Rebuild of the 40g ASD cube!

[jcm2m9]

As some of you may have noticed I have been posting on the site very little over the last two months. At the first of May I purchased my first house and have been very busy working on it. My dad and I have gutted the kitchen down to studs and subfloor and are currently finishing up the kitchen remodel. I am staining/polyurethaning cabinets. I hope to lay most of the tile this weekend. I have also removed a 24' above ground pool and deck remodeled the master bed and bath.

Also, on May 10th I graduated from UMKC with my BSME. FINALLY!

Over the last few months I have contemplated selling the cube and starting over with something different, but after talking to more and more people I could not bring my self to do it. I decided to keep the tank and upgrade some of the equipment.

List of equipment:
40g ASD Cube w/external overflow (24" x 24" x 16")
20g sump
ASM G3
Mag 9.5 return pump
Maristar Hood (250de XM and (2) Super Actinic T5's)
Panworld PX50-x (closed loop)
OM Squirt
Substrate - Sand (I have opted not to continue with barebottom)

I have recently purchased and OM Squirt and a Panworld PX50-x for my closed loop. When I had the cube built I designed it for this setup. but never really had the funds to set it up this way. For now the tank is going to be set up in my basement, until I get our living room remodeled.

Currently, everything is sitting in two trashcans in my basement. If the pump shows up today I am going to finish the plumbing on the tank tonight and set it up for a leak check and hopefully set up the tank on Wed evening. This is if all goes as planned.

I will try and post pictures of the house, tank and etc.. tonight

[george1098]

sounds cool, keep us posted

[avp]

always up for a good cube thread, so I'm tagging along. One question though, what does ASD stand for?

-avp

[jcm2m9]

Aquatic Systems Design

That is the manufacturer of my tank and also my calcium reactor that I forgot to mention in my equipment list.

http://www.aquaticsystemsdesign.com/index.php

[tbar]

Congrads on the new degree and home purchase. A G-3 seems way much for a 40 gal.

[jcm2m9]

Yeah, it definitely is, but I love to feed, plus at one time my total water volume was around 120g. My total water volume is around 60g. I need to look for a smaller skimmer for my tank.

Thanks for the congrats!

[skenny]

i love your tank before cant wait to see it set up again, im contemplating building a custom cube cant decide on the size though either same as yours or 24"x20"x14"

[maroun.c]

Congrats.
Tagging along as a cube could be my next tank after I finalize my 150 G.

[jcm2m9]

The cube is up and running full steam and things are starting to color back up. I still need to get my calcium reactor running, but I have been dripping Kalk and my levels have been staying pretty stable. I am just going to let things go for a while and see how things change over the next few months.

Here are a few pictures of its current state.

[phenom5]

I love the dimensions of your tank. I was planning a 40g cube myself, but the wonderful state of our economy, and the difficulty that I'm having finding a job (graduated myself, in December) brought the project to a screeching halt.

Looks good, can't wait to see it once everything has grown in.

[jcm2m9]

Thanks for the compliments! I really love the size of this tank. I think it is perfect. It is just the right size for a single MH to perfectly light the tank.

[skenny]

jcm2m9 your tank is awsome the more i look at it the more i think my new tank will be the same dimensions as yours, do you think a 150wMH would be enough on a 14" deep instead of the 16"

also how many kilos or pounds of live rock do you have in there?

cheers shane

[jcm2m9]

I think a 150w DE MH would be plenty. I have actually considered going to a 150w or a T5 setup.

I believe i have about 30lbs of rock, but I am not positive. I am modified the rockwork so many times I have no idea what is left.

[skenny]

yea i will be using my 150WMH or using a 4 bulb 2 foot T5 set up to try keep the heat down a bit

ive decided on a 24x24x15 tank now

cheers shane

[InsaneClownFish]

James, good to see you back

[jcm2m9]

I believe either of those would be perfect!

Good luck. Make sure to start a build thread.

Originally posted by skenny
yea i will be using my 150WMH or using a 4 bulb 2 foot T5 set up to try keep the heat down a bit

ive decided on a 24x24x15 tank now

cheers shane

[jcm2m9]

Thanks Insane! I nearly sold the cube, but i backed out at the last minute. I have spent way too much and love the tank too much to sell it.

I am currently battling a case of cyano, I think it is from going from BB to a shallow sand bed. I also just recently added a large finger leather and another ORA clam. I will post new pictures as soon as the cyano is cleared up.

Originally posted by InsaneClownFish
James, good to see you back

[bensc]

Cool tank, congrats on the house and degree. All three are a lot of work. LOL


I've gotta get a cube, the dimensions look perfect for a small reef.

[jcm2m9]

Originally posted by bensc
Cool tank, congrats on the house and degree. All three are a lot of work. LOL


I've gotta get a cube, the dimensions look perfect for a small reef.

Thanks!

Hopefully I will have some new pictures up soon! I am still battling some cyano and the heat!

I think I am going to have to purchase a small chiller. I was thinking 1/10hp. What does everyone thing. My total water volume is about 50g.

I got home today and it was 84 degrees. With a fan I can only keep it around 81.5. Still too hot.

[jcm2m9]

Well, I have decided to sell my calcium reactor and purchase a used chiller. I have decided to do an LPS, clam and softie tank. I am just tired of dealing with SPS. I like a little more flow in my tank.

Because of this change, I no longer require a calcium reactor as I have found that my Kalk dosing keeps my parameters up. I also just purchased a 1/10hp Current USA Chiller. I will fell much better in the day that my temp will be in check. My fans have not been able to keep up and my evaporation is huge.

[skenny]

yea ive already got a chiller for my new cube ,but the heat from halides is a bit of the reason im going to run 4 T5 bulbs over mine

[jcm2m9]

I thought about doing this too, but I could not find a GOOD 4 bulb 24"T5 unit. This is what I originally wanted to do, but with having an open top I wanted something that looked nice.

[agoutihead]

how much did it cost you for the cube itself?

[jcm2m9]

Originally posted by agoutihead
how much did it cost you for the cube itself?

PM Sent.

[spleify]

Love the setup!!

On you're return line, where it T's off, is that so you can hook a hose to it for water changes? If that is the case, that is absolutely brilliant. I will be doing that now, hope you don't mind me taking that idea.

I have a 60 gal cube and love the look of the cubes.

Great job on the new set up!!

Thanks for sharing.

Spleify