Blazer88
Well-known member
So I guess it is time to finally get a thread started about this. I've had my 65G up and running for almost three years now and it has been great. I've always drooled over those cool rimless cubes and I finally found a builder (Joel from Waves Marine in Portland) who will build a 30x30x24 starphire tank, which equates to roughly 90G. I got quotes from all over the place but shipping generally negated any good deals so I was happy to find something that is within driving distance to pick up. I put the deposit in almost a month ago and I'm hoping to have the tank in my hands by the end of the month. Here is the list of equipment.
-1/2" starphire glass cube (30Wx30Lx24T) w/external overflow box
-Two Vortech MP40W's for flow (I have one now and love it, I'll buy another one soon).
-Eheim 1260 return pump (currently on my 65G), probably plumbed through two 3/4" returns
-Octopus CR140 calcium reactor (currently on my 65G, thanks Todd!)
-The skimmer is still up in the air but it is looking like an Octopus Pro OPS-250E
-I'll be doing a hanging canopy (matching the stand) that will have a full sized Lumenarc and a 20K Radium running on a Blue Wave HQI Ballast w/adjustable pulley system
-I plan to have something else small in the canopy for dusk/dawn.
-Probably keep my 15G sump to house the skimmer and return pump, add another 5-10G tank for the fuge.
-Keep my current ATO setup
I plan to keep an SPS/LPS dominate system. I sold off all of the LR that had any softies attached so I plan to transfer the rock from my current tank into the new one. I'm also going to do a DIY rock/foam back wall that will have two open spaces for the Vortech's so those will blend in. I plan to order some rock from bulkreefsupply.com to make the wall so the foam/epoxy can cure without killing off any of my current LR. I also want to build some type of cool arch/structure using PVC rods for the main rock in the tank. I want something simple that will leave plenty of sand space and room for growth.
Considering I don't have the tank quite yet, I plan to build the hanging canopy first. I ordered a DIY 2x24W with actinic bulbs from here:
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=30
I already have an 18" URI Super Actinic R but it is really blue so I thought I would try out their actinics, which are supposedly more of a purple look. I'll have the PC's on Wednesday so I quickly rig them up and see if I like the color better than my VHO (while still being a "pure 420nm actinic"). If I don't like either, I'll get the 2x24W T5 actinics from MarineDepot since I know I like the color of the Giesemann pure actinics.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...w~idProduct~GL2731~idCategory~FILTRTRFT5.html
The canopy may have to be a little larger since the T5's only come in 24" lengths so I want to avoid that if possible.
Once my actinics are figured out I'll start building the canopy as I have the rest of the lighting sitting here. I am always open to suggestions so please chime in if anyone thinks of anything. I'll update as things progress!
-1/2" starphire glass cube (30Wx30Lx24T) w/external overflow box
-Two Vortech MP40W's for flow (I have one now and love it, I'll buy another one soon).
-Eheim 1260 return pump (currently on my 65G), probably plumbed through two 3/4" returns
-Octopus CR140 calcium reactor (currently on my 65G, thanks Todd!)
-The skimmer is still up in the air but it is looking like an Octopus Pro OPS-250E
-I'll be doing a hanging canopy (matching the stand) that will have a full sized Lumenarc and a 20K Radium running on a Blue Wave HQI Ballast w/adjustable pulley system
-I plan to have something else small in the canopy for dusk/dawn.
-Probably keep my 15G sump to house the skimmer and return pump, add another 5-10G tank for the fuge.
-Keep my current ATO setup
I plan to keep an SPS/LPS dominate system. I sold off all of the LR that had any softies attached so I plan to transfer the rock from my current tank into the new one. I'm also going to do a DIY rock/foam back wall that will have two open spaces for the Vortech's so those will blend in. I plan to order some rock from bulkreefsupply.com to make the wall so the foam/epoxy can cure without killing off any of my current LR. I also want to build some type of cool arch/structure using PVC rods for the main rock in the tank. I want something simple that will leave plenty of sand space and room for growth.
Considering I don't have the tank quite yet, I plan to build the hanging canopy first. I ordered a DIY 2x24W with actinic bulbs from here:
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=30
I already have an 18" URI Super Actinic R but it is really blue so I thought I would try out their actinics, which are supposedly more of a purple look. I'll have the PC's on Wednesday so I quickly rig them up and see if I like the color better than my VHO (while still being a "pure 420nm actinic"). If I don't like either, I'll get the 2x24W T5 actinics from MarineDepot since I know I like the color of the Giesemann pure actinics.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...w~idProduct~GL2731~idCategory~FILTRTRFT5.html
The canopy may have to be a little larger since the T5's only come in 24" lengths so I want to avoid that if possible.
Once my actinics are figured out I'll start building the canopy as I have the rest of the lighting sitting here. I am always open to suggestions so please chime in if anyone thinks of anything. I'll update as things progress!
