Build Thread: 27-Gallon Drilled Cube Reef Build

[chrishogs]

Hey everyone — here’s build post for my upcoming 27-gallon reef system. I’ve added all equipment I’ve purchased so far and included the remaining recommended items I still plan to add. Would love advice, feedback, and any suggestions before final assembly.

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Display Tank​

27-Gallon Marineland Cube (to be drilled w/provided bit from Eshopps)
• Drilling for the Eshopps Prodigy M Slimline Overflow
• Back panel will be drilled for both overflow and return
• Going for a clean, modern layout with a minimal aquascape

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Equipment Purchased So Far​

Lighting​

• Ecotech Radion XR15 G6 Pro
• XR15 diffuser
• RMS single-arm mount

Flow​

• Ecotech MP10 QuietDrive (Mobius)

Filtration & Sump​

• Bashsea 24 × 10 × 14 sump
• Bubble Magus Curve 3EX skimmer
• Innovative Marine ChaetoMax 9W refugium light
• Chaeto refugium planned

Return System​

• Jebao DCP-2500 return pump
• Drilled return with 3/4" bulkhead
• Loc-Line output nozzle
• Flexible return tubing

ATO​

• Neptune ATK V2
• Bashsea SS-FIVE 5-gallon ATO reservoir

Heating​

• 100W BRS titanium heater element
• Inkbird 306T

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Plumbing Setup​

Overflow​

• Eshopps Prodigy M Slimline
• Running a Herbie-style drain (recommended):
  • 1" main siphon with schedule 80 gate valve
  • 1" emergency drain

Return Line​

• Jebao DCP-2500 → flexible tubing → 3/4" bulkhead → Loc-Line
• Additional fittings:
  • 3/4" bulkhead (slip x thread)
  • 3/4" MPT barb for flex tube
  • Loc-Line 3/4" adapter
  • Unions on both pump and return line
  • Gate valve optional for dialing flow

Additional Plumbing Hardware Needed​

• Schedule 80 unions
• Schedule 80 gate valve (for Herbie)
• PVC cement/primer
• Silicone mat under return pump
• Filter floss or filter cup for mechanical filtration
• Sump media basket for carbon

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Apex Integration (Planned)​

Planning to run a Neptune Apex A3 Jr with EB832 for:

• Heating control and redundancy
• ATK integration (highly recommended)
• Skimmer safety shutoffs
• Return pump feed/maintenance modes
• Refugium light scheduling
• Radion and MP10 power automation
  (Mobius still handles Radion/MP10 intensity settings)

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Remaining Items Needed (Recommended Quality Level)​

1. RO/DI System​

A premium 5-stage or higher RO/DI setup
• Needed despite having whole-house carbon + softener
• Prevents silicates, metals, nitrate, phosphate contamination

2. Salinity Testing​

Choose one high-accuracy option:
• Digital salinity meter (Milwaukee MA887)
• High-quality seawater refractometer

3. Test Kits​

• Alkalinity
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Nitrate
• Phosphate

4. Salt Mix​

• High-end reef salt for consistency

5. Media Basket​

• Sump media basket for carbon and Purigen
• No pump needed (sump flow handles it)

6. Carbon + Chemical Media​

• Activated carbon
• Optional Purigen or Chemipure

7. Aquascape Materials​

• Dry rock
• Reef-safe glue/epoxy
• Drill bits for interlocking structures (optional)

8. Utility Items​

• Mixing bucket with heater & pump
• Redundant thermometers
• Towels, tubing, siphon
• Small powerhead for salt mixing
• Controller cabinet or wire-management mounts

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Stocking Plan (Work in Progress)​

Fish Ideas (Choose 4–6 max)​

• Clown pair
• Tailspot or Midas blenny
• Firefish, Purple Firefish
• Royal Gramma
• Possum Wrasse
• Gobies (Clown, Neon, or Shrimp Goby)

