Oceanic 30 Cube project.

[Giovanni]

I am thinking of setting up an Oceanic 30 cube with dimensions 20 x18 x20 I have sitting around. It is not reef ready.

What I will keep:

I plan on mostly SPS, clams, a few higher light loving LPS/softies and a few fish. My goal is minimal equipment in the tank. No external overflow and no unsightly pumps in the tank if at all possible.

Equipment I will have for sure:

I will have an ACIII for control, sump with cheato and remote DSB, deltec ap600 skimmer, peristaltic pump for dosing two part, DIY chiller using well water through 1/4 ice maker tubing, heater, lumenarc III mini with icecap electronic ballast 250/400 watt.

What I need to figure out:

1. Return system to sump.
2. Aquascape type.
3. Circulation in tank.
4. Lighting exact wattage and color temp MH and do I supplement with PC or T5HO.
5. What ever else I need to address.

Here we go!

I will start with number one and when that is done move on to the next.

1. Return method:

I am taking the minimalist approach to equipment in the tank so no overflow boxes in the tank. I had two ideas about this.

One was to cut an oval hole in the back of the tank and use some glass to build a box on the outside of the tank for a true external overflow. I could use lexan to make a strainer for the oval hole.

The second one was to just put a bulkhead in fore the over flow and build a druso (sp?) pipe in the back.


Lets here you ideas on this. It has to have a clean look and very minimal equipment in the tank and it must be very quiet!

[Giovanni]

Here is the tank in question.




Here are a couple photo showing my idea for the return.



The pink paper shows how I would cut the glass using a diamond bit in a dremel tool.

[GobyJohnKenobi]

I hope you like your 30 as much as I like mine, Giovanni.

Cutting that oval in the glass would be a bold move IMO. You might rest easier with a traditional Durso with a very small Calfo style box in the tank. But that oval would be so clean....
The glass on these tanks is pretty thick...

With the Calfo you could drill two holes and run a silent Herbie style overflow, but you could do the same with the oval and the box on the back... same risk of cracking probably.

Okay. Go with the oval. That would be super clean and not something seen every day.

Are you planning on making the box on the back out of glass and siliconing it into place?

What about a canopy?

Here's my favorite 30 Cube so far:

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...pic=79949&st=0

[GobyJohnKenobi]

And if you decide to sell one of those Vortechs, could you put me on a payment plan? LOL

[Giovanni]

I was planning on a glass box siliconed on the back. I have not made my mind up about much of anything just yet. That is a good looking 30 also.

As for the Vortech, I will keep you in mind.