High End BioCube Reef Tank Build.

45ZoaGarden · Jul 16, 2020

I’ve also seen some people using heavy duty drawer rails to create a sliding shelf that you can pull out. They put the sump in there and use the qd unions to take it out

Carz said:
OH its tight, but I need the room. Everything will be plumbed with unions so when needed I will be able to remove the sump to clean. Sounds like a pain but thats what I need to do. There will be a top on the sump with lids on every chamber. Even going to do a split lid to go around the skimmer.

Carz · Jul 16, 2020

Now you tell me.........That is a bad butt idea.

Carz · Jul 20, 2020

Well I made a template for the holes that needed cut. I used a 1/8" sheet of plexiglass and cut the holes out on the laser. As you can see it fit pretty good. I kept some water and dish soap on the bit and drilled the 3 holes out in less than 10 min. First time I ever drilled a tank and it was really easy. I lost sleep for nothing. I ended up tearing out the back of the biocube. I wanted the extra room and I am going to make my own overflow. I am going to black out the back of the tank.

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45ZoaGarden · Jul 21, 2020

You can also take the rim off if you want a rimless look. I did it with my 24 gallon nano cube I converted into a frag tank

Carz said:
Well I made a template for the holes that needed cut. I used a 1/8" sheet of plexiglass and cut the holes out on the laser. As you can see it fit pretty good. I kept some water and dish soap on the bit and drilled the 3 holes out in less than 10 min. First time I ever drilled a tank and it was really easy. I lost sleep for nothing. I ended up tearing out the back of the biocube. I wanted the extra room and I am going to make my own overflow. I am going to black out the back of the tank.

Carz · Jul 21, 2020

Just some simple pics of applying the black vinyl to the back.

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schneidergarrettt60 · Jul 21, 2020

Nice looks good. I will have to say I don't have the patience for that ha good job

jeffrey750750 · Jul 21, 2020

That is absolutely amazing

Carz · Jul 22, 2020

worked on the overflow box today. I did make it a little bigger so I can get my hands in there when needed. I still need to polish the edges and cut the holes for the bulkhead but thats another day.

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schneidergarrettt60 · Jul 22, 2020

Nice work. I like all of the diy

Carz · Jul 23, 2020

Started the sump. Smooth clean edges is the key to get nice acrylic glue joints.

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38bill · Jul 23, 2020

Nice build! What did you cut the weir holes with? They look super clean.

FWIW I just set up a cube tank with a ext overflow box that is only 6" wide. Looks like yours is something close to that. I don't know about your flow rate but I had a heck of a time getting mine to run silently. The water was making noise as it fell into the ext box and since it falls directly on the drains they would gurgle too. I had to raise the box water level and add some fittings to the drain tubes to get it to run quietly. I'm actually thinking about building a new ext box that is wider and taller.

Carz · Jul 23, 2020

I cut all of the acrylic parts with the laser. Any square edges were just cut with the table saw and then I run them across the jointer at a slow rate of speed. I made the box 7"wide and 4" deep. I am hoping that will be enough, but if I need to a piece of acrylic to adjust the water level I will do that. If not............I will build another one and max it out.

Katrina71 · Jul 23, 2020

This is clearly not your first rodeo! It's beautiful.

Daniel@R2R · Jul 24, 2020

Beautiful work!!

Carz · Jul 24, 2020

It does help being a shop guy and having the right tools.....

Carz · Jul 24, 2020

So I did some more work on the sump before I go away for the weekend. Still need to flush trim the edges and make the top but it looks pretty good so far.

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EagleEye121 · Jul 24, 2020

Awesome build so far! Following along

45ZoaGarden · Jul 30, 2020

That looks pretty darn good!

Carz said:
So I did some more work on the sump before I go away for the weekend. Still need to flush trim the edges and make the top but it looks pretty good so far.