Inverts​

• Trochus snails
• Nassarius snails
• Cleaner shrimp
• Tuxedo urchin (if algae allows)

Corals​

With the XR15 G6 Pro, any of the following are possible:

• Softies (zoas, mushrooms, leathers)
• LPS (torches, hammers, Duncans, acans)
• SPS (Montipora, Birdsnest, and select Acropora in top 6–8 inches)

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Coming Soon​

• Drilling photos
• Sump layout diagram
• Aquascape mockups
• Coral placement plan

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Thanks for checking out my build! Let me know any suggestions or red flags before I start drilling and plumbing — appreciate the advice!

 

[Peace River]

It looks like with your plan, you are off to a good start! Good luck on your adventure!!!

 

[chrishogs]

Small Update. All supplies purchased along with wood. Time to build out the frame for my stand and get this all plumbed together. More to come this weekend.

 

[chrishogs]

Stand frame is built!


Definitely beyond overkill, but I had a blast putting it together. Tomorrow I’ll be adding the plywood top, plus the base plywood for the sump and ATO tank. Over the next few days, I’ll get everything plumbed and then move on to painting.

Doors and a finished front face will come later, but for now I’m extremely happy with how it turned out — especially that perfectly level shot!

 

[JumboShrimp]

It seems that you have things meticulously mapped out! Cubes are cool. Best wished with it.

 

[chrishogs]

It seems that you have things meticulously mapped out! Cubes are cool. Best wished with it.

Thanks!! Tried to do my research and set myself up for success. Here goes nothing haha

 

[chrishogs]

A little delayed on finishing the stand but hope to have that completed later tonight. Got my RO/DI installed today in my utility closet.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Great job. Now we have to see how many times you overflow your storage container... I think the R2R record is "58". Lol!

 

[chrishogs]

Great job. Now we have to see how many times you overflow your storage container... I think the R2R record is "58". Lol!

Hahaha going to order a float valve to hopefully save me from this.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

A little delayed on finishing the stand but hope to have that completed later tonight. Got my RO/DI installed today in my utility closet.

Nice R/O setup!

 

[chrishogs]

Nice R/O setup!

Thank you!

 

[chrishogs]

Always fun learning on the fly. Painted the 27 gallon marineland background black last night and set out to drill it this morning. Not sure if the cold temp in the garage or the paint on the background sent a crack through the tank.

Was super bummed out about it as I planned to get plumbed and all set for water today. Took a ride to Petco for a quick look with no expectations but was pleasantly surprised with a 35 gallon rimless on clearance. They also has 60s but the size was not going to work with my stand and I didn’t want to push my system.

Picks below, wish my return was a little lower, but that was an after thought that I had to commit to, but don’t think it’s to high for concern.

View attachment 4353003

 

[chrishogs]

After the trip to Petco and a quick on the job learning mistake. We had it all sealed up with bulk heads and time to carry it down to the basement.

Excuse the mess, but everything is wired up and plumbed. Tomorrow we need to focus on some cable management and pick up live rock. RO is currently running to fill her up!

 

[Sam7]

Welcome....nice setup. You should start tank build thread if you havent already

 

[Sam7]

After the trip to Petco and a quick on the job learning mistake. We had it all sealed up with bulk heads and time to carry it down to the basement.

Excuse the mess, but everything is wired up and plumbed. Tomorrow we need to focus on some cable management and pick up live rock. RO is currently running to fill her up!

Very nice....you do nice work

 

[Sam7]

A little delayed on finishing the stand but hope to have that completed later tonight. Got my RO/DI installed today in my utility closet.

awesome setup on your rodi.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Don't even get me started️

 

[Sam7]

Don't even get me started️

haha too funny

 

[Sam7]

Don't even get me started️

Did you invest in the company?

 

[chrishogs]

Welcome....nice setup. You should start tank build thread if you havent already

that’s what this is or is there a specific spot for build threads?