ScubaSteve's new Tank Build - The Coral Cube Redux

[ScubaSteve]

I've been pining to build a new system for well over a year now. I first had planned to build a new system during the move to my current place... well.. moving and tank building do not necessarily mix well and I ended up with a system that worked but fell short of my goals and aspirations. I planned on doing a system rebuild this spring but fell short of time and money yet again (the eternal struggle of the poor grad student) and had to settle with a rescape.

To my good fortune I have been able to scrape together some extra cash through some prototyping side jobs and there have been a couple instances of "money from heaven" recently that has left me with a few hundred dollars to actually consider doing something.

Well, I've got some money now but still no time... but damn it I'm going to do it this time! So here is my plan, my dream, my big scheme... and I'd love to have people's feedback during this planning stage.

The Idea
I love the look and feel of contemporary, rimless, odd-dimensioned tanks like cubes. I also want a very sleek, clean look... so nothing will be in or on the tank other than maybe a powerhead or two. Because of where the tank is placed between two couches I want all three sides of the tank to be equally viewable and each face will have its own "theme" or particular look and feel. I want to make as much use of negative space as possible and, though I will have a stupidly high flow rate in the tank I want to retain as much of a sand bed as possible as I think the sand makes the tank look brighter than bare bottom designs.

I want the system to be as simple and low-maintenance as I can afford to achieve, so basically I'll be adding luxuries like an ATO which I haven't been able to have before... oh... and a sump as well.

AND to make this more exciting I'm doing this on a tight budget

The Tank
The tank is going to be a 24"x24"x ? rimless cube with a coast-to-coast rear external overflow with a beananimal-style triple-redundant drain system and two returns (one in each upper corner) and will be using my existing stand (24"x24" footprint). I might not have a toothed weir as I want very good surface skimming and silent operation (tanks should be seen and not heard); I will make an optional acrylic toothed piece on my mill should I feel I need it. I am currently undecided on the tank height; I currently have a 16" height but I have also been pining for some extra tank volume. I am expecting that if I make the tank bigger I'll have to reinforce my stand a bit (3/4" thick MDF cabinet) but here are my options:

16" (40G - current)
18" (45G)
20" (50G)
24" (60G)

Any thoughts on this? I am going to be building the tank myself because a) I love a challenge b) I am capable c) can't afford the prices I've been quoted (nearly 3 to 4 times the actual material cost! FTW?!).

The Sump
Oh god do I look forward to having a sump! No more stupid heaters, HOB filters and skimmers... just clean, quiet design... ohhhh baby... uhhh.... I digress.

Because of my stand dimensions (23" by 23" inside the cabinet) I am a bit limited on what I can do with a sump without building something completely custom (that is a future project). I will be converting a 15G tall tank that I have kicking around into a baffled sump. I have acquired a Vertex IN-80 that I will be using to overskim the bejesus out of my tank. Because of the size of the skimmer, the sump will be largely dominated by the skimmer and the section for the return pump, which really doesn't give me any room for a refugium so I think I may just make the area between a filter/carbon area. That is unless someone has any whiz-bang ideas on how to better set it up or willing to provide any used sumps around 23"x23".

I will have an ATO! I am probably equally excited for this one feature as I am for the entire tank. I'll likely build my own and use three switch voting logic to avoid any overfilling issues.

I will also (eventually) add a two-part dosing system. As much as I would love to have a peristaltic system, I am poor. So, I'm likely going to McGyver my own set-up.

I'll throw up some concept renderings in a bit.