60g Custom Acrylic Tank

[hllb]

Hi everyone! I currently have a 32g biocube that has been up about 2 years now. I am in the planning stages for a new tank (tank is on order) so figured I could start a build thread to start tracking as I pick up items for the new build. I reentered the hobby 2 years ago after about a 15 year hiatus.

The new tank I've ordered is a custom acrylic tank, 1/2" thick with center internal overflow. Dimensions are 36Lx24Dx18H - I wanted a tank with more depth for coral placement and less height for ease of cleaning (I'm short so deeper tanks are problematic at best LOL). I also wanted to keep it small enough that I could still mix my water in a 5g bucket for routine maintenance (or perhaps I'll need 2 buckets now). I've also ordered a gray painted stand and front lift canopy for the tank. Hoping it will arrive late August or early September. The tank will be a mixed reef tank - I currently have a lot of zoas, some ricordea, LPS, and a couple of encrusting montis. I'd like to have more space for some additional RFAs (I have 1 currently), some additional LPS, and maybe try an easy acro or two.

Epuipment that will transfer to the new tank:
ApexEL
Kamoer X1 Pro dosing pumps (2)
Ice Cap 1K Gyre
ACKE Fuge Light
150W titanium heater
Inkbird controller
BRS CO2 Scrubber

New Equipment Planned
Radion XR15 Pro Gen 5 (2 - I've already got one and darn it, the price went up $50 for the other one I need to pick up)
Fiji Cube 20 Sump
Protein Skimmer (either Reef Octopus 110SSS or Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite)
Sicce Syncra SDC 6.0 Return Pump
ATO (maybe Tunze 3155)

A big question I have is what to do with my biocube. I don't really want to keep two tanks up, but turning it into a frag tank is kind of appealing LOL.

Here are some recent pictures of my current tank.

 

[revhtree]

Hi everyone! I currently have a 32g biocube that has been up about 2 years now. I am in the planning stages for a new tank (tank is on order) so figured I could start a build thread to start tracking as I pick up items for the new build. I reentered the hobby 2 years ago after about a 15 year hiatus.

The new tank I've ordered is a custom acrylic tank, 1/2" thick with center internal overflow. Dimensions are 36Lx24Dx18H - I wanted a tank with more depth for coral placement and less height for ease of cleaning (I'm short so deeper tanks are problematic at best LOL). I also wanted to keep it small enough that I could still mix my water in a 5g bucket for routine maintenance (or perhaps I'll need 2 buckets now). I've also ordered a gray painted stand and front lift canopy for the tank. Hoping it will arrive late August or early September. The tank will be a mixed reef tank - I currently have a lot of zoas, some ricordea, LPS, and a couple of encrusting montis. I'd like to have more space for some additional RFAs (I have 1 currently), some additional LPS, and maybe try an easy acro or two.

Epuipment that will transfer to the new tank:
ApexEL
Kamoer X1 Pro dosing pumps (2)
Ice Cap 1K Gyre
ACKE Fuge Light
150W titanium heater
Inkbird controller
BRS CO2 Scrubber

New Equipment Planned
Radion XR15 Pro Gen 5 (2 - I've already got one and darn it, the price went up $50 for the other one I need to pick up)
Fiji Cube 20 Sump
Protein Skimmer (either Reef Octopus 110SSS or Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite)
Sicce Syncra SDC 6.0 Return Pump
ATO (maybe Tunze 3155)

A big question I have is what to do with my biocube. I don't really want to keep two tanks up, but turning it into a frag tank is kind of appealing LOL.

Here are some recent pictures of my current tank.

Very nice!!

 

[hllb]

Picked up my skimmer this week. Got the Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite because it was on sale for $219 and it seems more straightforward to attach the CO2 scrubber to.

 

[Little c big D]

Love the plan! Also the idea of having the cube to frag in is great. As much as you love the 5g bucket. I've found getting a Brute with the little dolly is such an amazing asset! I look forward to seeing the 60 come together!

 

[hllb]

Love the plan! Also the idea of having the cube to frag in is great. As much as you love the 5g bucket. I've found getting a Brute with the little dolly is such an amazing asset! I look forward to seeing the 60 come together!

Yes, I've thought about that. I wonder if there's a 10g brute? I certainly don't need the 30g, but a 10g would be perfect.

 

[Little c big D]

Yes, I've thought about that. I wonder if there's a 10g brute? I certainly don't need the 30g, but a 10g would be perfect.

I think 32 and 20. I use the 32, but the 20 would probably be perfect!

 

[hllb]

Ah yes, there is a 10g. In order to do that, I'd have to plumb my RODI into my laundry room sink. It's currently in my basement and I carry the bucket up and down. I hate doing that anyway, so maybe this is an excuse LOL.

