Zma21's 25 gallon Rimless Cube build

[zma21]

Hey all. I've been around RC for a few years now, and have officially caught the bug again after a year or so off. I currently have a 12 gallon nanocube deluxe in my apartment, and I'm ready to expand a bit. I've gone from a 20 high to a 37 column, to a nanocube 12, and now to a rimless 25 cube.

Throughout my various tanks, I've made some solid mistakes. I mean some legitimate, solid mistakes. The whole time I've been restoring my nanocube, I've been thinking what I would do differently on my next system. Well, after thinking it over the past few days, I'm ready to take the slow, but large leap.

Here's my story:

I'm a Junior Pre-med student in Louisiana. I live here 10 months a year, and go home to Illinois for the summer. The reason I'm going with a 25 gallon is because it gives me more volume and margin error over my 12, while being relatively simple to transport at the same time. I've spent the better part of my day today mapping out the hardware and the setup of this tank, and have made a spreadsheet on my macbook that I will attach.

I've always been a huge fan of cubes, let alone the clean look of rimless tanks.

Hardware
-Mr. Tank 25gal Rimless tank
-DIY wood stand
-Coralife Aqualite Advanced HQI 150w
-Eshopps In Sump Protein Skimmer PSK-75
-Vortech MP-10 Propeller Pump
-10 Gallon DIY Sump
-Corlife Power Center (Dual)
-Autotopoff nano (autotopoff.com)
-FT-130 Autotopoff Pump
-BRS Refractometer
-Economy RO system (bulkreefsuppl)
-DI Canister (also BRS)
-ViaAqua Return Pump 2300 (600gph)
-Eshopps Overflow Box (800gph)

~~~Fish need it 150watt MH

This is what I've come to as off today. Please, please feel free to make suggestions, as all of this is subject to change. I plan on this build taking a bit over a year, being that the aforementioned products will set me back $1200 or so.

I'll slowly order the products, starting with the tank and work my way up from there. I'd like to have the tank flowing with water by April 1st.

Such a beauty, this tank is:



Lifestock

2 x picasso clowns -already own
1 x dwarf pygmy angel
1 x green clown goby - already own
1 x rose BTA

Various Zoo's, mushrooms, rics, LPS, and my first attempt at some SPS

I have many, many questions already, and I hope you all will be as helpful as you always have been.

Get ready for a journey.

[zma21]

Initial Questions:

MH v T5

-Personally, I'd prefer t5's considering I'm on a tight college student budget. I would have liked to retrofit 4x24 in a canopy. Then I looked at some MH pendants, and they look very clean in my opinion. I'd like to hang if from a metal rod or related material. I don't want anything touching the rimless lip of the tank. I like the coralife aqualight pro. I've always had good luck with Coralife, but I've heard very mixed reviews about this light. THen there's fishneedit's 150W pendant, which will save me over $100. I've heard pretty decent reviews on this.

Suggestions?

[zma21]

Ok.

So I've definitely decided on a clean-cut mh pendant. I'm going to be on the lookout for a used coralife, but if I can't find one I'll probably go for the fish need it fixture.

As far as overflow and return go, is 800 drain and 600 return a bit overkill for a 25 cube?

I'm staring to think it is and may shoot for 400 drain and 300 return. I plan on an mp-10 as my main source of flow.

[zma21]

And it begins.

Well, this past month I've contemplated about every tank I could ever afford at my current status. I have been set on an LED Nanocube, HQI nanocube, 39 signature cadlights, 39 pro cadlights, and after all of that headache I've turned full circle and come set on my original 25 rimless cube idea.

This time, however, it's set in stone. The tank was ordered today.

Here are the plans, and updated hardware:

1) Mr. Aqua Rimless 25 gallon cube
2) Used cabinet stand that I will refinish (hunting for this now)
3) DIY 10 gallon sump
4) Glass holes super nano overflow kit
5) Fishneedit 150watt Metal Halide 20k
6) Eshopps psk-75 in sump skimmer
7) Vortech MP-10 es propeller pump
8) Via aqua return pump
9) Various plumming parts, and loc-line for return


That's a quick summary. This will be my first sump, first drilled, first mostly DIY tank. Hopefully I don't shatter my $100 when it gets here.

As far as livestock goes, It's going to be simple.

2 x Clowns
1 x Dwarf angel fish to be determined
1 x sand-sifting goby or something

Coral will be the main attraction. I'm going with a minimalist aquascape, and somewhat minimalist with coral as well.

Going to have a few highly colorful zoa's, and the rest will be branching SPS, monti's and I'm really starting to fall in love with Acans. Too bad they're $$$$

Hope some people tag along with this.

[Rockys_Pride]

Looking forward to what you do with this, I have a 29 Oceanic I'm waiting to setup. I do think you'll have enough flow with the return and MP10. I have a MP40 on my 120 and I think its more than enough. With the lighting, have you considered LED?

[zma21]

Originally Posted by Rockys_Pride

Looking forward to what you do with this, I have a 29 Oceanic I'm waiting to setup. I do think you'll have enough flow with the return and MP10. I have a MP40 on my 120 and I think its more than enough. With the lighting, have you considered LED?

Thanks for the reply!

Yea, I'm pumped (no pun) about the vortech. I've seen them run and am in love.

As far as the LED's go:

This is unfortunately a highly budgeted build. The fact that the fishneedit fixtures are cheap, and relatively good fixtures really makes me smile.

