Question about idea I had

[yjwhite91]

I want to do something a little diffrent, if it can be done.. I'm kinda tired of my 55 non-drilled setup. I have two jbj 12 gallon nanocubes laying around, one dx, and one regular. I was wondering if 1) these tanks are able to be drilled and how to or who to get to drill them or 2) if anyone has linked nanocubes. I thought of having two nanocubes staked in a cabinet and a 10 gallon regular square tank underneath as a refugium / problem crab tank.

Basically I was thinking of drilling either the left chamber or the center chamber on each for gravity out flow and drilling the right chamber on the top tank for a return pump using a quite one 4000 or maybe smaller, and the right chamber on the center nanocube to gravity feed in and have a powerhead for circulation. then in the 10 gallon have an area for problem criters, and an area for a return pump and my skimmer. Each tank would still have all live rock rubble in the rear chambers. I just want to have a linked water system with three diffrent marine environments. Is this possible? Thanks in advance.

[yjwhite91]

Bump: any thoughts?

[sprite]

ive only seen 1 person drill a jbj nanocube and it cracked full of water

[phurst]

I drilled mine a few weeks ago, while full. No issues at all. I will lell you what I did to retain the functionality of the rear filtration chambers. I drilled the drain line in the 3rd (right most) chamber, and drilled the return to line up with the hole in the back wall of the stock return. Water flows into chamber 1 from the tank, into chamber 2, then into chamber 3, where it drains to the fuge/sump, then is returned through the rear glass and through the rear plastic wall, directly into the display.

I can post pics if that's confusing....

[yjwhite91]

Yes, pics please. I am thinking that is exactly what i wanted to do, except you did both holes in the same chamber if I'm understanding right. How do you like it so far?

[phurst]

Yes, both holes are in the same chamber, but the return goes all the way through into the display.



You can see the drain on the left, and the return passing through the rear chamber on the right.

Here's a pic of the back with the durso for the drain in place, before I placed the bulkhead for the return, though you can see the hole is already drilled.



And a top-down shot of the rear with the system running.




I'm really loving it. I have a 15 gallon tank baffled in the middle with a dsb and cheato in the first chamber, and the return pump and a pair of phosban reactors in the right chamber. I have some LR in my sump at home I'll be transfering into the sump and an Aqua C Remora skimmer on the way. I just upgraded my lighting to a 150W metal halide fixture too.

[yjwhite91]

Thanks for the pics, looks like exactly what I want to do except with three tanks. Also, what return pump are you using. I was thinking about Quiet One 4000, but I'm thinking that might be too much. Also, what did you use to cut with, a dimond dremmel tool? and what size are your drain and return lines? Sorry so many questions, I'm used to my 55 with overflow box and independant Nanocubes. This will be my first cutting attempt.
My basic goal being three small independant environments, eventually upgrading to Halide on the top tank, the DX lights on the middle tank, and the refugium on the bottom.

[MikePowell]

you can cut it your self if you have the right tools. is the tank empty or filled? if it is empty take it to a LFS or glass shop that cuts glass and ask them to drill the holes you want. my LFS charges $12 a hole BUT they also will replace the tank if it cracks. Just my 2 cents.

[MikePowell]

Granted it's not hard to drill glass, sometimes it just better and easier to have someone else do it.

[phurst]

Originally posted by yjwhite91
Thanks for the pics, looks like exactly what I want to do except with three tanks. Also, what return pump are you using. I was thinking about Quiet One 4000, but I'm thinking that might be too much. Also, what did you use to cut with, a dimond dremmel tool? and what size are your drain and return lines? Sorry so many questions, I'm used to my 55 with overflow box and independant Nanocubes. This will be my first cutting attempt.
My basic goal being three small independant environments, eventually upgrading to Halide on the top tank, the DX lights on the middle tank, and the refugium on the bottom.

I'm using a Mag 2 as a return. It's running at 4' of gead, through 1/2" tubing, 1/2" bulkheads and 2 90 degree elbows. It's sufficient flow, but I wanted to go fairly slow through the fuge section, so if I need increased flow in the display, I'll have to use an additional powerhead.

I used these bits I got on eBay:


Cheap, fast shipping and very easy to use with the pilot bit to keep the hole saw from skipping around the glass. This was my first time drilling a tank as well, but it turned out to be a piece of cake. Sounds like you've got a really cool idea, I'll be interested to see how it comes together.

[Bursa]

I had a 12g nanocube that was drilled in the back of chamber 3, hooked up to a 25g sump which was also hooked up to a 10g tank.

It can be done.

[yjwhite91]

Thanks everyone, this should get me on the right track. When I get all the stuff to make this happen, Ill have to start a build thread, or atleast post pics of how it turned out.