Newbie 60Gal Cube build

[kylesmith661]

Hey All!

So completely new to this whole thing but it has been more fun and interesting than I could of imagined (hooked for sure)...

About a ~Month ago me and the family decided we wanted to check out a LFS that had recently opened near by. We took a little ride out and just wandered around in awe for about 2 hours. Then it was decision time! Our first choice was to pick up a simple 20gal waterbox AIO Cube, until the super helpful team at the LFS said .... go as big as you can!!!! se we just grabbed the biggest tank on the floor...

Now we are working with a Marineland 60G with the corner overflow and small (~15g) sump

so here is a quick list of day 1 items we picked up :

Marineland 60 gallon cube (24x24x24)
black stand
~15 Sump
CoralBox 4000 Return pump
60lbs dry rock
40lbs fiji live sand
API master saltwater test kit
2x 300w aquatop heaters
Reef Breeders RP-M Powerhead
box of instant ocean sea salt
hydrometer
BRS 75GPD RO/DI system

drove it all home and was ready... so i thought

The next morning I woke up and went over to the local HD to get all the plumbing supplies (so I thought I got it all). About 6 trips to the HD, 3 phone calls to friends, 18hrs of reading forums, and 2 days later we were plumbed!! (for now) :|

Then came our very first attempt to "aquascape"

Then came the water and salt... we were off to the races

 

[kylesmith661]

more to the story here...

So talked to a good friend what was been out of the hobby for some time, but had some "stuff" he was will to part with ( as was his wife, she was glad to see the box of clutter go) ..

I picked up :

Reef Octo 110 Classic S skimmer
MP-10 Power head
Neptune apex classic
1. controller
2. EB8
3. WMX

and hooked it all up in the closet behind the tank..

Also made a quick trip back to the LFS to grab a AI Hydra 32 and mount

 

[harley32907]

Welcome to R2R! Your off to a good start

 

[MERKEY]

Hello and welcome to the right place!

My better half and I started about the same way just about 5 years ago and dont worry that 60 cube will be a wall soon!!

 

[kylesmith661]

yea, the conversation has already been .... if we get a 200+ gal .. where should we put it

We did pick up a waterbox 25 peninsula for the hallway .. i am trying to actually document that one better than i did this and will maybe do a better build thread on that one once i get this up and going.

 

[kylesmith661]

We have made a few changes to the scape, but largely the same

i will get some new pictures going as well but have updated to titanium heaters and added a few things to the tank

Fish :
YWG
Picaso Clown
Wyoming white clown

Inverts:
6 Nassarius snails
randalls pistol shrimp

Coral:
2 Zoas (not sure what they are called my son picked them out at OSA)
1 Favia
1 candy cane


we did have one BTA but.... he decided to get too friendly with the MP-10 and well it was bad.. so i have now ;learned they make foam covers for them and they will arrive next week ( prior to us trying that again )

the tank has been going for about 2 months and all is good .. (less that little situation)

 

[Conchman]

Yup, you got the fever...sorry about the nem...

Welcome to the parade..

 

[kylesmith661]

@Conchman thats for sure!

 

[kylesmith661]

Aquascape update... slight change, nothing drastic

 

[kylesmith661]

quick look @ the @Waterbox Aquariums 25 peninsula cycling away

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tank looks nice
Welcome to the R2R community !!

 

[Sthomp01]

looking good, Welcome to Reef 2 Reef

 

[kylesmith661]

Sump on the 60...

 

[kylesmith661]

also had to change the drain out, the system came with a Durso style drain that i couldn't get tuned to my liking. Replaced the setup with a Herbie and threw the return around the back.... much better!!

 

[revhtree]

Congrats on the new tank!

 

[kylesmith661]

Thanks all!!!

Big questions now are flow and ATO

Current Powerhead sitch is a single MP-10.... pulled off the RP-M wasn't a fan of the options or the lack of control with the apex.. i will likely add at least one more MP-10 maybe 2

as for ATO, i'm thinking icecap but unsure, heard not so great things about the pumps and sensors on the Neptune system

 

[stylolvr]

Congrats on the new tanks, and welcome to R2R!! Looking forward to watching your progress.

 

[kylesmith661]

Thanks @stylolvr !

Does anyone know where I can find parts for the reef octopus skimmers ? Mine is missing the cap on the adjustment tube (i put an old 1" pvc cap but doesn't quite fit right) im concerned that the draw of air is off and its making it super tough to tune the skimmer.

 

[stylolvr]

bulkreefsupply.com sells the skimmers and may have parts. Your LFS may have some as well. Might
be worth a call to the LFS first, then start reaching out to the big-time distributors.

 

[kylesmith661]

bulkreefsupply.com sells the skimmers and may have parts. Your LFS may have some as well. Might
be worth a call to the LFS first, then start reaching out to the big-time distributors.

thanks @stylolvr !


now time to black out the back of this thing!!!