30 Gallon reef cube build 100% DIY
 

Hello, I'm new here. I am currently building a 30 gallon cube reef tank with 15 gallon sump.

All I currently have is a stack of cut glass(free) 3/8" sides 1/2" bottom
I have been looking all over for 3/4" pvc slip x slip bulkhead fittings in Calgary and cannot find anywhere. Anyone know where these can be found?

Plans are 19" cube tank, 3/4" bean animal overflow box, 15 gallon sump, Sicce 2.0 return pump, SCA 301 skimmer, Purple dry rock, dry sand, Lighting LED TBD....

Any advice or help would be awesome:biggrin:

J&l

Glass overflow
 

Attachment 15801

Glass overflow done cutting. now comes the silicone SCS1200 black.....

Waiting for the cure
 

Attachment 15803

Tank assembled, 24hrs then seal inside with a fat bead....
Gonna be a nice tank!

Questions....
 

So my tank is built and looks great.
Working on the stand currently 32 x 24, 29" tall.

-Now yes or no for egg crate in the bottom of the tank?
-I went with the Sicce 1.5 instead of 2.0 will the flow from this pump be enough or should I be adding power heads?
-1 or 2 bubble traps in the sump? haven't added baffles yet but have lots of glass.
-1" of sand is good enough in tank?
-Sand, rock, rubble, bare bottom in refuge?

Little help would be nice from the senior reefers.....

Thanks

Why do you want egg crate in bottom of tank?

egg crate
 

I don't...... or do I? are there benefits/disadvantages?

Not sure what the benefits are.

We used to put egg crate at the bottom of the tank to create an airspace and have gravel on top, ie: undergravel filter, or to create an anaerobic space in the case of a plenum. But there are way better methods of filtration and nitrogen reducing methods than these. I am not sure what other uses there are. Maybe supporting your rock.

The question you may want to ask is if you want a bare bottom or coral sand or gravel. I prefer a thin layer of coral sand or gravel.

I used to put egg crate on the bottom of my Africans cichlid tanks which was pretty common practise back then. The idea was the the rocks would sit on the egg crate instead of just on the sand or totally buried and sitting on the glass. It also provided a stable base since the cichlids really liked to dig in the sand which could cause the rocks to move/collapse.
As long as your rock structures are stable I wouldn't really worry about adding egg crate.

don't do any egg crate it will just be a pain. as far as sand in the tank that depends on what you want to keep but that's also debatable although some fish definitely enjoy the sand. my knew 120 will be BB.