 

[hllb]

Picked up more stuff this week. The Sicce return pump I wanted was 20% off so I grabbed that and I grabbed the other XR15 Pro I needed. Also picked up a Trigger Systems 5g sapphire ATO container from their blemished email for $85.

I also "accidentally" bought an IM Fusion 10g to be a frag tank (sort of). I'll likely sell the biocube once it's down and cleaned. I didn't really want a second tank that large. I may put the IM tank in my son's room - still deciding exactly how I want to set that up. Picked up a Reefbreeders Nano light for that tank.

The main thing I need still is an ATO but the Tunze 3155 has been out of stock for quite a while. Other suggestions?

 

[hllb]

The notify button on BRS works quite well LOL. I ordered the Tunze ATO on Sunday and by Monday it was out of stock again. I now have all the main equipment for the new tank. I think the only thing I still really need is the plumbing but waiting for the tank to figure that out.

 

[hllb]

OK, the tank is now built and should ship before the end of the week! I may have a lot of planning/plumbing to figure out before I can do the transfer though. The back was supposed to be blue, but that was missed. They gave me a discount so no complaints.

 

[hllb]

The tank has arrived! Once I get it uncrated, I need to figure out the plumbing.

 

[hllb]

My tank is all unpacked and there are some disappointments around plumbing not being set up as expected. Trying to mentally get past that and working on my plumbing plan. I ordered a silicone tray to put in the bottom of the stand and some t-channel to hang my lights in the hood. I made a plumbing plan before trying my sump in the stand. Whoops. I ordered WAYYYYY too much plumbing. The good news is that my sump lines up perfectly with the drains so no need for elbows on the drains! I’m hoping to get everything dry fit this weekend but that might be a lofty goal.

Here are some additional pictures.

 

[hllb]

Boy, the silicone tray is a perfect fit! I likely will be putting the ato container behind the tank rather than in the stand.

 

[hllb]

Getting closer. Should get the last couple of fittings I need tomorrow.

 

[hllb]

Well, I think I've completed my plumbing. I went to do the leak test last night, and while technically my return pump fits, there isn't really enough clearance for the tubing, etc. So, I was quite upset about that last night. I'd opened the pump, but not gotten it wet, but it was past the 30 day BRS return policy for 'opened' items. I figured I'd just have to sell it for a loss and replace it with something smaller. I called BRS today and they gave me an RMA! Yay! I'll get a credit back in points, and I assume they'll charge a restocking fee, but I am A-OK with all that. Great customer service. So I turned around and ordered a Sicce SDC 3.0 instead of the 6.0. It is big enough for my tank, and I have no intentions of upgrading (anything bigger would require too much water storage and I know from my old 120 I had years ago, when the chore is bigger, I get super lazy LOL).

Here's the state of my un-tested plumbing. I'm happy with how it turned out, now just have to cross my fingers that all the bulkheads and unions are good.

 

[hllb]

So, I finally got around to a quick leak test on just my bulkheads while I waited for a new return pump (the SDC 6.0 was just a bit too big so I ordered the 3.0). Bulkheads were good...sadly, the overflow was not. It had a leak into the display section. SOOOO disappointing, and just another thing after a couple of other issues with the tank. Long story short, they sent me the stuff to patch it, which worked. This past weekend, I tested the rest of my plumbing (Just filled the sump and overflow and left it running for about 12 hours). After retightening a union, everything was good.

Next step: I guess it's time to do the big transfer. Plan to work on it this weekend. Not looking forward to it...pretty stressed about it. So to make myself feel better, I ordered 20 lbs of the new Tropic Eden Pukani man made rock from Premium Aquatics. Excited to see what it looks like in person. It may even arrive by Friday, but if not Monday at the latest.

I ordered 10 lbs of irregular shape, 5 lbs of double cave, and 5 lbs of double rock:

 

[hllb]

I also found some great acrylic shelves on Amazon that I'm going to use in my stand to put dosing pumps on or miscellaneous items.

 

[hllb]

Ok, this weekend I started the transfer. First step was to move the old tank over about 6-8 feet. I put all the fish and rock in bins and slid the tank over.

 

[hllb]

Next step was to get the new tank in place, put the sand in, and arrange the new rock. I used new live sand and it took longer for it to clear than when I used well rinsed dry aragonite before (72 hrs vs 15 hrs).

 

[hllb]

I debated leaving the fish in the bins, but I only had one heater and two bins and the cats were definitely considering going fishing. So I got everyone back in the old tank, and hooked up heater, return pump, and lights. I started Saturday morning and got to this point around 9pm Saturday night. Granted I did have periods where I needed to take a break - it was stressful.