Custom 150 Cube 36x36x28

08TRDOFFROAD · Oct 23, 2023

swilliams2207 said:
Just got the word - on its way so week or so!

Very nice!

Reign1 said:
Nice woodwork cant wait to see this complete. I am in process on a cube as well.

Same here! Working on a 24" cube build. Working on refinishing a stand I picked up free from a local reefer who was getting out of the hobby! Going to try to sand it down and repaint it to match my kitchen island.

swilliams2207 said:
Nice what size? I’m still debating what to do with scape. Thinking two large rock formations with a deep crevice in the middle.

I plan on using a caribsea coral tree...they are really cool imo. My lfs sells them and uses them in all their display tanks. With a few pieces of additional liferock to create an island and some additional depth to the scape.

Reign1 · Oct 23, 2023

08TRDOFFROAD said:
Very nice!

Same here! Working on a 24" cube build. Working on refinishing a stand I picked up free from a local reefer who was getting out of the hobby! Going to try to sand it down and repaint it to match my kitchen island.

I plan on using a caribsea coral tree...they are really cool imo. My lfs sells them and uses them in all their display tanks. With a few pieces of additional liferock to create an island and some additional depth to the scape.

That is pretty much what I am going to use except I made the "tree" with branch and caribsea

swilliams2207 · Nov 3, 2023

TANK IS IN!!!!! can’t wait to plumb this beast up. 3/4 glass. Weighs about 450.

SoggyNW · Nov 3, 2023

swilliams2207 said:
TANK IS IN!!!!! can’t wait to plumb this beast up. 3/4 glass. Weighs about 450.

Oh that looks so nice, I love how it all fits into the book case like it was made in one piece.

08TRDOFFROAD · Nov 3, 2023

swilliams2207 said:
TANK IS IN!!!!! can’t wait to plumb this beast up. 3/4 glass. Weighs about 450.

Hooray!!! This is about to get epic! Although the stand build in and of itself was already pretty epic!

swilliams2207 · Nov 3, 2023

08TRDOFFROAD said:
Hooray!!! This is about to get epic! Although the stand build in and of itself was already pretty epic!

Thank you! I can’t wait - excited for the possibilities

ChaseS10 · Nov 3, 2023

Following

swilliams2207 · Nov 6, 2023

Sump plumbing is largely done. I still have a separate return for my UV but waiting until I break down my current tank to install that return line. I’ll be making water the next few days and starting to lay out the scape. Just need to plumb the overflow and I’m in business.

swilliams2207 · Nov 6, 2023

Finally added the top trim on the stand to hide the foam pad etc. starting to draft my scape. Will have to wait until I transfer everything over to finalize with existing rock.

Currently cooking up some RO water. This will likely be the biggest PITA. I’m working on running tubing from my basement (directly below) up into the sump so I can drain and pump up saltwater for easy water changes. This is how I’ll ultimately fill the tank from brutes.

08TRDOFFROAD · Nov 9, 2023

swilliams2207 said:
Sump plumbing is largely done. I still have a separate return for my UV but waiting until I break down my current tank to install that return line. I’ll be making water the next few days and starting to lay out the scape. Just need to plumb the overflow and I’m in business.

Build is coming together nicely! I am going to try to sand and paint my stand this weekend. It is supposed to be in the mid 60's here on Sunday. Might be the last nice day I have until spring...gotta take advantage of it. And I can't really make any progress on my build until the stand is painted.

08TRDOFFROAD · Nov 10, 2023

Started my build thread today. Could use your input on my cabinet.

Build Thread - 08trdoffroad's Rimless 60 gal Mixed Reef Build

Hey all, I have been in the reefing hobby for more than a decade. And have had several tanks over the years. I am currently running an OG Biocube 29. I have been dreaming of a 60 gal (24"×24") cube build for years. I had been slowly gathering tanks (3 at this point) over the last 3ish years as...

www.reef2reef.com

GARRIGA · Nov 10, 2023

Personally fond of cubes and the bigger the better. Great idea

InsaneClownFish · Nov 15, 2023

I’m looking forward to this because I’m a huge fan of cube builds. I really like how you built the stand to match the cabinetry. I’d like to play devil’s advocate for a minute though.

