Our 140gal. Cube Build Thread

[ereefic]

Haven't been around here much lately, but hoping to make up for it with the build thread of our new 140gal. cube, so here we go.

We ordered a Glasscages 140gal. cube (36x36x25) a little over a month ago and picked it up in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. Tank was very nice, with a little sloppy siliconing but easily fixed with a razor blade. The tank has a single 1.5" drain, returns will be coming over the back.

We had a local cabinet maker build us a stand and canopy. He does nice work at a reasonably price, and the best part is it's built to my specs.

Here are some pics of the stand and canopy before trim, sanding and clear coat. Stand is 3/4" oak ply and solid oak.

The canopy is sitting right on top of the stand. The 4 holes are for fans, the middle 2 will be on when the light is on, the other 2 are angled down toward the water and will be on a temp controller. The other 2 notches are where the return plumbing will come through.


Here is a shot of the front and right side. The stand and canopy will have doors on both sides and the front. This will allow much easier access to anywhere we need to get into. Trying to reach the bottom back of the tank from the front would be very hard due to the 36" depth of the tank.


And a shot from the left side.

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Here are some pics of the finished stand and canopy.

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How about some tank pics.

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Lighting will be a single 250w Radium on a HQI ballast in a Lumearc III reflector. Canopy fans are Vantec Stealth fans, which put out as much air as the Radio Shack fans, but are much quieter.

Here's some pics of the reflector and fans installed.

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The sump is a 45 gal. cube (24x24x18). I installed baffles and it's now in the stand.

A Reef Octopus NW-200 skimmer is in there and an Iwaki 40RLXT will be the return pump. It will be complimented by an Oceansmotion Squirt.

Sump, in progress


Skimmer in sump


Easy side access to the skimmer

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Here is a pic of the stand, tank and canopy.

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It is in the process of leak testing right now, and all is looking good.

I won't be getting the return pump until next weekend, then we'll start rockin!

[fish outa wata]

everything looks great! Do you have all the lr ready to go in.

[ereefic]

Thanks. LR, corals and fish are in a rubbermaid in the basement awaiting there new home.

Should get sand in tomorrow and start filling it with RO.

[fish outa wata]

that's awesome.

[ReeferSD]

Another light wouldn't hurt anything either. Nice work looks good

[ereefic]

1 light should be fine, the lumenarc will spread it better and it's going to be a mixed tank anyways, so not everything needs to be blasted with intense light.

[fish outa wata]

Those lumenarc canopies are awesome the lfs here uses them and they are crazy.

[klasikb]

The tank has now been set up for a week. Here are some pics, enjoy

front


right side




left side


The pictures look much darker and more blue than it is. It's great to have the three side viewable, now we just have to fill it up. There was only one casuality in the downgrade and that was my sunburst anthias he died some time during the last 3 days in the holding tank.

[Reefland]

Stunning, absolutely stunning!

[fishguy_8]

Tank looks awesome good work....Sorry to hear about the anthias...I'm a big fan of anthias' of all sorts so thats too bad but looks like the rest of your inhab's dig their new home. Keep up the good work.
Jon

[zhenya]

Congrats on the new set up, guys! Outstanding job on the rockwork and I agree with Eric, one bulb in the Lumenarc is plenty good for this one.
Best of luck with this one!

[klasikb]

Thanks everyone, I'm glad you like it

[fish outa wata]

tanks looks great! love the aquascaping

[Poseidon]

That is STUNNING! Way to go!

Boy that really has me wanting a cube now...