80G Cube of Doom
- Cube Build
- Thread starter Onebaldman
- Start date
- Tagged users None
shovelrider
Active Member
Looks great! Clean setup and the LED's look awesome.
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
It's been a while since I updated on my tank. My tank stand is still not done, but in other news...I have admitted defeat when it comes to my lighting. There is no telling how much $$ I sank into DIY LED lighting, but I was never happy with the way the tank looked.
So, a few weeks ago I bought my first Radion 3 Pro:
and it provided the look that I was craving but...
So, a few weeks ago I bought my first Radion 3 Pro:
and it provided the look that I was craving but...
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
I then realized that one wouldn't be enough...so, meet the twins:
Forgive the messy wires, I'm still in the process of cleaning that up.
Forgive the messy wires, I'm still in the process of cleaning that up.
Last edited:
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
I also started to work on my maintenance area (once again, excuse the mess). I finally bought a toolbox and fitted it in place. I will move all my hardware, testing kits, ect into this to clean up the area. I have to drop the toolbox down a little bit so that I can put my DJ switches directly above it.
Directly behind this area is a closet that I plan to move my water/salt buckets into. That is a future project that is coming fast: Nearly automated 5 gallon water change (every other day).
Directly behind this area is a closet that I plan to move my water/salt buckets into. That is a future project that is coming fast: Nearly automated 5 gallon water change (every other day).
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
Trying to keep this up to date as life allows it.
My buckets came in yesterday. For my spot, I thought I was only going to be able to fit 5 gallon buckets in there, but I found some 30 gallon barrels that fit the spot perfect. Now to plumb them in.
My buckets came in yesterday. For my spot, I thought I was only going to be able to fit 5 gallon buckets in there, but I found some 30 gallon barrels that fit the spot perfect. Now to plumb them in.
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2012
- Messages
- 632
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- North Alabama
- What state or country do you live in
- Alabama
If you move your testing kits, supplements, food, etc. down next to the toolbox, you'll have room for more cocktail glasses or ingredients.
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
Couple more pictures of the water storage/mixing area:
Placement of the 1/2" bulkhead:
Inside the barrel:
RODI Barrel in place on the shelf:
Plumbing for RODI barrel. Left is a 12v NC valve that will drop water into the mixing barrel. Center is the line back to the tank for ATO. Right is a line coming out to the front of the stand. There will be a faucet on this line so that I can fill other containers when needed.
Finally, both barrels in place (I also plan on putting a strap along the top of the barrel before I fill it completely):
Placement of the 1/2" bulkhead:
Inside the barrel:
RODI Barrel in place on the shelf:
Plumbing for RODI barrel. Left is a 12v NC valve that will drop water into the mixing barrel. Center is the line back to the tank for ATO. Right is a line coming out to the front of the stand. There will be a faucet on this line so that I can fill other containers when needed.
Finally, both barrels in place (I also plan on putting a strap along the top of the barrel before I fill it completely):
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2012
- Messages
- 632
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- North Alabama
- What state or country do you live in
- Alabama
What's the diameter of your 30 gallon barrels?
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
19" Wide, 26" tall.
As you can see in the pictures, a standard 23-24" 55 gallon drum would have been too big, both in height and in width. It takes a small step stool for me to look into RODI barrel.
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
Finally got the RO faucet in the mail and installed:
A picture from last week, water going in the bucket with the float switch:
The tank is now being topped off from this bucket. I just got the last NC solenoid valve and liquid flow meter in this weekend. I still have to read the documentation on the flow meter, but it looks like it will be able to monitor how much water is being pulled from my tank. More to come...
A picture from last week, water going in the bucket with the float switch:
The tank is now being topped off from this bucket. I just got the last NC solenoid valve and liquid flow meter in this weekend. I still have to read the documentation on the flow meter, but it looks like it will be able to monitor how much water is being pulled from my tank. More to come...
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
It's interesting how life always gets in the way when trying to update posts...
Since my last update, I decided to scrap the algae scrubber for now because of time. I'm finally getting my aquarium dialed in (Finally growth in my sps) and decided to not chance it with both school/work/toddler in my life. Speaking of school/work, I do have to travel some, so I finally bought the AFS for my Apex for when I am gone:
[video=youtube;l0EC6OZPiT4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0EC6OZPiT4[/video]
The return pump shuts off a minute before it is time to feed and the Vortechs go into nutrient export mode. They all remain in this state for 15 minutes and then return back to normal operation.
