Acorral 250g large cube build

acorral · 02/13/2017, 06:56 PM

So here is my tank build !!!

I currently have a 400g reef and I love it, but it is on the entrance of the house so I cannot enjoy the tank as much as I would like to...

Since we bought the house I knew I wanted to remodel the lower level, move the kitchen, tv room, get rid of some walls, etc...

About six months ago that remodel begin and as you can imagine the new reef is important part of it

The idea is to have the aquarium in the middle of the living room, as if it was part of a big central column...

First we need to get rid of this wall:

Replace it with a steel I beam:

You can see there the preparation of cold & hot water, a drain and electrical instalation for 2 new circuits.

This is the finished place for it...

another view.. it will be where those orange plastic containers are... also you can see the blue glow on the right where is my actual 400g aquarium now...

This is a basic render of it:

More details on the aquarium:

Here is the stand, lost the photos of the build process but it's made of some structural 2x4, 2x6 joined with pocket holes...

Finished with the top, piroxiline primer and white lacquer:

shaggydoo541 · 02/14/2017, 09:21 AM

That is looking like a really nice setup. Love cubes.

BigDave · 02/14/2017, 10:07 AM

Oooh. Another Cube build. Will have to follow this one

acorral · 02/14/2017, 11:46 AM

This tray is going to be placed between the floor and the sump, the objective is to drain any spill or leak directly out of the stand cabinet to the drain..

It was made on 6mm white acrylic:

Making the slot on the stand for the drain:

In place:

acorral · 02/14/2017, 11:49 AM

Three months ago I started preparing the rock...

Acid bath
https://youtu.be/83NSh6e6nEo

Cooking the rock
https://youtu.be/LFIwN4Gt9aQ

I am using Lanthanum chloride on the cooking process

acorral · 02/14/2017, 02:39 PM

For lighting I will be using 4 Rapidled Corona and I'm leaving space in case I wish to add 2 more in the future...

Lights on !!!

Ducting cables and fixing the power supplies

acorral · 02/14/2017, 02:45 PM

Putting the aquarium together:

Drilling 2 holes for the Shadow Overflow:

The Shadow overflow arrived:

Testing in place:

Finished with black vinyl on back glass:

BigDave · 02/14/2017, 02:46 PM

Did your tank come in an Ikea Flat-Pack box?

That's cool. Didn't realize you were literally building the aquarium yourself

acorral · 02/14/2017, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave

Did your tank come in an Ikea Flat-Pack box?

That's cool. Didn't realize you were literally building the aquarium yourself

LoL !!!

That's not me, it's a custom aquarium maker here in Mexico, he had all the pieces on the van and came here to built it because it doesn't fit through the door...

It took 3 visits... one for the initial build, second for drilling, bottom frame reinforcements, seam reinforcement with glass, top frame setup and the last one to trim the excess silicone...

BigDave · 02/14/2017, 07:15 PM

Ah that make sense... My 120G Cube 'just' fit through the front door of my house. I was afraid I was going to have to remove the door from the hinges.

acorral · 02/14/2017, 07:32 PM

This is the render for the sump:

Three 1 1/2" inlets with bulkheads

It will be 1/4" glass and the top will be cut using waterjet cnc cutter

The return pumps will be external to the sump

For ATO I will be using this optical sensors:

They will activate the rodi unit booster pump and inlet solenoid valve.

As redundancy it will have a float valve and mechanical float switches wired to the apex as failsafe for low and high sump levels

acorral · 02/14/2017, 07:43 PM

I will have 2 water returns from the sump powered bu these babies:

Plumbed with silicone hose on the inlet and outlet to reduce noise:

I will use a large scooter battery as backup for the vectras.

I will use this to keep it charged:

And this step up voltage adapter for the vectras, it boosts voltage from 22v on the battery to the 36v needed by the vectras:

For internal circulation I will use the two Vortech MP60 that are working on my current setup along with two maxspect gure xf150 with the controller:

acorral · 02/21/2017, 07:40 PM

The sump brace piece is already cut... also the sock holder

Ready for tempering... and finally sump assembly

kto17 · 02/23/2017, 02:25 AM

looks like a fun build!

acorral · 02/23/2017, 11:34 PM

The pieces for the stand and canopy cover are already being cut and edged... the final thing will look something like this...

FoothillCorals · 02/24/2017, 08:35 AM

Very nice build. Is that euro brace top made out of one piece of glass?

acorral · 02/24/2017, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoothillCorals

Very nice build. Is that euro brace top made out of one piece of glass?

Thank you !!!

Yes both brace tops, aquarium and sump, are glass...

The aquarium brace was made manually with diamond hole saw and diamond disc.

The sump brace was cut on waterjet CNC.

FoothillCorals · 02/24/2017, 02:03 PM

Wow that is the first glass tank that I have seen built that way. Love the one piece Eurobrace plus the ghost overflow, clean.

acorral · 03/03/2017, 10:23 AM

Yesterday I started putting the doors and stand cover...

CreoUCLA · 03/03/2017, 12:07 PM

Very nice build!

acorral · 03/08/2017, 03:54 PM

Some progress on the sump... still some details left, some holes for returns, sensors etc... hope to finish it this week !

acorral · 03/08/2017, 05:10 PM

More with the stand...

acorral · 03/09/2017, 08:03 PM

The sump with the white vinyl background and letting the silicone for the bubble trap cure...

Two holes for return on the left part

One hole in the center back for skimer outlet

Another hole in the right part for feeding the skimmer

acorral · 03/11/2017, 11:43 PM

I worked today on the canopy doors and structure as well as placing sump in place

Not sure about the baseboard... ro use white glossy finish or a brushed steel insert... would love to hear your choice...

