93 gallon cube build

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Just started my upgrade this weekend. I am moving to a 93 gallon cube from a reefer 250. I love the reefer 250 it's a great tank it just didn't fit well it our small living room. I have it caddy corner and it's taking up more room than the 93 will.

I picked up the 93 from don at aqua hut in coram. Originally I wanted the tank and stand and as always don gave me a deal I couldn't refuse. So I left a deposit and planned to pick it up a week later. The size of the stand had me a little worried, it was only 26 1/4 tall. With a sump and all the fun stuff I was going to run out of room quickly. I decided to build my own at 34 inches in height.

I did my research and checked out a bunch of manufactured tank stands and decided on a 3/4 plywood stand. About 20 trips to home depot and a couple hundred bucks I have plenty of room and it looks decent!

Anyway this is what I am going to use for hardware. I had everything from the reefer 250 except the sump.

Trigger emerald 26
M1 return
2 mp40 quite drives
Apex 2016
Micro algae reactor
2 hydra 26 hd
Coral box WiFi dosing pump

I need to figure out a ato. I have it setup with the apex right now using optical sensors and a solenoid. It auto fills the reefer 250 ato which is gravity feed. I guess I'll get 2 more optical sensors and apex utility pump?

I attached a few pictures of the reefer and the new stand. I have to finish painting the stand and plan on doing the plumbing this week. Hopefully the sump shows up in a couple of days.

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[bonomo53]

Make sure you check the seams on the 93 cubes they are known to have bubbles in them. I had one that got worse over time and marineland refunded me.

 

[noelskii]

Make sure you check the seams on the 93 cubes they are known to have bubbles in them. I had one that got worse over time and marineland refunded me.

Sucks, but I haven't seen a single Marineland cube free of any microbubbles in the seams.. at least 1 or 2 seams have them, if not ALL...:banghead:

 

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Then I guess this will be th first! I also see the threads from a few years ago that had issues. Can't get a clear shot of the last side

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[noelskii]

I just setup my 93 cube a month ago and when I first checked it out, the seams were all good. I pointed a flashlight and saw microbubbles on the top, front, right seam and no other seams. I was hesistant to fill it up. I started googling and A LOT of people have this issue. I saw marineland's forum and they said it was a normal thing and that it was fine to fill up- as long as they weren't huge pea-sized bubbles.... Also looked at some physics forums and they say all the pressure is at the bottom of the tank and the top of the tank has almost no pressure...

So I filled it up and started noticing bubbles on 3 seams now, but still all tiny micro bubbles towards the top of the tank... Just keeping an eye on it to make sure its not spreading...

 

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Cool thanks for the info. I haven't filled yet probably won't till this weekend. I saw the posts on a few other forums about the bubbles so I looked really well before I picked up the tank and will keep a eye on it after I fill. Other than the bubbles how do you like the tank? What plumbing kit are you using? Mine came with auqadeon I think that's the name the tank is in my living room so I need it as quite as possible.

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[noelskii]

Cool thanks for the info. I haven't filled yet probably won't till this weekend. I saw the posts on a few other forums about the bubbles so I looked really well before I picked up the tank and will keep a eye on it after I fill. Other than the bubbles how do you like the tank? What plumbing kit are you using? Mine came with auqadeon I think that's the name the tank is in my living room so I need it as quite as possible.

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I love cube tanks. I had the 60 cube just before this one (the reason I upgraded was because of the bubbles on the 60..oops). I normally make my own overflow plumbing kit, but I just decided to use the one the tank came with. It's silent as it is. I did block the small siphon break hole on the return pipe with silicone. If you don't block this, it's loud and causes splashing.

 

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I'll take a picture of mine when I get home curious if it's the same kit. Quite is good don't want to give the boss a excuse lol.

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Well I got everything moved over. Need a little more rock but everything is looking happy so far.

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Well I got everything moved over. Need a little more rock but everything is looking happy so far.

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Oops sorry for the double post

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[Marek-S]

Looking great Jim
Nice work on stand !!

 

[IBernE]

very nice stand! good job!

 

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Thanks guys! After having the tank up for a day it's happened I have micro bubbles in the seams. I contacted marineland and they are issuing a refund for the cost of the tank. As you can see by the picture it's more than a few to say the least. Just a heads up to anyone considering buying the 60 or 93 gallon marineland cube you will not see the micro bubbles until after the tank is filled. You can compare the pictures of the seams I posted before and this one.

I am kind of stuck at this point. Marineland is the only manufacturer of this size tank. So do I go with a custom tank which will be triple the cost or get another marineland?

I am going back to aqua hut today to see what don has. I am sure he would fill the tank there to be sure the new tank doesn't have the issue. I have read threads where people have gone through 5 or 6 tanks and still have the issue.

Can anyone recommend a tank builder? I am not even sure I can go the route. The lead times are going to be longer than I want this tank up for.

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[IBernE]

Can someone explain to me what?s going on with these ?bubbles?? Never heard of this.

 

[noelskii]

Can someone explain to me what?s going on with these ?bubbles?? Never heard of this.

Marineland sucking at tank building...

 

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Just a quick update. The micro bubbles are disappearing the right side have almost totally disappeared. The left side has gotten about 50 percent better. And yes the problem is this cube tanks made by Marineland. The 93 cube and the 60 cube have the issue. There are a bunch of posts with people swapping the tanks for new ones and the new tanks have the same problem. Most posts end with the person getting fed up and keeping the tanks. I myself went to purchase another tank but had it filled before it left the store and it also had the same issue. For the time being I am keeping the original since it isn't getting any worse. In the near future I will find another tank that are the same dimensions. I called glass cages and they are getting about 1,000 for the same size tank. That's probably the route I'll take. Has anyone used them? Had any issues?

Other then that my corals and fish seem happy. I see some diatoms starting on the sand bed. I am guessing because of a mini cycle? I just placed a order for the apex ato kit and the trigger 5 gallon container. Hopefully they will be in tomorrow and I will get them setup this week.

 

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Just a couple pictures from over the weekend

 

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noelskii tried to reply to your pm but your mail is full

 

[bonomo53]

Marineland sucking at tank building...

If i remember correctly it was a specific builder at marine land who was responsible for these. There is a sticker underneath the tank with the initials of who built it.