Biocube 32 and Copepods

[thall17]

I have a Biocube 32 and havee the following setup:

Chamber 1 Heater
Chamber 2 Copepod house on the bottom, filter sponge lower rack, Water polisher/filter cloth middle rack, stock cartridge filter top rack
Chamber 3 Stock return pump

2 Clowns
1 Diamond sand sifting goby
1 Yellows watchman goby
2 Hammer croal
1 Frogspawn coral
1 Torch coral
1 Blasto coral
1 Candy Cane coral
1 Duncan coral
8 Crabs

Numbers have been solid
PH 7.5 - 8.0 - dosing to raise
Ammonia 0 to a trace
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-15
Magnesium 1200-1225 - dosing to raise
Phosphate .03 -.05
Alkalinity 14 - on the high side
Salt 1.025 - 1.026
Temp 78-79

Questions:

Would love to have a Mandarin, do I have the "house" in the correct chamber? I have dosed 32 ounces of pods from Dinkins (great people) along with plankton daily. Have not really seen many pods though I havent disturbed the "house" since placing it...would hey make it through chamber 2 into the return and back into the main tank?

Is it sposible to skip the "ugly" stage? I have some browing of the rocks and spots on the sand but the crabs do an excellent job cleaning. Small red/purple alge on one coral

Recommendations:

Other fish that would be compatible
Upgrade filtration for the Biocube, would a skimmer or UV filter be worth doing?
Upgrade lights for coral growth? Prefer to keep the stock lid, some say the stock lights will grow anything
Other recommendations for the Biocube?

Looking for upgradees that will make a difference, not looking to spend money just to spend money :)

Appreciate all the help!

 

[Suggsreef]

I was using a hydor nano skimmer in mine. Fits with lid on

 

[Suggsreef]

Had a wall mounted light and cut a hole in the top layer of the hood. Have since replaced with a new hood. My lights went out in the first one I had.

 

[JTP424]

- Probably going to be a bit difficult to keep a mandarin unless you get a biota one that eats prepared foods. They are eating every minute of the day. So a large pod population will be difficult to maintain. Not impossible. Just difficult. I'd cultivate your own pods to dose.
- Pods will assist with the ugly stage. Not an expert on skipping it as I just went through it and dealt.
- Probably close to max on fish stocking, clowns are territorial, suggested min 20 gallons for one. Something small may be possible.
- Skimmer only if it won't strip out the good nutrients you need for your corals, and only if you have water cleanliness issues? Other people can chime in on this.
- UV same as skimmer. Not NEEDED but feasible.

 

[OriginalUserName]

I don't think you can skip the ugly phase with dry rock. Minimize sure, but it's part of the deal. Even with using some mixture of live and dry you will tend to have it.

IMO if you get the Mandarin you would be signing up to feed him. They eat a ton of pods and your tank just won't be able to produce enough to keep him fed that way.

I had a tiny skimmer on my old biocube but it wasn't worth the hassle. If I did it over I'd consider a hang on the back fuge instead. (also grows pods)

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I tried a mandarin in my 32 once, it last about 3 months before it died of hunger. I had 3 pod cultures going, I was busting my but as much as possible, I was very stressed out that it had enough food, and it still starved in the end anyway. The whole thing was a horrible experience, for me and the fish.

Ugly phases come and go, its not just a new tank thing, its very easy to have algae problem at any time. Algae is controlled with proper filtration to match the nutrient import, and with adequate algae grazers.

I use nicrew 100watt on my 32 gallon, it will grow anything. But its just an FYI, I'm not familiar with your light, so I can't compare.

 

[OriginalUserName]

Side note, what are you dosing for PH? That alk is crazy high. Can you confirm your test results with another kit or your LFS?

In a nano water changes are your #1 friend. It's just super easy to do a 5 gallon change each week and keep everything in line.

 

[purpfish]

I can’t imagine keeping a pod eating fish in one unless it’s very established, my clowns eat like every one in my tank:oops:

 

[XtraKargo]

I have one Red Mandarin today in that very tank. I waited 11 months before getting it. I supplement pods every quarter from my LFS, and use TDO to keep it fed daily. Sometimes 3 times a day. I've had it since September and it is lively and is always on the hunt for food.

Stock light is growing a hammer, several zoas (some of which just do not proliferate, others melt) certain mushrooms do fine (others melt like St Thomas however discos are fine), duncans, trumpet corals, button scolys, alve & goni, all in all seem to do fine. My only complaint coral wise with the stock lighting is every acan fades to green with purple. None of the red orange teals have stayed. I'm considering moving them to a different lighting spectrum and see if those colors return.

Tank mates. Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse. Pygmy Cherub Angel. Yasha goby with a pair of Randall's shrimp. Among other inverts like a tuxedo urchin and some hermits/snails.

Good luck. This has been one of my favorite tanks, and is truly a hands off easy setup. I did upgrade the pump to an Axis 40, and I do have the BioCube UV on it, but rarely run it. Just in line in case I need it.