Fijicube 81 gallon (1 Viewer)

[Jake]

I haven’t updated in a while. Sump is in. 3/4” HDPE boards installed one for the tank to sit on and one for the sump to sit on. Just installed 2 ADJ switchboards to make turning equipment on and off easier. Going to work on plumbing next.

 

[reef junkie]

Are you able to get the sump out if ever needed?

 

[Jake]

Are you able to get the sump out if ever needed?

Yes it will come out the side when I move one of the cabinets

 

[reef junkie]

Nice. Well it’s common along nicely.

 

[Jake]

Still working on plumbing. Hate it when I buy the wrong stuff. Should have water flowing by the weekend. Having fun adjusting the two rock structures but noticed the top shelf will only be 4” below surface. Was hoping for closer to 6” May look at a Fijicube overflow I think I could gain about an inch of depth

 

[reef junkie]

Great looking structure.

 

[Jake]

Return line plumbing complete. I added a section with unions so I can tap into the line later for a UV reactor with elbows and silicone hose or media reactors etc. going to work on drain lines this weekend.

 

[reef junkie]

High and tight. Looks great.

 

[Jake]

Drain lines are in. Owed a piece of HDPE to secure lines with bulkheads. Was able to use the hose grime Red Sea to tie into the main drain on the backside of the bulkhead. Have room to lay a UV sterilizer on the open space on the HDPE board directly below the return line for easy installation hopefully.

 

[Jake]

Not a good day…..
I was doing a final cleaning of my tank and noticed 4 micro chips. Thought they were deposits at first but they are tiny chips! They are vey small but now I know they are there and have some contemplating to do. This is likely my last tank for a long while and don’t really want to worry about this. I’m guessing the previous owner must have bumped some rockwork or something. I’m assuming it’s just cosmetic and I would not even see it if there was water in the tank but I know they are there now

 

[Varig]

Oh no, that totally sucks man. You mentioned in your other post that they are crazy fine. Do you think you could polish them out? Or just concerned about potential glass integrity?

Sorry to hear this. Man

 

[Jake]

I can’t even feel then with my fingernail have to use the sharp corner of my scraper to feel then at all. They are tiny. I’m only worried about the integrity of the glass.

 

[Jake]

Well the time has finally come. I decided to go with special grade sand after a lot of debating on the bare bottom. I filled the tank last night and other than a couple overflow issues all is good.

 

[Jake]

Going to try the fish less cycle with Brightwell Microbacter QuikCycl and Mirobacter 7. Also have whatever bacteria that comes in the sand. Definitely no rush on this tank. Will move my fish over from my 60 cube once cycled and take that tank offline

 

[Varig]

Looks beautiful man! Although, now the title of the build thread seems like false advertising

 

[Jake]

Looks beautiful man! Although, now the title of the build thread seems like false advertising

That is true. I will have to do a little edit

 

[Jake]

The water has sure cleared up nicely. Now time for some bacteria and ammonia. Does anyone have any input on additives when using live sand? Is the Caribsea live sand enough on its own?

 

[Varig]

On my first tank I used the sand and Dr Tim’s. Still took maybe 2 weeks to cycle. I know it “claims” adding other bacteria will slow the cycle, so maybe just try it solo and report back? We can all learn?

 

[Jake]

On my first tank I used the sand and Dr Tim’s. Still took maybe 2 weeks to cycle. I know it “claims” adding other bacteria will slow the cycle, so maybe just try it solo and report back? We can all learn?

Too late I just added some microbacter 7. I am going to use that rather than the start xlm that I bought only because lots of folks trust the microbacter 7. I’ll add the microbacter quick cycl that adds ammonia tonight as well and see how things go.

 

[Varig]

I basically dumped all sorts of the bottles at my new rock cycle. Did some microbacter 7. Some microbacter start. Eco balance. Probably stupid, but trying to give myself more biodiversity than last time.

I also just bought some bio balls from a clean, established tank. Hoping that will also be a big benefit.