Crab's 'Cube'

[Crab Rangoon]

So I haven't kept a personal marine aquarium of my own since late 06 / early 07, and I'm long over due for this - but finally, it's here! It's certainly good to be back, and I can't wait to have some animals in the tank.

In March, I picked up a 150 gallon 36" Marineland Deep Marine series aquarium to start with, and couldn't wait to get a stand to throw it on. Too bad I'm not much of a builder myself, and wouldn't settle for simple 2x4 framework, or something ordered through the shop all furniture-style But patience & persistence pays off, and I got David (prof) to rig me up an all metal stand with adjustable feet on the underside (currently, the stand is open & exposed, but will be wrapped eventually). While waiting for the stand to be build, I was able to ready a few pieces of equipment, and got my heater, UV sterilizer, return pump, and in-tank circulation all in.

I lined the backside & underside of the tank with black vinyl, and let it set for a day or two before transitioning the tank onto the stand. However, the tank wasn't perfectly level on the stand, so I removed it & put a sheet of Insular Foam on top of the stand, put the tank back on, and let it sit for 24 hours with about 80-90gal of water weighing it down. I double checked all 4 corners & sides to verify everything was still level after settling with some weight, and proceeded to fill it to about the 140gal level. Everything checked out fine, with no adjustments to the feet needed after it settled (thanks to the Foamular Insulation - very happy with it), so I threw in the heater, a circulation pump, and some Coralife salt After a few days, I transferred all my liverock in (all of which is 3-4yrs old at the least, and cooked for about 4 months), and let it run that way for about 5 days before I bothered arranging an aquascape. I'd say I'm about 80% satisfied with the result, though I'd envisioned a little more open floor space, and maybe a little more height built up in the back w/the large rock. After I get lights over the tank, and a few animals inside, it'll be easier to make up my mind on if I wanna remove some of the rock, or do a slight re-arrange. Here's a few small/rough photos I shot with my phone to post up until I've managed to upload & edit my shots with my 40D from tonight

from the front

birds-eye from the front

the left side

the right side

Hopefully I can finish & upload the good pics tomorrow at/after work... I should also have some more photos & have the plumbing done with Misti (Sea Clearly) on Thursday - but here's a rundown of the equipment list:

- Trigger Systems Crystal series Elite-30 sump/fuge

- Eheim 1262 return pump

- VorTech MP40w EcoSmart

- Coralife Turbo-Twist 36w UV sterilizer

- Reef Octopus XP-2000 Cone Skimmmer (ordered & waiting)

- Two Little Fishies Phosban Reactor 500 (with Sulfur media for Nitrate control)

And finally, for lighting, I'll be ordering my PAR38 LED lamps this week I look forward to updating the thread with some progress later in the week!

[Hamp]

Very nice!! I look forward to seeing this tanks progression.

[JamesL]

Tagging along. I like how you are planning to arrange the rock. The "valleys" are a cool idea.

[prof]

Awesome! I am glad to see it going together. Keep us updated.

[fishypets]

Looking good Randy. Just curious why you are running UV?

[Crab Rangoon]

I am glad to see it going together.

You & me both - haha.

Looking good Randy. Just curious why you are running UV?

Hey Clint, long time no see

The UV is just for fish, as algae outbreaks aren't too high a probability with the LED lighting. It will be plumbed in full time, but I haven't yet made up my mind on it's operation schedule. To say the least, many of the fish I'm ordering are possible (or probable) to come in with something bad Any 'at-risk' additions will be introduced to the refugium until I feel they eat well & appear comfortable & active, then I can move them into the display.

[fishypets]

Yeah, LED's are the shoot!

[absolut_racer]

If you don't mind me asking, how many PAR38 bulbs are you planning on using? Also, will you be using 40, 60, or 80 degree optics?

Your cube looks great! I will definitely be following this thread.

[+KeeperOfTheZoo]

Neat! The rock lay out is cool.

[Crab Rangoon]

If you don't mind me asking, how many PAR38 bulbs are you planning on using? Also, will you be using 40, 60, or 80 degree optics?

