100 gallon cube-ish build

[strauss]

So on to the next tank. After selling the 230 discus/amazon tank/dart frog tank it's back to reefing.
Plan:
Tank: 30 by 30 by 28 tall, back overflow, herbie, dual return concept made
Flow: 2 mp10's plus wp10 plus returns
Substrate: reef special, only 1- 1.5 inches
Lighting: Mitra, possible 4 retrofit T-5s also kessil 360 for rock tower highlighting
Stand: iron with 3/4 inch skirting and canopy, all doors held by magnets as well as canopy doors
Control: Apex with added modules
Rock: Pukani from Elli/concept plus shelf rock
Coral: all sps
Skimmer: csc 250
Ro/Di: BRS

That's the plan and I would like to have water in it by sunday so lots to do this weekend. Here's where I am at right now.

Tank with added child because why not
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1302_zpsb684de2b.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1302_zpsb684de2b.jpg.html)

On stand
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1303_zpsd571f6ea.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1303_zpsd571f6ea.jpg.html)

Working on stand/canopy
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1311_zpsa58caf48.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1311_zpsa58caf48.jpg.html)
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1316_zps1068b8e6.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1316_zps1068b8e6.jpg.html)
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1315_zps6e331080.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1315_zps6e331080.jpg.html)
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1319_zpsd183d999.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1319_zpsd183d999.jpg.html)
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1321_zps1847416a.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1321_zps1847416a.jpg.html)

So far
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1314_zps8e578246.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1314_zps8e578246.jpg.html)
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1313_zps2b7099ef.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1313_zps2b7099ef.jpg.html)

Some equipment, it's a bloody mess:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1308_zps19b9c70a.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1308_zps19b9c70a.jpg.html)
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1307_zps16f0f644.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1307_zps16f0f644.jpg.html)
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1306_zps0054ae40.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1306_zps0054ae40.jpg.html)
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1305_zpsf33974fe.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1305_zpsf33974fe.jpg.html)

Lots more to come

Brandon

[kien]

Nice Concepts tank :-)

[strauss]

about a week in and here's how it's looking:

morning/evening single kessil a150w spot lighting:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1330_zps0a159a6a.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1330_zps0a159a6a.jpg.html)

afternoon just before 100% power:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1329_zps27129f07.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1329_zps27129f07.jpg.html)

full power which will need to be toned back
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1328_zpse4978a13.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1328_zpse4978a13.jpg.html)

Also need to add about an inch more to the crown as I don't like seeing the water line and the wp25 on wave mode really moves the waterline

[strauss]

Oh, and rockwork not done yet. Just cycling

[FishyFishy!]

Oh, and rockwork not done yet. Just cycling

Well that rockwork looks awesome! haha

[gqlmao]

Awesome! Reminds me of my 30x30x28 cube! I can't wait to see this thing stocked. SPS galore waiting to happen.

[freeze]

Looks great. Looking forward to watching it grow.

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

following your build,..so far its looking great :thumb:

[Stones]

Nice build as I really like the look of cube tanks as well.

You can probably just skirt the top of your tank with some casing/trim which will nicely hide the water line for you.

Sounds like you are pretty pleased with the performance of the WP25?

[freeze]

Do you only have 1 wp25 running that?

[strauss]

Thanks for the kind replies. Yeah, the crown is currently clamped and it looks like it will hide the water line nicely.
The wp-25 is great although I feel it does need to be partnered with others to get the required flow for sps at least.
I have the wp-25, 2 mp10's and the returns so I feel thats probably enough flow, I hope.

[FragCave]

Your aquascape rocks:mrgreen: well done, I can only image whats going to look like once it matures.
Im just wondering don't you find challenging having 28" high tank when it comes to clean or maintenance? or do you have really long arms:biggrin:

[strauss]

Fragcave:
Ha, nope regular arms so step ladder is a necessity. On the up side I have been prone to tinkering in the tank too much so this limits me to once a week or so meaning the reef more or less takes care of it's self.

Some updates. Trim on crown done and no more water line. Auto-topoff done and working perfectly. Skimmer is pulling horrid brown stuff so working well. Picked up 2 black tank raised clown and a bunch of frags from the ever so generous Asylumdown. It's been a few days and they are starting to come around. No issues yet just coming out of diatom bloom so pretty ugly thus far.



http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1359_zps45463caa.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1359_zps45463caa.jpg.html)



http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1361_zpsb9b063bd.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1361_zpsb9b063bd.jpg.html)
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1362_zps085fa0b1.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1362_zps085fa0b1.jpg.html)

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1363_zpsd94a4a16.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1363_zpsd94a4a16.jpg.html)

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1364_zpsbf9614be.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1364_zpsbf9614be.jpg.html)

And my favorite time of day of the lighting schedule when just the spotlight is coming from the back right-hand corner. Looks like sun just starting to hit the reef or just ending. Should look awesome when full blown reef.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/IMG_1360_zpscb1a0c15.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/IMG_1360_zpscb1a0c15.jpg.html)

[strauss]

Here are a few photos of how it's coming. Please excuse the intense blue. I am experimenting with a new lighting schedule plus I have no idea how to use the wife's Christmas present (Nikon3200), hopefully ill learn.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/DSC_0240_zpsff7f8bed.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/DSC_0240_zpsff7f8bed.jpg.html)

The blank piece of paper is of clown fish in an anemone with clown fish in it because I decided to try it. My clownfish cannot seem to figure out to get in it.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/DSC_0239_zpsdb8a5482.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/DSC_0239_zpsdb8a5482.jpg.html)

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/DSC_0238_zps2fd8d08b.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/DSC_0238_zps2fd8d08b.jpg.html)

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/DSC_0237_zps95919369.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/DSC_0237_zps95919369.jpg.html)

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/DSC_0235_zps0dc3e571.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/DSC_0235_zps0dc3e571.jpg.html)

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/DSC_0234_zpse96d7133.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/DSC_0234_zpse96d7133.jpg.html)

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/DSC_0233_zps347a7ba2.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/DSC_0233_zps347a7ba2.jpg.html)

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/DSC_0230_zps1ae6f9d1.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/DSC_0230_zps1ae6f9d1.jpg.html)



http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w412/strauss11/DSC_0227_zpsda87e1dd.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/strauss11/media/DSC_0227_zpsda87e1dd.jpg.html)

[asylumdown]

The tank's looking outstanding! I think I'm gonna have you aquascape my next tank, I love it.

It's weird seeing pictures of frags from my tank in someone else's lol. Is everything still doing OK?

[reefwars]

looking good buddy:)


catch your clowns in a net and cuff them in your hand release them in the anemone slowly so they have to swim into it to get out , do this a few times if need be but theyll get the hint:)

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

your entire setup looks amazing,...I could not have done a better job on that aquascape using Pukani (http://www.fijireefrock.com/product/fiji-premium-reef-rock) and Tonga shelf (http://www.fijireefrock.com/product/tonga-shelf):thumb:

[strauss]

I appreciate the kind words.
Denny: I put the clown in a colinder with the anemone so here's hoping.
Adam: the frags are all encrusting over and the tort is growing quite fast. I think I'm still missing a few corals from your tank so sooner or later I may need a few more frags if that's ok.
Eli: the rock is awesome. No complaints whatsoever

Needing some kind of cuc and looking to really fill it out in frags/smaller colonies. Setting up dosing. Just set up kalkwasser in ATO. New lighting is really bringing out colours and regulating crappy algae. Fish are far, coral growing so no complaints.