Chris and Amy's BioCube 32 Build

ChrisKSB

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Finally getting started after decades of saying..."We want a reef tank!".

As for the setup -
Coralife Biocube 32
Coralife tank stand
InTank Media basket and Fuge basket
Mix of Life Rock and Live rock
Cobalt Flat NeoTherm 150w
Red Sea Coral Pro Salt
Carib Sea Arag-Alive Hawaiian Black (~30 lbs in tank)

Purchased - not in use yet
Filter Floss
ChemiPure Elite
Seachem Purigen

Currently dosing during cycle with Dr Tims

No LFS - going to rely on suggestions for good online retailers...

Our experience with fish/aquariums
We have had a KOI pond for about 15 years and turned it into a KOI pond plus aquaponics garden ~4 years ago...
Amy took care of our freshwater and saltwater tanks ~ 20 years ago, but that is long gone and was only fish.

The cycle so far -
DateTempSalinityPHAmmoniaNitriteNitrate
2/14/202076.31.0288.3000
2/15/202077.91.0288.3.5 ppm00
2/16/202079.21.028----
2/17/202078.61.0288.31.5 ppm.5 ppm5 ppm
2/18/202077.21.0288.31 ppm2 ppm10 ppm
Rocks in - Amy did the Aquascape!



Rocks-NoWater.jpg


Day 1

WaterinNextAM.jpg




Please feel free to give tips/tricks/comments/criticisms etc...
 
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ChrisKSB

ChrisKSB

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Updated readings -

DateTempSalinityPHAmmoniaNitriteNitrate
2/20/202077.61.0288.21240

If anyone sees this - does this look normal so far?

Thanks.
 
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ChrisKSB

ChrisKSB

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I'm hovering just slightly above 1.026 now and dealing with some nitrate issues and temp issues. I think I'll be just under 1.026 in the next couple days - trying to move slow!

I've had a spike in nitrate -

DateTempSalinityPHAmmoniaNitriteNitrate
02/24/202075.51.026 ish7.80 ppm2 ppm100 ppm
 

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Yes, the temp is hard in these cubes since they're such a closed system. I have an inkbird controller that will turn on the heater as needed, and a cooling device. I'm just now setting up a fan for cooling that will just point at one of the openings on the back. Not sure if that will be sufficient once summer gets here, but we'll see.
 
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ChrisKSB

ChrisKSB

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Note: I remembered there was a filter spongeish thing between chamber 2 and 3 - I removed this. Nitrates REALLY dropped a ton by the next day! (it was UGLY dirty...)

I now Have 2 clowns, 3 snails and 12 crabs...

I'm a bit concerned about feeding...I'll video what I think they want/need tomorrow and hopefully someone can chime in and offer input!
 

hllb

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I clean my sponge with every water change. I’m having issues with nitrates though so maybe I should remove it for a couple of days and see what happens.
 

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Note: I remembered there was a filter spongeish thing between chamber 2 and 3 - I removed this. Nitrates REALLY dropped a ton by the next day! (it was UGLY dirty...)

I now Have 2 clowns, 3 snails and 12 crabs...

I'm a bit concerned about feeding...I'll video what I think they want/need tomorrow and hopefully someone can chime in and offer input!
I am doing my water changes right now and I will clean that sponge when I change the water in my bio cube. I can always tell when it gets dirty because the flow from the return pump drops drastically.
 
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ChrisKSB

ChrisKSB

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Nitrites have dropped to 0 and Nitrate to ~15 ppm. Did a water change (5 gallons)...now the two clowns (Fred and Wilma) are hiding and will not eat. Re-checked all parameters, everything is where it should be. Will just give them a day to chill out and recover before I worry. Crabs and snails all seem happy...
 

ELL23

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Good luck on your build. Here’s my Biocube 32 with Steve’s Led.

1st chamber
> Aquamaxx Fr-s Carbon Reactor
> Eheim Heater

2nd chamber
> inTank media basket with Filter floss, chemipure and refigium
> Aquatic life 115 protein skimmer
> Seachem matrix

3rd chamber
> sicce syncra 1.5 357gph Return pump
> coralife uv sterilizer
> Tunze ATO 3152
> Aquamaxx Fr-s Biopellets Reactor

Accessories
> Steve’s LED
> Jebao 4 dosing pump using BRS 2 part
> coral box aquarium pump extender backup battery
> icecap 1k gyre flow pump

28F753C2-3458-423B-BE6A-813DBC6E5C93.jpeg E2A1F2E1-84B3-48B4-993A-8746E280B5E5.jpeg 4C55DBFA-42B0-43C1-B1E3-2D8E39FFE4A9.jpeg
 
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ChrisKSB

ChrisKSB

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Good luck on your build. Here’s my Biocube 32 with Steve’s Led.

1st chamber
> Aquamaxx Fr-s Carbon Reactor
> Eheim Heater

2nd chamber
> inTank media basket with Filter floss, chemipure and refigium
> Aquatic life 115 protein skimmer
> Seachem matrix

3rd chamber
> sicce syncra 1.5 357gph Return pump
> coralife uv sterilizer
> Tunze ATO 3152
> Aquamaxx Fr-s Biopellets Reactor

Accessories
> Steve’s LED
> Jebao 4 dosing pump using BRS 2 part
> coral box aquarium pump extender backup battery
> icecap 1k gyre flow pump

28F753C2-3458-423B-BE6A-813DBC6E5C93.jpeg E2A1F2E1-84B3-48B4-993A-8746E280B5E5.jpeg 4C55DBFA-42B0-43C1-B1E3-2D8E39FFE4A9.jpeg

Wow, you are way ahead of my situation...do you have a build thread I can follow? Some of your items are already on my 'TO DO' list and several others just made it to my 'More Research' list...
 

vetteguy53081

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Try to maintain steady temperature at 78 and bring salinity down ti 1.025-1.026. Other than that, continue cycle and best of luck with long awaited dream
Welcome to the R2R community and we’re glad you joined us !!
 

PacoPetty

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Good luck on your build. Here’s my Biocube 32 with Steve’s Led.

1st chamber
> Aquamaxx Fr-s Carbon Reactor
> Eheim Heater

2nd chamber
> inTank media basket with Filter floss, chemipure and refigium
> Aquatic life 115 protein skimmer
> Seachem matrix

3rd chamber
> sicce syncra 1.5 357gph Return pump
> coralife uv sterilizer
> Tunze ATO 3152
> Aquamaxx Fr-s Biopellets Reactor

Accessories
> Steve’s LED
> Jebao 4 dosing pump using BRS 2 part
> coral box aquarium pump extender backup battery
> icecap 1k gyre flow pump

28F753C2-3458-423B-BE6A-813DBC6E5C93.jpeg E2A1F2E1-84B3-48B4-993A-8746E280B5E5.jpeg 4C55DBFA-42B0-43C1-B1E3-2D8E39FFE4A9.jpeg
That looks amazing!
 
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ChrisKSB

ChrisKSB

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The clowns seem fine now - took 3 days after that water change! 'Deep Breath'!

I just ordered the MP10wqd wavemaker, Sicce Silent 1.5 and the refugium light from InTank!

...as soon as that is all in, I'll try to source some Chaeto for the refugium!
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 73 37.6%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 66 34.0%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 12.9%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 14.4%
  • Other.

    Votes: 2 1.0%
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