Dvgy's 65Cube - Rise of the Reef

Great progress, can be a frustrating process.

I am looking for a carpenter for my stand, but think I will give your’s a miss?

What is the tank size?
All companies / businesses make mistakes. Its their back up Service that determines the great from the mediocre. I would give this guy a chance
 
All companies / businesses make mistakes. Its their back up Service that determines the great from the mediocre. I would give this guy a chance
Agreed, he was quick to try & correct his mistakes that made the difference.
 
Morning All,

Small Update-
I redid the plumbing, i know now the UV would been better placed in line with manifold on the up lift pump side but decided to stick to initial design for now will try & incorporate a manifold at later stage.

New Plumbing layout.. i think its alot neater. I glued everything together & should be siliconing all the bits on the tank side in next day or so.
IMG_20200718_181645.jpg


Since i started this journey iv been in contact with fellow reefer up in Jozi, @drab808. His been very helpful over the last couple months with sharing information.
He also did some 3D printing of bits for the build. i.e controller holder etc. Really impressed with his workmanship & attention to detail.
IMG_20200713_151235.jpg

IMG_20200713_152032.jpg

STC100 controller Housing came out tops. will be mounting under the shelve
IMG_20200716_155133.jpg

All wire up...just need more supplies for the cooling side wiring.
IMG_20200721_151656.jpg

Also mounted all my pump controllers. My idea for cabinet was always to hide as much of the wires as possible & easy access from all sides.
IMG_20200719_164149.jpg


Thanks again to Dane for the assistance & great product would recommend him to anyone for his services.

Thats it for now will be tying up all loose end so this week & hopefully tank will be wet next ahaha

Thanks for reading, comments always welcome. :thumbup1:
 
Morning All,

Small Update-
I redid the plumbing, i know now the UV would been better placed in line with manifold on the up lift pump side but decided to stick to initial design for now will try & incorporate a manifold at later stage.

New Plumbing layout.. i think its alot neater. I glued everything together & should be siliconing all the bits on the tank side in next day or so.
IMG_20200718_181645.jpg


Since i started this journey iv been in contact with fellow reefer up in Jozi, @drab808. His been very helpful over the last couple months with sharing information.
He also did some 3D printing of bits for the build. i.e controller holder etc. Really impressed with his workmanship & attention to detail.
IMG_20200713_151235.jpg

IMG_20200713_152032.jpg

STC100 controller Housing came out tops. will be mounting under the shelve
IMG_20200716_155133.jpg

All wire up...just need more supplies for the cooling side wiring.
IMG_20200721_151656.jpg

Also mounted all my pump controllers. My idea for cabinet was always to hide as much of the wires as possible & easy access from all sides.
IMG_20200719_164149.jpg


Thanks again to Dane for the assistance & great product would recommend him to anyone for his services.

Thats it for now will be tying up all loose end so this week & hopefully tank will be wet next ahaha

Thanks for reading, comments always welcome. :thumbup1:
Setup is coming on nicely bud very excited to see it up and running!! When is the expected date to get it wet?
 
Afternoon All,

Been bitv of a delay with finishing the tank over last 2 weeks, as my wife & myself welcomed our first child into the world. Crazy times to have a kid haha but all worth it.

Back to the tank-
I completed everything, installed all equipment & tested. I will be filling her this weekend, finished paternity leave this week so have mad scramble to catch up with work.

Some pictures..
Inside the cabinet, big shout out to @drab808 for all the 3d printed goodies. Just made everything so much neater.
I also scored an ATU for a solid deal, so hooked that up as well.
IMG_20200808_172934.jpg

Really happy with the lights, they are easy to use & with the 2 side by side i was able to get the coverage i was looking for with total of 180w (rated) over the tank to aid the fact i want a mix reef in terms of coral.
I went with dry marco rock for my scape. I know there are disadvantage to starting with dry rock, but i am willing to let tank mature. Will be going for Live sand substrate probably Red Sea Live sand, as its most readily available currently.
IMG_20200808_191302.jpg

IMG_20200808_191239.jpg

Will definitely be getting lens kit for my phone to take proper pics.
My fave pic so far haha lights at 60% blue, 30% white, 10% red / green / uv.
Once i am able to put corals in i will defo run lights lower power for acclimation.
IMG_20200808_191338.jpg


Thats it for now, next time i update there will be water in haha super keen.
Thanks for reading, comments & advise always welcome :thumbup1:
 
@SharkTank & @Dazz07 shot for the comments. They are Hsbao Coolook A2 Led lights, Leslie (Orphek lighting importer) brought a couple in. Think i bought the last 2 he had.
 
