Jon’s Waterbox 70.2 build

[Waterbox Aquariums]

This build is looking beautiful! Love what you did with the cabinet and add on features

 

[Manny Tavan]

wow you got your tank quickly. Who did you order from?

 

[Nfd552]

wow you got your tank quickly. Who did you order from?

@SaltwaterAq

Saltwateraquarium.com

 

[Nfd552]

Bought a 32gal brute can with lid from Home Depot for $24. Was cheaper than buying 6 more 5gal buckets and lids from there so made the brute plunge. Makes it a little easier for me this week, since i can just run it for a while and not have to worry about swapping out when the 5 gal buckets are full. I do have 15 gal in buckets already made also. My last 5 gal container i still have been using as a top off to my other tank. I used an 4 stage robuddie, and unfortunately it’s the 50 gal a day one. Add in the cold weather(38-45) on Long Island, it definelyy didn’t make as much as i expected last night but since it’s filling the brute, I’m not worried. I’ll just let it run till tonight and not have to worry about it.

I’ve seen a few forums on brute cans and rodi storage. I don’t plan this water to be in there long, and i know the cups to 5 gal bucket ratio better than adding salt to an assumed amount of water in the brute can. (There’s no easy way it seems to tell like when you’ve hit 30 gallons etc)
So i will be pumping it out into 5 gal buckets and mixing in them and then pumping into tank. Makes moving the water a lot easier based on where my tank is and where my brute is.

Still have to add rock and sand, but i have the rock arraigned how i currently like it outside the tank(previous post) and sand is simple enough.

Come on rodi water!!!

 

[H2Ocooled]

Looks like a great setup, I was looking at the Redsea 170 but the waterbox 70 looks a little better, I like the fact that it takes up about the same space but gives you a lot more water volume. Is the stand solid wood or particle board? Thanks!

 

[Nfd552]

Looks like a great setup, I was looking at the Redsea 170 but the waterbox 70 looks a little better, I like the fact that it takes up about the same space but gives you a lot more water volume. Is the stand solid wood or particle board? Thanks!

I’m pretty sure it’s solid wood. It feels pretty heavy and durable, not flex at all. It’s also coated in almost a 1/16th to an 1/8th” of some kind of hard paint. I can tell only bc i can see it on the door the delivery co damaged

 

[Nfd552]

Finally the fun part of this journey. Getting some rock in! So after laying out everything on the cardboard within dimensions, i carefully move the layers and place them on another sheet of cardboard to remember where i had them. Yea, that didn’t help lol took me what felt like forever to stack this scape bc it seems like nothing fit the way had them. Was frustrating in the beginning and after what felt like 500 attempts, i got what i wanted. I didn’t take many pics of the process mainly bc i was so frustrated. It felt like a continuous round of square hole-round peg. But this is what I’m going with. Waters about made and sand is ready to be dumped.

 

[Nfd552]

I also received the heater today. I moved then the controller in the equipment cabinet and the heater near the return over in the skimmer chamber of the sump. Only thing i wish was different with this controller setup in my build was that the temp probe cord was maybe a foot longer. When i remove the false wall, if needed, too far from the cabinet it will pull it out of the water.

 

[Nfd552]

I was able to Put in around 55 gallons give or take one or two gallons. For the full system. Added the clarifier last night and this morning it’s lookkng pretty clear. I’m running all filtration per caribseas recommendation with the sand. The valve makes it pretty easy to dial in the return flow. I’m going to let the Water has to warm up a little more and check for any issues over the next day or two before i add any of @DrTim bacteria and start the cycle. Last thing i have to mount in the cabinet (besides the radion power supply) is the reeflink but I haven’t had a chance to buy the mount off eBay yet. I also need to dial in the mp40 and return pump to where I’m going to want them. And the nyos skimmer most people just recommend to run for a bit to break it in.

 

[H2Ocooled]

Looks great, your rock setup works perfect for that size it will give you lots of room for corals and fish.

 

[Nfd552]

Looks great, your rock setup works perfect for that size it will give you lots of room for corals and fish.

exactly what i was going for

 

[Nfd552]

Time for some dr tims bacteria and dr Tim’s ammonia. Socks pulled, skimmer off for 48. All pumps off for 20 mins to let the bacteria settle.

Oddly tho, just to double check the time procedure, since I’ve only done the shrimp method, the ammonia bottle says 1 drop per gal, and the instructions on the Tim’s site says 4. I went with 1 for now as to not over do it.

 

[Jberg]

Very nice. I like the cove look. The rock isn't too close to the glass is it?

 

[Nfd552]

Very nice. I like the cove look. The rock isn't too close to the glass is it?

No it isn’t ...i left enough room for the flipper to fit between and for fish to swim thru

 

[Nfd552]

Here’s a shot of the app from the WiFi surge protector strips. Only using one of the two so far. It’s nice to be able to individually label each outlet, and individually control each outlet

 

[Nfd552]

First sign of nitrites during today’s test! Making some progress.

Water is heated and in the brute for when it’s time to do my water change at the end of the cycle.

I will be ordering two 4” high flow filter cups from @MarineDepot in the next few days and filter floss.

If anyone has any input as to cover companies, I’ve seen Clearwater and another one or two. Just looking for recommendations.

Last order of business, I’ve never done a tank transfer, at what point in the cycle should i move tge radion xr30 over to the new tank from the existing tank.

 

[Nfd552]

Still far from finished cycling but showing progress

 

[Nfd552]

Update on the cube...recieved the replacement door from waterbox, but they accidentally sent me a black door. Contacted them over the New Years weekend and they swiftly responded on 1/2(when i assume they got in the the office) that the proper door with be sent out that day and gave me a tracking code. Minor speed bump, but since I’m still cycling and not having the door on doesnt effect anything I’m cool with it. Mishaps happen, but i couldn’t be more pleased with with customer service of @Waterbox Aquariums.

 

[Nfd552]

another thing I forgot to mention, its that my wife won a 4 gal aio tank from waterbox last week! ill be helping her set it up and maybe start another thread. were not sure what were going to set it up as yet, plus still need a light for it

 

[Nfd552]

The 70.2 has spawned a waterbox offspring...the 4 gal aio