15g cube from the start , pictures all the way

tonym10 · 07/21/2005, 07:44 PM

I now have almost all the items I need to start my 15g cube . It is 15"x15"x15" with canopy and stand. I just have a couple fittings on order , should be here next week. Then I will rough plumb, to be sure I like flow, then I will glue things in place in the sump. Once thats done I will get the LR and LS. Then cycle for short time. Water will come from my 75g to start, and LR and LS will come from local reef store where it is fully cycled.
Here are the first pics. Sorry the lighting and setting of pics is bad, I was in a rush.
I love this tank and stand and canopy , it all goes so nice together. The pics do it no justice. This is fresh from unpacking , so you see dust and dirt on the pieces.
Stand and tank and canopy

Stand

Canopy (inside)

tonym10 · 07/21/2005, 07:49 PM

Here is a pic of the back of the tank, showing the sump. I plan to glue 2 baffles back there to make it three compartments. I will Drill two bulkheads on the overflow side for a pump in the first chamber, it will pull water from the one bulkhead then out the other bulkhead, like a closed loop. The third chamber will have the return pump. The middle will have rubble rock. The heater will be in chamber 3. I will also dril a bulkhead in one of the chambers for and ice probe chiller.

Here is a closer up of the front top of tank

Champloo · 07/21/2005, 07:51 PM

NICE! looks like that one's going to be fun to set up

tonym10 · 07/21/2005, 07:52 PM

Here is a pic of most of the equipment that will run the tank.
The light in the front is a 13" Helio T5 super actnic , it will go between the two 24watt PC lights in the canopy.
I will only be keeping some LPS and zoos , mushrooms, Acons in this nano.

Champloo · 07/21/2005, 08:19 PM

with soo many choices in the "lps, zoos, mushrooms, and acons" category, why bother with anything else? :P

coker98 · 07/21/2005, 09:57 PM

looks like it will get interesting

tonym10 · 07/22/2005, 06:36 PM

T5 is now installed in canopy.

coker98 · 07/23/2005, 01:21 AM

great keep us updated

spoon671 · 07/23/2005, 12:07 PM

That's a nice looking tank. Very clean looking. Keep us updated.

tonym10 · 07/23/2005, 06:47 PM

I will keep posted, I cannot say enough how much nicer it looks in person, those were bad pics , I will get better pics when I take pics of the new bulkheads I do. That wont be till next week end. I think I will also ask Acrylicman to make me a black molding 1.5" high to wrap around the bottom front and two sides of the tank to hide the sand line.
I am so excited to get working on this but the parts I need yet wont be here till mid next week.

tonym10 · 07/24/2005, 10:43 AM

I have the two baffles cut for the back sump area. Have the plumbing figured out for the two maxi 900's. Still waiting for some plumbing parts.

tonym10 · 07/27/2005, 07:04 PM

All plumbing parts are here. Now I just need time to drill some bulkheads for the closed loop and the chiller. I also asked acrylicman to make me a black acrylic 2" molding to wrap around the bottom of the cube to hide the sand line, and so I do not need to clean all the way to sand to prevent scratching of the acrylic. the molding should be here in a week.

tonym10 · 07/28/2005, 06:56 AM

Today i water tested the tank. All is good, I checked flow with my 2 maxi 900s . I will use one maxi 1200 and one 900 instead of two 900s, they are just not strong enough when pushing threw a few inches of 1/2" line. The maxi 1200 will be a closed loop.
I will drill the bulkheads in on the weekend and glue the baffles in place.

nike6 · 07/28/2005, 03:41 PM

Tony,
How much did acrylicman charge you for the trim for the bottom? Please post pictures of the lights, I am interested in thoes t5 lights. Are you happy with them. I can't order them, I keep getting error messages from the web site.
Shawn

tonym10 · 07/28/2005, 03:47 PM

The lights are real simple. SO yea I like them. I have one mounted in the canopy between the two PC. It is super acntic so I will have it on one hour before and after the other lights come on and go out. I havent looked at the lights on the tank with water in the tank yet, just dry, it adds nice blue when on alone and adds just a little extra blue to the white of the PC. I will post a pic. I bought 4 by mistake. Maybe I could send you one.
acrylic man charged $25 plus $10 for shipping.

tonym10 · 07/29/2005, 07:39 PM

Bulkheads are cut in., and interior plumbing is done. Chiller also installed. I have my salt water change water made for my 75g. I will use 15g of the 75g water for the new nano. I plan to get the rock and sand this weekend. Then a short cycle, the rock and sand are at local reef store and fully cured.
Here are pics so far.
Back of 15g cube showing pumps and plumbing and chiller.

tonym10 · 07/29/2005, 07:41 PM

Pic of the front of the back wall.

