My 60 Gallon Cube Build

[scott11]

About to start a new build and thought I would use this forum to track the progress. I've been reefing for about 20 years, but just starting up again after a few years off. Last night I picked up a used Leemar 24x24x24 cube, 3 sides starfire glass with an external overflow box. Initial plan is to cleanup/refinish the stand while I am collecting equipment.

To start, this tank will be more fish focused, but once it settles in it will be a mixed reef.

Preliminary equipment (some left over from last tank, some to be purchased)-

Control - Apex
Lights- Kessil 360we or 360x
Flow- unknown DC return
AI Nero or Tunze (dont like ecotech, but open to suggestions here- quiet, low profile and reliable are key here).
Skimmer- unknown at this time, custom sump came with the tank so I need to see what fits well.
Tunze ATO
No plans for reactors now, but likely Kalk reactor eventually. Carbon/GFO as needed.

 

[SPR1968]

Looks good and make sure you post pictures of your new aquascape for our approval! Lol

And keep the pictures coming

And welcome to R2R as well Scott

 

[scott11]

The aquascape is one the best parts of the cube tanks, but also seems hard to get right. I have some ok dry rock left in my garage, but need to buy more.

Any suggestions for dry rock in good sizes for this size tank? Last I bought Marco Rock was the best option, but looks like the market has others now.

 

[scott11]

Some progress has been made. Lots of equipment in the mail, but here is the starting line up-

Kessil 360we
Gyre 130Fx- with apex intergration
Octo 110 skimmer
Varios6 return

Rock is cooking in the garage, hopefully will have all the equipment by this weekend so I can plumb and move the rock over. Here are some photos of the painted stand and starting to put what I have together.

 

[shaggydoo]

Great start! I normally like black stands, but I have to say your white one looks amazing!

In regards to rock, I bought base/dead rock from a couple suppliers on Amazon, and it all seemed about the same. The main thing I liked about the Amazon rock is how large the pieces were, which allowed me to create a ton of height and caves/space under the scape. The pieces were artificially made, which was a bit concerning. However, 3 years in and the only weird thing is coraline refuses to grow on most of the base rock I purchased. Sponges, worms, dusters, and everything else you can think of grows fine, just not coraline algae. Sounds like you got some rock going already, but just my .02.

 

[scott11]

Great start! I normally like black stands, but I have to say your white one looks amazing!

In regards to rock, I bought base/dead rock from a couple suppliers on Amazon, and it all seemed about the same. The main thing I liked about the Amazon rock is how large the pieces were, which allowed me to create a ton of height and caves/space under the scape. The pieces were artificially made, which was a bit concerning. However, 3 years in and the only weird thing is coraline refuses to grow on most of the base rock I purchased. Sponges, worms, dusters, and everything else you can think of grows fine, just not coraline algae. Sounds like you got some rock going already, but just my .02.

I got some base rock off Amazon as well. Once its all in, I think it will be about 1/3 old rock and 2/3 new Amazon rock. Likely to pick up a small piece locally as well for seeding some different life.

 

[scott11]

Busy weekend but was able to aquascape, add sand and water. Just have the display full, it’s not running down to the sump yet. Had a last minute plumbing change and I want to let that set before starting the pumps. Right now I just have a power head and heaters in the display with an aqua clear running to polish the water. Likely have it all running by next weekend.

 

[scott11]

So I started up my Gyre 130- not impressed by the flow. Even at 100%, it does not seem to be moving much water. I have it vertical against one side of the tank. Anyone with experience with the smaller Gyre in this size tank?

Considering the benefits of up sizing to a larger Gyre or adding a second- thoughts?

I do love how quiet it is and that I can tuck it into the corner.

 

[shaggydoo]

I'm not sure how much that moves, but I had the gyre 1k and it was plenty mounted sideways when paired with a koralia. I would add a second pump over getting just one larger one. It is easier to manipulate the flow in your tank with two pumps. Right now I have two koralias blasting in opposite directions and when their currents meet; it is as random as you can get.

