25g Marble Cube

[archaic37]

Latest FTS 5/4/2026

Current stock
2 clowns
Bicolor blenny
Six line wrasse
Emerald
blue hermits
Snail assortment

Hi R2R!

I’m getting back in the reef hobby after a 10 year break. I was very active with Central Valley Reefers back in ~2014 (had a nano for a year during pandemic) This time I’m trying to do a planted tank style macro algae with some LPS.

I found a 3.5’ tall marble pedestal and a rimless cube that fits it perfectly. The existing planted tank will be relocated from the pedestal.

Hoping to get my dry rock cycle started asap

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along! Can't wait to see the tank come together!

 

[archaic37]

First step to getting the cube onto the marble pedestal is building a new stand for the shrimp tank which was on the marble pedestal

 

[twentyleagues]

First step to getting the cube onto the marble pedestal is building a new stand for the shrimp tank which was on the marble pedestal

Wow thats a cool little vase/tank! Good luck on going salty! Following.

 

[archaic37]

Got the rock transferred from its cycling tub into the tank! Still some cable management left to do. Hoping to add livestock soon but ammonia is still at 0.2

 

[archaic37]

 

[archaic37]

Been a while since I updated this!

What started as a “low maintenance” macro algae tank quickly became a high maintenance mixed reef.

I’ve fought

2 day Power outages
3 day Heater outages
Alk swings
Low nutrients
High bacteria waste
Ammonia spikes

My main mistake was using a canister filter and not performing significant enough water changes.

Despite ICP tests and all ACM, Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and NP all coming in at normal or low levels the corals shriveled hard and lost a few. My ammonia was repeatedly spiking and dropping, thanks to seeing the clownfish inflamed gills I was able to see an ammonia spike.

Battled this for over a month and finally decided to kick the canister filter and use an aqua ready HOB skimmer filter box. Within a few weeks of 40% weekly WC and heavy skimming corals have all recovered and showing growth signs again!

I believe saltwater bacteria need a high amount of air interface and a canister can’t provide that. Even though I just ran media in the canister I think it was detrimental as the bacteria were going anaerobic. Upside is the huge ammonia spikes vanished the sizeable flatworm population I had and have never returned.

Pictures are from the first week of glow up post water quality recovery