few with nice LPS and some softies would be nice. I would love to have clams in there as well...

Nice!..good stuff...
I posted a comment on your video
Good luck with your tank...gotta love cube tanks
I'll keep checking for updates...

Looking forward to see it fully stocked
(fish/corals/critters)

Felix-

Felix-

Wow. Really well done! I love how the t5s make it look.

:thumbsup: on a really nice project that was well planned, well designed and completed.

very nice setup i like it very clean install. what type of corals are you planning on cheeping?

Thanks for the comment!

I love your set up! This is almost identical to the tank I am planning! The only difference is my tank is going to be 34X34X22. Can you post anymore pics of how you constructed the canopy and wood covers for your stand? This is exactly how I want to build mine, it would be extremely helpful to see how you pulled this off. Thanks!