JDigitals' 40G "Rimless" upgrade project.

[JDigital]

Hmmm Another tank..... Well, not really "another", because my 10G contest tank broke on me and decided to drain onto the floor, so this new tank is just taking its place.. but it will also be an upgrade for my 20G, so really in the end, I'll actually have 1 tank less... but 10G's more water than now.. Make sense?!??! :lol:


Anyways, a few details I'm planning on and working out.

First off "The Tank":

It is a custom built tank for a customer at my LFS, but that customer backed out on the purchase, and so the tank was sitting at the store, so I got curious about it and inquired on the price, reasonable price for a 24x24x16 40G rimless (aka braceless) cube. The rimless style is something I have been looking at alot lately, so figured what better opportunity could present itself. I do need to drill it myself, and add an overflow, but that's no big deal.

2 Options: a) Corner 90 B) Center back

Couple pics of the tank to give you guys your fix. :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/40cube.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/40cube2.jpg

Lighting will come in part from a 175W 13K MH that is currently running on my 20G. If some money opens up in my favor, I might upgrade that to a 250W 14KHQI w/Galaxy Ballast system. Supplemental light will be 2x24W HOT5 Actinics.

Flow will be provided to the tank by the OceanRunner 2500 return pump, and I'm thinking 2x Koralia 2's.

Sump plans are still TBD... I'm thinking of recycling the 20 as the sump. Either a Tunze 9005 or Deltec MCE300 taking care of the skimming.. 2x Phosban Reactors (1 Phosphate Remover, 1 Carbon).



More to follow.......... B)

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Nice tank!

Are you able to go with an external overflow? I think that would be nice to kepe the clean look of the rimless tank.

[sphelps]

I have to say I'm a little disappointed you managed to find time for this new tank but not the 10gal. A lot of people were looking forward to that 10 gal including myself. Oh well you got yourself a cool new tank, the glass looks a little thin for my liking since it's rimless and you're a photographer but good none the less. I vote for a center overflow on the back, like this one:

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/75galreef/tank002.jpg

[JDigital]

I have to say I'm a little disappointed you managed to find time for this new tank but not the 10gal. A lot of people were looking forward to that 10 gal including myself. Oh well you got yourself a cool new tank, the glass looks a little thin for my liking since it's rimless and you're a photographer but good none the less. I vote for a center overflow on the back, like this one:

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/75galreef/tank002.jpg

I still don't have time actually.. I just brought the tank home from Red Coral, figured I was gonna get a reply from you :lol:, just wanted to get a post up about the tank. I won't be able to touch it until into the New Year sometime.

[fishytime]

Well that didnt take long for you to start a thread.:biggrin: Im glad things turned out for everyone regarding this tank. Will be impatiently waiting for this build.

[sphelps]

I still don't have time actually.. I just brought the tank home from Red Coral, figured I was gonna get a reply from you :lol:, just wanted to get a post up about the tank. I won't be able to touch it until into the New Year sometime.
Yeah still somewhat disappointing, the nano contest ends in April, still plenty of time in the new year. It just seems like you're giving up a little too easy, and still awfully quick to start a new project which I'm sure you'll have up and running by April.

[superduperwesman]

Yeah YOU SUCK! Just leave us behind like that... like we never meant anything to you.
http://www.clipartof.com/images/emoticons/xsmall2/1228_sad_person_crying.gif

[sphelps]

hey you stole my cry smiley!

[superduperwesman]

I know ahaha.

JD maybe you should go with a center center overflow??

[StirCrazy]

I think an external overflow would be the best, as it would free up the entire tank for rock/ect.. I am building one for my 27 gal and like the look, it is the way to go for small tanks IMO.

Steve

[JDigital]

Yeah still somewhat disappointing, the nano contest ends in April, still plenty of time in the new year. It just seems like you're giving up a little too easy, and still awfully quick to start a new project which I'm sure you'll have up and running by April.


