Biocube 29 HQI my first SW attempt

[pellikan]

Hi all,

I'm new here and thought I'd introduce myself and what I'm up to, reef-wise.

I've had a freshwater tank for the past, oh, 20ish years but I've always wanted to try saltwater. Lately though I've been obsessing about it. Reading forums, websites and burning up my library card. But I've never made the jump, until now that is. I saw a Biocube on Craigslist for sale that was still in the box so I bought it. Thus begins the downward spiral of expensive mistakes in sure to make.

The tank didn't come with a stand so I'm building one. I'm building it oversized to accommodate a refugium and to have some space on the side to set a QT tank when needed. (besides, you never know, I may upgrade tanks in the future and I'm not re'doing the stand if I don't have to)

I was going to post a pic or two but it looks like I need to have them hosted somewhere rather than upload from my pc? so that'll have to wait for another time.

[sushi]

Hi all,

I'm new here and thought I'd introduce myself and what I'm up to, reef-wise.

I've had a freshwater tank for the past, oh, 20ish years but I've always wanted to try saltwater. Lately though I've been obsessing about it. Reading forums, websites and burning up my library card. But I've never made the jump, until now that is. I saw a Biocube on Craigslist for sale that was still in the box so I bought it. Thus begins the downward spiral of expensive mistakes in sure to make.

The tank didn't come with a stand so I'm building one. I'm building it oversized to accommodate a refugium and to have some space on the side to set a QT tank when needed. (besides, you never know, I may upgrade tanks in the future and I'm not re'doing the stand if I don't have to)

I was going to post a pic or two but it looks like I need to have them hosted somewhere rather than upload from my pc? so that'll have to wait for another time.

Hello and welcome! You are like I was almost a year ago, except it seems like you read and learned more before you took the plunge!

If you want to post pictures you can upload them to www.imgur.com for free, no account needed or anything just drag n drop.

Salt water seemed intimidating to me at first, but it is really not that complicated. Sand, rock, water, light, food, water changes. Maybe some calcium and other chemicals if you want to later on. Nice and simple.

[jessegarcia28]

Welcome to Sdr
You can also upload your pics by using Tapatalk
So easy IME
Gl
Have fun
Jesse


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[pellikan]

K, I'll try Tapatalk

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160327/404f5c1c5d6754db1481ce866e7cf89b.jpg

My Craigslist special. Dunno how long the guy had it but it was still in the box and didn't look messed with. As you see my cat is very helpful. What can you say, it's a cat & a box. Could there be any other possible outcome?

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160327/27986177346e6e6cc719c7f5d8ccb7ca.jpg

This is my plan for the stand. The light lines that take up about the center third represent the tank width.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160327/a9b4ccbb80e32c0766326c20ace11cf9.jpg

The wood I'm using came from old, irrepairable pianos and has seen better days. But there's good wood in there somewhere.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160327/b1b07c4d38ee2f342a55cd6281e35653.jpg

After some milling and shaping I got the top glued up.

I'm stopping putting pictures in for now. Not sure how many/post is acceptable or even if I'm doing this right. I'm not used to Tapatalk. Thank you for the welcome BTW, appreciate it!


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[sushi]

A craftsman!

Are you an architect or something? That looks nice, and nice wood!

[pellikan]

Ok, not too difficult. Only 1 pic sideways. :) A few more pics then.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160327/4666ab7c535c453f4542ed510281b9cc.jpg

A test fit of the frame.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160327/f866836497c15ae6f200577921867dd4.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160327/1a70f8a8e6c6bf273c920ba50956808e.jpg

A week later and anotjer test fit with the panels in and top on. Nothing has been glued yet at this point, just the mortise and tennon joints holding it together. Next step is to start gluing it up and make the door. I think it's comimg out nice. I surprise myself sometimes.

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[pellikan]

Yeah, I was hoping for a "craftsman" vibe. Love that style. I actually did study architecture but that didn't end up being my profession.

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[Rudyg308]

Welcome to sdreefs


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[pellikan]

I got the pieces for the door cut out and stained. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160409/08ed7c01efd4b5be51e0f055ee1bdb75.jpg

This is what it looks like set into the stand.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160409/4e32a51f4273ecee1e24a08c060ff7ce.jpg

The center panel has the shape of a pelican cut into it. I hope the refugium light will shine through nicely.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160409/5645b1ad8c61d182c73a5035b99f7fff.jpg

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[swplimited]

Really nice work with reclaimed wood

[pellikan]

HQI no more. Got an Ocean Revive T247 LED light at MAX. I kept reading about heat issues with the HQI and I was trying to work out in my head how to deal with it. After pricing chillers the LED fixture seemed the most economical solution.

[swplimited]

HQI no more. Got an Ocean Revive T247 LED light at MAX. I kept reading about heat issues with the HQI and I was trying to work out in my head how to deal with it. After pricing chillers the LED fixture seemed the most economical solution.t247 is a great light, grows anything IMO, good choice. I honestly saw more growth with t247s than the radion I have now lol

[pellikan]

Nice to hear. I knew from reading around that the metal halide light would handle most anything but heat was the problem. I had some concerns about the led lights efficacy. Now I'm a little more confident.

Suggestions on channel percentages for starting out with softies would be appreciated. I don't want to burn anybody out.

