KC's 60g Cube

[kcpike11]

Whelp I found a smoking deal on a 60g cube and decided it was time to get a reef started again.

So I am in the Army and have moved 9 times in the last 11 years, not very conducive to reef-keeping. I just got orders to a new duty station in California (Vandenberg AFB) and I am all but certain I will be there for 3 years. To me that means three years of a reef tank. The boss gave her approval as long as it looks good with the rest of our furniture, and I don't blow our savings getting it set up. So, this will be a budget build consisting of a lot of equipment that I have accumulated in anticipation of this opportunity. I move to California in about a month and will get the tank wet as soon as I get my household goods delivered.

Equipment list so far:
60g rimless with corner overflow...drilled for a durso + return. I'll probably run a Herbie overflow and return over the side
2 x Reef Breeders Photon v1s
Bubble Magus Curve 5
Random 750gph return pump that I may upgrade
diy sump
diy stand

 

[Chrisfish]

Congratulations on your new tank!! Looking forward to seeing more

 

[WiscoFishNut]

Can't wait to see how the build goes! I'm a big fan of the 60g cube since that's what I have as my primary tank these days

 

[kcpike11]

Floating canopy complete. Custom badge incoming from a good buddy that has a CNC machine. Going to wall mount the canopy with a swinging TV mount to get it out of the way for maintenance. Weighs 36 lbs with lights in it.

 

[501Reefer]

Looking good

 

[Cacopepo]

I need to borrow your skills, good sir... I've been eyeing for weeks on how to do a diy floating canopy. Looks good

 

[kcpike11]

Mover's are arriving today! Finally can get started. I know the wife wants to get the house situated, but I have my own priorities.

 

[kcpike11]

Well that sucks

Movers broke the stand. Well the cabinet door and the trim anyways. Which of course are the two parts that took the most time and effort to build. Not quite back to a total rebuild but not sure if I am going to repair or just build new trim.

 

[kcpike11]

Whelp its in place, just need to hang the canopy, repair the trim, repair the door, plumb the tank, figure out the scape, and then maybe I can get wet...so like a day or two

 

[kcpike11]

Almost there, tank is dry plumbed. Lights are set up, trim is fixed(ish), door is fixed(ish), scape complete. Just need to glue the plumbing and find some water. Hopefully get wet next weekend.

 

[kcpike11]

Let the cycle begin! I will say, the hanging canopy makes it a PITA to try and fill. The sump area of the 60 cube is pretty tight too when you shoehorn a 20gT sump in there. Now the part I haven't even thought about yet, what to fill it with

 

[kcpike11]

Its good to have buddies with a CNC machine. Added a wood loggerhead turtle badge to the canopy!

 

[revhtree]

Congrats and looking good!

 

[Super Fly]

that's some carpentry skill plus ur in the military?... boy do I feel inadequate

 

[mann1139]

I will say, the hanging canopy makes it a PITA to try and fill.

I ended up hard plumbing a fill line into my tanks that I can hook up to a pump. Has a nice 'U' shape to hook onto the tank. Saves a ton of time lugging water too.

 

[kcpike11]

Installed an under-sink RO/DI system. The RO feeds a drinking water faucet and I can turn on a valve for the RO/DI. Small space, poor instructions, lacking the right tools to drill through stainless steel, and it only took the duration of 1 beer to install. No leaks!

Also hooked up a Reef Breeders ATO.

Ammonia still showing in the tank after 2 1/2 weeks, added some Dr. Tims yesterday. Clowns are happily eating in quarantine so I am not gonna rush it. (side note, you'd think after 6 months of pandemic and a couple weeks of fish I could spell quarantine without the help of spell check)

 

[PacoPetty]

Great looking build!

 

[kcpike11]

Water cleared up!

Clowns are doing great. So far we have:
Daisy cutter zoas
Green monti cap
Purple staghorn

I think I need some more snails. They haven't left the bottom left rock, but they chow throw the nasties that try to grow on it.

 

[kcpike11]

Haven't added additional fish, but plussed up the Zoas and corals thanks to @Huenemedoe. Current stock list:

2 X Ocellaris Clowns
Daisy Cutter Zoas
2 plugs of random zoas
sunburst palys
green monty
purple stag
Purple mushrooms
Nice sized toadstool
Just added a 3 headed Duncan

Everything is pretty happy. Including the dinos that just broke out and are starting to nasty things up. Not gonna fight em, just gonna let things roll. I have been have issues with my skimmer. I let my bubble magus 5 run for over two weeks and it just threw out bubbles non stop. Sump is looking pretty janky now as a result. Gonna build a bit of a platform for it so only about 3-4"s are wet rather than 7-8".

Also, I cannot recommend the reef breeders prism ATO enough, got the thing dialed in and it is set it and forget it.

 

[kcpike11]

Latest update,

Almost all going well, lost my purple acro. No idea why. But that's why I started with a cheap stick.
Added a few more zoas and paly's

FTS - with Lizzy and Max hanging out

And some closeups

Freddie Mercury is the latest addition