Jim's 150 cube

One issue after another

The new install is not going well.

• Starting day three, and still not done adding water. I had hoped the new sand addition would have settled overnight, but it has not - so I can't finish the aquascaping using the rock with bacteria. Thanks to help from my son, the base for the aquascaping is in place.
• The additional DC8 that I ordered for the AquaController Jr. to give me more control over: Heating, Chilling, Dosing pumps doesn't appear to play with the existing Lunar Controller and DC8 in place. I sent and request to Neptune Systems for assistance - waiting for response.
• The vertical clearance between the overflow from the tank to the overflow input to the sump cost me three inches in space - doesn't look like I'll be able to add the refugium because of this.
• The return line for the pump is too short. Only redeeming factor here is that I'm splitting the line for my chiller which gives me the length I need.
• Any aqauscaping or placing of corals appears to require removing the Canopy - Royal pain.
• The reflectors for the T5 retro kit from IceCap aren't that great. It appeared they were interlocking, but they are not. Didn't catch this until did a test install of the canopy and several of them did the upside down spin.

I've decide to install the glass canopy that came with the system. The possibility for something from the canopy falling into the tank is too great a risk.

When Home Depot opens, I hope to make my last trip to pick up the last three items I need.

If all goes well, I should have the tank pumping by this afternoon - and with any luck I won't have any plumbing leaks.:

 

This looks to be a very nice build, I am starting to love cubes and heavily thinking about my next tank being one. Keep us posted I'm definitely gonna tag along for this one!

 

Thanks Ultraner - Some of the issues I'm discovering are not related to the cube, but to a large tank. Largest one I have had is a 75.

 

New DC8 with AquaController Jr. resolved

The issue with the new DC8 turned out to be cabling sequence - Discovered this myself while I was restoring to original cabling in prep for not being able to use the second DC8. Cabling sequence is:

1. AquaController Jr. --> Lunar Module (A1)
2. Lunar Module --> DC8 set for Cntl Letter A (A9-A16)
3. DC8 (A) --> DC8 (B) set for Cntl Letter B (B1-B8 )

I can now program both DC8s

PS - I've decided to slow down on the new install - Perhaps I can avoid a mistake or two.

 

Still adding water

Well - I'm up to 92 gallons and still adding. Thought 100 GPD RO/DI would be "fast" - But when you're waiting on it, seems slow.

At least I've covered my MP40 with enough water to use it for keeping the water mixed up. Should help settle the sediment in the water from the sand addition also.

Tik - Tok, Tik - Tok, Tik -Tok

We need a smiley for yawning.

 

Water is in

Well - Finally got all the water in and fired up the pumps. Surprise - I had four minor (as in drop . . . drop) hose leaks. I'm using the hose that allows you to bend and never pinch, which is why the leaks. After much anguish (you have to be a contortionist to work in the stand after most of the equipment is installed) I have all the leaks stopped.

I thought I would have a football field to work with in the stand. But due to the vertical restriction of the sump overflow AND putting the chiller in there, I'll barely have enough room for the ATO, dosing containers, and skim collection container. Still have to integrate my UV and Phosban reactor which are hang ons to the sump.

So far the plumbing of this tank is a lot quieter than my 75 - something the wife really appreciates. Even when the chiller kicks on, not too noisy - (the sound from the chiller is directed to the cork that I put on the wall behind it). The one thing that is still a little louder than I had hoped for is the MP40W when it is in the wave mode. I may build an open flow box that I can tape to the back of the tank to deflect the noise. I have plenty of cork left from what I used on the walls behind the tank, and if I allow air flow from bottom to top, there should be no heating issues.

Started the SeaChem Stability dosing last night.

The water had cleared up overnight, but I had to stir up the dust again this morning to push the sand into the crevasses for the aqua scape look I want. As soon as the water clears up enough for me to see what I'm doing, I'll dust off the base rocks and let that settle out in prep for placing the live rock that I took out of my 75.

Some pics of the work in progress:

 

Aquascaping done and kritters in new home

I added the live rock from my storage containers and completed the aqua-scaping. All the corals I had left are also in. Had a heater mishap in one of my storage containers. I must have bumped the controller during the process and kicked the heater temp up to 92 - fried all of my SPS corals overnight. I'll admit to being clumsy at times, but one would think that a heater designed for use in a Marine Aquarium, would limit the upper temp to 80.

Added the fish, crabs, snails - Fish appear to love their new home, especially after being cooped up in a twenty gallon for six days.

Also added additional circulation pump - Hydor Koralia. The MP40W needed an assist.

I haven't set the canopy yet. Two person task and my son will be by this AM to help me set it in place. This should make the corals happy.

I'm having another issue with the AquaController Jr. When I try to add a port beyond 12, it errors with the message "Too Many Timer Names" - I have requested assistance from Neptune Systems.

Things still to do:

• Install the ATO
• Set up the Dosing pumps - This is a first for me. I'm currently searching the forums for others who have performed this task.
• I still have some CaribSea Aruba Shell to add at specific areas of the sand bed to keep the MP40 and Hydor Koralia from keeping the sand stirred up and for that mixed beach look. Still have to wash and dry the sand.

WOW - To do list of only three items. I must be overlooking something. Time will tell.

When the canopy is in place with lights on, I'll take some pics and do another quick : movie. But that's after I put the wife's living room back together. She has been most patient during this process - a for her.

 

Some questions answered

The response from Neptune Systems was that the AquaController Jr. only supports 12 ports. I could not find this in the docs, but a fact is a fact.

They also provided me with the code to delay startup of a port after a power on sequence.

All the fish seem to be happy in their new abode. The crabs took a while to disperse (they all huddled together in one corner for about six hours) - but they are now back in the rocks.

I'm trying to decide on the number of BlueGreen Chromis to add. I'm thinking four or five, but can't seem to make up my mind.

 

Nice start! Love the red oak wood!!!

 

Thanks - The cabinet makes it suitable as a piece of furniture with a window to the sea.