In the future, I am open to an LED upgrade, and love the customizability, but I'm still somewhat skeptical of current LEDs growing coral long term. They're too new for me. That, and the cost of one fixture will be about 75% of this whole build before livestock.

[HiImSean]

im thinking about getting one too. i'll be following your build. when do you expect to get the tank? did you go through marinedepot?

[zma21]

The tank is expected to get here Friday. I did go through marine depot, and they actually were on sale so I pocketed$ 20.

[ragnas]

Looks like a good plan so far! I'll be following along since I just did a similar set up a few months ago. By the way, the MP10 is great in this tank. I have it set on 50% reef crest mode, and it's perfect. I had to move a bit higher b/c it was redistributing the sand.

[HiImSean]

Originally Posted by zma21

The tank is expected to get here Friday. I did go through marine depot, and they actually were on sale so I pocketed$ 20.

yeah, that's why im tempted to get one

[kaserpick]

Have you thought about going with a Par38 LED? They're cheaper than the MH pendants, transfer heat away from the tank, and run at a lower wattage. You'll have some dark spots, but you could always buy another later down the road. Just a thought.

I'm looking forward to the progress!

[zma21]

As far as the par38's go, the answer is... I kind of looked into them. To get the spread I need id ha e to get optics that would drown out the intensity of the lamp. Im not a huge fan of the spotlighting.

And heating wont be an issue with the pendent mounted 10" or so above the tank. There will be plenty of air flow. It will also give me peace of mind for growing out some sps. I think the par38 would work, but they havent been out long enough to stand the test of time.

[kevantheman35]

can't wait to see this up and running, small tanks featuring rbta's always look amazing. If your trying for sps this time, watch the clown goby carefully, i added one last month and it loves to eat acros, i have spend probably 10 hours trying to catch it

[zma21]

Actually, since the first post, the clown goby has unfortunately perished.

I plan on buying the RBTA first and let him find his place. Then I'll add the SPS, so the nem isn't wandering around stinging everybody.

I forgot to mention that my plan for this tank as far as aquascape goes is to be very simplistic, and minimal. I'll probably only have 15-18lbs of rock in the display.

I want to have 5 species of SPS on the rock, and let them have plenty of room to grow out. I'll fill in the gap with some colorful zoo's, a few rics, and I really want my first acan.

I want plenty of room for flow, and plenty of room for swimming for the dwarf angel and the clowns. And then I'll just pray the dwarf (probably coral beauty) doesn't nip at my SPS.

[zma21]

Alright, so my tank landed in New Orleans last night at 11 pm. Given that it's only 30 miles away, one would think that I would receive it today. I've never received anything early through UPS. FedEx, however, has given me every single item at least a day early, except for one occasion where I received my package on the day it was expected.

I'll hope for today, but I bet my tank sits in their warehouse all day and won't even see a truck. In other words, I'll have pictures of the beauty tomorrow.

[B_Man]

I really like your plan and am very interested and will be tagging along

[zma21]

Im very glad you guys are looking forward to my build. In the next month or so, the build will really take off and 90% of the hardware will be purchased in one shot. Ill be very vocal with my plans and methodology, and all I ask is please be very honest and straightforward in your advice and opinions. You wont hurt my feelings. This is my first diy build, but probably not yours. Help me learn from your mistakes.

[zma21]

Missed delivery today, thanks to being in Organic Chemistry class. > Looks like I'll have to wait until monday. : /

Oh and by the way, I'm not looking further into par38 bulbs as a highly possible option. If I decide on them, I'd get two with 80degree optics about 6" off the surface. I'll keep you informed with my decision.

[danhngo1]

Hi Zma21,

I got my 25 gal tank from Marine Depot yesterday. I'm putting this tank together with a Ledio 21 LED. It's going to be awesome. I'll post some pictures.

[zma21]

Oh, please do!

Im really trying to weigh all of my options to ensure a healthy reef.

[HiImSean]

sucks you missed the tank, i hope to order mine tomorrow or monday

[zma21]

Received the tank today, in perfect shape. If you are ever concerned about ordering a tank from marine depot ... don't be. This tank was packed like a tank. 100% covered in thick, dense foam. The box took some damage...corners smashed etc, but the tank was rock solid.

Anyways, I love the tank. Love it. Absolutely perfect size. I'm so glad that I didn't get the 39 cadlights, as it would have been much to big for my current situation.

Now I'm trying to find a stand asap. If you guys have any suggestions please let me know. Trying to keep it in the $150 price range, and has to be at least 18" deep by 21" wide (using a 10 gallon tank as a sump).

It does have a very slight hue of green to it, but not enough to bother me at all. I'm 150% please with my Mr. Aqua rimless cube.

[HiImSean]

awesome to hear. i should be receiving mine next tuesday, damn ups and their slow shipping

[zma21]

Haha yea, I usually Don't light up with joy whenever I figure out ups is doing shipping. I ha e some close family that works for ups and even they say to go fedex.

[HiImSean]

yeah i work for fedex and it would have been here on saturday had they shipped it lol