Rectangular Fiji Cube

[Reefried]

My sump arrived. The build quality and customer support from Synergy Reef could not be better. They updated me throughout the build process. The packaging was great and shipping went well.

 

[Reefried]

I went with their 34” filter sock model. Two heater holders, adjustable baffle, probe holders, and 4 John Guest fittings.

 

[Reefried]

Like I mentioned, I wanted to go T5 for this set up. With some type of blue LED bar for color pop. Fully knowing that a possible ban may come into effect at some point. (I guess then I will switch to LEDs). I knew I wanted an ATI 8 bulb fixture. Worst case I would purchase a new Sunpower or new Powermodule with the LEDs. However I found on R2R someone selling a used Powermodule for a decent price. I bought it. I also purchased a broken (one ballast) and in rough shape 8 bulb Sunpower from someone on here to use for parts. 54w non dimmable ballasts are no longer available from ATI as they seem to develop some sort of “buzzing noise”.

At this point in the build I was not sure if I was going to go with a canopy or not, and was not even sure how I would mount/hang the lights. Either way I definitely wanted to paint the light black. So I started taking the light apart, inspecting and getting it ready to paint. I ordered 8 new reflectors, 4 new fans, and a new fan power supply.

I sanded the frame of the light with 300 grit sandpaper, and applied 3 coats of direct to metal heat resistant paint. It came out great.

 

[Reefried]

I am also in the process of changing out all 4 ballasts in my Powermodule. I was under the impression that the 2x54w models were out of stock, but I emailed ATI and they sent me 4 new ones. I was getting a random buzzing from one of them so I decided to change out all 4.

 

[Reefried]

Also my tank arrived. (The second one!). Shipment went smooth. Waiting for a buddy to come help me lug it to the second floor! Quality is great, low iron glass is perfectly clear, silicone is great.

 

[Reefried]

Got the tank upstairs and into place. I believe the tank was about 300-350 pounds but two of us managed it. RO is installed and ready to make water. Plumbing next. Tank came with a small cheesy mat for underneath, I decided to use a 1/4” yoga mat that I bought on Amazon. I will put the small one under the sump.

 

[Reefried]

It is time for plumbing! I am taking a chance and not using two unions on each of the 1 1/2” drains. I went over a few different options and the cleanest look is to come up from the sump and 90 right out the back of the stand. This will not allow a union to be placed and will require cutting the pipe to remove the sump. If I get to the point where I change the sump out, I will likely be cutting the pipe anyways. I am really just hoping nothing leaks as I am putting myself in a vulnerable position by doing it this way!

 

[Reefried]

The Fiji Cube external overflow box is solid. Nice one piece construction and built well.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Nice, keep the updates coming. Love a nice build thread

 

[Reefried]

Nice, keep the updates coming. Love a nice build thread

I have plenty of updates. Stay tuned

 

[Reefried]

I got the tank plumbed on a Saturday in about 5 hours. Felt good about everything. I used a portable band saw, and a file on every cut. Took time to measure accounting for the extra 1/4” the pipe slides into fittings once glued. Everything came out nice. Now it’s time to leak test. I have decided to fill with rodi, use that to leak test and pump it out to trash barrels to mix. I don’t want to run tap water through the system for leak test and I also don’t want to mix salt in tank

 

[Reefried]

One more

 

[Casino]

I think you might run into a problem. If I'm seeing this correctly you have the gate valve on the middle pipe.... correct? In order to make this overflo super silent you need to place an elbow or a street L on the main drain and you will not be able to fit one as you need to have the secondary drain a bit higher and there wont be space. The same problem will happen with the emergency drain. That needs to be even higher than the secondary drain and the elbow will not fit. You will have the level in the overflow go up and down and will not be able to stabilize. Again I have not dealt with a figi overflows so they might have enough space to fit. In which case it will work silently. Ive also seen some overflows that didn't need elbows at all and are silent. Also a reef octopus skimmer will look super sexy in there.

 

[Reefried]

I think you might run into a problem. If I'm seeing this correctly you have the gate valve on the middle pipe.... correct? In order to make this overflo super silent you need to place an elbow or a street L on the main drain and you will not be able to fit one as you need to have the secondary drain a bit higher and there wont be space. The same problem will happen with the emergency drain. That needs to be even higher than the secondary drain and the elbow will not fit. You will have the level in the overflow go up and down and will not be able to stabilize. Again I have not dealt with a figi overflows so they might have enough space to fit. In which case it will work silently. Ive also seen some overflows that didn't need elbows at all and are silent. Also a reef octopus skimmer will look super sexy in there.

I am not understanding what you are saying. There are elbows on all drains. Are you saying that there should be one inside of the sump? Or are you saying inside of the overflow box? If you are talking about the overflow box, I thought that also. However it is not true. I know that synergy reef shadow overflows come with special elbows. I actually was able to find special elbows online at a plumbing supply site. You can see them in the picture of the fittings on the ground. They are black. However I didn’t end up needing them. Straight pipes work fine. The full siphon pipe (the one with the gate valve) has no pipe in the overflow box, and achieves full siphon easily. The secondary drain pipe controls height in overflow box. It is dead silent. I believe in the first two pics I posted, I had not yet put the pipes inside the overflow box.


I ran the tank with rodi water for leak test for 4 days. No leaks!!

 

[Reefried]

This is what pipes in exterior box look like.

 

[Reefried]

Casino, you bet your booty a reef octo skimmer will look sexy under there!!!!

 

[Reefried]

A member on here 3D printed me an intake strainer for my octo 6. I am one of those people that is a bit ocd, and I wanted a red one. It came out great. I am also one of those weirdos who keeps the sump super clean. I don’t let anything grow down there and clean it once a week. It is not too difficult to do. I am actually a little upset that the filter sock compartment is clear acrylic, after the socks are in for a few days they get brown and it bothers me!!! I wish that compartment had a white front panel!

 

[Casino]

This is what pipes in exterior box look like.

Yes. There should be an elbow in the middle of those 2 inside the overflow box to quiet down the drain and keep the level consistent. An elbow would not fit in the middle as you have the emergency and secondary drain tubes to the left and right. Again not familiar with this overflow box so it might not need it as you tested it and found out. If I recall synegy does come with those special elbows that are like a sharp L like. So if in the future if noise becomes a problem you can easily put an elbow in.

 

[Casino]

A member on here 3D printed me an intake strainer for my octo 6. I am one of those people that is a bit ocd, and I wanted a red one. It came out great. I am also one of those weirdos who keeps the sump super clean. I don’t let anything grow down there and clean it once a week. It is not too difficult to do. I am actually a little upset that the filter sock compartment is clear acrylic, after the socks are in for a few days they get brown and it bothers me!!! I wish that compartment had a white front panel!

I yanked my socks out and installed a Reefmat. Socks were a pain.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Yes. There should be an elbow in the middle of those 2 inside the overflow box to quiet down the drain and keep the level consistent. An elbow would not fit in the middle as you have the emergency and secondary drain tubes to the left and right. Again not familiar with this overflow box so it might not need it as you tested it and found out. If I recall synegy does come with those special elbows that are like a sharp L like. So if in the future if noise becomes a problem you can easily put an elbow in.

They're using a Fiji cube overflow.