150g Starphire Front Marineland Cube

[samksy]

Well.....here goes my last tank switch i hope ;D ;D ;D
Let me know what you guys think and suggestions is appreciated. 8)

Warning, picture intensive! guess it's too late

A big thanks to my friend LN for hooking me up with the tank. And Steve for help with loading the tank to the car. Thanks guys!!!!

This is my plan but unfortunately my plan was so bad, not everything fit inside my stand.

My Plan

DIY stand 44.5 X 36.5 X36.5

Well, a big tanks to Rich(Rich why you hiding behind the tank?), Mike and Arvind for helping to move the tank inside the house. And Paul for coming by ;D

My plan is to have the tank back side face the mirror, so i'll have four side view, no need to paint the back.......that was a great idea Mike, i would have never thought of that.

Sump 40 gallon breeder - in the process of putting in the baffles.

This will be the ATO of tank, with gravity feed. The 1 inch whole is for water change with a bulkhead and a ball valve.

Got a dimond 1/2 inch dimond drill bite from lowes $19.99 plus tax. Drill so i can connect to the sump for gravity top off, connect with a kent float valve. Since my measure/plan suck, and the ATO tank can't fit in the sump, i build a small stand to be place behind the tank where i can do top off and do water mix.

Oh and the mess i created. . Good thing she didn't say anything ;D...yet....lolz

 

[mikem]

Re: 150g Stairphire Front Marineland Cube

Looks great Sam. I see lots of progress.

 

[Lord Viper]

I like the tank Nice job so far. GL with it

 

[diverrk]

Sure get Mike in the Picture :'( What am I chop lIver ;D

Can't wait to see it finished. Don't forget to call when it needs to be moved again.

PS
The Sunset looks real nice !

 

[jonathan.]

I freaking love these Marineland Cube tanks.

 

[Baxreefs]

Very nice!

These Marineland tanks are sweet!

 

[samksy]

Thanks everyone ;D

I love the tank and the starphire front but i think my stand is a bit too high now unless i can grow another feet...lolz! I hope i'll get use to it. More pics on the way.

Now my only concern is the lighting that i'll be using. I want to stick with Metal halide w/T5 suppliment but i don't think there's much selection out there. Either the dimension is not right or that they don't have the 400 mh watt with wide coverage as the width of the tank is 36 inch. I do see several out there but the cost is over 1k for just the fixture.

Still debating on lighting, any suggestion?

 

[samksy]

Sure get Mike in the Picture :'( What am I chop lIver ;D

Can't wait to see it finished. Don't forget to call when it needs to be moved again.

PS
The Sunset looks real nice !

Lolz!!!!!!

Thanks dude! I'll shall see you soon

Yeah, the Sunset is really nice, they grow pretty quick too....soon, you'll have a small colony ;D

 

[onefish2fish]

Still debating on lighting, any suggestion?

retrofit two 250s or 175s with 2 retro actinic t5s into your hood.

just how high is your stand? i personally am a fan of the height to allow for better viewing. maybe build alittle step stool to match the stand if you need it to get into the tank?

 

[samksy]

Still debating on lighting, any suggestion?

retrofit two 250s or 175s with 2 retro actinic t5s into your hood.

just how high is your stand? i personally am a fan of the height to allow for better viewing. maybe build alittle step stool to match the stand if you need it to get into the tank?

Jon, thanks for the suggestion.

My stand is 44.5 inches tall...lolz...and i'm not tall enough :-[
I don't plan to build a hood, probably a hanging light. The reason behind no hood is so that i can reach into the tank on all sides if i need too but going hoodless might be an expensive route.

I plan to get a stepping ladder from Lowes or home depot so i can go around the tank and dip my head into the tank if i need to ;D

 

[Baxreefs]

A single Lumenar III (22" x 22") with some 24" T-5 tubes would be nice a simple light box could hide it and all could be suspended over the cube.

 

[arvin]

Hi Sam,

Speaking about the lights, what kind of actinic lights that you have on your 180? I liked the colors that brought out of your corals.

Thanks
Arvind.

 

[samksy]

A single Lumenar III (22" x 22") with some 24" T-5 tubes would be nice a simple light box could hide it and all could be suspended over the cube.

Thanks Bax,

Originally i was going to avoid building hood myself as i'm not the best in wood working, but i looked at a lot of lights and mostly are either way too expensive or don't have what i am really looking for. So i might go with your idea. Probably going with a 400 watt ice cap ballast and four t5 supplement, one t5 on each side. I don't think a 250 watt is good enough to pentrate 27 tall tank and 36x36 dimension. I'm just a little concern with the hanging of the weight. But thanks so much for your suggestions.

Arvind, the light you saw was actinic blue led lights. they are awsome, you should get them for your tank. Sending you a pm, check your message.

-Sam

 

[DiazE]

How much and where did you buy that nice Marineland? I also plan on buying a 36x36 if not the 48 x 36.
I will keep track of this build. ;D

 

[samksy]

How much and where did you buy that nice Marineland? I also plan on buying a 36x36 if not the 48 x 36.
I will keep track of this build. ;D

Diaze,

My friend hooked me up, so the price is pretty good. but if you were to get it around here, you'll need to spend $1000. I think Red Sand can get you slightly better price. Check with Fang in Red Sand aquarium.

 

[samksy]

More in progress shots.

Sump with baffles in place.

And finally filled up the tank with fresh water for water tight test.

ATO bin dry fit. Top off will be control by kent float valve with gravity feed. The bin will also be use for salt mix as state earlier. The blue bulkhead will serve a connection to the sump which will always be close unless doing water change.

The tank with filled water after 24 hours. And the roll of rodi tube is to connect to the rodi filter when the water bin gets empty. With the kent float valve in place, i now don't have to water filter water over night and flood my kitchen and my wife coming after me.... ;D ;D ;D

 

[DiazE]

Where's Red Sand Aquarium? That Fish Place has the 36x36 tank for $799, stand I think; $579 Majestic Black. You tank is really tempting me for an instant upgrade this tax season.

 

[jerzsky]

sweet!! i love the 150 cubes!! great idea putting it in front of the mirror!! great build so far!! cant wait for some more progress!! (i.e. pics)

i just visited the hidden reef and they have the same tank for $999.00 wish i had a grand on me

anyway, good luck!!

 

[samksy]

Where's Red Sand Aquarium? That Fish Place has the 36x36 tank for $799, stand I think; $579 Majestic Black. You tank is really tempting me for an instant upgrade this tax season.

DiazE, I think Red sand is in North Plainsborough.....he's one of NJreefer sponser. Check out the vendor section.

Yeah, That fish place is the cheapest place, but it'll be a super long drive. ;D

 

[samksy]

sweet!! i love the 150 cubes!! great idea putting it in front of the mirror!! great build so far!! cant wait for some more progress!! (i.e. pics)

i just visited the hidden reef and they have the same tank for $999.00 wish i had a grand on me

anyway, good luck!!

The mirror idea wasn't mine, it was MikeM....lolz!!!

Thanks, i'll try to get more progress pic, just waiting for an external pump and drill two other holes in sump and some plumbing, and i should be able to kick start running the tank. The doors and finishing will be done at a later time.