Since my last update, I decided to scrap the algae scrubber for now because of time. I'm finally getting my aquarium dialed in (Finally growth in my sps) and decided to not chance it with both school/work/toddler in my life. Speaking of school/work, I do have to travel some, so I finally bought the AFS for my Apex for when I am gone:
[video=youtube;l0EC6OZPiT4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0EC6OZPiT4[/video]
The return pump shuts off a minute before it is time to feed and the Vortechs go into nutrient export mode. They all remain in this state for 15 minutes and then return back to normal operation.
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
Yesterday was upgrade day:
I also bought two new Vertex 2.5L dosing containers:
Happiness under my tank:
The pickle jar lid is for the top of my 1 gallon collection jug. The float switch is wired to my controller to shut down the skimmer after the collection jug fills up.
My next project is: my wife wants to put down new flooring, so the tank will be coming down and I will be building a new stand so that I can upgrade my sump from a 20L to a 40B. This will allow me more room in my sump and also allow me to do 20 gallon automatic water changes directly from my sump using the system I describe earlier. With the new sump, I plan on also upgrading my return pump to a Jebco 9000 to power both my tank and a manifold for my reactors.
I also bought two new Vertex 2.5L dosing containers:
Happiness under my tank:
The pickle jar lid is for the top of my 1 gallon collection jug. The float switch is wired to my controller to shut down the skimmer after the collection jug fills up.
My next project is: my wife wants to put down new flooring, so the tank will be coming down and I will be building a new stand so that I can upgrade my sump from a 20L to a 40B. This will allow me more room in my sump and also allow me to do 20 gallon automatic water changes directly from my sump using the system I describe earlier. With the new sump, I plan on also upgrading my return pump to a Jebco 9000 to power both my tank and a manifold for my reactors.
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
Another change I have made is to my radion lights. My wife and brother mentioned to me that they didn't like the blue lights. Given what we know about the blue/deep blue spectrum, I decided to switch over my profile to the shallow reef setup at 12ft deep. Here is the snippet from the EcoSmart page:
The Shallow Reef schedule is based off spectrum measurements collected near Sipadan Island in Malaysia. The measurements were made from sunrise to sunset just above the ocean.
[FONT=Roboto, sans-serif]I have seen no side effects to this change except that now instead of the normal blue period we are used to seeing, I get more of a turquoise in the morning and evenings. I have the sunrise/sunset on for 30 minutes, so I get a good natural sunrise/sunset. [/FONT]
The Shallow Reef schedule is based off spectrum measurements collected near Sipadan Island in Malaysia. The measurements were made from sunrise to sunset just above the ocean.
[FONT=Roboto, sans-serif]I have seen no side effects to this change except that now instead of the normal blue period we are used to seeing, I get more of a turquoise in the morning and evenings. I have the sunrise/sunset on for 30 minutes, so I get a good natural sunrise/sunset. [/FONT]
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
I wish I had the power to rename this thread and move it to the build sections. :-( I never did start a proper build thread...
SeahorseKeeper
Where's the mysis?
- Joined
- May 27, 2012
- Messages
- 12,799
- Reaction score
- 3,976
- Location
- Wandering somewhere in NC
- What state or country do you live in
- North Carolina
SeahorseKeeper
Where's the mysis?
- Joined
- May 27, 2012
- Messages
- 12,799
- Reaction score
- 3,976
- Location
- Wandering somewhere in NC
- What state or country do you live in
- North Carolina
Your tank is looking good! Moved to the current forum and renamed. 
OP
OP
Onebaldman
Active Member
I tend to say this with every major posting, but I'm awful about updates...
So since I last posted (and even moved to the new forum area), I tore my tank completely down and started over with my stand. Not because I wanted to, but because my wife wanted new flooring. Who's to argue with that.
After the tank was torn down:
So since I last posted (and even moved to the new forum area), I tore my tank completely down and started over with my stand. Not because I wanted to, but because my wife wanted new flooring. Who's to argue with that.
After the tank was torn down:
