Skrrz 40g cube build

[Husker-reef]

It’s been about 10 years since my last saltwater reef tank which was a 65 gallon, With metal halides. A lot of things have changed since then. Excited to see what all the new updates with equipment and so on have to offer.

The tank I bought is an aquatop Recife eco 40 AIO, many are familiar with this model. As I’ve seen a few great build threads on here already. My goal for this thread is to learn insight from fellow reefers as I get back into the hobby.

First night of setting up the tank with live sand and some Marco.

I ended up going with all Marco rock with this build in hopes to avoid aiptasia and other pests I had to deal with the last tank. Here’s the final Rock placement. Had to break a couple of the big pieces with a hammer. I think it turned out pretty decent.

 

[broskie]

Welcome back! I just recently setup a similar setup. Looks good so far, but you may want to break another piece and add it to the front left. I purchased similar rock (40 LBS) so I wasn't starting with any hitch hikers and cut it down with my chop saw and masonry blade. I cut pieces to make flat bottoms and glued break of pieces to create ledges. I also used a Dremel to create a few caves. Here is the rock when I first received it and what it looks like now in my tank

 

[Husker-reef]

Welcome back! I just recently setup a similar setup. Looks good so far, but you may want to break another piece and add it to the front left. I purchased similar rock (40 LBS) so I wasn't starting with any hitch hikers and cut it down with my chop saw and masonry blade. I cut pieces to make flat bottoms and glued break of pieces to create ledges. I also used a Dremel to create a few caves. Here is the rock when I first received it and what it looks like now in my tank

Appreciate it. Looks really clean there What’s your plans for fish/coral?

I have an extra 10 pound piece I may chisel down to create another overhang or ledge. I’ll post a most recent picture. I added a couple small pieces of live rock encrusted in coraline and pods. This really helped with finishing the cycle and it is now complete as of this morning. Diatoms starting to grow so will keep the light off for a bit and add a small CUC.

 

[Husker-reef]

 

[Husker-reef]

New light is on order, I went with the reefbreeders photon v2+. After researching other light options and seeing this one first hand. I think it will be perfect choice for a mixed reef I plan to build.

Also got a few upgrades since, the tunze 9001 skimmer fits perfect inside the 3rd chamber in the rear sump, for anyone out there that has the aquatop AIO system.

 

[Husker-reef]

Welcome back! I just recently setup a similar setup. Looks good so far, but you may want to break another piece and add it to the front left. I purchased similar rock (40 LBS) so I wasn't starting with any hitch hikers and cut it down with my chop saw and masonry blade. I cut pieces to make flat bottoms and glued break of pieces to create ledges. I also used a Dremel to create a few caves. Here is the rock when I first received it and what it looks like now in my tank

Broskie took your advice and took the chop saw to a huge piece I had in the lower left. As it fills up with corals I might have to take one piece out. I’ll play it by ear. What you think?

 

[Husker-reef]

Added a couple friends now that the tank nears 2 months old.
— The new reefbreeders light is doing wonders for my system

 

[SoAg Reefer]

Very nice, what lighting are you running and what are dims of the tank?

Welcome back! I just recently setup a similar setup. Looks good so far, but you may want to break another piece and add it to the front left. I purchased similar rock (40 LBS) so I wasn't starting with any hitch hikers and cut it down with my chop saw and masonry blade. I cut pieces to make flat bottoms and glued break of pieces to create ledges. I also used a Dremel to create a few caves. Here is the rock when I first received it and what it looks like now in my tank

 

[Husker-reef]

New update—

Starting to fill up! thanks to a couple local reefers here in Nebraska who sell some amazing frags.

Looking to purchase a doser to dose calcium and KH, my calcium is hanging out around 450 and KH
at 7.5. Getting stability is the plan. Have a handful of SPS that seem to eat it up pretty quick. Willing to hear what products people have been happy with as far as Dosers go. Also in need of an ATO which seems like it will be tricky with the AIO system.

A couple pics (sorry for the poor photo quality)
Working on taking some better pictures.

New addition - lubbocks wrasse!
Wants all the attention

 

[nano-mex]

Great cubes everyone. I recently bought a 40 gallon cube with external Overflow box so I’m still in the process of buying the plumbing parts.