New BioCube Setup

Now this is my first time setting up a tank this small.  So still in the process of learning good and bad ways of doing things.    So any constructive comments are welcome.    I am starting and plan on taking my time to do it right, and hope I get some good feed back to help this along.  
My plan as of now, which knowing me, will change a few times before I am finished. 
29 BioCube don't plan on using the lid for it.   I want to run a 150w sunpod with a 20k MH. Still undecided on which bulb I should use.   Then first chamber will have a Phosban reactor with GFO and Carbon. Second chamber will have a 100 micron filter pad and live rock. Third will be the return pump.   Trying to keep it simple, would like to concentrate on water quality.  
So here's where I am at right now.    Started building the rock wall.   I have been wanting to do one for a long time.  So this little tank will be a good learning curve.  
Just a standard BioCube, that will be going throw a vinegar bath to be completely cleaned up.

This is the first plan for the rockwall.  Not sure if I am going to keep this or not. I do plan on running the return ling down in the tank and then blowing upwards to get water moving around the bottom.  

As I sat there looking at it.   This seemed kind of plain and wasn’t happy so I added a little more to the wall, and  am pretty pleased with how it turned out. Along with the return on the bottom, I plan on having a powerhead on one of the sides blowing at the bottom to keep anything from settling. I also make a little overlay kinda thing to try to hide the top drain slots. (Not sure if I like this idea yet)  I also cut out a small peice of the egg create for the lower drain.   I made the lower one smaller, cause I would like to have most of the water surface skimming into the filter section.

Now I have to get the dry rock out and start placing them on the egg create.  I am thinking of taking that PVC return and foaming it into the rockwall so it can't be seen.   Not sure how that will work?

 

Thanks but I do have a lid, I just don't plan on using it right now.

 

Heater will be with the return pump. Not sure about ATO, I need to research them a decide which will work the best. I do plan on running the phosban external. Tomorrow I plan on starting attaching rock to the egg create. Will post more pics when that is done.

 

Jmadison. Could you explain why you recommend this is there a problem with the amount of flow going throw the overflow? I plan on using stock pump, and running slower flow throw the back. I was planning on cutting out the false bottom but wasn't sure if it was needed. Iwas thinking of running a skimmer in the first chamber, but now thinking about it that would restrict flow. So not a good idea. Where would/should the skimmer go?

 

Now I am working on placing rock on the egg create, but I have a
question. Is there a good way of placing the rock. I have a few pieces
on and not sure if it is looking good or not. Think there probably
isn't a way to tell intil all done.
I plan on posting some pics tonight after I am done working on it.   I just needed a break.   Also I don't want to test the foam yet. but its triple expanding foam.  I am wondering about how much it will expand past the egg create when put on.  
Here is a few pics I took so far.  Still not done, and unsure if its going to stay that way.


Troy

 

I am using zip ties to hole the rock, and I am carefully drilling the rock to zip tie it to the egg create. The PVC is the return, and I do plan on using a spray bar style.

 

Ok I (meaning me and Nick) got all the rock in place.  And hopefully starting to foam this thing in the next few days.   Here is a pic of what it looking like as of right now.   Sorry the pics aren't the greatest, but what do you expect with a camera phone.   I choice to use alot of rock because I really don't care for the bare look on a rock wall, plus it will need less foam, epoxy, and sand.  

I still need to trim the egg create up a little, cut the holes in the
return PVC, cut and instill the black acrylic in the bottom of the
tank. I think after that, this thing might see some water. I know that
I need to cure the live rock, since its been dried out for a few
months. I'm questioning if I should cure it in a Rubbermaid container or
in the Bio Cube, or does it make a difference?

 

As far as the holes go in the spray bar. I plan on drilling it before the foam, then using something like tooth picks but longer to plug the holes. When after the foam goes on, I will sand the foam down to the spray bar. Hoping that will allow me to clean out the holes.

 

The foaming is done.   I will need to let dry and then sand down to shape.   There is a few progress pics.






Well I know that its triple expanding foam, but wasn't expecting for it to expand as much as it did.    I am going to haft to sand alot of this stuff off.  Now waiting intil next week to get the epoxy and sand to finish this project.

 

Well its been a while, but I have got some more work done on this. I still have some spots that need to be covered with sand still.   I have to find a way to attach the rock wall to the back, so it don't float.   And then build a stand for this bad boy.   I have been working on google skechup trying to design one.






Now this little bad boy is rockin.  Its been running for let then 24
hours in this pic. I am getting pretty excited to get the biocube wet
and get it in there.  I am looking to get one of them Stevie T's custom cups for this.  Not that its needed, but, still would be cool to have.

Now this is just a sample of what I am looking to build for the stand.  

 

Got it filled with water today.  I am thinking with the new rockwall, and all the rock was dry, I will go throw a pretty bad cycle.   So I am planning on doing 50 to 75% water changes weekly intil I see the nitrates drop off.  I am hoping that this is ready for corals when the spring swap gets here. Not really sure what I am planning on putting in it yet.  I am planning on some colorful zoas, acans, incrusting montis, and a couple SPS but not sure what yet.
I also stopped at Manards today and got almost everything I need for the stand, and will be starting that tomorrow.   I hope that will be done in the next few weeks. I will get pics later tomorrow on the stand.
Troy