After 1.5 years with my Biocube 29g (my first tank), I've decided that an upgrade is due. I will document my upgrade with pictures below. My dad did majority of the DIY process, I was merely a gofer. Before I do, I would like to thank a few people that assisted with the upgrade.
Lazibonez (Reefs Creation) / Mo~idol - Thanks for the invaluable advice you guys have provided. Always have a well thoughtout answer from equipment advice to "You don't want to do that, newb!" :wink: I'll definitely have more... so clean out your PM boxes!
Alex and Kiwi of Aquatic Express - Thanks for coming by and helping me with the plumbing. All the plumbing has been redone to your specs, and the waterfall has turned into a trickle! Stop by anytime! We'll do breakfast!
Usual suspects at RG - Thanks fellas for all the advice you've given me!
90reefernyc - Thanks for pointing me to Berkel Marine in Astoria. They answered every question I had about the Profilux controller and making it work with my DIY LED setup.
M'akoyPinoy - Thanks for suggesting Coast to Coast Aquariums. They were a premium, but well worth it. Your upgrade is next!
Equipment List
Display Tank - Coast to Coast 36x24x20 - 3 Sided Starphire - 1" Drain / .75 Return
Sump - AGA 30L 36x12x16
Return Pump - Eheim 1260
Skimmer - Royal Exclusiv Vertex Alpha 170 Cone Skimmer
Water Movement - Vortech MP40wES & MP20 (have MP40wES upgrade kit, but might too much flow with 2 MP40s)
Lighting - 30 Cree XP-G R5 Cool White & 35 Cree XP-E Royal Blue
Controller - GHL Profilux Plus II EX + (3) EVG-AP-2F Ballast Control Boards
Enough of my babbling...onto the pics.
Coast 2 Coast Tank
Tabletop (made with 1" stair boards) with Homasote Frame
DIY Stand with Homasote Board
Light Tree (bent 1/2" aluminum conduit pipes, painted black) & stand with removable sides
Inside of stand
Home for Profilux Controller and future home for Profilux Doser
Meanwells & 3 EVG-AP-2F Ballast Boards
DIY LEDs - 5 arrays, blues & whites are controlled/dimmed independently via Profilux. A 6th can be added as I have a spare 1-10v on the Profilux. (Sorry for the bad photo, I'll take a better one later on)
Sump area - Alpha 170 eats so much real estate.
Water test!
Will be drilling rocks and securing with nylon rods, as well as putting DIY LEDs in acrylic enclosure. Then cycling will begin...
Feel free to comment or advise... I can still make adjustments as I'll be emptying the tank tomorrow! Thanks for looking!
Lazibonez (Reefs Creation) / Mo~idol - Thanks for the invaluable advice you guys have provided. Always have a well thoughtout answer from equipment advice to "You don't want to do that, newb!" :wink: I'll definitely have more... so clean out your PM boxes!
Alex and Kiwi of Aquatic Express - Thanks for coming by and helping me with the plumbing. All the plumbing has been redone to your specs, and the waterfall has turned into a trickle! Stop by anytime! We'll do breakfast!
Usual suspects at RG - Thanks fellas for all the advice you've given me!
90reefernyc - Thanks for pointing me to Berkel Marine in Astoria. They answered every question I had about the Profilux controller and making it work with my DIY LED setup.
M'akoyPinoy - Thanks for suggesting Coast to Coast Aquariums. They were a premium, but well worth it. Your upgrade is next!
Equipment List
Display Tank - Coast to Coast 36x24x20 - 3 Sided Starphire - 1" Drain / .75 Return
Sump - AGA 30L 36x12x16
Return Pump - Eheim 1260
Skimmer - Royal Exclusiv Vertex Alpha 170 Cone Skimmer
Water Movement - Vortech MP40wES & MP20 (have MP40wES upgrade kit, but might too much flow with 2 MP40s)
Lighting - 30 Cree XP-G R5 Cool White & 35 Cree XP-E Royal Blue
Controller - GHL Profilux Plus II EX + (3) EVG-AP-2F Ballast Control Boards
Enough of my babbling...onto the pics.
Coast 2 Coast Tank
Tabletop (made with 1" stair boards) with Homasote Frame
DIY Stand with Homasote Board
Light Tree (bent 1/2" aluminum conduit pipes, painted black) & stand with removable sides
Inside of stand
Home for Profilux Controller and future home for Profilux Doser
Meanwells & 3 EVG-AP-2F Ballast Boards
DIY LEDs - 5 arrays, blues & whites are controlled/dimmed independently via Profilux. A 6th can be added as I have a spare 1-10v on the Profilux. (Sorry for the bad photo, I'll take a better one later on)
Sump area - Alpha 170 eats so much real estate.
Water test!
Will be drilling rocks and securing with nylon rods, as well as putting DIY LEDs in acrylic enclosure. Then cycling will begin...
Feel free to comment or advise... I can still make adjustments as I'll be emptying the tank tomorrow! Thanks for looking!
