Dingo's 93G SPS cube *new stuff (9/28)*

So i finally got this up and running... Even though my rock was kept alive from the old tank, im still going to let it cycle for a few weeks before adding anything.

First, the stand i built (functional now, will be putting a very nice exterior face on it very soon)


filling with water


30 hours later... after "borrowing" a lot of water from the school's reservoir


Once the sand settles I will add more rock and take some more pics

 

Display refugium:

5-6" DSB
macros
various mushrooms
a couple of motiporas lol
and tons of critters!

 

For lighting I have a 250w ushio 14k halide with a lumenbrite reflector. I also added 12 Cree royal blue LEDs that i am controlling with my reef angel to mimic a dusk-dawn and lunar cycle.
The color temperature is very blue when I have the LEDs running at full power, and a gorgeous light blue when the halide is on.

LEDs


LEDs and Halides

 

looks great so far,i really like the look of the cubes.Theres someone on craigslist here local that has a 37 gallon cube drilled with stand sump and canopy for $70(no pumps or lights)But my wife says NO! and thinks 3 tanks are enough!

 

they are gorgeous! and the pictures are deceiving at showing the true size. they is much larger than they look

 

Oh i know,i have a 28 gallon nano that i swear next to my regular 29 rectangle,just has so MUCH more room,and most people,when they see em swear the cube is a bigger tank than my 29.

 

yes, those cubes are pretty slick. I will be building one in the next year out of starfire. dont know the size yet, but I hve a 7'x3' sheet of glass to build with.

 

Cool setup so far. I'm guessing this tank is at Penn State? What lighting are you planning on going with?

 

Yes, at Penn State... I have a 250w ushio 14k with lumenbrite reflector. I also have 12 3w blue LED's for actinic on a 24 hour system dimmed and brightened to mimic a 24 hour light cycle by my reef angel controller.

I am going to try and make a 24 hour time lapse video to show off my lighting program

 

Dingo I hate to rain on your parade, but I'm hoping you placed some 2x4s under the rail that you've constructed around the 4 vertical uprights. While 4 2x4's are more than enough to carry the weight, if the rim of your tank is sitting only on the perimeter you've constructed, you have broken the golden rule of stand construction. You should never have screws bearing weight.

Happily, your issue is remedied easily enough by simply cutting 4 2x4s and tapping them into place adjacent to the 4 uprights, and screwed INTO those 4 uprights. Then the weight is transmitted through those load bearing supports, and can not shear those screws that hold your perimeter in place per your photo.

If you intended to do this all along and just shot your photo early, then I'll delete this post. If not, please consider fixing this.