Build Thread: 27-Gallon Drilled Cube Reef Build

[Sam7]

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

Looks like your in the correct spot....i thought you didnt have a tank build thread yesterday. I guess because i didnt see the link for it under your profile

 

[The_Bro]

Very nice setup and gear selection. Your off to a great start!

 

[chrishogs]

Build Thread Update

All I can say is… wow.

I thought I was finally at the “add water and relax” stage — turns out I was very wrong. After getting everything plumbed, cemented, tightened, and looking clean, I filled the tank… and both bulkheads immediately started leaking. Instant panic mode.

I spent a good amount of time trying to get them to stop, but nothing worked. That’s when I realized the problem: I had cemented the PVC into the bulkheads with the gaskets on the dry side instead of the wet side. Rookie mistake, but one you only make once.

The “right” answer was to cut the PVC and redo the whole thing. But of course, I tried the shortcut first — cut the gaskets, moved them to the wet side, reassembled everything… still leaking. Added plumber’s tape as a last‑ditch effort… still leaking.

At that point we also realized the system was extremely loud without a baffle. So we made the call: cut the PVC, head back to the store, and start fresh. Picked up new bulkheads, new PVC, new adapters, and a ball‑joint baffle.

This time I plumbed it with minimal flex tubing to take pressure off the overflow box, and I dry‑fit every single piece until I was 100% confident it would work. Even ran it briefly without cement just to confirm the flow and noise levels were right.

Once everything checked out, we cemented it all, waited the proper cure time, fired it up… and like a charm: no leaks, dead silent.

To say I was tired, over it, and beyond ecstatic that it was finally working properly is an understatement. What a rollercoaster — but we’re officially up and running.

Rockwork is in, water is flowing, and the tank is alive.
Would love any feedback on the aquascape. Thanks for following along!

 

[chrishogs]

What are your thoughts on the locline Y? Are there too many links, should I remove some, should I get rid of the Y all together? Thanks!

 

[chrishogs]

More rock or less rock? Let me know your thoughts

 

[Sam7]

What are your thoughts on the locline Y? Are there too many links, should I remove some, should I get rid of the Y all together? Thanks!

Its totally up to you but i would probably just run the single without the Y but maybe then it will blow to hard i dont know if the flow would be too much with one versus the split Y

 

[Sam7]

More rock or less rock? Let me know your thoughts

looks about right but i would leave it were the top doesnt shadow the lower areas. Leave enough room for the corals you plan to grow.

 

[Sam7]

Build Thread Update

All I can say is… wow.

I thought I was finally at the “add water and relax” stage — turns out I was very wrong. After getting everything plumbed, cemented, tightened, and looking clean, I filled the tank… and both bulkheads immediately started leaking. Instant panic mode.

I spent a good amount of time trying to get them to stop, but nothing worked. That’s when I realized the problem: I had cemented the PVC into the bulkheads with the gaskets on the dry side instead of the wet side. Rookie mistake, but one you only make once.

The “right” answer was to cut the PVC and redo the whole thing. But of course, I tried the shortcut first — cut the gaskets, moved them to the wet side, reassembled everything… still leaking. Added plumber’s tape as a last‑ditch effort… still leaking.

At that point we also realized the system was extremely loud without a baffle. So we made the call: cut the PVC, head back to the store, and start fresh. Picked up new bulkheads, new PVC, new adapters, and a ball‑joint baffle.

This time I plumbed it with minimal flex tubing to take pressure off the overflow box, and I dry‑fit every single piece until I was 100% confident it would work. Even ran it briefly without cement just to confirm the flow and noise levels were right.

Once everything checked out, we cemented it all, waited the proper cure time, fired it up… and like a charm: no leaks, dead silent.

To say I was tired, over it, and beyond ecstatic that it was finally working properly is an understatement. What a rollercoaster — but we’re officially up and running.

Rockwork is in, water is flowing, and the tank is alive.
Would love any feedback on the aquascape. Thanks for following along!

Oh no...i bet that was fun but it was a good learning experience

 

[chrishogs]

I think this is the final rock work change. Famous last words.

 

[steveschuerger]

Don't even get me started️

Yes they did. Took mine and ran with it as well…

 

[steveschuerger]

And nice set up. Looks good so far.

 

[chrishogs]

Final Livestock, CUC and Coral plan

Fish (8 Total)

• 3 Clownfish
• Possum Wrasse
• Tailspot Blenny
• Shrimp Goby
• Neon Goby
• Purple Firefish
• Pink‑Streaked Wrasse


Shrimp / Inverts

• Pistol Shrimp
• Skunk Cleaner Shrimp


Clean-Up Crew

• 5 Trochus
• 3 Nassarius
• 6 Cerith
• 1–2 Scarlet or Blue-Leg Hermits
• 1 Conch
• Emerald Crab


Corals

Softies

• Zoanthids (3 morphs)
• Toadstool Leather
• Clove Polyps or Xenia


LPS

• Duncan
• Candy Cane
• Branching Hammer
• Frogspawn
• Acan Lord
• Torch Coral (isolated)


SPS

• Montipora Digitata
• Birdsnest
• Montipora Cap
• Stylophora


Sandbed

• Ricordea Yuma
• Fungia Plate
• Scoly

 

[chrishogs]

water parameters seem to be doing well. Three clowns right now, I know one will most likely pair and we’ll have a problem but watching closely and have somewhere to rehome should/when it gets there.

 

[skey44]

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

Oh yeah. I used to work at a an LFS I can beat that number. “How many times have you had to help with water remediation at the chiropractor next door?” Is the real expert level question. Fun build, looking good and following!

 

[chrishogs]

Been very fun so far! And very happy with where I’m at right now. Gonna give the clowns another week and do a water change

 

[chrishogs]

Been very fun so far! And very happy with where I’m at right now. Gonna give the clowns another week and do a water change

 

[steveschuerger]

More rock or less rock? Let me know your thoughts

I always think less rock in my head, but then add in more rock over time. It’s inevitable for me…

 

[chrishogs]

Yeah ended up putting it all in

 

[chrishogs]

The last last rock work change. But really liking it right now. Across the back wall, not sure what to put on the to have it grow up and sprout out of the back of the rock work. And then across from the MP10 what can take that direct hit of flow?

 

[chrishogs]

Went out to NJ frag fest on Saturday and Reef Co on Sunday. Made a few zoa purchases and a chalice. Then I did a poor choice of staring at stuff online and placing two orders.

As of today I have three clowns, everyone still doing well but think I will be rehoming one soon.

4 zoas: pink diamond, purple and orange, purple and green and a purple yellow one. Along with a chalice that I shouldn’t have gotten but fingers crossed.

On to my poor decisions sitting at home during a snow storm.

February 3rd delivery:
TSA Death Rattle Micromussa Acan Coral

Star Foxx Zoanthid Coral

WWc Purple Hearts Zoanthids Coral

Saturns Ring Mushroom Coral

Bloodsucker Zoanthids Coral

February 17th delivery:
TSA Antivenom Favia Coral
TSA Black Hole Blastomussa
F2M Holy Grail Micromussa Acan Coral

Space Ripper Blastomussa Coral​

Final wave will be late April and I want one or two top pieces that will flow and a show stopper for either the same or the center lower shelf.

That being said would greatly appreciate help in how to space these out appropriately on my rock work. Thanks in advance.