Teddyzaper's 25g Mr. Aqua cube build

teddyzaper · 10/05/2011, 11:33 PM

As some of you that have seen my other thread I have decided on a 25g (18x18x18) Mr. Aqua rimless glass cube. I will be recording my process from unboxing to an aquarium full of coral and fish. I am starting this because i have just ordered all i need for this tank, went to my local fish store and put some rocks on hold and went to

petco, hate that place... Well, since ive been talking about what ive ordered, here is a list with prices, links and the name of the item.

Mr. Aqua 25g rimless cube $103 + $25 shipping
Reef apoxy $8
Saltwater test kit $20
Reef test kit $25
Mag-float glass cleaner $12
Koralia 425gph x2 $58
Reef octopus NWB110 $179
55g salt bucket $22
20lbs of dry rock $50
40lbs of dry rock rubble $68
75gpd BRS RO/DI $130
AI nano Sol super blue $300
Super nano overflow kit CON DIENTES (w/o drill bit, w/ lid) $70
40gal breeder from HELL (A.K.A Petco) $49
2 acrylic sheets for baffles $40

FUTURE:
100w heater from LFS $25
300gph pump from LFS $25
refractometer ~$60
DIY stand ~$50
Plumbing ~$50
misc ~$50
Fish $100
Corals OVER 9000!!

So that is my set up, the tank will be going in under a window between my laundry room and office (on the office side) and the RO/DI will be plumbed into the sink in the laundry (drilling holes through the new walls makes my mom angry

) I will make sure to post pics whenever i get something new, for now here is the 40g and plexi, along with where the tank will be placed.

The cabinet wont be there. there is a gas line, but i plan on working around it.

From the sink side looking through the window

MAH GOODIES!

Thanks,
Teddy

ange062 · 10/06/2011, 08:35 AM

Looks like a solid setup, look forward to seeing it running!

usatennisfan · 10/06/2011, 07:30 PM

Totally tagging along! Looks like tons of fun! What's the plan for fish and coral stocking?

teddyzaper · 10/06/2011, 10:01 PM

oooh since u asked i will tell.

for fish i want to go:
3-5 pajama cardinals
5 sexy shrimp
1 panda goby
1 spotted mandarin (after ~2 months)

Corals will be SPS near the surface and a mix of an encrusting coral and acans for the bottom with an island for shrooms and an island for star polyps. and maybe a small rock dwelling clam.

teddyzaper · 10/06/2011, 10:02 PM

I have also figured out the dimensions for the stand and plywood, i will be picking up the plywood tomorrow and building it saturday/sunday. SO EXCITING!

usatennisfan · 10/07/2011, 03:58 PM

DIY projects are the best! Have you gotten the glass holes kit yet? I'm looking.g to order one with my next tank but a little hesitant...

teddyzaper · 10/09/2011, 03:02 PM

just got my overflow, in the process of making the stand with my dad. Pics will be up in a couple hours.

cherubfish pair · 10/09/2011, 04:20 PM

Where are you getting your spotted mandarin? The reason I ask is that ORA has tank bred ones and they might have them eating flakes/pellets for several generations instead of a constant supply of amphipods. I will be checking into this because I'd love to have a mandarin on prepared foods.

teddyzaper · 10/09/2011, 06:23 PM

some pics of the stand and the Super nano overflow CON DIENTES! (with a top)

teddyzaper · 10/09/2011, 07:50 PM

i have a quick question. How big are sexy shrimp? i was thinking of getting more then 5, maybe 15-20? how many could i fit comfortably in 1 tank.

cherubfish pair · 10/09/2011, 09:03 PM

They like to walk all over corals and make the polyps close up. They are very nice shrimp but I wouldn't want too many in my tank. For me, their number would be according to how densely I stock my corals. Five would be a good starting place and I've heard they reproduce quite often.

teddyzaper · 10/09/2011, 10:29 PM

thanks!

Jfoster33702 · 10/10/2011, 07:27 AM

Is the stand just glued together 3/4 ply?

teddyzaper · 10/10/2011, 03:54 PM

yes, my dad has worked with making stands and furniture and says it will be fine. it was fine when we put 300+ lbs on it, me my mom and my dad, so it will be fine. It is marine grade 5/8inch plywood, and marine grade epoxy glue. It will have a cross brace down the middle so it wont sag. A lot of stands are overbuilt, when this is really all you need for it to stand up your tank. If you do it right it should only use 1-2 pieces of plywood depending on your tank size. this stand cost me $40 which was 1 piece of plywood and the glue. SUPER CHEAP!

teddyzaper · 10/10/2011, 05:39 PM

NEW GOODIES! 2 koralia 425gph pumps, Saltwater master test kit, reef master test kit, reef epoxy and a mag-float.