And a pic from the top down

and one of the canopy showing the T5 added in the middle

tonym10 · 07/30/2005, 10:00 AM

Going Tomorow for the sand and rock, can't wait.

rjwilson37 · 07/30/2005, 11:06 AM

Looks like it will be very cool indeed.

Breaker4show · 07/31/2005, 12:44 AM

WOW this setup is going to be nice! Can i ask where did you get those T-5 ( 13" ) and how much were they? I am looking for 2 for my 20 gallon!

THanks,
Nick

tonym10 · 07/31/2005, 03:07 PM

Today I got the rock, sand and set it all up. I had to get the rock from a store 1 hour from me because my local place is closed on Sunday, so I had less of a selection then I wanted. But I am happy with the rock. About 20 lbs. The bottom piece is one large piece , i like this piece alot, the other 3 pieces I need to arrange nicer, but the tank is in a temporary spot , for about 1 month till I am sure there is no cycle, then I will move it to my work office and reset it up there, I will add corals there and fish then. I think I will study the tank over the next 30 days and decide where I will want to place future corals and arange the rocks based on that.
The water flow is just the way I wanted . I hope it is sufficient.

tonym10 · 07/31/2005, 03:38 PM

I just played witht he rocks some, I have them the way I like it now. I already had one slide onto the side and hit the acrylic side, I thought I was being really careful, cant be toooo careful with acrylic. I didnt see a scratch thow.

tonym10 · 07/31/2005, 03:44 PM

Thanks breaker4show
Here is the place to get them, I forget how much they were , I think $17.00
, the light bubl ballast plug are all in one .

T5 Light

A\/enger · 07/31/2005, 11:41 PM

Looks like a cool little setup. I cant wait to check out the progress you make.

spoon671 · 08/01/2005, 12:20 AM

I really like those little cubes. Where can I get one made, exactly like yours? Also, do you like the way it's setup? Would you change anything if you had the chance?

Thanks

07/21/2005, 07:44 PM	#1
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	15g cube from the start , pictures all the way I now have almost all the items I need to start my 15g cube . It is 15"x15"x15" with canopy and stand. I just have a couple fittings on order , should be here next week. Then I will rough plumb, to be sure I like flow, then I will glue things in place in the sump. Once thats done I will get the LR and LS. Then cycle for short time. Water will come from my 75g to start, and LR and LS will come from local reef store where it is fully cycled. Here are the first pics. Sorry the lighting and setting of pics is bad, I was in a rush. I love this tank and stand and canopy , it all goes so nice together. The pics do it no justice. This is fresh from unpacking , so you see dust and dirt on the pieces. Stand and tank and canopy Stand Canopy (inside)

07/21/2005, 07:51 PM	#3
Champloo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 25	NICE! looks like that one's going to be fun to set up __________________ uh-oooh Current Tank Info: 12(9)gal jbj nano

07/21/2005, 08:19 PM	#5
Champloo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 25	with soo many choices in the "lps, zoos, mushrooms, and acons" category, why bother with anything else? :P __________________ uh-oooh Current Tank Info: 12(9)gal jbj nano

07/23/2005, 12:07 PM	#9
spoon671 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The East Bay Posts: 948	That's a nice looking tank. Very clean looking. Keep us updated. __________________ - Enthusiast, In Transit Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo 16 Mixed Reef

07/30/2005, 11:06 AM	#19
rjwilson37 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: West Michigan Posts: 7,104	Looks like it will be very cool indeed. __________________ Isn't life just wonderful. 29g Biocube Standard Pump Standard 72w PC Lighting Current Tank Info: 29g Biocube Reef Tank

07/21/2005, 07:49 PM	#2
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Here is a pic of the back of the tank, showing the sump. I plan to glue 2 baffles back there to make it three compartments. I will Drill two bulkheads on the overflow side for a pump in the first chamber, it will pull water from the one bulkhead then out the other bulkhead, like a closed loop. The third chamber will have the return pump. The middle will have rubble rock. The heater will be in chamber 3. I will also dril a bulkhead in one of the chambers for and ice probe chiller. Here is a closer up of the front top of tank

07/21/2005, 07:52 PM	#4
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Here is a pic of most of the equipment that will run the tank. The light in the front is a 13" Helio T5 super actnic , it will go between the two 24watt PC lights in the canopy. I will only be keeping some LPS and zoos , mushrooms, Acons in this nano.

07/21/2005, 09:57 PM	#6
coker98 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 594	looks like it will get interesting

07/22/2005, 06:36 PM	#7
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	T5 is now installed in canopy.

