The Building Of Our Cube Tank

Ereefic · 08/03/2006, 05:31 PM

We are setting up a 140gal. Cube (36x36x25)!! It is a glasscages.com tank. We picked it up in Chicago a couple of weeks ago at the cichlid show, and everything turned out well.

The stand and canopy will be done tomorrow. It is being built by a local cabinet maker. He needs to add some trim, sand and clear coat it yet, but here's a couple of rough pics.

Both are constructed with 3/4" oak ply and solid oak.

Both the stand and canopy will have doors on the front and 2 sides allowing easy access to whatever we need. Seeing as the tank is 36" front to back, it would be difficult to reach from the front, to the back.

In the pics, the canopy is sitting on top of the stand. The back of the canopy has 4-4" holes for fans, the outer 2 will be on a temp. controller and angled down at the water. The inner 2 will run when the light is on. The other 2 'notches' in the canopy are where the returns will be plumbed through.

I'll start putting baffles in the sump tomorrow, which is a 24x24x18 tank. Pics to follow.

Finished pics of the stand and canopy, coming soon!!

Questions and comments welcome!

yoboyjdizz · 08/03/2006, 06:02 PM

Sounds good can't wait to see the progress... How did the glasscages tank turn out? Im just setting up my 280 now and already thinking on the bigger tank in the future.

Ereefic · 08/03/2006, 06:06 PM

Pending it don't leak, I'll be real happy with it.

Some of the siliconing could have been a little prettier, but none of it is in a 'seen' place.

Tank is kind of in an awkward place at the moment, making pic taking a little difficult, but pics will be coming soon.

ahuxman58 · 08/04/2006, 05:16 PM

Whos the lucky owner or caretaker gonna be? Wheres the tank going to be?

King-Kong · 08/04/2006, 05:49 PM

I love cube tanks; subscribed for the future!

fragaholic · 08/04/2006, 05:51 PM

Im contiplating a cube about that size as well. Looks great so far. whats your plan on lighting?

Ereefic · 08/04/2006, 06:49 PM

ahuxman58, the tank is going in my living room and i'll be taking care of it.

fragaholic, thanks. Lighting will be a single 250w Radium on a HQI ballast in a Lumenarc III reflector.

mfinn · 08/04/2006, 07:20 PM

Looks like a good start. Can't wait to see more.

BreadmanMike · 08/04/2006, 07:23 PM

I helped load it.... I'm in!

Have you run Radiums on HQI's before?

Where's the tank pics? And all the equipment?

Ereefic · 08/04/2006, 07:52 PM

Aquaticman74, thanks again for your help by the way.

Yeah, ran the radiums for a little while on the 210 before we broke it down. Going to run them for awhile as i've got 2 bulbs, both pretty new. May swap it out for a 400 when these bulbs are done, we'll see.

Got the stand and canopy today, but couldn't find any muscle to help put the tank on the stand, hopefully tomorrow.

Better pics of the tank to come after it's on the stand.

Here is the stand (36x36x33)

Here is the canopy (36x36x18)

Ereefic · 08/04/2006, 08:07 PM

The sump is almost finished. 2 more baffles to put in and it's done. The sump is a 45gal. cube (24x24x18). The water will flow in a 'U' shape.

There will be a Reef Octopus NW-200 skimmer in the large compartment in the top left corner. The water will flow around to the front, then right and back to the return area.

Here is an unfinished sump pic.

BreadmanMike · 08/05/2006, 09:53 AM

Helping load that up was the least I could do for that great deal on that skimmer!

The stand and canopy look great! Who made those for you... or did you make them?

Ereefic · 08/05/2006, 10:17 AM

There is a local cabinet maker that I found a couple of years ago that has built several stands/canopies for us. He does nice work and reasonably priced.

Just got the tank on the stand, so i'll get some pics up a little later today. Going to mount the fans in the canopy and put one more baffle in the sump.

I still need to get the return pump yet (Iwaki 40RLXT), should have that next weekend, then it's off to the races!

Ereefic · 08/05/2006, 12:21 PM

Ok, got some shots of the tank. You'll notice some of the sloppy silicone on the top edge, but it will be covered by the canopy, so not a problem.

I installed the 4 fans and the reflector in the canopy as well. Still need to wire all that up.

yoboyjdizz · 08/05/2006, 01:46 PM

Very nice setup! The Dog on top of the couch is killing me haha!

Ereefic · 08/05/2006, 01:52 PM

Didn't look at the pics close enough. That's Jack in his favorite sleepy spot.

steve68 · 08/05/2006, 04:03 PM

Looks nice, did u also get the sump from glasscages?

WaterChallenged · 08/05/2006, 04:08 PM

Beautiful tank/stand

Love the dog on the couch

Ereefic · 08/05/2006, 04:32 PM

Thanks guys. Steve, no, the sump is the old clam tank.

BenjieC · 08/05/2006, 04:55 PM

Did you get that sump design idea from Rod?

Ereefic · 08/05/2006, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BenjieC
Did you get that sump design idea from Rod?

No, figured that was the only way I would get that tank to work as a sump with the skimmer I have. Does Rod make his like this also?

Hop · 08/05/2006, 05:13 PM

Subscribed... Looks like it's going to be quite the nice set up

chrismunn · 08/05/2006, 05:17 PM

what freakin' dog?

