My 93 gallon cube setup

[captbillm]

I have started setting up a 93 gallon cube reef tank.I am going with a Lifereef Berlin sump setup in my basement to keep things easy to care for and no noise in our TV room where the tank is located.We have a house that was built in 1750 so the floors are not what you would call level. I had to build a very heavy duty platform with eight ajustable feet to be able to level the tank. The platform is made out of 2"X 2" oak and a double layer 3/4" plywood all screwed and epoxyed together with West System. Then some pine trim and matte black paint. You could put a car on this thing. So then I build a bench in the basement to put everything. The order came in from Lifereef last week and I have started to lay out all the plumbing. It will be awhile before the tank is started up because I have a list of things including LED lighting that I still have to buy. I will post more photos as it moves along. :fish:

 

[JonnyJ]

AMAZING SETUP! cant wait to see this. LOVE LIFEREEF

 

[captbillm]

Thanks it should be great when finished.

 

[captbillm]

93 Cube Build

Well I have received some more of the items needed to get this thing up and running, and it is coming along nicely. I set up my RO/DI system so I can transfer water from my reserve to my salt mixing barrel without having to do anything but shut a valve and turn on a pump. I will also be able to add the new salt water to the sump for water changes with the the same type of set up to transfer it. I am sick of lugging 5 gallon buckets around. I will be ordering my lighting next week and am planing on going with a 2' Vertex Illuimina 260 unit. I will add more photos as it moves along. :fishhit:

 

[OGGISPORTS]

Wow great work cant wait to see the rest

 

[james1990]

what a sick setup. reef porn!

 

[captbillm]

Thanks Guys..

 

[captbillm]

Got my lighting and some rock

Well the build is coming along slowly, but that's OK. Got my Vertex Illumina STR260 two foot model along with an extra red module that I installed this morning in the fixture. I wanted to mount the light on the tank because the wife said no hanging from the ceiling. Illumina makes a on tank mount but it is for a rimless tank. I found by using the 12mm mounts backwards from the way they would use them and getting it just tight enough so you can slide the light back and forth worked out well.I also received 50 lbs of Pukani dry rock from Bulk Reef Supply. There are some big pieces in there which will be great in this cube tank. I have the water system in the basement almost done and I changed the pump manifold so that I can use the pump to pump out the sump. Then I can pump the same amount of new saltwater from the saltwater drum right back into the sump, open up a few valves and get it all going again. The sump will hold around 20 gallons so I figure that should work for me on water changes. The salt mixing drum is almost done and I am waiting on a couple of 1/2" bulkhead fittings so I can finish it and hook up the rest of the water lines on it. I will post some more photos of it when its done. I am using the same mag drive pump in it to mix the salt and also to pump it into the sump through a pipe I made up. Have to drill the holes in the floor this week and the 1" tubing should be in during the week so I can hook the rest of it up. Should be seeing water in it within the next couple of weeks. Think I will play with the lighting software this evening and get a feel for it. :usa1:

 

[E.intheC]

Looks like a great start. I love the dimensions of that cube..
Your basement sump looks sweet as well. Good luck!

 

[captbillm]

Looks like a great start. I love the dimensions of that cube..
Your basement sump looks sweet as well. Good luck!

Thanks Eric

 

[kenconnect]

Killer system..i have a lifereef sump my self and love it..Best of luck to u

 

[marklugo23]

What type of lights, I also have a 90 cube

 

[captbillm]

Lighting

Vertex Illumina SR260 two foot model with there on tank mount. It worked out perfect.

 

[captbillm]

Getting There

My tank build is coming along nicely. Everything in the basement is done except to run the feed and return lines. I got the stand level and put the tank back on the stand. I have put the rock in the tank to start getting an eye on how to place them. Any ideas are welcome. Next I have to rinse the sand and add it to the tank. I got 80lbs of sand and I hope it will be enough. If not I'll add more. Should be getting the water in it by or over the weekend. :goldfish2

 

[Ariel110G]

any updates? nice setup

 

[captbillm]

On Hold

We are going away for the first week in Sept so I have decided to hold off getting the tank wet till we get back. A new set up like this may need a little tweeking here and there and I would be worried the whole time if it were runing and something went out of wack and we got a flood on our hands. :scratch:

 

[jawwad2004]

Very nicely done! Clean look, love it!

 

[Awibrandy]

The whole thing looks great, but man oh man I love the basement set up!!!!

Smart move on waiting til you get back!! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Keyman]

That's really an incredible set up good luck to you. Can't wait to see more pictures.

 

[captbillm]

Rock

I will be going away next weekend for a week with the wife and then when I get back I will be setting up the rock scape in the tank and filling it and getting it up and running. I have 50 lbs of Pukani rock that I bought fron BRS and I have 50 lbs of reef saver rock coming from Marco Rocks. Well when it is all said and done I will have extra rock that I would like to move. I will post photos of the rock I will be selling and if you are in The Long Island area you could pick it up.Till then...:bagfish: