Hexahedron Heaven - 6.68 ft3 of love

[rnmb1988]

Hi, Thanks for stopping in! This is my build log for my new aquarium, I want to share everything I do in hopes of helping someone else out along the way and to document my journey.

I am upgrading from my Cardiff 24G AIO to this beautiful tank set up I found at a very reasonable price!! $635 shipped to my door.
Props to ZiaReefer for pointing out the seller!


I received this system on April 17th and began working on it that night.
I have lots of upgrades, modifications, DIY’s in mind for this.

Equipment:

Tank: STARFIRE Glass (only front 3 pieces) Size: 24"W x 24"L x 20"H
Thickness: 10mm glass, with high quality diamond polished edges.
One 3 camber glass sump (19-3/4"W x 16-1/2"L x 13"H) with filter media & bio-balls
SCA-301 65 Gallon skimmer with PH1100 needle wheel pump.
OPH3000 utility return pump – 3550 LPH or 938 GPH
Light - I will be moving my AI Hydra from the Cardiff over to this.


I assembled the stand and used wood glue to aid in keeping it strong, then I painted the inside of the stand bright white with a good outdoor paint, it was oil based so it took a few days to dry. I did this because it will help me see inside the sump better and because I saw NanoTopia do it and I like it!! So thanks NanoTopia!



I didn’t like the wasted space in the sump, so while the paint was drying, I came up with a way to modify the water flow inside the sump which will also maximize the space I have for Cheato and what not.



The water will enter the sump in the ball left chamber, flow under the wall into the skimmer chamber. Then under the wall to the refugium chamber, but it will have to travel to the back of the refugium because I put a 2.5 inch riser in the front half of the left had refugium wall. the water will then flow fem the back of the refugium to the front where it will flow over the all into the pump return chamber, which I cut in half with by adding a 5 inch tall wall which will make the water flow up and over that wall into the new pump chamber. Doing this gave me an additional 8x5 inch chamber to use as refugium space. I will also be adding some egg crate to cut the center refugium chamber in half for Cheato or macro algae.
The blue arrows is where water flows under a wall, the red is where the water flows over a wall.



One of the other major mods I will do is to drill out the hole in the bottom of the tank for the ½ inch bulkhead so I can use a 1 inch bulkhead. This will allow me to make a Herbie return system and keep this system real quiet.
Here is the guide I used for this - Herbie Overflow guide - http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-...-method-basics

Here is where I am so far.

[915MANG]

MAN! I like it! Did it come with the sump and skimmer, return pump?

[mrcyrus]

These are a hot seller right now. Its going to get a lot more people into the hobby. What are your livestock plans?

[pnavarro170]

sweet man thanks for posting, good idea on the white. Following along for sure.

[rpjaws74]

like the set up... great start

[rnmb1988]

Originally Posted by 915MANG

MAN! I like it! Did it come with the sump and skimmer, return pump?

Thanks for stopping in!
Yup, Everything but a heater and light. A few parts can be up graded for not a lot of $$ but it will run right out of the box.
I see that Pnavarro170 has what appears to be the 66 gallon set up from what I think is the same people.

Originally Posted by mrcyrus

These are a hot seller right now. Its going to get a lot more people into the hobby. What are your livestock plans?

Thanks for stopping it!
My livestock will everything from my Cardiif plus.....well this might take some time to figure out. Been eyeing a Dwarf Flame Angel, A bonded pair of Picasso Clowns......Coral.......lots of coral....

Originally Posted by pnavarro170

sweet man thanks for posting, good idea on the white. Following along for sure.

Thanks for stopping in!
I have read you 66 gallon build and am considering a algae scrubber. What do you thing is better, a scrubber or a GFO reactor to go along with the skimmer?

Originally Posted by rpjaws74

like the set up... great start

Thanks! I am hoping to have it wet next weekend, but there is a lot to get done for that to happen......

More to follow!!

[pnavarro170]

i dont really see how the sump flow your describing would go, since the bottoms are open for flow then its not as directional as you think. will still go side to side. also i told you but to let people know to not forget to put padding under rimless tanks.