Good Day All.

Its been a while, bit has happened. Tank is wet & cycled. Went through diatoms, switched on UV & in couple days diatoms receded. Tank stood empty for another month, keeping up with maintenance. Also watching parameters.

Everything was going well until I noticed my evaporation was very high (ato was emptying fast) & salinity wet from 1.025 to 1.023 within a day. Which didn't make sense, so my plumbing design of the UV into overflow was the fault. It was breaking syphon and dumpling water into sump at varied rates. The return level in sump was fluctuating 3-5cm which is a lot considering size of my sump. Decided to plumb UV as part of return, i also joined the 2 overflows into one. Was happy with turnout, water levels stable & was able to up the flow from sump to DT. I know haha was supposed to plumbed like this from the start haha my bad.
IMG_20201010_064843.jpg

I tried doing the easiest cheapest fix with it being neat. So over plumbing after this exercise haha

Meantime i got some goodies..
IMG_20201010_140418.jpg
IMG_20201010_140507.jpg



My wife got me a birthday present.. 2 x Black Perc Clowns.
The Corner Boiz..Peanut & Brittle
IMG_20201011_102402_1.jpg
IMG_20201011_201026.jpg

Will get better pics of these 2, they've been in tank about 2weeks now & are healthy & eating.

Last week tank being on week 8 of start up first coral was added. All my parameters were decent.
King Midas Zoas was first purchase, a +20 head frag / colony popped up for decent price & thought why not as my tester coral. Revive Coral dip by TLF was used as dip after acclimation process. Within an hour 25% of the heads had opened, by next day all had opened.
IMG_20201016_113139_328.jpg

Super happy with them in tank so far, healthy & coloring up slightly as it settles in tank.
Light is set to 35% blue & 10% for other 3 channels for acclimation, only one light running currently.
Time for clip on color filter ;)

That's it for now, will be doing 25-30% water change this weekend. Only some extra CuC & hermit crab will be added for while until tank is more stable.

Thanks for reading, i know it was long one haha appreciate a comment.
 
Good day All :)

Happy new year, hopefully we all have better year ahead.

So its been while since i posted, alot has happened & alot of learning during the process.

Tanks 6months old now, recently went through some crazy dinos. Seems to be trend with many tanks. Mine was contributed to 0 reading for both PO4 & NO3. All other parameters are in check.
Did bitv research & there's countless way to battle it. My plan was raise nutrients, add beneficial bacteria daily to assist out compete, cut back on filtration & lighting schedule. I count myself luck as it took about 4wks & I seem to have won the battle.

Added coral also list is as follows:
Zoas - King Midas, Peach Sunburst & 2 others cant remember theirs names.
Euphyllia- 2 Hammers & 1 Octo
Chalice - Pink Aussie & Watermelon
Red Acan
Dragon Soul Favia
I also added couple fish-
Lawnmower Blenny
Pacific Sailfin Tang
2 x Black Ice Clownfish (locally aqua-cultured)
I sold off the other clowns to new reefer.
I found who I call my reef sempais haha 2 local reefers that have helped me along the way with information & guidance.
I tried setting up a refugium but unfortunately my sump design doesn't allow for good flow, chaeto ended up dying. Was built like this by tank builder. Thankfully my current nutrient export is working really well. So might look into algae reactor at later stage, if need be.
Viking Aquatics (LFS) has his own brand of salt etc as mentioned in previous post, been using his salt & happy with results. I also picked up frag rack, acclimation box & lens kit under his brand. Always prefer supporting local first.
One of my sempai's sells pods & coral/fish frozen foods from PlanktOnyx. So tank been stocked with pods. My goal fish is Red Dragonet.

Random pics...
IMG_20201017_195548.jpg
IMG_20201224_140850.jpg
IMG_20201127_104653.jpg
IMG_20210107_121140.jpg

Post Dinos..
IMG_20210107_132217.jpg
IMG_20201231_190821.jpg
IMG_20210101_134337.jpg
IMG_20210120_133753.jpg
IMG_20210120_133715.jpg


View from the couch with my smally...waters super clear lately :)
IMG_20210119_202356.jpg


Thanks for reading.. Sorry if the updates bit all over the place.
Will defo try & be bit more planned & alot sooner between haha

Cheers!
 
Back
Top Bottom