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[pellikan]

Overall stand construction is complete. A few details to take care of. A box for electronics had been made but not installed yet and a board inside the top of the doorway to mount controllers needs to be cut and installed. I was also thinking of making a towel rack for the side. I dunno if I'll turn it from scratch or buy a ready-made one.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160422/cd48055e959be7ca7dbdf5cc4bce3958.jpg

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[crabbysd]

WOW man. That stand is just KILLER!!

The t 247 is pretty nice, good reviews. Im a light meter guy. if you set your intensity with a lux meter, it should be safe at about 20,000 lux at the top of the water. Should be in the neighborhood of 300 par, +/- 50. 15,000 is a bit safer(radion/AI/kessel)
if the unit has an acclimation mode us it when you get new corals for a week or two then move the corals from the bottom to up where you want them.
You may eventually get to 30,000 lux, but you'll likely have 150+ par on the bottom of the tank. see how it goes.
Set the ratio by eye, IMO, and then check overall intensity.
acclimation to light is key.

Lets get it wet!

[pellikan]

Cool, I got a light meter somewhere. Story of my life lately, I know it's here somewhere just can't find it! Anyway, I appreciate the input. I'm a reefing virgin. :)

Anyways, I've for a ways to go before it gets wet. Gotta plumb and build my sump. The overflow box I ordered arrived broken but amazon will refund. Just more time waiting. I'm not sure how the plumbing will be secured when using a hob overflow. Should i go with rigid PVC or flexible tubing? I think I'd like to do PVC with a bit of flexible hose from the pump to the inlet riser. Just a few inches to reduce vibration/sound. What's a neat and secure way to hold the plumbing?

For the sump I have a 20g high. I need to get some glass. Since the sump is a little short width-wise I was thinking only one piece of glass between the first chamber, with protein skimmer and filter sock, and the second which is for a refugium. 3 piece bubble trap into the third which houses the return pump. I hope that won't cause to many problems down the road but it seems space is somewhat short. How big a refugium do I need? Will that extra inch make that much difference?

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[crabbysd]

I think I'd like to do PVC with a bit of flexible hose
Yea that.

I go to the glass guy on El cajon blvd about 6200. The rest sounds right. Your close to SDcorals on University, check his sumps out.They are all in plain view too. Chris there made most of them.

You can save space if you pic your skimmer too. I want with the Tunze as its compact, works great too. I have the 9001 and 9002. the 90002 in the DT. only downfall with that depth like mine you maynot get the skimming power pulling up from the bottom of the chamber. (but thats really splitting hairs IMO.)

fuge size? dealers choice really and what room you have left as long as you have good flow through the chato..

I only have one bubble wall after the inlet/skimmer chamber.

My sump is a 30 tall. here it is. The only regret I should have put the pump chamber in the right corner for flow.
http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?121294-SUMPgrade-!-Display-Fuge&highlight=

[pellikan]

I ordered some schedule 80 plumbing from BRS. Just waiting for it to arrive. Meanwhile, I've done a little wiring. The box is cut to fit into the upper left corner of my stand. Litte rim left over to mount the Pi controller I'm working on.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160430/03dc0ef47b99aeec2192fcb75e9b1550.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160430/9285c68c5c9ff28ff5d391b859d9e7e2.jpg

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[pellikan]

I think I got trouble. I was going to do the plumbing for the sump today when I noticed a small chip of glass in the 3rd chamber. Oh crap, there's another one! Upon inspection I find a crack in the glass on the back top left hand corner. It extends about 2 inches across and half an inch down. I feel like I'm looking at future catastrophic failure. So frustrated!

So what do you think, slap some silicone on it and hope for the best or just toss this tank? Some other option I haven't thought of?

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160515/9ec84e73c985d014535e7aed24eae97c.jpg

Hard to get a picture, this is as good as it gets.

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[nanoreef1]

I think I got trouble. I was going to do the plumbing for the sump today when I noticed a small chip of glass in the 3rd chamber. Oh crap, there's another one! Upon inspection I find a crack in the glass on the back top left hand corner. It extends about 2 inches across and half an inch down. I feel like I'm looking at future catastrophic failure. So frustrated!

So what do you think, slap some silicone on it and hope for the best or just toss this tank? Some other option I haven't thought of?

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160515/9ec84e73c985d014535e7aed24eae97c.jpg

Hard to get a picture, this is as good as it gets.

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Cut small piece of glass add silicone you should be good to go..

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[pellikan]

I think I might trust it for freshwater patched that way. With the constant movement of water required for saltwater plus the weight of sump plumbing hanging on the back, no. I'm afraid I'll just have to get a replacement tank.

I thought I'd use the biocube as an easy beginning point into this hobby and upgrade later if it worked out. But now I'm gonna upgrade before I'm even started. I'm in too deep to stop now.

So, I went to the store and ordered a drilled 80 gallon. I guess I'll have to move this build thread out of the nano section.

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[nanoreef1]

I think I might trust it for freshwater patched that way. With the constant movement of water required for saltwater plus the weight of sump plumbing hanging on the back, no. I'm afraid I'll just have to get a replacement tank.

I thought I'd use the biocube as an easy beginning point into this hobby and upgrade later if it worked out. But now I'm gonna upgrade before I'm even started. I'm in too deep to stop now.

So, I went to the store and ordered a drilled 80 gallon. I guess I'll have to move this build thread out of the nano section.

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Nice even better 80 gallon. Post some pics new thread build can't wait to see it!

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