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#1
12/25/2007, 10:46 PM
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100 Gallon Cube Tank Build
I figured I might as well go ahead and start a thread for this beast since I'm probably going to be ordering things in the next few weeks if everything goes according to plan and glass cages gives me a reasonable quote. This will likely be my last upgrade for many many years, if not the last tank that I upgrade to (yeah, I know everybody says that, but before long I'll be a busy vet school student and wouldn't have the time/funds for a bigger tank).
Here's a schematic of the tank. It's 36x36x18" with starphire glass on three sides and a centered overflow on the back wall.  I'll be using my 40 gallon breeder sump as a sump for this tank as well, but I'll be adding baffles to it like I had in my first sump before it blew out for no apparent reason. Equipment I'm going to use my Deltec ap600, Eheim return pump, and phosban reactor from my 40 breeder for the cube tank, but I'll need to buy a few more items. Here's what I have down so far. I think that I'm going to go with two 175s so that I don't have any dead spots in the tank where I don't have enough light. I'm going to build a suspended canopy to house my MH and the VHO supplementation that I'll be using. If anyone sees any kind of problems PLEASE post and let me know. Lighting: 2 Lumen Bright Reflectors $120 each http://www.thereefstop.com/index.ph...d&productId=843 PFO 175 watt Dual Metal Halide Ballast $212.50 http://www.thereefstop.com/index.ph...d&productId=591 PFO 2 Bulb VHO Retro $126.95 http://www.thereefstop.com/index.ph...d&productId=484 2 URI Super Actinic VHO Lamps 36" $20 each http://www.thereefstop.com/index.ph...d&productId=360 2 Ushio 10K 175watt Metal Halide Bulbs $67.95 http://www.thereefstop.com/index.ph...d&productId=185 Calcium Reactor: Geo 612 Calcium Reactor $309.95 http://www.thereefstop.com/index.ph...d&productId=114 10 lb bag Schuran media $24.95 http://www.thereefstop.com/index.ph...d&productId=330 Neptune pH Probe $45 http://www.thereefstop.com/index.ph...d&productId=236 And a jbj or reef fanatic CO2 controller (send me a link Chad!)
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100 gallon "cube" in the works! |
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#2
12/25/2007, 11:14 PM
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That sounds like an awesome tank. Is it possible for you to get a quote for the overflow to be on the rear and not on the inside of the tank?? In my system I found it to be more natural and not so quite so aquarium looking and you will get more room inside. JMHO and it sounds awesome!
Hercules is all good after a week on the meds-thanks for your help! He got plenty of turkey today!
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"without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible" F-Zappa |
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#3
12/26/2007, 05:23 PM
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Geoxman, I agree, I also prefer the external overflows however, Glasscages won't do them, although it has been suggested that they will build them, if you glue them on yourself. Its either a warrantee or transportation issue, or both.
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Nick "By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out." |
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#4
12/26/2007, 06:31 PM
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A weir and external would be awesome. Chelsey are you against acrylic? As long as the external overflow is the height of the entire tank it should be very easy to silicone and secure the weight with the stand, if done in glass. Glass cages has all kind of loop holes in their warranty but most of their tanks seem pretty solid. Are you going to go rimless?
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"without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible" F-Zappa |
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#5
12/26/2007, 07:59 PM
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I'm not against acrylic, but I don't know that I can get a quote from ART via email, and I do not frequent the LFS in the area enough to just stop in and ask for a quote. I'll go with whichever is cheaper (glass or acrylic) but if I go with glass it will be rimless.
Phil, could you email your "connection" a copy of my schematic and see if you can get me a quote? As long as you trust his quality of work I may use him as an option too.
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100 gallon "cube" in the works! |
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#6
12/26/2007, 08:21 PM
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Yup. shoot me an PM with your email address. He is top a notch acrylic guy and I think John is the best in STL and one of the best there is. He does not specialize in aquariums like ART but I have see some great tanks done by John at JBC. I will talk with him tomorrow if he is around. He could also do a seamless front for you with bent coeners, kind of like CPE's tanks.
PL
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"without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible" F-Zappa |
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#7
12/26/2007, 10:47 PM
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Cubes are cool!
That ushio will give you about 8900k. You may want to rethink the bulb. An Iwasaki will give you 15,200k, and an AB13,000k will give you about 10,500. All within a few ppfd of each other.
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Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. |
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#8
12/27/2007, 12:06 AM
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Quote:
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I work with a bunch of monkeys! |
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#9
12/27/2007, 12:56 AM
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Glass WILL be cheaper than acrylic
 Considerably...unless geoxman's guy can save you a bundle???As for bulbs, it is hard to argue with the life span and coloration of the Ushio 10K bulbs....my favorite bulb for growth is the Iwasaki 6500K...but it is just too yellow...the Ushio looks crisp white and is closer to natural daylight than the higher kelvin bulbs which give an artificial light, IMO.
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Dave "The wind blew, the detritus flew and then they came two by two." |
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#10
12/27/2007, 08:28 AM
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If you decide to go the acrylic route make sure it's at least 1/2". 3/8 would be better. You might be able to get away without a brace if you use 3/8"...You can still use 1/2" for the bottom.
If they have to build you a cube from scratch you might as well go larger because they will almost charge you for two sheets. Sheets come in 48X96 so you might be able to get a 48X48x18 cube for the same price as the 36X36X18. A lot less scrap and they can use all of the leftover on the next job... BK
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"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." Albert Einstein |
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#11
12/27/2007, 09:31 AM
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I agree here with Schplitter, you might run that by Tom @ GLASSCAGES just might give ya a deal on something like 48x48x18 I'm not real sure, But I think 48x96 thats the standard size sheet of his glass too but I could be wrong still nothing hurts just to ask.