 

[scott11]

Here is the first aquascape effort. Hard to see here, but the front right is an island. There is also a cave in the middle that does all the way to the back wall.

The black left has more dimension than it looks like, those three pieces are "stair stepped" backwards, so there is lots of space for different levels of coral.

This was all dry rock- plan to buy a larger piece of live rock locally and stack on the upper left/middle. How high should it stack? Keep in mind the water level is still about 1.5 lower than it will be when fully running.

Any suggestions?

 

[shaggydoo]

I like it a lot! How does it look from the other viewable side? I don't think you went too high even with the extra piece of LR you are planning. Just make sure anything you may put at the top won't stick out of the water when the pumps get turned off. Having lots of stacked height will help you find the sweet spot for each coral you get later on.

One thought, make sure you can easily clean the glass. It looks like it might be a tight squeeze for a magnet/scraper on the bottom left. Also, did you put the rocks or sand in first? I made the mistake of putting the sand first then rocks, and my pistol/goby caused a lot of shifting in my rock. Luckily they haven't triggered a collapse (knock on wood). If you plan on anything burrowing in your sand, you should definitely get those rocks buried as much as possible.

 

[KINGROWLAND1217]

I like the aquascape, I like the deep cave. Mine is similar. I would maybe go a little higher in very back. Like maybe some tonga, or small oddly shaped rock. Looks good though

 

[scott11]

I like it a lot! How does it look from the other viewable side? I don't think you went too high even with the extra piece of LR you are planning. Just make sure anything you may put at the top won't stick out of the water when the pumps get turned off. Having lots of stacked height will help you find the sweet spot for each coral you get later on.

One thought, make sure you can easily clean the glass. It looks like it might be a tight squeeze for a magnet/scraper on the bottom left. Also, did you put the rocks or sand in first? I made the mistake of putting the sand first then rocks, and my pistol/goby caused a lot of shifting in my rock. Luckily they haven't triggered a collapse (knock on wood). If you plan on anything burrowing in your sand, you should definitely get those rocks buried as much as possible.

I’ll get a shot of the other viewable side, but it looks pretty good. I have room for the magnet cleaner- had to shift both sides by a hair last night, but the flipper now fits all three sides.

I put the rocks in first. The rocks are supported by PVC legs and are only under the sand by about a cm. I plan on a goby/pistol and maybe a jawfish, so I wanted to be sure everything was stable.

 

[scott11]

Some better pictures

 

[scott11]

Up and running. The drain side plumbing was leaking and loud so I did a last minute replumb with a herbie style drain. It’s silent now. Skimmer is kicking and everything is working well. The VarioS 6 is way too strong so I may look to replace that with something cheaper. Also picked up a piece of live rock for some seeding/critters and already see some mini stars.

Also have an Octo pluse 2 on the way to supplement/ replace the gyre.

 

[scott11]

Ok. It’s been running for about 2 weeks. Minor teaks here and there on plumbing and rock work. Diatoms have died off. Ready to start buying fish, but trying to stay home during the current events. So I have two very small lonely clowns in there, but at least it’s looking good.

 

[scott11]

No new livestock due to the lockdown, but a few upgrades from equipment I had around. Added a kalk reactor and carbon reactor and cleaned up under the stand. It’s starting to mature a little - i see various life spreading on the rocks. Once I can make it back to the lfs this tank will be ready to grow.

 

[scott11]

New update. Was getting a lot of buildup in the sump of detritus so I added a filter sock holder and replumbed the drain. Unsure if I will use socks or a cup with filter floss. I also added a avast skimmate locker I found used locally for a good price. With the swabbie, my maintenance is really cut down. I also picked up 2 wrasses and a shrimp goby, although the goby is very shy. Getting my first frags this weekend.

Here are the pics-