There’s no question you have some wood working skills, but with that much weight I’m a bit concerned with how the joists are held in. Besides the plywood you have almost no base to floor support.

ronnie · Nov 15, 2023

Love the dims of the tank and the stand looks amazing! With the basement directly below, any reason you didn’t want to run the sump in the basement to give yourself a bigger total volume and space? The 40B feels like it will end up being a bit cramped with the equipment you’ve listed.

swilliams2207 · Nov 15, 2023

ronnie said:
Love the dims of the tank and the stand looks amazing! With the basement directly below, any reason you didn’t want to run the sump in the basement to give yourself a bigger total volume and space? The 40B feels like it will end up being a bit cramped with the equipment you’ve listed.

Thank you - I thought about it for a minute but I feared I’d be over complicating things for myself. Plus, the tank sits right above a steel beam/ wall so the basement access is more of a diagonal downward. Lastly, the room options below is either a workout room/a dedicated home brewery ( both fully finished). No space for a sump even if I wanted too. I was able to get some 5/8 flex tubing to the tank to a small utility space so at least I can set up a mixing station and pump water up and down really easily on demand.

swilliams2207 · Nov 15, 2023

InsaneClownFish said:
I’m looking forward to this because I’m a huge fan of cube builds. I really like how you built the stand to match the cabinetry. I’d like to play devil’s advocate for a minute though.

There’s no question you have some wood working skills, but with that much weight I’m a bit concerned with how the joists are held in. Besides the plywood you have almost no base to floor support.

I think it’s stronger than we all think. I have the plywood doubled up in two spots so it’s very rigid. Everything is glued and screwed with tightbond 3 so the thicker spots are as thick as 2x4s. The cross joist closest to the front is also directly sitting on plywood. I think most 2x4 stands today are wayyyyy overbuilt.

Here is what I based my design off: https://reefbuilders.com/2022/02/14/stands-are-the-most-underrated-gear-of-aquarium-keeping-video/

InsaneClownFish · Nov 15, 2023

swilliams2207 said:
I think it’s stronger than we all think. I have the plywood doubled up in two spots so it’s very rigid. Everything is glued and screwed with tightbond 3 so the thicker spots are as thick as 2x4s. The cross joist closest to the front is also directly sitting on plywood. I think most 2x4 stands today are wayyyyy overbuilt.

Here is what I based my design off: https://reefbuilders.com/2022/02/14/stands-are-the-most-underrated-gear-of-aquarium-keeping-video/

I do agree that we tend to overbuild. I see the plywood sitting on the cross joints, but what exactly is supporting the cross joints? The only thing I see are the pocket screws and perhaps some glue.

swilliams2207 · Nov 15, 2023

InsaneClownFish said:
I do agree that we tend to overbuild. I see the plywood sitting on the cross joints, but what exactly is supporting the cross joints? The only thing I see are the pocket screws and perhaps some glue.

That’s it - except the front one which is supported by plywood downward. I don’t think each of those need to be supported to the floor? They’re transferring the weight to the sides. I put them in so the top doesn’t sag. I guess I’m putting my faith in the guy in the video.

swilliams2207 · Nov 15, 2023

Finally got things up and running. Have to do some organizing and get my trident all set up again but it’s nice to have this move done. Breaking down the old tank, scrubbing down rocks, and transferring was an 8 hour day!

Still have to clean old equipment/probes and get this tank automated.

swilliams2207 · Nov 19, 2023

Well I’m finally 99% up and running. Full sump shot below. The picture makes the cord situation look crazier than it is.

Still a few things to organize better but believe it or not everything is fairly accessible. My Uv bulb died after about 6- 8 months of use so waiting on a replacement. I had to get a little creative with my ATO and dosing setup. Luckily my cabinet is connected internally to the right, so I moved my ATO, doser, and containers to a separate cabinet. Given the limited space, I really didn’t have a choice. The good news is it makes a lot more sense anyway so it’s a win on my part. Rather than putting my trident in the cabinet, I moved it up on top next to my router. This will make swapping regents much easier as well. Utilizing the whole cabinet space worked out.

As an aside PSA, I built this stand to hold water in case of an overflow. I accidentally put this to the test while filling the tank. My tube kicked out of the sump and about 10 gallons filled my tank stand. Since I sealed it with caulk/paint, it retained all the water. Could have been a huge mess. Second, I installed a GFCI outlet inside my stand. I had some electric components temporarily sitting on the stand floor and it ultimately tripped my outlet and shut everything off, saving the equipment and potentially a very dangerous situation. GFCI is really important…if you’re on the fence, it’s worth the short investment.