You're entitled to your opinion. :)

And like I said, I'm not in a rush to get the 20G transferred (nor do I have the time). I just wanted to get the tank home from the shop so someone else didn't buy it.. :mrgreen: Is it wrong to post a thread?

superduper: Center Center crossed my mind briefly, but it kinda leaves me stuck with the "pile of rock" around it... never really seen and SWEET aquascaping in center center overflow tanks... Got any pics of some??

Stircrazy: fishytime actually tossed that idea out, but I'm not sure i want to risk drilling that close to the edge of the tank..

[superduperwesman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS8oSnBdCxU

[StirCrazy]

Stircrazy: fishytime actually tossed that idea out, but I'm not sure i want to risk drilling that close to the edge of the tank..

I never drilled mine, it was way to slow. I got a glass cutter and made a template that went strait with the ends curving up. Did a nice firm score, undertapped the scoreline and then used plyers to break away the glass. Now I just need to sand it up and silicone the external box I had cut up for me togeather and on the tank.

I got the bottom piece for the external overflow drilled to hold three 3/4" bulkheads so my herbie will all be out side of the tank.

Steve

[Pan]

Hmmm Another tank..... Well, not really "another", because my 10G contest tank broke on me and decided to drain onto the floor, so this new tank is just taking its place.. but it will also be an upgrade for my 20G, so really in the end, I'll actually have 1 tank less... but 10G's more water than now.. Make sense?!??! :lol:


Anyways, a few details I'm planning on and working out.

First off "The Tank":

It is a custom built tank for a customer at my LFS, but that customer backed out on the purchase, and so the tank was sitting at the store, so I got curious about it and inquired on the price, reasonable price for a 24x24x16 40G rimless (aka braceless) cube. The rimless style is something I have been looking at alot lately, so figured what better opportunity could present itself. I do need to drill it myself, and add an overflow, but that's no big deal.

2 Options: a) Corner 90 B) Center back

Couple pics of the tank to give you guys your fix. :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/40cube.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/40cube2.jpg

Lighting will come in part from a 175W 13K MH that is currently running on my 20G. If some money opens up in my favor, I might upgrade that to a 250W 14KHQI w/Galaxy Ballast system. Supplemental light will be 2x24W HOT5 Actinics.

Flow will be provided to the tank by the OceanRunner 2500 return pump, and I'm thinking 2x Koralia 2's.

Sump plans are still TBD... I'm thinking of recycling the 20 as the sump. Either a Tunze 9005 or Deltec MCE300 taking care of the skimming.. 2x Phosban Reactors (1 Phosphate Remover, 1 Carbon).



More to follow.......... B)
bah.. I speet on you... :)

[JDigital]

Oh well you got yourself a cool new tank, the glass looks a little thin for my liking since it's rimless and you're a photographer but good none the less. I vote for a center overflow on the back, like this one:

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/75galreef/tank002.jpg

Yea, I never ordered the tank to spec (or at all) so wasn't my choice. But I was looking at the tanks at Red Coral that are 3/8" rimless, and they are 36" and 48" and they aren't showing any signs of bowing out. Been like that for a few years, so I am pretty confident the 24" version will hold up.

Overflow will be a black 3/8" glass 10"x5"x14.25" middle center, just not angled like the pic, with a 3/4" bulkhead hole drilled 12" up from the bottom in the middle, for my return/locline.

[Skimmerking]

I have to say I'm a little disappointed you managed to find time for this new tank but not the 10gal. A lot of people were looking forward to that 10 gal including myself. Oh well you got yourself a cool new tank, the glass looks a little thin for my liking since it's rimless and you're a photographer but good none the less. I vote for a center overflow on the back, like this one:


where did you get that cube tank Steve.

[outtafocus]

I was checking that tank out last week some time. Nice find.

I love the look of rimless cube tanks. Good luck with your build.

Im following this thread.

[Rbacchiega]

***tagging along***

have you decided on a theme for this tank? I really liked the idea of your 10gallon theme and am considering doing something similar in my 90...if it ever finishes cycling

[JDigital]

***tagging along***

have you decided on a theme for this tank? I really liked the idea of your 10gallon theme and am considering doing something similar in my 90...if it ever finishes cycling

Nah, no theme really for this... just a mixed SPS/Zoa tank.

