150g Cube Build - New Pics
 

OK so I am upgrading my current Solana 34g. cube to a larger setup with a sump that I was missing with the Solana. I thought that I would document the progress and get suggestions and or comments along the way.

I have purchased all of the new equipment from Kevin at Red Coral here in Calgary who has been a great help.

I plan on keeping a mixed reef with fish in the new new tank. I will likely be selling off all or most of the old equipment and starting with all new gear. I will also be moving all of the LR, fish, corals, and such from the old tank to the new.

Here is a pic of the current setup.

Solana 34 gal. cube tank, Tunze nano wavebox, Tunze 9002 skimmer, tunze aquawind fan, koralia 2 PH, 2 - 1 watt LED moon lights, 150w 14k MH disco ball light.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3335Large.jpg

Here is a pic of the new tank. 36"x36"x27" - 150 gal. Corner overflow.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3334Large.jpg

Sump - 30"x24"x20"

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3325Large.jpg

Plumbing supplies

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3326Large.jpg

Return Pump - DART

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3327Large.jpg

Light - Current USA 36" Sunpod HQI 2x250w MH 14k 18 LEDs

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3339Large.jpg

So the next step for me will be to get a stand built this coming weekend and then tackle the plumbing. I think this project will likely take me a few weeks to get the water in. I will be looking for about 100lbs of LR later on if anyone is going to be selling some off.

Cheers
Lawrence

If ok Lawrence, I would like to move this to the Journal forum for you.

Wow thats going to be a really nice setup. Do you happen to need a new best friend? haha

Sweet cube... look forward to see the build!

Looks Spiffy! (yeah, I went there)

Wrong spot EH!!!! Sorry and thank you.

Cheers

We'll let it go just this once!!! Just kidding, no worries. And hey it was nice meeting you at the store today. Looking forward to this build. :cool:

Not really. We just like to keep all the tank build threads in the journal section.

Look forward to following your tank build. Some dandy pics already. :smile:

Did Red Coral build that tank for you? Looks like a nice tank!

Yes they built the tank and sump.

Update
 

OK so I had some time yesterday and was able to build the stand.... I am not sure what look I want to have yet for the finished product so for now it will stay this way. I was also able to get all of the plumbing completed and the tank placed in its new home. Here are some pics of the progress so far.

Tank.... I was running some water through everything here to test for leaks and much to my surprise everything was still dry after 2 hours....:mrgreen::mrgreen:

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3388Large.jpg

Sump shot.... My skimmer came in yesterday ..... it is the Hydor Performer 700

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3389Large.jpg

Full tank shot...

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3399Large.jpg


Thats all for now.

Cheers
Lawrence

Quick Update..... Finally mixed enough RO/DI water to fill the tank and sump. Everything is now running. I will move the wavemaker over to the new tank after it finishes cycling and I move all of the inhabitants from the 34g cube over.

I stopped into Red Coral Yesterday and purchased about 105lbs of LR. Here is how the final aquascaping will stay ...... I will also be adding the 40 lbs. of LR from the smaller tank to add to the towers and add some sand (also from the smaller tank).... when that time comes (approx. 20lbs) I just want to add enough to cover the bottom for looks.

No Flash... my camera skills are seriously lacking

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...r/FTSLarge.jpg

Flash on

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q.../FTS2Large.jpg

Sump.... the skimmer is breaking in.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q.../SumpLarge.jpg

I still have not decided entirely on what to do with the stand... but it is looking like I will re-tile the fireplace mantle and tile the stand to match. I have left a ledge on the couch side of the tank for my coffee while admiring the new addition.

Cheers
Lawrence

Looking at the pile of plumbing fittings you have it appears you are running the Dart to just 2 locline wyes, is this the case?
in the sump pic it also looks like the Dart has been reduced to 3/4 yes/no?

That is exactly what is happening

If the Dart is reduced to 3/4 then you are getting likely less than 1000 gph to the tank? why loose all that potential flow and install powerheads?

Its funny that you should mention that.... I thought that the return pressure felt low..... what is your seggestion? I would love to have more flow from the returns but I only have 2 - 3/4" bulk heads drilled for the returns and having them redrilled is not an option now.

It's a bit of an issue, if we get the Dart to run full capacity then likely your overflow will not handle it, I would plumb 1 1/2 all the way to the surface then tee off the 1 1/2 pipe to get a total of four 3/4 returns, send 2 to the bulkheads and the other two would have to go over the top. when it comes to volume you need four 3/4 outlets to handle that pumps capacity

you may have to throttle back the pump to keep the sump from draining, and the tank from overflowing

I will give this some thought.... thank you.

If you plan on staying bare bottom, the swap out the Dart for something around 800 to 1200 gph, throw the Dart onto an over the top closed loop, you can boil that tank.

Close Mr OM good catch, Each of the two 3/4 " lines need to come off the 1.5" pipe. I just noticed that it was reduced to 3/4" after the TU Ballvalve coming out of the pump. Sorry Prazil I should have caught that on your Feb. 26th update. LMK how I can help to switch it.
Kevin

Well had some time today to redo the sump plumbing returns to increase the flow I weas getting out of the DART pump. I changed the piping to now have a 1.5" return all the way up to the bulkheads (with a tee) and then reduce to 1" and immediately to .75" and back into the tank. This, I would estimate has at least doubled the flow from the returns over the previous setup. Thanks to Mr. OM for the heads up on this and a HUGE thanks to Kevin at Red Coral for all the help in getting this sorted out, he certainly went above and beyond what I have ever seen a business owner do for customer service.

