68G Soft Coral/Lagoon Cube Build

[JustinReef]

Ok, so it's not actually a cube...Its better than a cube! IMO anyways.

30"x30"x18"tall.

This is going to be my new reef/lagoon tank. I have decided to move my corals from my 130G tank to this one for a few reasons...One the bio load is so huge on my big tank and it really should be a FOWLR (grouper, puffers, ect.) and two I want to have all kind of inverts again that I cannot keep around my dogface puffer!

I bought the tank used and it is drilled with a DIY overflow but I may remove the overflow and just use the bulkhead for a closed loop. I kind of want this to be a no sump/skimmer tank. No equipment showing what so ever. So a closed loop would be idea.

Lighting and whatnot will just come from my current tank. I am going to stick with one 250 watt MH. 14K bulb.

Not too much else planned yet...

What pump would you guys recommend for such a small closed loop?

I can get a brand new poseiden 3 pump for cheap but though it may be too much. Any ideas?


This is my old tank and kind of what I am going for again. I will post some pictures tonight of my current tank and corals that will be moving to the new tank.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi325.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi336.jpg


More to come soon!

[InsaneClownFish]

Woot! You can be my tank's lil brother ;) Taggin along. Glad to see you trying to get up and running again.

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13613452#post13613452 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by InsaneClownFish
Woot! You can be my tank's lil brother ;) Taggin along. Glad to see you trying to get up and running again.

Yeah! Im the little brother! Not as cool as the big brother though :(

Oh Im up and running! I have 3 tanks set up now...this is just yet another. I will post pics of the reef as it is now and of where its going to go (new tank) later tonight.

I love how the 130G is going and its a shame to have to take the corals out but in the long run they will do better in a dedicated system.

This build is going to be quick and nothing fancy at all!

I should be moving everything over to the new tank by sunday or monday....SHOULD BE... :D

[JustinReef]

130G and the corals that are moving. This will be a Fish only tank.

The canopy is not even fully painted yet and already things are changing! This tank will not have a canopy anymore but instead a mesh top (low profile). I am not sure about lighting yet for this tank after the move but I want it to look deep water. I am thinking some dim T5's. Any ideas?

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi039-1.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi051g.jpg

These are the guys causing bio load problems! Nitrates spiked to 40 last week :( Back to 20 this week but still unacceptable IMO.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi040.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi048.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi035.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi031.jpg

[JustinReef]

The corals that will be transfered....

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi006.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi052.jpg

[JustinReef]

And finally the new tank...Only mermaid I could find for the pic :D

I think he thinks he is in trouble :(

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi038-2.jpg

[JustinReef]

Going to pick up the wood for the stand tomorrow as well as the closed loop pump from a friend. The stand is going to be a very simple cube. I am not sure about height yet but I am considering quite low since I don't need the space below and it would be cool to view this tank from sitting.

Im just not sure how it would look to be quite low but have a canopy.

We'll see. I am going to come up with some ideas tonight.

[JustinReef]

So I think I lost my tank...

I'm not so sure these guys are going to give it back :rolleyes:

So far its been used as a bed, wrestling ring, playground, and scratching post ( :mad: at the last one)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi065.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi067-1.jpg


This is the spot the tank is going. Its across from the current tank which will be the FOWLR.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi064-1.jpg

[JustinReef]

Here's the first dilemma. I don't want a sump really but if I don't, I can't really use my auto top off or ozone. It will also be that much harder (and almost pointless) to use my controller because I don't want the probes IN the display tank :(

So I might just do a simple rubbermaid sump that would just be a refugium and place for ATO and whatever equipment I need. Just as simple as overflow drains to rubbermaid and use the Poseiden external pump as a return. Easy enough to drill the rubbermaids.

I will need some help with the overflow though. I have always plumbed my tanks with the "herbie" style drains, using a gate valve to keep them matched up to the pump and QUIET.

This tanks overflow was already drilled with a 1-1/4 bulkhead and the pump is going to be about 700 GPH with head loss. How well will this match up? I don't know much about these things because I have always just used 2" drains. Will a single 1-1/4 drain keep up with 700GPH?

I will also need help with how to plumb it. I don't know how to build a small standpipe for this type of set up. I will take a picture and post it for advice. I am nervous as well because I have laways had the back up drain on my tanks and not having one really worries me!

I know its hard to help without pics, so I will get those going right away....

[InsaneClownFish]

That room you have your tank in is great. The 130 looks fantastic the way it is, and the fish look very very nice. Awesome colors.

Make sure you rinse that tank out well. I'm always worry about cats and dogs and the various flea treatments out there.