No problem - I plan on ordering 6 of the PAR38 bulbs for the tank. I'm just still kind of unsure on if I want a 50/50 mix of 12k/20k, or if the mix should be 65/35. It's hard to view it as such in people's photos posted online (as most of the tanks equipped with these lamps are typically photographed with p&s cameras, and with zero post-processing to the photos), but the 12k is actually a good white/blue mix visually - and not anywhere near as white/blinding as the pics would seem. The 20k is every bit of blue as a Radium bulb - and if you don't want overwhelming blue, they should absolutely be avoided (unless used as only supplemental light / actinic type application).

As it stands, I believe I'll be using 2 of the 20k bulbs with 80* lenses, 2 of the 12k bulbs with 60* lenses, and 2 12k's with 40* lenses. I'll have some spare 60 & 80 degree lenses, too, in case I want to adjust one of the bulbs (or do a mix of optics in a single bulb). I really look forward to it, but I'm worried over how much time I'll spend between adjusting / arranging the lights, and adjusting my aquascape based upon the appearance once the lights are over the aquarium

Neat! The rock lay out is cool.

Very nice!! I look forward to seeing this tanks progression.

Tagging along. I like how you are planning to arrange the rock. The "valleys" are a cool idea.

Thanks guys, I'm glad it turned out well on the first try. I was under the pressure of my girlfriend, who was less-than-patient for the to wrap it up (I only spent under an hour on this!) so we could hurry & get out of the house I may do a few tweaks to the rocks (really prefer to touch it as little as possible!) after the lights go on, but it'll really be how the fish interact with the rock that'll determine whether the current formation is a keeper or not.

[absolut_racer]

I have a PAR38 with 60 degree optics using 3 royal blue and 2 cool white (20k) CREE LEDs. You're welcome to check it out.

[Crab Rangoon]

I have a PAR38 with 60 degree optics using 3 royal blue and 2 cool white (20k) CREE LEDs. You're welcome to check it out.

Cool - I hadn't yet seen anyone on the local board posting about having them / post pics of them over their tank. What's your input on it, so far?

[offroadodge]

gonna be cool lookn

[absolut_racer]

Cool - I hadn't yet seen anyone on the local board posting about having them / post pics of them over their tank. What's your input on it, so far?

I used a lux meter when I had a 150w metal halide, and I plan to test the tank with one PAR38 bulb to see if I need a second one. I will post both diagrams once I finish.

[blindside]

I've taught you well young grasshoppa...

[Crab Rangoon]

I used a lux meter when I had a 150w metal halide, and I plan to test the tank with one PAR38 bulb to see if I need a second one. I will post both diagrams once I finish.

Which of your tanks is it over, and how long have you been running it?

Totally, Gilbert - haha. After I get some stuff swimmin around, you'll have to see it.

I got all the decent aquascape shots up, so here's all the better views

Front

Right

Left

Above

[+olaggie01]

Looks great. How do you like the 27" height on the tank? I'm considering the same footprint, but a little shallower tank. I like the choice of lights, as I may use 2 to supplement my T5s.

[Crab Rangoon]

Looks great. How do you like the 27" height on the tank? I'm considering the same footprint, but a little shallower tank. I like the choice of lights, as I may use 2 to supplement my T5s.

Liking or disliking taller tanks will certainly vary based upon your lighting, and inhabitants - but in my application, I love it!

After all, this is mostly a fishtank that will happen to have some coral to spruce up the interior But I wanted more room for the fish, & the ability to have taller rock structures means more open space on the tank floor / more swimming room. The height is key for achieving dramatic highs & lows in the rock scape, and paired with the penetrating spotlight effect of the PAR38's, it should make for a nice looking layout.

[Crab Rangoon]

Got it plumbed on Thursday night, and just waiting to pick up the rest of the water tomorrow to get it fully circulating. In the meantime, I installed the MP-40w and played with it for a whole two minutes before getting some wave-type swaying since I don't have any fish/inverts/anything in there now, I've just left it turning at the low speed setting, but tinkering with it sure was fun. It's also nice to know that I can achieve a small wave, changing at all 4 corners rather than just front/back or side-to-side, with only one of them. I have considered adding a second one later, but this is clearly enough for now.