[Boomboy]

looks really cool. cant wait to see it up and running.

[JDigital]

This was on my doorstep this afternoon.... :mrgreen:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/IMG_0219.jpg

So I opened it up......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/IMG_0220.jpg

Then I opened the box inside the box...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/IMG_0221.jpg

Then I put together what was in the box...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/IMG_0222.jpg

It's a pretty tight fit in the 10G sump.. lol I might have to run my return pump as an external.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/vertex.jpg

Will be awhile before I can fire it up, still need to get some glass for the overflow, do a bunch of plumbing, find a new return pump since the OR2500 I had planned on salvaging from the 10G won't be enough return flow IMO.

There was also a 125W Jager heater, Spears Gate Valve, and some strainers in the box..

[fishytime]

Overflow is on the way and I could be nudged into upgrading my return. Leaving a quietone 6000 unused.

[lorenz0]

Ha you got my foot in the second shot. and good god now i really need to get rid of those pizza box's

can't wait to see this skimmer fire up

[JDigital]

Overflow is on the way and I could be nudged into upgrading my return. Leaving a quietone 6000 unused.

You rule Doug! Thanks again. I'll talk to you about the pump next time I see ya.

[JDigital]

Thanks to Doug (fishytime) I was able to get the over flow pretty much done this week.. Siliconed it in place last night, Will be awhile before I can water test it, still got all the plumbing to do, Need to find a new return pump, and come up with a sump design that I'm happy with.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/40cube1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/40cube2-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/JDigital/40G%20Cube/40cube3.jpg

[Boomboy]

this thing is coming along nicely.

[JDigital]

Finally found a used pump for the system.

Buddy of mine shut down his 90G about 5 months ago, and has a ton of gear he was planning to keep, but being a student and broke, wanted to sell some stuff. The pump being one of those things.

Quietone 4000 HH, I should be pushing 900GPH thru the return. I will add to that with 2x Tunze 6045 or an Vortech MP20. Still undecided.

[Pan]

bah...speet speet...

incidentally what are you studying?

[Delphinus]

So, what are the plans now that you sold the skimmer? You promised me an update to this thread after you deftly didn't answer my question no fewer than 2 times :p ;) Not that I was counting or anything.

[JDigital]

So, what are the plans now that you sold the skimmer? You promised me an update to this thread after you deftly didn't answer my question no fewer than 2 times :p ;) Not that I was counting or anything.


ROFL... How did I know to expect you to ask me, again, if I didn't update soon. :mrgreen:

My whole thought process when I bought that skimmer on Boxing day was because of the BD sale at J&L... Thinking that it was only on that day (like most everything they had reduced) So I rushed to order it to save the $50 or so. Now, a month later and they are still "on sale" for the same bloody price.

Financially as well, this tank is really slowing down for me. Job change (during a rocky economy) and some mixed possibilities in the coming months, I figured I wouldn't be at a loss to sell the skimmer which hadn't even been turned on since purchase, lol. Figured the extra cash wouldn't hurt.

Basically the changes I want for this are going to be expensive, high priced, pieces of kit that I can take my time gathering (unlike the rushed Boxing Day purchase.. haha). I want this to be an "elitist" style tank. 100% SPS. Top of the line gear. Just the whole idea/look of the "Modern Day" tank.

Flow: Vortech MP40 + return
Filtration: Deltec MC-5/600 or BK Mini160 (used)
Lighting: DIY 8x24w Giesemann T5 or 24" Giesemann Infiniti 250MH + 4x24 T5 Fixture

[Boomboy]

oh ok thanks for replying back in my pm too :p so all the shiny expensive reef gear got to you.

[karazy]

dang, that's some nice gear you're looking at.

i hope all goes well with this tank (and that it doesn't make a black hole connected to your wallet...wait, every reef does that:lol:)

[BlueAbyss]

Gah I love the way well planned rimless tanks look. I'm thinking of building one of similar dimensions to this one, but might go deeper... like 24".

Looks good, love the clean lines.