[rnmb1988]

Its darn near impossible to show what I have done in a glass sump. I have added glass block off plates in places to direct the water flow. I sealed off the back left chamber on the right wall at the bottom where it would just go to the center section, now all the water MUST go ingto the skimmer section, under the right wall in the skimmer section and flow from the front to the back of the sump in the narrow passage. I keep the water in there by having added taller glass to the wall 10 inches long, leaving a 4 inch section in the rear for it pass into the center section. I did the same thing on the other side but this time I blocked the back and left the front open so the water must flow from the back of the center section to the front, over the wall and down under the wall into the new section I created. Then the water flows over the new wall intothe pump section.

I know it hard to see, I am working on a 3D drawing, which may or may not get done, but trust me, it works because I added glass to make it work. Look real close and you can see some of it.

[pnavarro170]

Oh okay. Just making sure.

[sirshark]

Hello i like what your are doing with your tank , im considering doing the same hope you dont mine if i copy it, just wondering how did you pick it up for that price i check the link and they are listing the tank for $799.

[rnmb1988]

Originally Posted by sirshark

Hello i like what your are doing with your tank , im considering doing the same hope you dont mine if i copy it, just wondering how did you pick it up for that price i check the link and they are listing the tank for $799.

Yes, that link to their web page is a little more expensive but it’s because it’s a 10mm tank. I got mine off EBay. Check seller Letsmakesomemoney - currently he has one on there for $625, you might get it for $50 less but it is an 8mm tank. If you get it, email him after the auction ends and ask for an upgrade to 10mm, it’s a very reasonable cost.

[rnmb1988]

Some progress on the rockscape over the last several days.









Back looking forward

[Snyper19]

I love your rock scape!!!! awesome job

[rnmb1988]

Originally Posted by Snyper19

I love your rock scape!!!! awesome job

Thanks Snyper!
Its has been tormenting sitting there trying to imagine how this rock can fit with that one and how can I make an arch? Then its this rock don't fit, how do I cut it to make it fit? etc...man Im telling you I understand why people DONT like to scape....LOL
It has taken the better part of a week to do about 3 hours worth of actual work.....

[rnmb1988]

Can you say DIY reactors......



How to - to follow.......

[915MANG]

Pretty cool

[rnmb1988]

Update:

Drilled the tank for the Herbie drain









Built the drain tubes - 1" dual - one primary and one emergency/backup.







Built the clamps for the Reactor tubes





Finished and installed the plumbing and some of the electrical








Almost ready to get wet!

[915MANG]

Didnt your tank come drilled already?

[mrcyrus]

Like to see this herbie drain

[rnmb1988]

Originally Posted by mrcyrus

Like to see this herbie drain

Yes, drilled 1ea 1" and 1ea 1/2" for a typical setup, but I wanted a Herbie overflow and opted for dual 1" overflow. So that means my return to the tank is externally plumbed. I will get a pic up later to show what I did.

[rnmb1988]

So here is some info on the Herbie overflow -->http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-...-method-basics

Pump return to the tank:





The overflows can be see above in post #17

[rnmb1988]

Had a really good day yesterday. I was able to get the tank completed and ready for water, but when I opened the boxes from Marlo Rocks to clean my sand, it was the super fine sugar sand....I swear I ordered the coarse stuff.....

So, I did not get the tank wet.

I did however have a great visit with Zia, who stopped by to see how things were shaping up due to me texting him these pics!





Basic sump DONE - except for the reactors and the ATO..... ......lol







Light moved over from the Cardiff...






So last night I was cruising the on line stores looking at sand again, and I wondered....this might look REALLY cool with black sand. I had a 125 fresh water tank a few years back with black sand id it looked great. hummmmm.....what to do.....

[Snyper19]

lol, I remembered when I was at that point where you're at right now... i'm sure either way will look great!

[dixiegirl21191]

GO WITH BLACK SAND!!! I can't wait till you get water in there!

[rnmb1988]

Its wet !!








And no leaks!! I only have one problem and its minor, one of my new WP-10's power supply is bad, so I will have to exchange that, but hey....Im happy!!