WOOT, stuff will be flowing through my frontdoor this entire week! I finished sanding the stand and will be painting/sealing tonight.

teddyzaper · 10/11/2011, 01:45 PM

OH MAH GAWD! another update! got the tank, shipped in a HUGE box, made me nervous, thought i got the bigger one :P

WOOOOOO!

usatennisfan · 10/11/2011, 03:29 PM

Let the fun begin! :-)

teddyzaper · 10/11/2011, 03:47 PM

hehehehe, yes!

teddyzaper · 10/12/2011, 07:39 PM

BOXES BOXES OH MAH GAWD BOXES! got almost everything, waiting on the lights and stuff......

anyways, here are the contents of the boxes. Skimmer, RO/DI, dry rock, salt. The RO/DI didnt come with the connections i need so i am going to have to wait till the order i placed for them comes in.....

oh well. I'll just fill it up with the hose connector that is outside. The light should come next week and i will be setting this all up saturday/sunday hopefully.

I also picked up the heater and pump from my LFS and took my tank to a glass shop to get it drilled, should be done friday

!!!!

jr973 · 10/12/2011, 07:52 PM

Seems like a sweet nano in the makeing

usatennisfan · 10/12/2011, 07:57 PM

Cheese and rice that's a lot of stuff!

teddyzaper · 10/12/2011, 09:42 PM

finished epoxying the stand, waiting for that to dry, then paint, instalation, tubing, and cycle!

teddyzaper · 10/16/2011, 11:10 PM

got a lot done this weekend, as you can see.

painted the background (white)

Stand, tank, and sump in place! tubing on its way

All pumps, skimmers, heaters, and powerheads connected to my surge protector and all tubing complete!

blurry pic of the sump

TOMORROW:
clean the rocks and place them in sump/aquascape the main tank. Also need to get my RO/DI set up.... i've been having some troubles finding the right part.

usatennisfan · 10/18/2011, 02:27 PM

Is the a HOB overflow or is it drilled?

usatennisfan · 10/18/2011, 02:29 PM

Never mind. I forgot about the glass holes kit. How was the drilling process?

10/05/2011, 11:33 PM	#1
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	Teddyzaper's 25g Mr. Aqua cube build As some of you that have seen my other thread I have decided on a 25g (18x18x18) Mr. Aqua rimless glass cube. I will be recording my process from unboxing to an aquarium full of coral and fish. I am starting this because i have just ordered all i need for this tank, went to my local fish store and put some rocks on hold and went to petco, hate that place... Well, since ive been talking about what ive ordered, here is a list with prices, links and the name of the item. Mr. Aqua 25g rimless cube $103 + $25 shipping Reef apoxy $8 Saltwater test kit $20 Reef test kit $25 Mag-float glass cleaner $12 Koralia 425gph x2 $58 Reef octopus NWB110 $179 55g salt bucket $22 20lbs of dry rock $50 40lbs of dry rock rubble $68 75gpd BRS RO/DI $130 AI nano Sol super blue $300 Super nano overflow kit CON DIENTES (w/o drill bit, w/ lid) $70 40gal breeder from HELL (A.K.A Petco) $49 2 acrylic sheets for baffles $40 FUTURE: 100w heater from LFS $25 300gph pump from LFS $25 refractometer ~$60 DIY stand ~$50 Plumbing ~$50 misc ~$50 Fish $100 Corals OVER 9000!! So that is my set up, the tank will be going in under a window between my laundry room and office (on the office side) and the RO/DI will be plumbed into the sink in the laundry (drilling holes through the new walls makes my mom angry ) I will make sure to post pics whenever i get something new, for now here is the 40g and plexi, along with where the tank will be placed. The cabinet wont be there. there is a gas line, but i plan on working around it. From the sink side looking through the window MAH GOODIES! Thanks, Teddy

10/06/2011, 08:35 AM	#2
ange062 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 3,223	Looks like a solid setup, look forward to seeing it running! __________________ JBJ NC28, Radion, MP10, HOB-1, Mini Arctica, 2LF Phosban 150's - MARSH May 2012 TOTM JBJ 3g Picotope, Panorama Pro, AC70 29g AGA Planted FW

10/06/2011, 07:30 PM	#3
usatennisfan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 643	Totally tagging along! Looks like tons of fun! What's the plan for fish and coral stocking? __________________ "I have seen the face of Death And I choose not to accept It's form."

10/07/2011, 03:58 PM	#6
usatennisfan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 643	DIY projects are the best! Have you gotten the glass holes kit yet? I'm looking.g to order one with my next tank but a little hesitant... __________________ "I have seen the face of Death And I choose not to accept It's form."