BigDave · 03/15/2017, 02:00 PM

I like the idea of the white baseboard. Everything else is white and I feel that a stainless steel one would pull your eye downward away from the tank.

02/13/2017, 06:56 PM	#1
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	Acorral 250g large cube build So here is my tank build !!! I currently have a 400g reef and I love it, but it is on the entrance of the house so I cannot enjoy the tank as much as I would like to... Since we bought the house I knew I wanted to remodel the lower level, move the kitchen, tv room, get rid of some walls, etc... About six months ago that remodel begin and as you can imagine the new reef is important part of it The idea is to have the aquarium in the middle of the living room, as if it was part of a big central column... First we need to get rid of this wall: Replace it with a steel I beam: You can see there the preparation of cold & hot water, a drain and electrical instalation for 2 new circuits. This is the finished place for it... another view.. it will be where those orange plastic containers are... also you can see the blue glow on the right where is my actual 400g aquarium now... This is a basic render of it: More details on the aquarium: Here is the stand, lost the photos of the build process but it's made of some structural 2x4, 2x6 joined with pocket holes... Finished with the top, piroxiline primer and white lacquer:

02/14/2017, 09:21 AM	#2
shaggydoo541 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 216	That is looking like a really nice setup. Love cubes. __________________ 60 G LPS Cube Current Tank Info: 60G LPS

03/03/2017, 12:07 PM	#20
CreoUCLA Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: West L.A. Posts: 4	Very nice build! __________________ -Mike-

02/14/2017, 10:07 AM	#3
BigDave Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 473	Oooh. Another Cube build. Will have to follow this one

02/14/2017, 11:46 AM	#4
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	This tray is going to be placed between the floor and the sump, the objective is to drain any spill or leak directly out of the stand cabinet to the drain.. It was made on 6mm white acrylic: Making the slot on the stand for the drain: In place:

02/14/2017, 11:49 AM	#5
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	Three months ago I started preparing the rock... Acid bath https://youtu.be/83NSh6e6nEo Cooking the rock https://youtu.be/LFIwN4Gt9aQ I am using Lanthanum chloride on the cooking process

02/14/2017, 02:39 PM	#6
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	For lighting I will be using 4 Rapidled Corona and I'm leaving space in case I wish to add 2 more in the future... Lights on !!! Ducting cables and fixing the power supplies

02/14/2017, 02:45 PM	#7
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	Putting the aquarium together: Drilling 2 holes for the Shadow Overflow: The Shadow overflow arrived: Testing in place: Finished with black vinyl on back glass:

02/14/2017, 02:46 PM	#8
BigDave Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 473	Did your tank come in an Ikea Flat-Pack box? That's cool. Didn't realize you were literally building the aquarium yourself

02/14/2017, 07:15 PM	#10
BigDave Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 473	Ah that make sense... My 120G Cube 'just' fit through the front door of my house. I was afraid I was going to have to remove the door from the hinges.

02/14/2017, 07:32 PM	#11
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	This is the render for the sump: Three 1 1/2" inlets with bulkheads It will be 1/4" glass and the top will be cut using waterjet cnc cutter The return pumps will be external to the sump For ATO I will be using this optical sensors: They will activate the rodi unit booster pump and inlet solenoid valve. As redundancy it will have a float valve and mechanical float switches wired to the apex as failsafe for low and high sump levels

02/14/2017, 07:43 PM	#12
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	I will have 2 water returns from the sump powered bu these babies: Plumbed with silicone hose on the inlet and outlet to reduce noise: I will use a large scooter battery as backup for the vectras. I will use this to keep it charged: And this step up voltage adapter for the vectras, it boosts voltage from 22v on the battery to the 36v needed by the vectras: For internal circulation I will use the two Vortech MP60 that are working on my current setup along with two maxspect gure xf150 with the controller:

02/21/2017, 07:40 PM	#13
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	The sump brace piece is already cut... also the sock holder Ready for tempering... and finally sump assembly

02/23/2017, 02:25 AM	#14
kto17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 12	looks like a fun build!

02/23/2017, 11:34 PM	#15
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	The pieces for the stand and canopy cover are already being cut and edged... the final thing will look something like this...

02/24/2017, 08:35 AM	#16
FoothillCorals Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 522	Very nice build. Is that euro brace top made out of one piece of glass?

02/24/2017, 02:03 PM	#18
FoothillCorals Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 522	Wow that is the first glass tank that I have seen built that way. Love the one piece Eurobrace plus the ghost overflow, clean.

03/03/2017, 10:23 AM	#19
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	Yesterday I started putting the doors and stand cover...

03/08/2017, 03:54 PM	#21
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	Some progress on the sump... still some details left, some holes for returns, sensors etc... hope to finish it this week !

03/08/2017, 05:10 PM	#22
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	More with the stand...

03/09/2017, 08:03 PM	#23
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	The sump with the white vinyl background and letting the silicone for the bubble trap cure... Two holes for return on the left part One hole in the center back for skimer outlet Another hole in the right part for feeding the skimmer

03/11/2017, 11:43 PM	#24
acorral Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 171	I worked today on the canopy doors and structure as well as placing sump in place Not sure about the baseboard... ro use white glossy finish or a brushed steel insert... would love to hear your choice...

03/15/2017, 02:00 PM	#25
BigDave Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 473	I like the idea of the white baseboard. Everything else is white and I feel that a stainless steel one would pull your eye downward away from the tank.