The Inevitable Upgrade: IM40 Long -> Fiji Cube 108

[Mas0n]

From a 40B AIO, to a Fiji Cube 108 with sump! Excited to get this new tank wet. This has been a long and overdue project that stalled for a while due to life getting in the way!

Current FTS:

The OLD tank:

Goals with this new tank: more space, no more AIO with equipment hanging out of the back, and more room to automate testing!

Equipment that I’ll be using:

3x Gen 5 XR30s
2x MP40
Jebao 1000 gph return pump
Skimmer is TBD, any recs?
Neptune Apex
Neptune Trident
Versa for dosing AFR
Tunze Osmolator 3
Inkbird + 2x titanium heaters


Fish and Coral:
I currently have a chill pair of clowns, yellow coris wrasse, and a fire goby. I plan to add a flame hawk, PJ cardinal, and a foxface. Maybe a small tang at some point. I’m excited to finally house herbivores!

For coral, I have a nice mix right now of softies and LPS + some easy SPS. I’d like to get more Euphyllia.

 

[Mas0n]

I initially did not intend to DIY the stand, but after ordering the tank and getting a stand that was not advertised and flimsy from Fiji Cube and some back and forth with support. I received a partial refund and designed and built my own instead.

I drew everything up in CAD and placed and order with TNUTZ for the aluminum extrusion and hardware.

I designed this thing to be stupid solid, I didn't want any racking, which the Fiji Cube stand was really bad for.

After assembly, and a nice piece of 1/2inch PVC board on top!

I also drew up a quick design for a bottom board and had it cut from the same material. Love how it came out.

 

[Mas0n]

I was also shocked to find out how expensive a lit would be for this tank! $4-500 from several sites.

Went back to Fusion 360 and drew up a lid design and sent it off to be cut from a 1/2 inch piece of plexi glass.

This thing came out GREAT, the spline and net fit perfectly in the channel, with a great fit. And the plexi glass is rigid enough to resist warping, which is an issue I ran into initially when trying to DIY a lid with a window screen frame.

What I sent the shop:

What I got back:

Added 1/4inch net + .140inch spline, super happy with the results and much cheaper than I found online.

I left a 3 inch feeding port, that I will design and 3d print a little cover for soon.

 

[Mas0n]

Mounting up equipment!

Made this little jig for a hole saw, and the bushing thing to hide the cut and keeps cables safe.

 

[jackintheboxfish]

I was also shocked to find out how expensive a lit would be for this tank! $4-500 from several sites.

Went back to Fusion 360 and drew up a lid design and sent it off to be cut from a 1/2 inch piece of plexi glass.

This thing came out GREAT, the spline and net fit perfectly in the channel, with a great fit. And the plexi glass is rigid enough to resist warping, which is an issue I ran into initially when trying to DIY a lid with a window screen frame.

What I sent the shop:

What I got back:

Added 1/4inch net + .140inch spline, super happy with the results and much cheaper than I found online.

I left a 3 inch feeding port, that I will design and 3d print a little cover for soon.

Where did you get this done? How much was it?

 

[Mas0n]

Where did you get this done? How much was it?

I used a local sign shop! They have tons of materials and can make complex cuts with their CNC router.

It was $220 for the cut 24x48 piece of 1/2 acrylic ($150 material, and $70 for cutting). Then another $15~ for the spline and net bringing the total to $235.

Not cheap, but much less expensive than other premade options.

 

[Mas0n]

WET!

 

[fishface NJ]

Stand looks great! Congrats on the new setup.

 

[Mas0n]

Stand looks great! Congrats on the new setup.

Thank you! Really happy with how it turned out.

Looks like I’m about half way full this morning after letting it go overnight

 

[Mas0n]

The Marco rock I’ve been seeding is looking really good now!

Solid coralline growth

 

[BryanM]

Excellent build!

I was mortified on the price of lids, and after having one on my 4 footer for months that annoyed me greatly I went lidless with the new 6 footer. So far no casualties.

 

[Mas0n]

Excellent build!

I was mortified on the price of lids, and after having one on my 4 footer for months that annoyed me greatly I went lidless with the new 6 footer. So far no casualties.

Thank you!

I’m jealous, I love the look of a tank with no lid. But I fear my fire fish would jump ASAP lol.

 

[Mas0n]

Designed and 3d printed this bracket that can attach to the aluminum with a drop in Tnut + bolt. Makes running the wires pretty easy and keeps them out of the way!

 

[Mas0n]

Welp, it seems like one needs to tighten their unions for them to not leak.

Upside! The tank is filled, and water has reached the overflow!

 

[Mas0n]

After tightening that union and checking all the others, we are groovy!!!

 

[Mas0n]

Custom lid fits perfectly! Love it! Printed some feeding guard holes as well.

 

[Mas0n]

My supervisors watching me configure apex outlets.

My house is torn apart right now, the wife is ready for this tank to be setup

 

[Mas0n]

Mostly operational!

Just got the mp40s going, going to run them 100% to stir salt!

 

[Mas0n]

Sand in, and a quick little scape! Not sure this is final, but it works in a pinch!

 

[REEFRIED!]

Nice set up. I also have a Fiji cube 108ext