Hop · 08/05/2006, 05:23 PM

On the couch, through the glass.

ggenz · 08/05/2006, 05:49 PM

is it a puggle? pug/beagle mix

08/03/2006, 05:31 PM	#1
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	The Building Of Our Cube Tank We are setting up a 140gal. Cube (36x36x25)!! It is a glasscages.com tank. We picked it up in Chicago a couple of weeks ago at the cichlid show, and everything turned out well. The stand and canopy will be done tomorrow. It is being built by a local cabinet maker. He needs to add some trim, sand and clear coat it yet, but here's a couple of rough pics. Both are constructed with 3/4" oak ply and solid oak. Both the stand and canopy will have doors on the front and 2 sides allowing easy access to whatever we need. Seeing as the tank is 36" front to back, it would be difficult to reach from the front, to the back. In the pics, the canopy is sitting on top of the stand. The back of the canopy has 4-4" holes for fans, the outer 2 will be on a temp. controller and angled down at the water. The inner 2 will run when the light is on. The other 2 'notches' in the canopy are where the returns will be plumbed through. I'll start putting baffles in the sump tomorrow, which is a 24x24x18 tank. Pics to follow. Finished pics of the stand and canopy, coming soon!! Questions and comments welcome!

08/04/2006, 05:16 PM	#4
ahuxman58 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rockford Illinois Posts: 472	Whos the lucky owner or caretaker gonna be? Wheres the tank going to be? __________________ Canon this Canon that. A little L goes a long way. Current Tank Info: Sold everything

08/04/2006, 07:20 PM	#8
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Looks like a good start. Can't wait to see more. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

08/05/2006, 04:03 PM	#17
steve68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Piscataway,NJ Posts: 4,058	Looks nice, did u also get the sump from glasscages? __________________ "Never Give Up Never Surrender" Current Tank Info: 50 Breeder with 250w MH 10k XM bulb & 2 24inch VHO atinic 03,210 gallon Reef tank. 3 250 W MH,MRC CR-2 Reactor & MR-2 Skimmer,150 gallon sump,125 gallon refugium,75 Gallon Frag Tank & adding more water volume every t

08/05/2006, 04:55 PM	#20
BenjieC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Poplar Grove, IL Posts: 2,002	Did you get that sump design idea from Rod? __________________ Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely!!! Nothing Is Impossible To The Person Who Doesn't Have To Do It Themselves. Current Tank Info: 8g Nano more once moved

08/03/2006, 06:02 PM	#2
yoboyjdizz Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 3,137	Sounds good can't wait to see the progress... How did the glasscages tank turn out? Im just setting up my 280 now and already thinking on the bigger tank in the future.

08/03/2006, 06:06 PM	#3
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	Pending it don't leak, I'll be real happy with it. Some of the siliconing could have been a little prettier, but none of it is in a 'seen' place. Tank is kind of in an awkward place at the moment, making pic taking a little difficult, but pics will be coming soon.

08/04/2006, 05:49 PM	#5
King-Kong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 2,346	I love cube tanks; subscribed for the future!

08/04/2006, 05:51 PM	#6
fragaholic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 527	Im contiplating a cube about that size as well. Looks great so far. whats your plan on lighting?

08/04/2006, 06:49 PM	#7
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	ahuxman58, the tank is going in my living room and i'll be taking care of it. fragaholic, thanks. Lighting will be a single 250w Radium on a HQI ballast in a Lumenarc III reflector.

08/04/2006, 07:23 PM	#9
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886	I helped load it.... I'm in! Have you run Radiums on HQI's before? Where's the tank pics? And all the equipment?

08/04/2006, 07:52 PM	#10
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	Aquaticman74, thanks again for your help by the way. Yeah, ran the radiums for a little while on the 210 before we broke it down. Going to run them for awhile as i've got 2 bulbs, both pretty new. May swap it out for a 400 when these bulbs are done, we'll see. Got the stand and canopy today, but couldn't find any muscle to help put the tank on the stand, hopefully tomorrow. Better pics of the tank to come after it's on the stand. Here is the stand (36x36x33) Here is the canopy (36x36x18)

08/04/2006, 08:07 PM	#11
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	The sump is almost finished. 2 more baffles to put in and it's done. The sump is a 45gal. cube (24x24x18). The water will flow in a 'U' shape. There will be a Reef Octopus NW-200 skimmer in the large compartment in the top left corner. The water will flow around to the front, then right and back to the return area. Here is an unfinished sump pic.

08/05/2006, 09:53 AM	#12
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886	Helping load that up was the least I could do for that great deal on that skimmer! The stand and canopy look great! Who made those for you... or did you make them?

08/05/2006, 10:17 AM	#13
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	There is a local cabinet maker that I found a couple of years ago that has built several stands/canopies for us. He does nice work and reasonably priced. Just got the tank on the stand, so i'll get some pics up a little later today. Going to mount the fans in the canopy and put one more baffle in the sump. I still need to get the return pump yet (Iwaki 40RLXT), should have that next weekend, then it's off to the races!

08/05/2006, 12:21 PM	#14
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	Ok, got some shots of the tank. You'll notice some of the sloppy silicone on the top edge, but it will be covered by the canopy, so not a problem. I installed the 4 fans and the reflector in the canopy as well. Still need to wire all that up.

08/05/2006, 01:46 PM	#15
yoboyjdizz Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 3,137	Very nice setup! The Dog on top of the couch is killing me haha!

08/05/2006, 01:52 PM	#16
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	Didn't look at the pics close enough. That's Jack in his favorite sleepy spot.

08/05/2006, 04:08 PM	#18
WaterChallenged Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28	Beautiful tank/stand Love the dog on the couch

08/05/2006, 04:32 PM	#19
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	Thanks guys. Steve, no, the sump is the old clam tank.

08/05/2006, 05:13 PM	#22
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Subscribed... Looks like it's going to be quite the nice set up __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

08/05/2006, 05:17 PM	#23
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	what freakin' dog? __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

08/05/2006, 05:23 PM	#24
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	On the couch, through the glass. __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

08/05/2006, 05:49 PM	#25
ggenz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 201	is it a puggle? pug/beagle mix