It’s hip to be square! What are the benefits of a cube aquarium?

[CrunchyBananas]

I love my 60 gallon cube! It lets you have a unique footprint to scape with, more viewing sides, and easier to light optimally.

my main downside is it can be tough getting to each corner of the tank with 24” depth and only 24”x24” to get into. Plus there’s the overflow box and corals growing in.

Overall a fan of cube tanks for sure if you’d like a bit different looking display, here’s my current ine

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Love the format of a cube. For me a cube gives me the depth of aquascaping without having a huge tank. I have MTS so this works.
so visually (once I am finished) one wall is going to have three 24” x 19” tanks separated by equipment cabinets. Tropical, Temperate Tide Pool, and a Frag.
This is my 40 on my build thread now.

 

[Reign1]

If it still dry and in the setup stage, I would personal advocate for drilling a closed loop and go RFG nozzles - you won't even need any power heads. For a tank of that size, just two slightly over-driven 3/4in RFGs or even two 1in RFGs would get the job done for flow.

Of course, that would be my completely biased opinion - LOL

At a minimum, go with 1/2in Random Flow generators on the Returns, as opposed to standard educators. At around 450 to 500 GPH (or more) the 1/2in can be surprising effective.

As for the MP40s (if you're still going that rout, and I haven't convinced you to go with RFGs on a closed loop ), I would run the two MP40s off the back wall facing forward and the MP10, down in the lower back corner going acorss the tank from left to right.

I already have BNIB MP10 and 40. I almost considered a CL as I am old school only issues I dont want to drill tank any more. I even considered to use one drain hole as CL intake and run water level really high in OF box (which i will have to any way due to 30" ht).
Much to ponder.

 

[Wasabiroot]

I love my 60 gallon cube! It lets you have a unique footprint to scape with, more viewing sides, and easier to light optimally.

my main downside is it can be tough getting to each corner of the tank with 24” depth and only 24”x24” to get into. Plus there’s the overflow box and corals growing in.

Overall a fan of cube tanks for sure if you’d like a bit different looking display, here’s my current ine

Those are some pretty Alveopora

 

[frostie18]

The positives:

-Lend themselves to neat aquascapes. They're versatile in that you can create prominent spires, islands, shallow gradients, walls, islands, etc and forgiving.
-They have good visual impact because they are space efficient and the simple shape is classic and aesthetically pleasing
-Size scales well i.e. large water volume in smaller footprint
- Easy to light
-Good viewing angles

Cons are flow can be tricky, and large cubes by nature are deep which adds complications to maintenance

I currently have a Fluval edge, main problem is the cleaning of it. Getting in the corners at the top is a nightmare. Does look smart though! Now changing it as they scratch really easy.

 

[Whiskeyboy84]

Well it will be easier to light .. following as I just got a 30" 117gal cube. Will hopefully be starting a build soon.

I am in the process of designing and building a custom 48”x48”x31” with an island overflow.

 

[Whiskeyboy84]

I already have BNIB MP10 and 40. I almost considered a CL as I am old school only issues I dont want to drill tank any more. I even considered to use one drain hole as CL intake and run water level really high in OF box (which i will have to any way due to 30" ht).
Much to ponder.

The 48”x48”x31 that I am designing and building is going to utilize Closed Loops for internal Circulation I am going to have two intakes per side next to the island return that will be hidden by the aqua scape and the. 4 outlets per side I am thinking about covering them in a smaller rock structure as well.

 

[thermoJoe]

TBA, i don't remember why i decided on a cube (60 gal Aquamaxx), but I do like it and it is viewable from 4 sides, at least when i clean it I also have a 24 gal cube that houses "the brain".

 

[LDJ]

After being in the marine aquariums during the 80’s I’m amazed at the majority of aquariums with no tops. My 32 gal. bio cube is perfect. Great size for my small office. Nice lighting and a TOP. No need for auto top off, fish can’t escape and it is an all in one set up. I love the simplicity.

 

[CoachRichardson]

While not a perfect cube you can’t tell by looking at it. What I love about the Red Sea XL 200G2 is the footprint allowed me the largest tank I could put in the space I had. The cube allows you to have a nice size setup when you don’t have the space for the length of the rectangles. I love the depth being able to have the different levels I need for different types of corals. I love the aqua spare and how that is filling out. The fish seem happy with all the space they have to swim. I am thoroughly happy with the aquascape I was able to build. The tank seems much larger than it is with just 42 gallons in the display but it is enough that the volume of that and the sump is enough that my parameters have been very stable once I got it up and running. I did struggle in the beginning with an alkalinity spike but that was from the amount of new water going into the system vs the old setup. That was my fault in not knowing how high the Alk was in IO reef crystals. The cube also makes the frags seem much larger until they grow out. I would love to have a larger tank one day when I have the space but I love the look of the cube for my purposes right now.

 

[Fuzznutz36]

Flow is tough, currently have 2 mp40 (only bc the glass is 1/2") and a 6055 on my 60g Glass Cages cube...mp40s on the back wall either side, 6055 on back wall pointed toward the middle.

Imo aqua scape is limited, but unique...love it though!

 

[MileZer0Reef]

240G 40x40x34 lit by 4 xr30 pros, and 3 orphek or3s. Use 2 mp40s midway up the back wall and 2 gyres mounted vertical at the top left&right with the flow directors pointed towards the middle of the tank. No flow issues and completely random. Par is 250 at the sandbed and 500 at the top of the rocks