Big cube anyone?

[4sided cube]

 

[4sided cube]

Hi all! Update time. Been almost two years since the last update. Ver2, though not without a loss here and there, has done quite well. Soft coral growth in general has been good. There arent a lot of open spaces anymore. Ive had to move corals due to growth on occasion. Was recently able to catch out two problem fish that were a major impediment to new arrivals, rock "tossing" and invert population. They were large and beautiful fish so was sad to see them go but was necessary. These were a 8" lunare wrasse and a 6" dottyback. As far as my lighting decision, to go back to primarily T5s on Amazon fixtures, has been good but as expected. I've already had to replace two of the three fixtures. Not really an issue as they are $75 each so not really surprising. If the trend is a 2yr life thats acceptable. Since the fixtures are so inexpensive I've got replacements set aside ready for the next time. Bulb replacement at around the 15month mark is working too. Other than that, all tank systems are as they were. No new equipment, nothing removed. Only change was the mentioned replacement of the three Brute containers to three 55g drums. I also added float valves to each one for automatic filling. What a dummy for not doing that earlier. Been filling manually for ten effin years. So nice. My basement is concrete floor with a sump drain and pump in case of float failure.

Pictures above are a walkaround of the cube showing the four sides with a couple top down views. Note the lack of surface flow, I turned off my gyres for smoother water. Normal is lots of flow at the surface. Thats really the only equipment Id still like to get. A spare pair of the Jebao SINE 180's. Algae build up doesnt take that long and it would be nice to have a spare set of cages to pop in for cleaning. Its amazing how algae can grow on something spinning so quickly.

There are two battles I deal with often. Aiptasia and flat worms. Ive been killing the first with Joes Juice which works well but they come back. I know there are other products that lay a paste on the rock to kill it and keep it from returning. I would have unsightly mounds of the stuff all over if I went that route. IMO a natural solution is more advantageous. Hence the reason for the fish rodeo. Will be getting peppermint shrimps as soon as they are available. Also have a small yellow coris wrasse coming which should help with the flat worms. I had a aiptasia eating filefish which had no interest in them. The Joes Juice is also good for controlling my BTA population. Had a few pop up and sting corals.

Well, thats all I can think of. Thanks to everyone for the kind words and reading my post. Best of luck to all.