25 Gallon Cube Build

[Hpimichael02]

good morning to all,

i finally got some time to start this thread. My wife wanted a tank in the bedroom, so with my tax return i went and bought a 25G reef Ready Cube made by marineland.

Specs:
tank: 25 Gallons
Sump:10 Gallon(6-7 useable gallon space hoping anyway)
Stand: DIY
Lighting: AI SOL Super Blue
controller: AI, hydor wave maker
Flow: 1 425 koralia nano, 1 750 koralia- 600 GPH return pump
Rock: 20-30 LBS live in tank- 10-15 in sump or DSB(not sure which)
ATO: DIY auto top off
Doseing equipment: 2 tom-aquatics aqua lifter's- on a 7 day timer, Cal in the Morning-Alk at night
Skimmer: Yes

Tank:
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Stand Build:(few pics)
Materials:
Particle Board(i know the concerns)
Glue
Screws(30)
Door trim

all will be primed 2 coats(edges 4 coats), exterior grade paint, polyurethane coating for extra water protection (3 coats)
the design is a knock off of the marineland stand- they also use the same material but the outside is laminated/vainer

for giggles- 1977 Jig Saw by Craftsman(anyone else remember these- 10 yrs before my time)
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My dad did want me to break it so he cut the door out(and 1977 jig saw still works lol)
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Basic stand is built, just gotta add the fancy stuff
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I will add the final pic when finished- the LED's arrive Thursday as well as my pump and filter socks, im hoping to have this up by my wife birth day on the 17th st. Patrick's day.

[Cliff]

I'm looking forward to seeing this set-up come together

Any thoughs on stocking yet ? Judging by the equipment, it looks like your setting up a reef tank

[Hpimichael02]

yea there was debate about a FOWLR, but that would only so much and so little fits in the tank. so we decided to go mini reef, with mainly Montipora's and other LPS, and a few small colonies of zoas and palys. i cant wait for everything to get here.

as for fish and CUC, not sure yet maybe a clown and some blenny's or firefish.

[Hpimichael02]

so i cant find anything about the overflow drain size- i got 1 1/4 but it screws on \only s few threads =- i should go bigger right ?> to 1 1/2"

[Hpimichael02]

or it looks like i can add the pipe inside of the overflow outlets- top is 1" bottom is 3/4 could this work also if i glued the, in with PVC cement?

i have never plumbed anything from a sink to a reef lol, so this is all new to me. any help would be great

[Cliff]

The below info can help with your plumbing

http://www.reefaquarium.com/2012/aqu...umbing-basics/

[Hpimichael02]

thanks cliff, that help out allot, ive test plumbed the tank and man it stinks when the drilled holes are right on top of each other.

here are the pics- the only thing not included so far is my Unions for both out and return- not adding a ball valve because the over flow can handle 600GPH my pump is a taam rio 2100 which is 696 GPH but the GOH at the top of the head is about 375 GPH minus 100 GPH for the 45 degree elbows.

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the tank and stand
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[Hpimichael02]

first mile stone has been reached-

tank is full of water and the plumbing does not leak --- yessss im proud my first time :)

got the light installed and realized that pvc wont do the job need the metal conduit - getting that tommorrw and then placing my rock and such -- so exciting

my downfall is that according to thebox the taam rio 2100 will produce 375GPH up 4 ft not to mention the 45 elbows- it pumps out something close to 580gph

[Cliff]

got the light installed and realized that pvc wont do the job need the metal conduit - getting that tommorrw and then placing my rock and such -- so exciting

Are you planning to use metal conduit on your plumbing

[Hpimichael02]

no just for the light fixture- to hang the Ai SOL