Newbie 60-Gallon Cube Build

[TideNumOne]

This may be one of the longest builds in history – in the amount of elapsed time that it is going to take me. I have done freshwater tanks for over 40 years, but this is my first saltwater reef tank – my daughter wanted to have starfish. I will also be getting most of my equipment second hand/off eBay.

The equipment I have acquired so far:

• 60-gallon cube (24x24x24)
• 2 x Kessil A350 lights
• Eshopps Eclipse overflow box (large)
• Eshopps RS-75 reef sump
• SC Aquariums SCA-301 protein skimmer (Looking for a larger one)
• Return pump (no name, looking for a better one)
• Power head (no name, looking for a MP10wQD)

Possibly still add:

• Aquarium controller
• Refugium & refgium light
• Auto feeder
• Test kits

So far, I have been working on the live rock:

• Sat in the sun for two to three weeks
• Soaked in a 10% bleach solution for a week

Next, it will do the following:

• Sit in the sun for a week in a half (pictures below, the fan is to keep air movement on them)
• Soak in RO water for a week
• Soak in saltwater for two to three weeks; I will do a few nitrate & ammonia test during this time to learn how and make sure it is at zero

During this time, I will also be working on building the stand…trying to copy the design done by Greybeard (minus the tile).

 

[dantimdad]

Welcome aboard!

I love cubes

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

I'm a big fan of cube tanks! Looks like you are off to a great start.

 

[TideNumOne]

Update: December 2, 2018

I have started to play with the rock display. I also decided to try to hollow out the rocks as much as possible to give the fish a place to play/hide.

I started with a chisel, trying to be careful…but did not take long before I cracked one of the big rocks in half. Not to worry, as I can glue back but wanted to look for a new process. So, I ordered some cheap hole saws & blades from Amazon, they are working great –but slow as I am only taking a little at a time. But I like the results so far. The first picture show the current state, with the rock cracked in half but now hollowed out - as seen in the last picture.

I have also decided to sell the two Kessil lights (A350W & A360W) and the controller and order a new Kessil A360X & Spectral Controller. Still looking at my sump, pumps, skimmer & powerheads to see if I upgrade or not before I build this out.

Funny item – Talking with my neighbor this week, he asked me when would I have fish in the tank? I said two to three months; he had a very blank face and did not know what to say