60 Gallon “Lazy Cube” Build

[afrokobe]

That's going to be a good looking system! I've always been drawn to the cubes every time I've seen them.

likewise! This is my third cube lol.... 14, 25, and now 60.

My dream is a 5x5 30 in high cube. That will be the monster build in the future! Maybe 4x4 since 5x5 would be stupidly large... but I can dream!

 

[Reign1]

Right on, lighting for me is a big unknown with the tank being 24” deep. Not really sure which direction I should go for LPS and fish to start, but eventually will be wanting to add some SPS

I was also not sure what lighting I was going to use as mine 30” deep finally settled on the Orphek Atlantik icon .. BRS had them on sale like $200 off .. mine should be here Thursday

 

[afrokobe]

I was also not sure what lighting I was going to use as mine 30” deep finally settled on the Orphek Atlantik icon .. BRS had them on sale like $200 off .. mine should be here Thursday

I am planning on using reefi uno 2.0

 

[reef’r]

Hey man could you maybe shoot me a pm and go into detail on your overflow/sump system? That looks very similar to the trigger systems crystal cube which I just ordered and maybe the 1000gph Eshopps overflow? Looks really nice and would love to get your input!

 

[reef’r]

I was really bummed as I was planning a 60g cube build earlier this year. My local petcos did not have the 60g aqueon on sale (they were excluded), so I took the plunge and just ordered a custom planet (with low iron). Significantly more expensive and I found on that recently they started including the 60g on the half off sale...

Regardless, I ended up roughly in the same spot as you although at a higher cost lol. Love your looking stand, looks gorgeous. Here is mine

Just finished leak testing this weekend

Hey man could you maybe pm me and give me some more info on your overflow/sump? Looks like an Eshopps 1000gph overflow and the trigger systems crystal cube which I just ordered. Would love to get your input, thanks!

 

[Wolf8895]

Cleaned up my wires, so here’s an under tank shot. Sump by Rubbermaid! Also added some pvc cable holders Nothing but the best here!

Mocked up a light bracket to sit on the lip of the tank as I don’t want to hang it from the ceiling since I’ll probably upgrade down the road. But I don’t like this bracket either. Gonna sleep on it.

I also need to move my posters since they aren’t high enough or centered over the tank now. Bothers me.

 

[Wolf8895]

Full tank leak test today. Ratchet strap is at the ready if I hear any weird noises like it might be coming apart. Hopefully I could hold it together long enough to get the water out.

Light bracket finished. Still not sure I like it but I’ll paint it up and leave it for now.

 

[naterealbig]

Following along, as I'm doing a "bare bones" mixed reef, and am designing it around the idea of absolute minimal maintenance, intervention, and cleaning (whilst producing a stunning display). I'm hoping to pick up some tips and tricks here - the keyword "lazy" in your title has my interest piqued.

Let's get some closeups of that nice bracket you built.

Cheers

 

[Wolf8895]

Light bracket painted and mounted.

Added a ball valve I had lying around to slow the flow from the Eshopps overflow as it was draining too fast and really noisy. Couldn’t listen to that all day while working. Now I can regulate flow up and down.

Also started playing reef legos tonight.

I still have at least this many rocks left to put in the sump also.

 

[Wolf8895]

Rocks have been placed in tank and salt added! I used an old bag of Reef Crystals I had lying around and it didn’t seem to dissolve very well. Trying to decide if I want to drain it and start over with new salt.

 

[naterealbig]

Looks good to me. You going bb or adding sand?

 

[Wolf8895]

Looks good to me. You going bb or adding sand?

I’m going to add some sand. I’ve always liked the look of at least a little sand on the bottom. I’m waiting to see how much more it clears from the old salt mix before I add the live sand.

 

[reef’r]

Forgot to add that if your tank is like mine, the seams seemed to be bonded well but some of them were missing the inner silicone bead or it was very tiny. I added them to the seams that didn’t have them.

Just to come back to this and I did check my tank and it seems to be the same. Only silicone on the face of one glass panel where it meets the next. Is this what you are talking about?

 

[GatorGreg]

Lookin good. Nice work. I’m impressed

 

[Wolf8895]

Just to come back to this and I did check my tank and it seems to be the same. Only silicone on the face of one glass panel where it meets the next. Is this what you are talking about?

Yes. There’s the silicone that binds the glass together. Mine looked good, without air bubbles. There should also be another bead of silicone in every corner that connects the two right angled pieces of glass. Just like you’d have caulk where a counter top meets a wall.

 

[reef’r]

Yes. There’s the silicone that binds the glass together. Mine looked good, without air bubbles. There should also be another bead of silicone in every corner that connects the two right angled pieces of glass. Just like you’d have caulk where a counter top meets a wall.

Gotcha, did you do any prep work or just get some aquarium grade silicone and apply it?

 

[Wolf8895]

Gotcha, did you do any prep work or just get some aquarium grade silicone and apply it?

Cleaned it with vinegar and the applied aquarium silicone.

 

[Wolf8895]

Sandstorm!!! Going out of town so I went ahead and added the sand so it would be settled by the time I get back.

 

[Wolf8895]

Sand is in and settled. Now I’m messing with my pumps trying to keep them from blowing the sand all over the place.

It hasn’t finished cycling yet either and I’ve already got algae! I forgot to turn the lights off while I was out of town and they kickstarted an outbreak.

 

[afrokobe]

aquascape looks good!