Here's the short video, I need to actually read the instructions and figure everything out so I can program it for a full-time schedule

[Crab Rangoon]

Over the course of the past 3 weeks, a good amount has changed I've now got the Turbo Twist 12x 36w UV hooked up + QT/refuge area running, and got my Octopus XP2000 skimmer in & running. I've also got some animals but as my temp-use light fixture shorted out on me so no more pics til the new lights arrive & get set-up.

Here are a few photos I was able to get while the light was working, however, of my Ruby-headed fairy Wrasse & Altivelis Butterfly

The daily feeding of live black worms is becoming tiresome

[JamesL]

Awesome butterflyfish! I presume reef-safe?

[Crab Rangoon]

...and one month later, I've found that I'm not very good at taking timely update photos

Finally got all my lighting set-up, stand enclosed, and supplies for enclosing my lighting. Also turned the temp from 74 up to 76 temporarily, and realized I need to re-glue my plumbing for the UV (or continue suffering a creeping slow drip ). Also planning to install the new reflectors for all the Stunner Strips, and add one more each of UV & 453nm Stunners.

Eye candy time (first fish pics w/the new camera + lens)

[Crab Rangoon]

Awesome butterflyfish! I presume reef-safe?

It'll certainly be a threat to any worms, or things resembling worms (I'd be very weary of things like Dendros/Duncans, but not Euphillia). But that Butterfly wound up jumping, oddly enough (they're not known jumpers, and he was a happy settled specimen ), and since they are only available for a very short time each year, I wasn't able to replace it

I look forward to picking up a Chelmon Muelleri & Chelmon Marginalis, which are the most similar to the Altivelis that I'll be able to get for a while, but both of those are still scarce at this time. Last week I added two standard Pyramid Butterflies (Hemitaurichthys polylepis), and am anticipating adding 1-2 Zoster, and a single Yellow Zoster.

[+Hydro]

Hi Crab

I really like the cube alot, lets see a pic of the whole tank!

Lots of questions for you, hope you don't mind!

How are you mounting the lighting? How many watts does it draw? I complained about LED efficiency for growing corals before on a thread but I think they are great for a fish only tank....except the cost! How much did you spend? I've noticed that the fastest coraline growth I've witnessed was with PC lights, how is the growth with the LED?

Are you making waves with the MP40?

[Crab Rangoon]

I really like the cube alot, lets see a pic of the whole tank!

How are you mounting the lighting? How many watts does it draw? I complained about LED efficiency for growing corals before on a thread but I think they are great for a fish only tank....except the cost! How much did you spend? I've noticed that the fastest coraline growth I've witnessed was with PC lights, how is the growth with the LED?

Are you making waves with the MP40?

Thanks I'm working on the full tank & lighting rig shots right now, I should be able to post em before dinner.

I have a 36x36 panel of plywood that I've mounted the light tracks & Stunner Strips to. We branched a pair of 1x2" planks across 3 studs in the ceiling, at the front and back of the tank - then I installed hooks into the planks and have the plywood hung with Sunlight Supply Pro-Grip suspension kit for easy raising & lowering at each corner.

I'll find out soon enough about the coral colors and growth I couldn't tell you anything about the coraline algae, though - I've only had the lights mounted since last Friday! All said & done, until I have some corals truly DEMANDING this much light.. this is absolute overkill. On a daily basis, I run only 2 of my PAR38's, and that would truly be enough if I were to stay FOWLER I will eventually re-aim and angle my lighting based upon where I'm mounting corals, and I might end up not even using all 6 after all.

The PAR38's run about $100/ea if ordering 5+, and I've got about $100 thrown in all together for the plywood, track lighting, suspension kits, and acrylic panels to house the lighting.

I can indeed make waves with the MP40, but most of the time I have it on a more energy conscious setting. I also moved the unit further towards the corner where my auto-feeder sits, so the waves aren't as prominent as they were when the unit was centered on the back wall. After introducing a handful of coral, I'll probably change the settings again, and relocate it as necessary.