Hoop's 60g cube build

HOOPDEEZ · Feb 18, 2016

So after years of freshwater and a long hiatus I'm starting a reef tank!

HOOPDEEZ · Feb 18, 2016

So here is the build so far! I also have a pile of lumber that needs to transform into a stand!

revhtree · Feb 18, 2016

Following!

CastAway · Feb 22, 2016

I love it!

HOOPDEEZ · Feb 27, 2016

Got some rocks! Thinking of a design similar to this but held together with epoxy to make two or three pieces that fit together. Also I would like to get a nice piece of LR to seed the dry rock.

CastAway · Feb 27, 2016

Hey hoops. Looks good.

Take a flashlight, turn the lights off, and shine light straight down onto your structure. It'll give you an idea of how much lit surface you have compared to shaded areas. The lit surfaces are worth $100.00 per square inch, and the shaded areas are worth $1.00 per square inch. LOL

It drove me crazy building an aqua scape!!

HOOPDEEZ · Feb 27, 2016

CastAway said:
Hey hoops. Looks good.

Take s flashlight, turn the lights off, and shine light straight down onto your structure. It'll give you an idea of how much lit surface you have compared to shaded areas. The lit surfaces are worth $100.00 per square inch, and the shaded areas are worth $1.00 per square inch. LOL

It drove me crazy building an aqua scape!!

Thanks that makes a lot of sense!

TheHarold · Feb 27, 2016

That'll be nice! Yeah watch shadowing on the rock- your regret it later when you run out of room for corals!

HOOPDEEZ · Mar 5, 2016

Stocking ideas:
Higher priority
-Flasher or fairy wrasse (perhaps a pair or trio)
-Midas Blenny

Lower priority
-royal gramma
-fire fish (would the Midas harass it?)

Was thinking maybe 6-8 fish for a 60g cube. Any recommendations?

Inverts:
-Peppermint shrimp and/or cleaner shrimp
-maybe a maxima clam later
-LPS and some SPS

TreyC2010 · Mar 5, 2016

Hawkfish, goby/shrimp, Kole/Bristletooth Tang. I'm building one also and those are some I liked.

Dextereef · Mar 5, 2016

Following. Love cubes!

HOOPDEEZ · Mar 15, 2016

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good reliable heater? I had one fail in a tank a while ago and killed all my fish:mad:.

CastAway · Mar 15, 2016

I have had nothing to compare it to, but like my titanium Finnex. I use it with a Pinpoint controller.

Dextereef · Mar 16, 2016

HOOPDEEZ said:
Does anyone have a recommendation for a good reliable heater? I had one fail in a tank a while ago and killed all my fish:mad:.

I have been using hydor heaters for the last 3 years and have been happy. They are being controlled with an apex so if one gets stuck on I wouldn't know. It's my opinion that even the most expensive heaters are still a malfunction waiting to happen so it's best to put them on a controller to protect your tank.

Zack33 · Mar 16, 2016

Not to throw out a link to any specific place (first one that came up on google search).
These are the best, have used many before and will continue to do that:

http://www.marinedepot.com/Eheim_Ja..._Aquarium_Heaters-Jager-EJ1111-FIHTGH-vi.html

HOOPDEEZ · Sep 10, 2016

I've been working like crazy and hadn't had much time to work on the build, but I pieced the frame for my stand together a few weeks ago:

HOOPDEEZ · Sep 10, 2016

HOOPDEEZ · Sep 10, 2016

My dad came to visit, and he makes his own cabinets, I put him to work! It's finished in red oak. It will have a 20 gallon refugium that is visible in the stand (it will sit on that platform on the side) and have a 20 gallon sump directly under the DT.

drawman · Sep 10, 2016

Doors/sides look nice!

HOOPDEEZ · Sep 11, 2016

Got a lot done over the weekend, the end is in sight! It's not quite finished in these pictures. still need to attach the last couple of pieces, paint inside, stain the oak, and add a tile piece to lay next to tank (tank is 24" cube stand is 38 inches long)