07/23/2005, 01:21 AM	#8
coker98 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 594	great keep us updated

07/23/2005, 06:47 PM	#10
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	I will keep posted, I cannot say enough how much nicer it looks in person, those were bad pics , I will get better pics when I take pics of the new bulkheads I do. That wont be till next week end. I think I will also ask Acrylicman to make me a black molding 1.5" high to wrap around the bottom front and two sides of the tank to hide the sand line. I am so excited to get working on this but the parts I need yet wont be here till mid next week.

07/24/2005, 10:43 AM	#11
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	I have the two baffles cut for the back sump area. Have the plumbing figured out for the two maxi 900's. Still waiting for some plumbing parts.

07/27/2005, 07:04 PM	#12
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	All plumbing parts are here. Now I just need time to drill some bulkheads for the closed loop and the chiller. I also asked acrylicman to make me a black acrylic 2" molding to wrap around the bottom of the cube to hide the sand line, and so I do not need to clean all the way to sand to prevent scratching of the acrylic. the molding should be here in a week.

07/28/2005, 06:56 AM	#13
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Today i water tested the tank. All is good, I checked flow with my 2 maxi 900s . I will use one maxi 1200 and one 900 instead of two 900s, they are just not strong enough when pushing threw a few inches of 1/2" line. The maxi 1200 will be a closed loop. I will drill the bulkheads in on the weekend and glue the baffles in place.

07/28/2005, 03:41 PM	#14
nike6 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 130	Tony, How much did acrylicman charge you for the trim for the bottom? Please post pictures of the lights, I am interested in thoes t5 lights. Are you happy with them. I can't order them, I keep getting error messages from the web site. Shawn

07/28/2005, 03:47 PM	#15
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	The lights are real simple. SO yea I like them. I have one mounted in the canopy between the two PC. It is super acntic so I will have it on one hour before and after the other lights come on and go out. I havent looked at the lights on the tank with water in the tank yet, just dry, it adds nice blue when on alone and adds just a little extra blue to the white of the PC. I will post a pic. I bought 4 by mistake. Maybe I could send you one. acrylic man charged $25 plus $10 for shipping.

07/29/2005, 07:39 PM	#16
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Bulkheads are cut in., and interior plumbing is done. Chiller also installed. I have my salt water change water made for my 75g. I will use 15g of the 75g water for the new nano. I plan to get the rock and sand this weekend. Then a short cycle, the rock and sand are at local reef store and fully cured. Here are pics so far. Back of 15g cube showing pumps and plumbing and chiller.

07/29/2005, 07:41 PM	#17
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Pic of the front of the back wall. And a pic from the top down and one of the canopy showing the T5 added in the middle

07/30/2005, 10:00 AM	#18
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Going Tomorow for the sand and rock, can't wait.

07/31/2005, 12:44 AM	#20
Breaker4show Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Metairie,Louisiana Posts: 278	WOW this setup is going to be nice! Can i ask where did you get those T-5 ( 13" ) and how much were they? I am looking for 2 for my 20 gallon! THanks, Nick __________________ 5.5 Gallon - 2X32wattPC (50/50), AC300 Fuge,AQ1000 Powerhead,8lbs LR, 6lbs LS, Surface Skimmer

07/31/2005, 03:07 PM	#21
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Today I got the rock, sand and set it all up. I had to get the rock from a store 1 hour from me because my local place is closed on Sunday, so I had less of a selection then I wanted. But I am happy with the rock. About 20 lbs. The bottom piece is one large piece , i like this piece alot, the other 3 pieces I need to arrange nicer, but the tank is in a temporary spot , for about 1 month till I am sure there is no cycle, then I will move it to my work office and reset it up there, I will add corals there and fish then. I think I will study the tank over the next 30 days and decide where I will want to place future corals and arange the rocks based on that. The water flow is just the way I wanted . I hope it is sufficient.

07/31/2005, 03:38 PM	#22
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	I just played witht he rocks some, I have them the way I like it now. I already had one slide onto the side and hit the acrylic side, I thought I was being really careful, cant be toooo careful with acrylic. I didnt see a scratch thow.

07/31/2005, 03:44 PM	#23
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Thanks breaker4show Here is the place to get them, I forget how much they were , I think $17.00 , the light bubl ballast plug are all in one . T5 Light

07/31/2005, 11:41 PM	#24
A\/enger Premium Member $A\/enger's Avatar$ Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Norton Shores, MI Posts: 325	Looks like a cool little setup. I cant wait to check out the progress you make.
$A\/enger is offline$

08/01/2005, 12:20 AM	#25
spoon671 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The East Bay Posts: 948	I really like those little cubes. Where can I get one made, exactly like yours? Also, do you like the way it's setup? Would you change anything if you had the chance? Thanks __________________ - Enthusiast, In Transit Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo 16 Mixed Reef