The end of the puzzle.

[tike]

My 65 gallon with the CL that Gabs dubbed "the puzzle" is no more!

Well Everyone been one me about getting this build? Thread up so here it goes.
As a lot of you know I have wanted to switch over my 65 gallon “puzzle” tank to a 60 gallon cube. Well last week I bit the bullet and did the change. (Imagine that!). Here’s a breakdown of the equipment: 60 gallon cube (24x24x24) starphire glass, 20 gallon Oceanic sump, Mag 5 return pump, SWC Xtreme 200 protein Skimmer, ATO system, Corallife Calcium Reactor ( don’t laugh it has worked great for almost 2 years now), HQI 250 watt ballast, Baby Luminac Reflector, 20K Radium Bulb, for flow VorTech MP40 pump this is the old school pump without the option to change flow types.

 

[tike]

My 65 gallon with the CL that Gabs dubbed "the puzzle" is no more!

Well Everyone been one me about getting this build? Thread up so here it goes.
As a lot of you know I have wanted to switch over my 65 gallon “puzzle” tank to a 60 gallon cube. Well last week I bit the bullet and did the change. (Imagine that!). Here’s a breakdown of the equipment: 60 gallon cube (24x24x24) starphire glass, 20 gallon Oceanic sump, Mag 5 return pump, SWC Xtreme 200 protein Skimmer, ATO system, Corallife Calcium Reactor ( don’t laugh it has worked great for almost 2 years now), HQI 250 watt ballast, Baby Luminac Reflector, 20K Radium Bulb, for flow VorTech MP40 pump this is the old school pump without the option to change flow types.

Okay some pics! This isn’t my best shooting but I was in a hurry.

Bucket Brigade!

Skimmer

Look how clean it looks behind the tank now Gabs!

Water and rock...took 2 days to get this cleared!

FTS

 

[tike]

I had a little problem getting the water clear so I kept the corals in a Rubbermaid tub for a couple of days. I installed a sock on the overflow and that took care of the problem. The corals were under T-5 lighting and I am using 250 watt MH now so I only gave them 6 hours of light at first. Some corals started bleaching anyway!:evil: These are large colonies so I couldn’t move them down any lower without taking out the Live Rock so I am now giving them 8 hours of T-5 light and the final 2 hours MH. I’ll try this for a month and see where they are at. Also the water they came from was pretty nutrient rich and the new tank has all new water and low nutrients so I am sure there’s a little shock factor going on there.


I am happy with the new look! I especially like the tall stand the tank sits on and the smaller footprint. You can view the tank standing straight up rather then bending down. The skimmer is whopass, I was told it would need about a week to break in but it started producing skimmate the 2nd day. It produced more skimmate in one week then my old skimmer produced in a month!

 

[jezzeaepi]

Part of your bleaching problem tike, could be that the plastic conatiners you were keeping them in started to leach back material =( I have heard of this happening before. If you used the same water from those containers when you set up the display, you might want to run some carbon and try a water change, and maybe a polyfilter. Just something Id do "just in case", but then again im pretty paranoid.

Also is that a non-gfci outlet?!!??!

Hehe nice work though! Gotta love those rimless.

 

[roscoe]

Looks great Willie!!!

 

[tike]

Also is that a non-gfci outlet?!!??!

Yeah....what's life without livin a little on the edge.

 

[tike]

Part of your bleaching problem tike, could be that the plastic conatiners you were keeping them in started to leach back material =( I have heard of this happening before. If you used the same water from those containers when you set up the display, you might want to run some carbon and try a water change, and maybe a polyfilter. Just something Id do "just in case", but then again im pretty paranoid.

It's all new water in the tank.

 

[mfinn]

Looks great. Can't wait to see it in person.

 

[Krish]

Looks great Willie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tike]

Is there a certain timer that works for an HQI ballast? The little cheapo timers don't work.

 

[spongebob lover]

NO PUZZLE !!! nooo !!! .

it looks really really nice dood i think THE puzzle is in a happy place now :lol: .

now you sould make Robacha's mom go behind there and clean up whenever there's dust :lol: .

 

[Herefishyfishy]

What a pretty tank!
Getting more fond of cubes by the day

 

[mfinn]

Is there a certain timer that works for an HQI ballast? The little cheapo timers don't work.

I use a Intermatic Heavy Duty grounded timer from Home Depot with my PFO HQI ballast.

 

[tike]

I use a Intermatic Heavy Duty grounded timer from Home Depot with my PFO HQI ballast.

thanks Martin!

 

[morgan]

it looks good i just wonder why u put the over flow in that spot like that to me it dosent make sense and may not be astheticly pleasing as a wier or over flow box or of box on the back i say may because maybe ur going to grow corals on it im not sure but keep us updated

 

[tike]

now you sould make Robacha's mom go behind there and clean up whenever there's dust :lol: .

Done!

 

[tike]

it looks good i just wonder why u put the over flow in that spot like that to me it dosent make sense and may not be astheticly pleasing as a wier or over flow box or of box on the back i say may because maybe ur going to grow corals on it im not sure but keep us updated

The tank came that way...I am not that savy with tools!

 

[mfinn]

I've seen a few tanks plumbed that way and I can tell you, once the corals really take over the tank, you don't notice any equipment.

I have extra grounded timers, so I'll bring one up with me.

 

[tike]

A few FTS. Haven't had time to do any macro stuff.

 

[roscoe]

Wow tank is looking saweet Willie!!! Keep the pics coming!