The open look of the 130 is great. It's very much like your last lagoon with the see through/divider aspect..I appreciate seeing that type of tank.

We have a local reefer who runs his two reefs on T5s. His small reef is, hmmm...I believe it's a 29 gallon and runs entirely off of 24w T5s. I think he has 6 bulbs and the most striking part is that at least 4 of the 6 are Giesemann Actinics. All his SPS look amazing. You can accomplish alot with the lower wattage HO T5s. He's the second local reefer who tried overdriving his T5 setup and switched back to normally driven because, in both instances, the SPS started to bleach.

[InsaneClownFish]

I just saw your other post. I would do a search on You Tube or on the DIY forum. There should be dozens of posts about how to build a stand pipe. If you feel that uncomfortable about it, you can just order one. There's a couple of different designs floating around.

Here again, the surface area on your overflow also matters. How large is the overflow itself? There's a calculator on the main page, but if I remember my math that inch and a quarter should be able to easily handle 700gph(if you have enough surface area on the overflow).

Maybe someone who's a bit more versed on this can step in here.

[JustinReef]

Thanks.

Yes the tank will be cleaned out with bleach very well before being filled. I don't know what else has been in it!

As for the stand pipe, I would be fine making one if this were a normal overflow but its a very small one. Its not all the way to the bottom of the tank but instead just a small box at the top. I have never plumbed a tank like this. I am going to get pictures.

The overflow is VERY small. I would say it doesn't hold more than a few gallons max.

I am now rethinking the sump or closed loop thing...

I wonder if I need my ATO really. Its nice but this tank is not huge and I can top off each day manually. To use the ATO I also need to build the satnd big enough to fit a garbage can underneath...not something I really want to do either.

Hmmm...I don't know. I wanted this to be very low maintenance and not much equipment. I figured since there will not really be many fish and just soft corals, weekly water changes would keep things in order.

Maybe I should stick to just using that bulkhead for a closed loop.

[JustinReef]

Excuse the messy silicone...I did not put this together. I will be cleaning up the excess if I use it.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi067-2.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi068-2.jpg


So you can see its small. 4"x8"x6"

[InsaneClownFish]

If I had to guess- maybe 450-500gph max on that overflow.

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13615780#post13615780 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by InsaneClownFish
If I had to guess- maybe 450-500gph max on that overflow.

Yeah thats around what I was thinking.

Well I have decided to make things VERY simple.

I am scrapping both ideas.

The bulkhead is capped already and its staying that way!

I am going to use a HOB filter to run carbon and put my PH probe and temp probe in. Just use a Koralia powerhead. That will be all the equipment. Nice and easy.

I am building the stand tomorrow and then the build will be mostly done. LOL.

I am going for the quickest build EVER award :p

I think for the way I plan to keep this tank this is best. No need to complicate things.

Stocking will simply be a small school of cardinals. I hope a decent amount but I don't know how many I can get away with in a 68G.

I am thinking Pyjama Cardinals. How many do you guys think?

Only other fish my be some kind of goby...but doesn't have to be in there. I get my fish "fix" from my predator tank!

[JustinReef]

So I cut out the overflow...


And now I'm off to get a few stitches :eek2:


EDIT: No stitches...I cut my finger pretty bad but it just finally stopped bleeding.

[InsaneClownFish]

In the unfortunate event of losing an appendage during every day reef tasks, the apendage may be ground in a blender with squid, white fish, and a variety of multi-vitamins to create an extremely nutricious fish food.

Sheesh! Please be careful, and please take your time. There's a subtle sense of urgency in some of your posts. Are you on a tight time frame, or are just anxious to get this up and running?

You want to keep all 5- :wavehand:

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13616341#post13616341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by InsaneClownFish
In the unfortunate event of losing an appendage during every day reef tasks, the apendage may be ground in a blender with squid, white fish, and a variety of multi-vitamins to create an extremely nutricious fish food.

Sheesh! Please be careful, and please take your time. There's a subtle sense of urgency in some of your posts. Are you on a tight time frame, or are just anxious to get this up and running?

You want to keep all 5- :wavehand:

No urgency...not sure why it sounds that way.

It was just a little slip with the blade while cutting out the silicone.

No time frame either. This was just suppose to be a very basic, simple build. Nothing fancy or unnecessary.

[JustinReef]

Tank is up and running but no real interest, so I am not going to be continuing to post in this thread ;)

[Radar1]

Is that in your house? I love all the concrete!

[itstheantitang]

Yeah, that house looks awesome.