60-gallon Cube Build

[proud2bcanadian]

Long time, no tank!

I've been going crazy for years without a tank, and now that I can dedicate some time to one, I'm planning on setting up my 60 gallon cube.
Between Christmas and New Years, I'm setting it up as a test to ensure it's water-tight, and then am planning to start the build in the new year. I'm going to be mixing some of my old equipment with new technology to justify hanging on to stuff from years past.

So here's my equipment list:
60 gallon (2x2x2) glass with Herbie overflow
Custom stand
Custom acrylic mesh lid
(2) Double T5HO (Hagen GLO) fixtures running ATI bulbs (combination TBD)
Aqua Illumination Prime HD LED -or- Radion XR15W (leaning towards AI Prime due to cost, as it's just supplemental to T5HO)
Skimz UP21 Sump with Ecotech S1 return pump
Aqua-C EV120 Skimmer with Sicca 568gph pump
(2) Eheim Jäger 150watt submersible heaters
Coralife Turbo Twist (wattage TBC) UV Sterilizer
BRS GFO&Carbon Reactor (Single Deluxe) with an MJ1200 pump
Tunze Osmolator 3155 ATO
Glamorca GP03 circulating pump

As the tank progresses, and depending on dosing/coral requirements, I'm looking at automating a lot with a controller like the Apex.

Planning stages right now have me leaning towards mostly softies/LPS but I may incorporate a couple SPS into the mix near the top of the tank. Very shallow sandbed of max. 1" is what I have in mind right now, and mostly staggered shelves for coral placement around a center cave structure.

Stocking, I am unsure so far. It will definitely have 2 clowns (species TBD), a Bangaii or two, Mandarin Goby, and a small school of Parvulus Cardinalfish. I would love to add something like some Blennies/Gobies or a Flame Angel/small Tang or a Longnose Hawkfish, but that depends on the size available from the LFS as well as compatibility. My 240g setup is a few years in the making still, so I won't get anything that will outgrow the setup. Live food is not an issue as we are culturing phyto-rotifers-brine right now and can expand that to larger pods too without any issue.

Anyways, nothing is set in stone above and I'm a bit rusty, so please let me know if there are any concerns for what is seen above!

Happy reefing!

 

[SPR1968]

That sounds like a great build thread David and we need lots of pictures of it! Lol

And welcome to R2R by the way, it’s great to have you with us!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Sounds like a good plan! Welcome to R2R!

 

[mike werner]

Gotta love a cube!When I got into this hobby there were no cubes.Today we have forums dedicated to the cubes.
I recently (4 months 6 days 10 hours ago) set up a small cube.That reminds me I need to update the build thread with some pics.I just love how they seem to look bigger than they actually are.
Please post some pics as you progress and welcome to R2R.

 

[proud2bcanadian]

My equipment accumulation is nearly complete!

Made a few changes along the way...

I'm now going to use an Eshopps Eclipse (medium) as my overflow.

Decided on the AI Prime HD (should now be able to grow anything).

Swapped the AquaC for a Reef Octopus 110SS, the Glamorca GP03 to GP02, Ecotech return pump to a Sicce 4.0, Tunze 3155 to 3152, using (2) 100 watt Eheim heaters now, and settled on (2) Blue Plus, (1) Purple Plus, and (1) Coral Plus ATI bulb combination.

Figured out my UV is a 9watt Turbo Twist, so I plan to set that up in line with the Deluxe GFO/Carbon reactor. My plan here is to drop an MJ1200 or small Sicce (0.5/1.0) into the skimmer chamber of the sump and pump first through the reactor, then the UV, into a 5-gallon refugium since the sump doesn't come with one.
Is it okay to constantly run the GFO/Carbon/UV (I used to just run UV at night when lights were off)?
As for the refugium, I was thinking of dropping a few live rocks (on top of Miracle Mud) in there, since the tank will be entirely CaribSea LifeRock (and a shallow bed of Fiji Pink sand), and some Chaeto/Mangroves. Any concerns there?