My 26" cube - Must.... try....harder....

[system96]

I've just finished an submitted my coursework so I thought I would start my tank diary

I have a roma 90 with a 18l sump. I have had it for over a year and had a few ups and downs. Currently it holds 10kg of live rock, a few softies and a catalina goby. I've had the goby at 23c for a few months and he is still happy, still one I'd wished I did a little research before hand. It has housed a neon goby which I lost after a move and a pair of bangais which one went rouge so I had to remove the male then found the female dead one morning. So now I have paid off a credit card I promised myself an upgrade.

So I ordered a 26" cube off of Jez with a central weir and 2x 32mm and 1x 25mm with a blue background and weir for delivery in January. I am planning on using my current display as a sump and building a cabinate myself. I was planning on a gloss black cabinate but "discussions" with swmbo and "we'd" prefer a dark stained wood effect with antiqued iron work. 3x2" structure with stained cladding and a matching pelmet.

Sump;

1: Filter sock in a holder and simmer in
2: DSB with plenum and Chaeto fuge and skimmer out
3: Eheim compact+ 2000lph return and tunze osmolator sensors
4: ATO section around 10-15l if possible running the osmolator

Display - 281l;

10kg live rock I have now and going to source another 10kg
2x 3000lph and 1x5000lph powerheads (39x)
egg crate base and crushed coral sand

Stocking;

mainly sps with a couple of softies and a couple of lps
Pair of Banggais
5x blue/green chromis
1x flasher wrasse
and either a mandarin or a goby

lighting;

6 T5s with 4 blue and 2 white
64k reflector bulb for chaeto

I think thats it.....




Old pictures I knocked up a while ago but kinda what I'm expecting to get.

[Neil]

keep us updated

[avangels]

this will look fab Baz and hopefully we'll see some fish in there

[system96]

I've started collecting a few bits now. I've got a TMC v2 400 skimmer, filter sock holder and RO unit. Get paid soon so will get the rest and finish paying for the tank. Just planning the change and move around. Need to start building the cabinet soon so that's ready to put the tank strait on.

[system96]

I've had the day off today so I thought I'd clean out an old juwel rekord that my mum gave me and fill it read for live rock I'm picking up in about a week. 1st, I've realised I don't have nearly enough salt and 2nd, the filter my mum returned to me which she hardly used is missing the mount and the internal cage (fluval I got with the tank and didn't use). Oh well, looks like I need to go shopping!

[system96]

Just finished ordering pretty much everything I need to get started. All that is left is acrylic sheet for the baffles in the sump, filter socks, TC10, luminaire, coral sand and some more epo putty looking at my list; but most can wait until the tank is running . I've bought a single cheap powerhead to see how it runs so will get the other two if its any good. And of course some more salt but not in a huge rush as long as I get it before I pick up the live rock.......

[system96]

I've been shopping again today. I've got the wood for the frame of the cabinet! Just started to mitre a couple of the ends for the outer tip and bottom and my renin saw has cut through my cheap plastic mitre block which is to small anyway so shopping again tomorrow! Also got some salt and coral 1-3 sand. Starting to get parcels through as well with bits so hopefully everything will be in place to put the tank in, fill it and scape when it gets delivered.

[Clearwater]

Sounds like a good plan

looking forward to the build

[avangels]

I've been shopping again today. I've got the wood for the frame of the cabinet! Just started to mitre a couple of the ends for the outer tip and bottom and my renin saw has cut through my cheap plastic mitre block which is to small anyway so shopping again tomorrow! Also got some salt and coral 1-3 sand. Starting to get parcels through as well with bits so hopefully everything will be in place to put the tank in, fill it and scape when it gets delivered.

have you got an ETA Baz for when you will be setting it up?

[system96]

I haven't got confirmation but I'll hopefully get the tank on the weekend of the 7/8th so if I have the cabinet finished then it can go strait in. I'm picking up the extra rock and pipework tomorrow then I think all I need to order is some filter socks but not in a rush for them. And some hinges for the cabinet actually as need to get it so it matches our Sheesham furniture. Hoping to have it up and running within a week if it does get delivered then.