Ergot
Community Member
Well, this is my 40g cube build thread! (Mind you the updates might be slow at first, my house turned into a zoo this weekend so it’s not my only project currently)
I’m a lifelong fish enthusiast but this is my first dive into saltwater, and honestly fish in general in 10+ years. My excitement is almost annoying right now, I’m sure you all know what I mean!
I finally got the set-up last night, the seller even threw in two extra powerheads, 3 bags of black “live” sand and a BRS refractometer microscope doohickey.
So, in total
20x20x20 rimless cube w/ eshopps prodigy m overflow
20g acrylic sump
Oversized stand
Cheap Amazon dc return pump
Cheap Amazon ac return pump
200w finnex titanium heater
2 jebao RW-4 w/ controller
2 jebao SDW-9 /w controller
165w viparspectra LED light
Bubble magus curve 5
JBJ nano ATO /w 3 gallon reservoir
3 - 20lb bags of CaribSea black “live” sand
BRS refractometer
The Return Pump: I’ve replaced the dc return pump with an eheim 1262; I’m going to have it output to a T split with a ball or gate valve on one end (which would you recommend?) and the return hose on the other so that I can reduce the flow a bit and send it back to the sump or to a reactor of some sort if I get one. (Uv or chaeto are the only ones I see myself vesting in, I’m not a doctor so I don’t see myself owning a calcium reactor despite how nice it must be. )
The Sump: the design kills me, no place for a refugium and it’s not double baffled for the return section! I’ll make it work, maybe a 5”x11.5”x9” refugium made from egg crate next to the skimmer, or a reactor but changing bulb housings seems pricey and inconvenient relatively speaking.
The Stand: I need to buy a sheet of plywood to place under the stand so that I can shim between it and the stand to level the tank, I have been meaning to put floor jacks under my house but that won’t get done for another few months. (Any recommendations on getting the shims out after I do that, as hopefully it will set my floor back to level or at least a bit closer.
The Yellowing Hose: What caused this? Should I buy new and start over?
The Heater: Is it unwise to put it in the return section? I thought it would be effective at circulating if I put it in front of the baffle opening but maybe that’s a bad idea if the chamber ever runs dry for any reason. I might get two 150w but I don’t know where I would fit a second heater.
I’ve got two random questions as well, I’m full of them honestly but I’ll stop here for now.
#1 The chamber of the overflow is hard plumbed with pvc that has the purple cement sealing the joints. Is it okay to let this soak in vinegar to clean up some calcium deposits of some sort in the overflow?
#2 how long can you store saltwater while maintaining efficiency and purity?
I’m a lifelong fish enthusiast but this is my first dive into saltwater, and honestly fish in general in 10+ years. My excitement is almost annoying right now, I’m sure you all know what I mean!
I finally got the set-up last night, the seller even threw in two extra powerheads, 3 bags of black “live” sand and a BRS refractometer microscope doohickey.
So, in total
20x20x20 rimless cube w/ eshopps prodigy m overflow
20g acrylic sump
Oversized stand
Cheap Amazon dc return pump
Cheap Amazon ac return pump
200w finnex titanium heater
2 jebao RW-4 w/ controller
2 jebao SDW-9 /w controller
165w viparspectra LED light
Bubble magus curve 5
JBJ nano ATO /w 3 gallon reservoir
3 - 20lb bags of CaribSea black “live” sand
BRS refractometer
The Return Pump: I’ve replaced the dc return pump with an eheim 1262; I’m going to have it output to a T split with a ball or gate valve on one end (which would you recommend?) and the return hose on the other so that I can reduce the flow a bit and send it back to the sump or to a reactor of some sort if I get one. (Uv or chaeto are the only ones I see myself vesting in, I’m not a doctor so I don’t see myself owning a calcium reactor despite how nice it must be. )
The Sump: the design kills me, no place for a refugium and it’s not double baffled for the return section! I’ll make it work, maybe a 5”x11.5”x9” refugium made from egg crate next to the skimmer, or a reactor but changing bulb housings seems pricey and inconvenient relatively speaking.
The Stand: I need to buy a sheet of plywood to place under the stand so that I can shim between it and the stand to level the tank, I have been meaning to put floor jacks under my house but that won’t get done for another few months. (Any recommendations on getting the shims out after I do that, as hopefully it will set my floor back to level or at least a bit closer.
The Yellowing Hose: What caused this? Should I buy new and start over?
The Heater: Is it unwise to put it in the return section? I thought it would be effective at circulating if I put it in front of the baffle opening but maybe that’s a bad idea if the chamber ever runs dry for any reason. I might get two 150w but I don’t know where I would fit a second heater.
I’ve got two random questions as well, I’m full of them honestly but I’ll stop here for now.
#1 The chamber of the overflow is hard plumbed with pvc that has the purple cement sealing the joints. Is it okay to let this soak in vinegar to clean up some calcium deposits of some sort in the overflow?
#2 how long can you store saltwater while maintaining efficiency and purity?
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