If I'm adding right you've got about $460.00 quoted for lighting. I am a big fan of the T5's myself after having MH and the rest. If you shop around I'm sure you could get a good deal on some Retro T5 set ups that would be about the same cost. And the bulbs would be under the price of the bulbs you've listed. I have 60" T5's and mine are $28.oo per bulb, I know the 36" bulbs are cheaper than mine. My tank is 30" wide and I'm running 8 bulbs on it but 1 broke so I'm only running 5 at current time, and everything in my tank looks the same as it did when I was running 8 bulbs. You could run 6 of the 36" T5's over your 36" wide tank which would only require 2 ballast and you still wouldn't have "dead spots". I'll check first & post back in this thread but I believe that my ballast cost around $120 each, but I'm not sure. Good call on the Cal reactor & media. I haven't used the Schuran media yet, my packaged deal came with the carib brand and I've still got 2 containers of it, although I see nothing wrong with it I've read so much about the Schuran brand being so much better I want to try it out sometime.. I can't weight in on the PH probe I have the Milwaukee brand (2 of them) which I've had no issues with since I bought them, therefor I never tried another brand. Either way so far IMO your Ideal system sounds good to me.
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If your not going to be a part of the future, Then get out of the way. What we have hear....Is failure to communicate. Last edited by StupidsReef; 12/27/2007 at 09:57 AM. |
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#12
12/27/2007, 10:35 AM
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Ok here's the ballast that you would need if you was to run 6 HO T5 bulbs over a 36" tank. These ballast will power 3 bulbs @ 4 feet in length which would mean you'd need 2 of them. My tank is 30" in width I'm running 8 bulbs @ 60" I was going to run 12 of them but I'm glad I started out with just 8 because I don't see the need for anymore than the 8 and my tank is 25" deep so @ 18" deep 6 would be enough. But you could run 8 if you wanted to just buy 3 of these ballast and wire 1 of them up with 2 bulbs instead of three.
http://www.thereefstop.com/index.php...&productId=473 Ok just for price figures here's the bulbs http://www.thereefstop.com/index.php...&productId=561 And the price of the reflectors. http://www.thereefstop.com/index.php...&productId=531 And the endcaps and make sure you get the stand off's as well. Trust me you'll need them. http://www.thereefstop.com/index.php...&productId=752 Here is another ballast that I found. Each 1 will run 2 bulbs @ 36" lenght, and would be about $150.00 cheaper than the Icecap ballast. I would ask Mark about these those it claims they need a grounded power cord as well as a program start?? I'm not sure what that means?? http://www.thereefstop.com/index.php...&productId=536 Keep in mind Chelsey Mark can put all this together and come up with a T5 Retro Kit Including the bulbs and save you a bundle on the shipping as well as the price. And T5 bulbs last about 18 months to 2 years. Hope this helped but If your set on what you've stated in this thread I agree that the Ushio brand MH bulbs, I had one of them once and I think it was awesome compared to the other bulbs I've had.
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If your not going to be a part of the future, Then get out of the way. What we have hear....Is failure to communicate. |
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#13
12/27/2007, 04:43 PM
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Quote:
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100 gallon "cube" in the works! |
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#16
12/27/2007, 05:28 PM
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I also vote yes for starphire. This will be a rimless tank I assume?
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Nick "By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out." |
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#18
12/27/2007, 07:33 PM
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I just forwarded your detail schematic and I hope I will hear tomorrow. There is NO way 5/8 inch acrylic will not bow without a brace. My last tank was 1/2 inch and only 36x36x10 and it bowed before the brace. I would never use more than 1/4 inch for any bottom on any acrylic tank as long as the builder has the piece-other wise you are wasting money. I will have him work out the best value vs quality as well.
So do you want a brace or not? If you do not then I would go with the glass and attach the rear overflow yourself. JMHO and have them cut a weir in the rear part of the tank. I should email you tomorrow---I hope?? PL
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"without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible" F-Zappa |
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#20
12/27/2007, 08:49 PM
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Low-iron glass scratches more easily....might want to read about some folks experience before dropping the coinage....IMO and for my money, once water is in the tank there is not much difference to justify the extra money for low iron, plus the scratching factor.
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Dave "The wind blew, the detritus flew and then they came two by two." |
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#21
12/27/2007, 09:41 PM
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GC can make it they just won't attach it. I am pretty sure they can do a weir on the back wall because I had them quote a tank with one, about 3 years back.
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"without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible" F-Zappa |
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#22
12/27/2007, 11:37 PM
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Quote:
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100 gallon "cube" in the works! |
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#23
12/28/2007, 01:47 PM
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I just ordered my tank via glass cages
 I'll be picking it up somewhere around Jan 20th.I also placed my equipment order via Reefstop: 1 x GEO Calcium Reactor 612 1 x Neptune pH Probe 1 x PFO 175 watt Dual Metal Halide Ballast 2 x 14K 175watt Metal Halide Bulb - Iwasaki 2 x Lumen Bright Reflector - Large
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100 gallon "cube" in the works! Last edited by Chelsey; 12/28/2007 at 02:19 PM. |
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#24
12/28/2007, 01:50 PM
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Very Cool
 Did you go with an external overflow?
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Nick "By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out." |
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