My Shallow Cube Build Thread

[cham]

Hi all,
I have been out of the hobby for about 6 months and I've really missed it. Around Christmas I was faced with a divorce and sold everything I owned reef related, since then I've found that I still need to scratch my itch.

This time I'm building a unique but small shallow cube. Tim at MRC (AWESOME GUY BTW!!) is building me a 26x26x18 cube (aprox 50g)

My last tank was a 110g tall and I hated the height (even though I'm 6'4")

In the next 2 to 3 weeks this tank should be up and running. Some equipment has started to arrive but I don't pick up my tank until next Tuesday. I have a local reefer that is making me a custom 40" tall stand and shelf.


So far here is what I've got so far:

40g sump made by Aquatic Life Systems that is designed for a 300g tank. It will be plumbed into my garage to house the skimmer, RO/DI ATO, Dosing pumps and return pump.

15g refugium that will go inside the stand. This has one durso deticated directly to it that will drain to the return area of the sump bypassing the skimmer to minimize the skimming of micro life.

Three durso 1" drain pipes (all three will be in the overflow box) two will drain directly to the sump and one will go first to the fuge then continue along to the sump.

Back up Blueline pump & RO/DI from Purely H20.



Better shot of the sump

[cham]

Today my Snapper Reeflo return pump came in along with my Aquamedic 250w HQI and some sand.

I already have a Phoneix 14k DE bulb on its way. Should be here in a few days.

I also bought two large tonga live rocks (huge rocks actually) today. They total almost 50lbs between the two of them. Absolutely amazing looking live rock, incredible amounts of life.

[cham]

Before I get too far, I want to throw out a few credits that were a big part of this build. With out them and their great service I would not be doing this.


1. Marcye Sweeny & Chris at Sea In The City Orlando. One of the best LFS a guy could ever ask for. Marcye spends an incredible amount of time with me and gives the best customer service in the business!

2. James at Invision Acrylics. A great guy that is more interested in helping people than making money. Marcye and James are two of few that will do this.

3. Tim at My Reef Creations (MRC) who is building my tank and so far has been GREAT to work with.

4. Chris Stires, a local reefer who is building my custom stand and who has most likely pulled out a majority of his hairs through this build as I keep making design changes.

Thanks to all of you!

[GSMguy]

I will be watching this one, love me some shallow tank....

[cham]

Originally posted by GSMguy
I will be watching this one, love me some shallow tank....

Thanks for referring me to James at Invision

[Capt_Cully]

yeah, I've noticed alot of shallow SPS tanks as of late, and I gotta say I'm lovin it.

Can't wait to see yours.

That reeflo is some serious juice for a 50!!! It's gonna crank your turnover!!! I don't think you'll even need powerheads will ya?

[cham]

Originally posted by Capt_Cully
yeah, I've noticed alot of shallow SPS tanks as of late, and I gotta say I'm lovin it.

Can't wait to see yours.

That reeflo is some serious juice for a 50!!! It's gonna crank your turnover!!! I don't think you'll even need powerheads will ya?

Thats the plan.

I guess I left out some details.

The tank will be a rimless/braceless in 1" acrylic. Stand is a 26x26 oak raised panel single door in oak stained black.

Skimmer is slated to be an MSX Extreme Octopus 160 (if they ever come off back order)

Pendant will house a 250w Phoenix 14k

Return lines will be two 1" going into two bulkheads on the back side of the tank with two 3/4' locklines coming out of each bulkhead.

[Capt_Cully]

Nice! Can't wait!

[sassafrass]

I am building a rimless nano that is similar looking forward to your build ,love all the pics.
Lee

[fishnut321]

i like!

[cham]

More equipment arrived today

RK II with PH probe, DC8 and serial port

Hmmm, that pic turned out fuzzy


Bulk Reef Supply carbon, calcium, soda ash and magnesium


And a crazy amount of PVC (this is less than half of it)



I dropped off my deposit and RK II to my local wood magician to have my stand built.

I talked to Tim at MRC today. I opted to go with a final "polishing job" that they are finishing up now. It should be in a crate tomorrow (Tuesday) and at my airport the next day for pick up.

So Wednesday might be the day .

This is my first custom tank so I'm very anxious to see.

[cham]

The tank is in!!!!

Super fast too. I really got to take my hat off to Tim at MRC. This is an amazing looking tank in person. Its better than I had hoped it would be.

Absolutely perfect joints and at the last minute I opted for a polish job that looks very very nice.

The pictures aren't as nice as the in person









He covered the back wall with a black vinyl that looks sooo nice


I like how they chamfered and polished all the edges

[joem1cha3l]

damn, very impressive. Where do I look into ordering something like that?

[cham]

Originally posted by joem1cha3l
damn, very impressive. Where do I look into ordering something like that?

Give Tim a call at MRC. I believe he is the owner.

http://www.myreefcreations.com/


I can't say enough about how great Tim was to work with. Super nice guy. Very competitive prices too.

[joem1cha3l]

Not to pry but whatd this run around...few hundred bucks?

[cham]

Originally posted by joem1cha3l
Not to pry but whatd this run around...few hundred bucks?

Call Tim, he'll hook you up.


I also got in my Azoo fans. I've heard good things so I'm going to try them. They seem pretty quiet.




And to satisfy the RC tank build guidelines. A pic of my kid in the tank

[vsnph]

Wow, looks like a bombproof tank

Btw, is that 1inch thick acrylic ?

[UrbanSage]

Awesome, tagging along!

[xtm]

OMG what a sexy tank! I'm tagging too!

Welcome to the shallow reef club

[TitusvileSurfer]

I live an hour from you, perhaps I will use your resources that you seem so thrilled with. Instead of acrylic would they do say...starfire? I've never been to the mentioned LFS store either. I've always used "The hidden reef" and "Aqua Mart". I'll check them out though.

[cham]

Just got an email update from Chris who is building my stand.

Hopefully it will be stained tomorrow and I can get it here to start plumbing my system and get water in it!

[cham]

Few updated pics of my tank

I drilled the back wall for two 1" returns split into four 3/4" locklines



Garage sump area





Float valve on the right is plumbed from the RO/DI across the room (hooked up to washer dryer hook ups)

[dillagas]

Looking great, Chris did an amazing job as usual......any chance of getting a better pic of those black dursos out of the box.......did you build them?

[cham]

Originally posted by dillagas
Looking great, Chris did an amazing job as usual......any chance of getting a better pic of those black dursos out of the box.......did you build them?

Standard store bought durso's painted flat black with Krylon Fusion.

I have three 1" drains. One goes directly to the refugium inside the stand and is not on a durso, just a bulkhead with a gate valve to control flow. The second drain is the workhorse, its the shortest durso you see in that pic and it leads directly to the sump in the garage. The third durso is about 1 1/2" above the second as an emergency drain.

[Laddy]

I dig the overflows!

....tagging along for this one!