27 Gallon Cube Build

[bluegrass_reef12]

For wrasses, you could also consider the Pink Streak or the Possum. They are a bit more shy than a 6line, but awesome fish and very friendly.

For the GHA, perhaps a tux or halloween urchin. I've never seen rock cleaner than where my Hallowe'en Urchin has recently passed. Even the longer strands. Trochus snails are also excellent, as are Margaritas.

I have 4 trochus in there, 3 green speckled turbo and 1 Mexican turbo. They are keeping everything but the sand pretty much spotless. Think I’m gonna work on manually siphoning it out during water changes.

I would like an urchin, my only concern is my rockwork is not epoxied together.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Got about 90-95% of the hair algae out and off the sand. Had to remove a little bit of sand. Now hopefully I gave enough of a head start to the clean up crew to take over.

Also did a 10% water change.

New Acros settling in still, debating off changing the position of the vortech or adding another one on the right side of the tank to blow some flow directly at the Acros.

Thoughts?

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

These zoas (Nirvana?) get tons of flow the way the vortech is positioned! They are growing great tho!

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Just tested phosphate, nitrate, Alk post water change with salifert test kits.

Alk 8.3

Phosphate and Nitrate both 0 ppm.

I added 4 nano packets of chemi pure blue today, should treat 20 gallons of water.

Guess I need so start feeding more to get a little more nitrate and phosphate.

Interesting though bc I was having a problem with green hair algae… maybe I should invest in the Hanna checkers.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Picked up these two used Hanna checkers for $50 from a local guy. Need to get some reagent for the alkalinity checker. Just need a high range nitrate checker.

Also bought a second MP10 off a semi- local guy on marketplace. The MP10 now is providing good flow but I want to add another to add more random flow especially in the dead center of the tank where the Acros are.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Phosphate ULR at 0.03 ppm! Now go away hair algae! Salifert reading 0 ppm

Alkalinity checker at little off, alk at 8.0 dkh according to Salifert , reagent is expired so tried anyways and checker read 8.5 … close but no bueño

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

The aquaclear made a grinding noise so loud this morning at 5:30 that it woke me up. Took the pump off thinking it needed to be replaced and found one of my clowns somehow jumped into the surface skimmer and got sucked up into the impeller…. Like a scene straight of a nemo. Kinda bummed out, I really liked the pair together. Probably won’t add another one, I have my suspicions of aggression or the clown wanted to pull a nemo because I don’t know how he managed to land in there.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Reef cleaners order got delivered today. Decided to beef up my clean up crew, think I am winning the battle against the algae now.

Also picked up this second MP10 from a local guy. Not a fan of the anemone guard so gonna replace it with the regular nozzle. If anyone wants it let me know, I’ll be glad to give it to you.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Added the second vortech, might move it toward the back wall slightly. Gonna have to move it around. Don't like the anemone guard at all. Gonna order the regular nozzle and the mobius chip for the other vortech. The other vortech runs reefcrest only with max of 75/80%. This one runs max 35%. Attached a pic of the schedule.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Got 6 new frags from the LFS today during their 20% off sale.

Might switch the goni with the Acro above the purple stylo if the goni does not like that much flow. Might also move the hammer if it is getting too much flow.

Also did a 5 gallon water change before putting the corals in.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Some cool vids of the tank. Now time for it to grow in.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Picked up a tuxedo urchin today to hopefully attack the hair algae in the tank.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Added a replacement clown for the one that died. Hoping the size difference results in very little aggression.

Patiently waiting for the tuxedo urchin to attack the hair algae. Hasn’t made his way to that rock yet.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Added this DIY canopy to match the stand. Design in my head came out alright with some errors but it’ll do for the first time building a canopy. Let’s hope it doesn’t break on me and drop my Radion in the tank.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Phosphates reading tonight

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Picked up a tuxedo urchin today to hopefully attack the hair algae in the tank.

Nice looking urchin!

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Test results from tonight.

Looks like I need to add another fish/ feed more to get those nitrates up.

Alk with Salifert read about 8.3-8.6, wondering if I ran the Hanna checker wrong. Going to trust the Salifert reading for now.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Added a new, larger clown to replace the one that decided to jump through the small opening in the net top.

Also added a six line wrasse and carpenters flasher wrasse.

Tank now has
- 2 clowns
- 1 royal gramma
- 1 sixline
- 1 carpenters wrasse

Also got a neon dottyback for my 10 gallon

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Switching to ESV B Ionic from BRS 2 Part. Also got the calcium carbonate reef site uses to make coral snow following maintenance now.

 

[bluegrass_reef12]

Some updated tank shots and videos

Daylight during feeding

Moonlight

Natural light before the lights turn on