10/09/2011, 04:20 PM	#8
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	Where are you getting your spotted mandarin? The reason I ask is that ORA has tank bred ones and they might have them eating flakes/pellets for several generations instead of a constant supply of amphipods. I will be checking into this because I'd love to have a mandarin on prepared foods. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

10/06/2011, 10:01 PM	#4
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	oooh since u asked i will tell. for fish i want to go: 3-5 pajama cardinals 5 sexy shrimp 1 panda goby 1 spotted mandarin (after ~2 months) Corals will be SPS near the surface and a mix of an encrusting coral and acans for the bottom with an island for shrooms and an island for star polyps. and maybe a small rock dwelling clam.

10/06/2011, 10:02 PM	#5
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	I have also figured out the dimensions for the stand and plywood, i will be picking up the plywood tomorrow and building it saturday/sunday. SO EXCITING!

10/09/2011, 03:02 PM	#7
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	just got my overflow, in the process of making the stand with my dad. Pics will be up in a couple hours.

10/09/2011, 06:23 PM	#9
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	some pics of the stand and the Super nano overflow CON DIENTES! (with a top)

10/09/2011, 07:50 PM	#10
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	i have a quick question. How big are sexy shrimp? i was thinking of getting more then 5, maybe 15-20? how many could i fit comfortably in 1 tank.

10/09/2011, 09:03 PM	#11
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	They like to walk all over corals and make the polyps close up. They are very nice shrimp but I wouldn't want too many in my tank. For me, their number would be according to how densely I stock my corals. Five would be a good starting place and I've heard they reproduce quite often. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

10/09/2011, 10:29 PM	#12
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	thanks!

10/10/2011, 07:27 AM	#13
Jfoster33702 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Pete Posts: 213	Is the stand just glued together 3/4 ply?

10/10/2011, 03:54 PM	#14
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	yes, my dad has worked with making stands and furniture and says it will be fine. it was fine when we put 300+ lbs on it, me my mom and my dad, so it will be fine. It is marine grade 5/8inch plywood, and marine grade epoxy glue. It will have a cross brace down the middle so it wont sag. A lot of stands are overbuilt, when this is really all you need for it to stand up your tank. If you do it right it should only use 1-2 pieces of plywood depending on your tank size. this stand cost me $40 which was 1 piece of plywood and the glue. SUPER CHEAP!

10/10/2011, 05:39 PM	#15
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	NEW GOODIES! 2 koralia 425gph pumps, Saltwater master test kit, reef master test kit, reef epoxy and a mag-float. WOOT, stuff will be flowing through my frontdoor this entire week! I finished sanding the stand and will be painting/sealing tonight.

10/11/2011, 01:45 PM	#16
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	OH MAH GAWD! another update! got the tank, shipped in a HUGE box, made me nervous, thought i got the bigger one :P WOOOOOO!

10/11/2011, 03:29 PM	#17
usatennisfan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 643	Let the fun begin! :-) __________________ "I have seen the face of Death And I choose not to accept It's form."

10/11/2011, 03:47 PM	#18
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	hehehehe, yes!

10/12/2011, 07:39 PM	#19
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	BOXES BOXES OH MAH GAWD BOXES! got almost everything, waiting on the lights and stuff...... anyways, here are the contents of the boxes. Skimmer, RO/DI, dry rock, salt. The RO/DI didnt come with the connections i need so i am going to have to wait till the order i placed for them comes in..... oh well. I'll just fill it up with the hose connector that is outside. The light should come next week and i will be setting this all up saturday/sunday hopefully. I also picked up the heater and pump from my LFS and took my tank to a glass shop to get it drilled, should be done friday !!!!

10/12/2011, 07:52 PM	#20
jr973 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 162	Seems like a sweet nano in the makeing

10/12/2011, 07:57 PM	#21
usatennisfan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 643	Cheese and rice that's a lot of stuff! __________________ "I have seen the face of Death And I choose not to accept It's form."

10/12/2011, 09:42 PM	#22
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	finished epoxying the stand, waiting for that to dry, then paint, instalation, tubing, and cycle!

10/16/2011, 11:10 PM	#23
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	Update! got a lot done this weekend, as you can see. painted the background (white) Stand, tank, and sump in place! tubing on its way All pumps, skimmers, heaters, and powerheads connected to my surge protector and all tubing complete! blurry pic of the sump TOMORROW: clean the rocks and place them in sump/aquascape the main tank. Also need to get my RO/DI set up.... i've been having some troubles finding the right part.

10/18/2011, 02:27 PM	#24
usatennisfan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 643	Is the a HOB overflow or is it drilled? __________________ "I have seen the face of Death And I choose not to accept It's form."

10/18/2011, 02:29 PM	#25
usatennisfan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 643	Never mind. I forgot about the glass holes kit. How was the drilling process? __________________ "I have seen the face of Death And I choose not to accept It's form."

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