60 Gallon Cube Build

[wilkens]

Hey Guys, I'm currently building a 60g Cube 24"x24"x24" and I am looking for some advice on overflows. I am looking for the smallest footprint but will still serve my purposes. The 700gph from glassholes is tempting but I recently came across xaqua's x-inout. There isn't much info out there on it, does anyone have any experience with it? Thanks!

http://www.xaqua.it/inglese/documenti/CATALOGO%20XAQUA%202010%20TECNOLIGIE.pdf

 

[wilkens]

Building a Cube

Getting ready to have the glass for my 60 Gallon Cube cut. I have been making my self crazy with the sizing of the panels. Can anyone tell me how much I should account for silicone? I am guessing 1/64th per joint. I told my glass guy I needed 3 pieces cut 24"x24" and 2 pieces 24"x23 7/32." He almost laughed at me. Any advice?

 

[noobzy]

On a whim, I checked this thread again - couldn't see anything in it before now.

Not sure about silicon allowance, but I imagine you need to allow space for the thickness of the glass itself. I am planning a similar DIY cube (still reading and doodling, not quite ready to take the plunge yet), 24x24x14, and I am looking at 5 panes:
1 sheet 24 x 24 (base)
2 sheets 13.5 x 23 (2 sides)
2 sheets 13.5 x 24 (front and back)

All the panes will sit on the base, and the sides have 1 inch taken off to allow for 1/2" of both the front and back panes, as I plan on using 1/2" glass.

Make sense?

 

[wilkens]

Hey Noobzy, from what I have learned and it makes perfect sense, you don't want the sides resting on the base. This should get you what you are looking for...

 

[strgazr27]

Hey Noobzy, from what I have learned and it makes perfect sense, you don't want the sides resting on the base. This should get you what you are looking for...

Why is that? I have only seen it done with the glass on top. How do you prevent the silicone from squeezing out all over your build table and "gluing" the tank to it?

As far as spacers go, if your under 48" in length I don't think spacers are needed.

 

[wilkens]

There really is nothing you can do to prevent the silicone from squeezing out of the bottom joints. You have to work on a brown paper or similar surface and do some razor blade work after everything dries. Shear weight is the main reason I went with the side route rather than sitting on top. Check out my build on nano-reef...

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=262429

 

[noobzy]

Fantastic job! The tank looks great. I guess it doesn't make too much sense structurally to have the sides sit on the base - I only had thought about the building process, and it made sense in that regard.

Any recommendations as far as glass cutters?

Also, any particular reason you decided to use that silicon over the typical GE Silicon I?

 

[wilkens]

Thanks Noobzy. Its still a work in progress. My overflow is in, returns, plumbing and sump. I am working on an all-in-one control box instead of a power strip timer set up. I wish I had the time and patience for an Arduino controller so this will have to suffice. This is the control box for my homebrew setup, the reefbox will look similar.

I went with the GE1201 because it is rated as structural. It smelled and looked like the regular Silicone 1, just much greasier. If you need a glass guy, I can give you the guy I used, he is pretty cheap and works out of his house in Merrick.

 

[strgazr27]

There really is nothing you can do to prevent the silicone from squeezing out of the bottom joints. You have to work on a brown paper or similar surface and do some razor blade work after everything dries. Shear weight is the main reason I went with the side route rather than sitting on top. Check out my build on nano-reef...

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=262429

Nice job!

As far as weight goes are you talking about the glass? Here is a 400 (Actually 489 lol) gallon built using glass on top. Incredibly neat with very little cleanup needed.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1976233&page=2

eventually I am looking to go to a 120 which I want to build myself. Still haven't decided on glass or acrylic. When I do it will be glass on top for sure.

 

[Alex]

Interesting DIY, keep us posted. how much would starfire glass have cost for your build ?

 

[wilkens]

Nice job!

As far as weight goes are you talking about the glass? Here is a 400 (Actually 489 lol) gallon built using glass on top. Incredibly neat with very little cleanup needed.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1976233&page=2

eventually I am looking to go to a 120 which I want to build myself. Still haven't decided on glass or acrylic. When I do it will be glass on top for sure.

I'm sure that it can be done, but I was advised against it. It makes sense to me not to put the weight on top of the bottom piece of glass. I am going to cut my wife's yoga mat and put it between the stand and the glass for safe measure. Starfire wasn't completely out of my price range, but what I paid for the regular glass, I couldn't justify. Here are a couple more shots, don't mind the mess next to the tank, not its final resting place.

 

[Alex]

why not use the pink foam sold at homedepot ?

 

[noobzy]

If you need a glass guy, I can give you the guy I used, he is pretty cheap and works out of his house in Merrick.

Please PM me his information

That control box is very cool!

 

[wilkens]

why not use the pink foam sold at homedepot ?

I guess I could, I have heard of everything including carpet padding. I need to keep the tank as low to the base as possible so I can finish the trim work. I saw my wife's yoga mat sitting there and cut a chunk out of it. Its about 1/8" thick and pretty dense, the idea is to eat up any deformities in the tank base.

Noobzy, I'll PM you later tonight.

 

[strgazr27]

Please PM me his information

That control box very cool!

If you wouldn't mind I'd like his name also for when I do my 120...

Thanks!

 

[bherzner]

Where in Merrick?