Just picked up my new tank on Friday. I have a thread on my local forum, PNWMAS, just though I would add one here since I am finally in the cube club. This is my first new tank, everything before I bought used, so I am really excited to get started.
The first thing I did was pull the overflow off so I could change the plumbing around. The overflow on these are a slimline version and you can't get to anything that is factory installed. After everything was removed I realized they drilled two holes for a 1" bulkhead, the 3/4" return bulkhead they supply is the same diameter as the 1". I didn't know they did that so I planned my plumbing off of the 3/4". I am going with full siphon on the 3/4" and vented on the 1", this should allow for plenty of flow. The most stressful event so far was drilling the brand new glass so I could have returns on each side of the overflow. This will be the center piece in our living room so I wanted to keep it really clean, nothing over the top. I will have a screen top with a nice clean bracket to hold my light. I have been in contact with Kenny at Reefstar and will be purchasing a light from him as soon as I sell a few things laying around here.
I also built a steel stand on Saturday. I am thinking black acrylic on magnets for the sides. I have the upper portion of the plumbing completed now. I cleaned up and resealed a 20 gal cube that will be my sump. It will have a 8"x8" return area, the rest will be skimmer and live rock in a L configuration.
I reglued the overflow box back in after I had the bulkheads configured the right way.
Not real sure what I will be using for a return pump yet. I will keep everyone updated as I go.
![317E185D-66BA-4E5E-9BFB-C787DB4507CA-4396-00000455652311EE_zpsd8845800.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2F317E185D-66BA-4E5E-9BFB-C787DB4507CA-4396-00000455652311EE_zpsd8845800.jpg&hash=85402e7e77d77f5cac445e0b57a69d82)
![EB5B760E-8B0B-4D01-ACB9-B01EF68A548F-4396-000004554E81CE09_zps85d11200.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2FEB5B760E-8B0B-4D01-ACB9-B01EF68A548F-4396-000004554E81CE09_zps85d11200.jpg&hash=ca66d9064cedd020da82190b7c398e4c)
![EEF2F601-A979-4DC9-A8D5-5012095F79C0-4396-000004554851897E_zpsa3a1cd33.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2FEEF2F601-A979-4DC9-A8D5-5012095F79C0-4396-000004554851897E_zpsa3a1cd33.jpg&hash=618bcb66ce0344f5401f39a1801c2a02)
The first thing I did was pull the overflow off so I could change the plumbing around. The overflow on these are a slimline version and you can't get to anything that is factory installed. After everything was removed I realized they drilled two holes for a 1" bulkhead, the 3/4" return bulkhead they supply is the same diameter as the 1". I didn't know they did that so I planned my plumbing off of the 3/4". I am going with full siphon on the 3/4" and vented on the 1", this should allow for plenty of flow. The most stressful event so far was drilling the brand new glass so I could have returns on each side of the overflow. This will be the center piece in our living room so I wanted to keep it really clean, nothing over the top. I will have a screen top with a nice clean bracket to hold my light. I have been in contact with Kenny at Reefstar and will be purchasing a light from him as soon as I sell a few things laying around here.
![F512921C-C1E2-419D-941B-55B7C0D6EF1D-4396-0000045541E675C5_zps30b2955d.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2FF512921C-C1E2-419D-941B-55B7C0D6EF1D-4396-0000045541E675C5_zps30b2955d.jpg&hash=ca424f44ed561a9bd933cceef53cc201)
![3863E6C7-A709-41B7-8AFA-0C5A6835F3E4-4396-000004553C8641A0_zps4ccc9e82.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2F3863E6C7-A709-41B7-8AFA-0C5A6835F3E4-4396-000004553C8641A0_zps4ccc9e82.jpg&hash=7cda82a10bc50090fc5d3f3c7ddfda9f)
![E5B2ED2C-FCD2-4B6F-9910-0AA01F62F007-4396-000004552F39A8C4_zps666557a4.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2FE5B2ED2C-FCD2-4B6F-9910-0AA01F62F007-4396-000004552F39A8C4_zps666557a4.jpg&hash=64c2e7e4c37ae306c7a5285452ce4329)
I also built a steel stand on Saturday. I am thinking black acrylic on magnets for the sides. I have the upper portion of the plumbing completed now. I cleaned up and resealed a 20 gal cube that will be my sump. It will have a 8"x8" return area, the rest will be skimmer and live rock in a L configuration.
![489B7F37-9797-4703-BF74-0E89A6D54823-4396-0000045529FC0F95_zpsfaac1ac6.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2F489B7F37-9797-4703-BF74-0E89A6D54823-4396-0000045529FC0F95_zpsfaac1ac6.jpg&hash=9f3e0030bbf9894552de3d5333e2a651)
![A5178CE5-0120-400B-97BB-2C500121BFDA-4396-000004553633CCE2_zps18caca76.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2FA5178CE5-0120-400B-97BB-2C500121BFDA-4396-000004553633CCE2_zps18caca76.jpg&hash=06617de53f447ec70735703458d519bc)
![6540F797-355F-404D-9618-20DF0B8FC69E-4396-000004551E5B4C12_zps1c4f1516.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2F6540F797-355F-404D-9618-20DF0B8FC69E-4396-000004551E5B4C12_zps1c4f1516.jpg&hash=6b35b0472df4116a89c55c70a2333909)
![0BA848AE-963E-494E-90F7-D771440E2046-4396-000004552428DEF3_zpsfe2cd8f8.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2F0BA848AE-963E-494E-90F7-D771440E2046-4396-000004552428DEF3_zpsfe2cd8f8.jpg&hash=3973a36879a1423647507179e3aff2bb)
![29B8F016-9F5E-4199-B137-196D3BC42C02-4998-000004C15EBE9062_zpsbd790e37.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2F29B8F016-9F5E-4199-B137-196D3BC42C02-4998-000004C15EBE9062_zpsbd790e37.jpg&hash=460cbb8c4bd050cf31bec0fb8ae497fc)
I reglued the overflow box back in after I had the bulkheads configured the right way.
![95303B71-A6F9-44E2-9911-9C40C4652AD4-4396-0000045517617CED_zps05263e2d.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1199.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa478%2FJohnRHiestand%2F95303B71-A6F9-44E2-9911-9C40C4652AD4-4396-0000045517617CED_zps05263e2d.jpg&hash=c9ca400a2c18d647a6f011e71e50450f)
Not real sure what I will be using for a return pump yet. I will keep everyone updated as I go.