While I was redoing the plumbing I added a few extra .75" outlets for future needs.

The tank seems to be cycling at a rapid pace. The ammonia levels have peaked and dropped to 0, Nitrites have peaked and are now down to .25 and nitrates are now on the rise. Hopefully I will be able to start a slow transition from the bio cube to the new tank in the next week or two.

Here is a shot of the new plumbing.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...SumpRedone.jpg

Cheers
Lawrence

That looks soooo neat and tidy. Aquascaping looks saweeeet. Hows the CUC doing?

Thanks Doug....

I think everyone is doing OK.... There was one casualty... One snail did not make it. I was in to the store today and picked up some T5 lighting to supplement the MH lighting and some sand. I am hoping to get everything moved over to the new tank this weekend.

Cheers
Lawrence

Well I finally got everything transfered to the new tank. Here is a short video of the Tunze Nano Wavebox in action. There are no power heads in the tank and the Dart pump is throttled back to about 60%.


http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...h_MVI_3461.jpg

I will be on the hunt for softies in the near future if anyone is fragging:biggrin::biggrin:. The tank is looking somewhat bare.

I have added a new friend... I think she is getting comfortable in her new home.

I am hoping to have the rest of the stand finished this weekend.

Cheers
Lawrence

ah...the sound of waves crashing into the overflow....you wernt kidding huh? Looks good man. Is that the naso we had?

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Stand Update
 

Well I finally had a chance to finish the stand this weekend. Here are some shots of the process;

Added nose pieces to create an overhang for drinks.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3462Large.jpg

Here I added some Hardi Backer for the tiles.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3465Large.jpg

I decided to do black granite tiles for the top and front nose with a chrome schluter edge.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3471Large.jpg

Made a front and side panel to match the existing theme and trim color throughout our house.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3472Large.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3474Large.jpg

I have not decided if I want to add a canopy or not yet.... For now it will stay this way. Hope you all like. Comments are welcome.:biggrin::biggrin:

Cheers
Lawrence

OH BTW... When we were moving all of the rock over from the old tank to the new we found these hiding in a rock..... YIKES!!! This brings the crab count to 11 in total from the old rock (Only 40 lbs).

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q..._3457Large.jpg

We bannished these guys to the sump!!!!

great job on the stand, how much did it end up costing you to finish it??
i think you shouldnt build a canopy it looks great the way it is. ive got a cube too but not as big as yours. im kinda jealous. but i couldnt go that big. everything looks great. that must be quite some view looking at that in the room. cant wait to see more. keep up the great work.

wow x 2

Thanks Boomboy.... If I had to guess what the materials cost it would likely be around $200.00.. I had most of the materials in the shop (left overs from other jobs) .. I own a renovation company. I think I agree with the no canopy idea.

Cheers
Lawrence

Wow that looks great, gives me some ideas for my next tank.

This is a great looking tank! I agree that no top is just fine on this one.

Just throwing this out there, but you could do some kind of "floating" canopy. I find that shorter length tanks look top heavy(to me) with a canopy sitting on the rim of the tank, so I did a "floating" canopy over a frag tank that I had running, before I moved.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMGP0965.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMGP0967.jpg

That looks cool Doug... but for me a canopy would only be used to hide the lights and wires so a floating canopy would not solve those issues. I think I will likely be to lazy and leave it the way it is.

Thanks for the comments guys.

Cheers
Lawrence

If anyone is fragging any softies or leathers in the near future please let me know.

Corals
 

I thought I would update everyone on the status of the new tank. Everythjing seems to be growing and happy. I have made a few additions since the last set of pics. Here they are some pics;

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q.../ClamLarge.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...SpawnLarge.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...tiCapLarge.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...roomsLarge.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q.../NasoLarge.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...dZoasLarge.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q.../RicsLarge.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...oral2Large.jpg

Cheers
Lawrence

Its been quite some time since an update.... I have not taken any FTS but I thought I would share a pic of the Clam that I won in the draw from Oceanic Corals (Thanks Ian)

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...Clam1Large.jpg

And another that I have had for about 6 months

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...Clam2Large.jpg

Cheers
Lawrence

Here are pictures of some of the new additions since the last update. Everything seems to be progressing very well with lots of growth. Any comments or advice on the photography are appreciated... I am still trying to figure out the new camera :lol::lol:

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...9copyLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...ueZoaLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...8copyLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...7copyLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...0copyLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...2copyLarge.jpg

Cont........

And more....

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q.../AcroLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...CloneLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...yCaneLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...rZoasLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...enZoaLarge.jpg

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...oasLarge-1.jpg

Cheers
Lawrence

The only advice I have for the photography is "come over and take pictures of my stuff."

Looking pretty good there!! :cool:

Great shots bud....some sweet zoas and a real pouty looking candycane.