cota472
Community Member
After being out of the hobby for 2 years, I started getting the itch to start another tank. I started talking to my wife about it and i wanted to stay small, 30g or less, She wanted to go big. I started looking for a decent used Biocube and had a couple leads on decent ones, my wife found someone getting out completely. They had a 90g wave front and three 29g Biocubes all for sale fully setup. I ended up buying one of the Biocubes, fairly stock equipment but with an added UV sterilizer and oceanic skimmer. Not huge things to justify the price but when I saw the mated pair of black ice clowns, I was sold. Now I have not added anything to the livestock, this is all what was in the tank already and yes I am aware that some of it is big No-No's.
For the equipment, it was a nearly stock biocube with the oceanic skimmer and UV sterilizer. I replaced the bulb in the sterilizer and took out the skimmer. I then promptly got on the nano reef forums and found a brand new InTank media and fuge basket set for $60 shipped and I placed an order for a MJ1200. I also ordered a Steve's LED kit, I ordered the unassembled kit with the Typhon controller. On Friday, I received all of my upgrades. My Steve's LEDs arrived 95% assembled even though I didn't order it that way, a nice surprise. It took me about an hour to install and it looks real good. I installed the MJ1200 and media baskets, added my chemipure and filter pads. New lighting and filter, tank looks good.
For the live stock, a mated pair of black ice clowns, a coral beauty angel and a blue tang (yes I know). Also they had a RBTA that had split and several small soft corals and minimal CUC. The tang is less than 2" so I will leave it in for now, I have taken out one of the RBTA and sold it. I added a handful of hermits and snails as I didn't think there were enough in there.
The LEDs make the tank look really blue in pictures but the nem has opened up bigger than I have ever seen it and it has started bubbling up the tips.
Oh and I did end up bringing home the 90g as well.
When I first got it...
After adding LEDs
For the equipment, it was a nearly stock biocube with the oceanic skimmer and UV sterilizer. I replaced the bulb in the sterilizer and took out the skimmer. I then promptly got on the nano reef forums and found a brand new InTank media and fuge basket set for $60 shipped and I placed an order for a MJ1200. I also ordered a Steve's LED kit, I ordered the unassembled kit with the Typhon controller. On Friday, I received all of my upgrades. My Steve's LEDs arrived 95% assembled even though I didn't order it that way, a nice surprise. It took me about an hour to install and it looks real good. I installed the MJ1200 and media baskets, added my chemipure and filter pads. New lighting and filter, tank looks good.
For the live stock, a mated pair of black ice clowns, a coral beauty angel and a blue tang (yes I know). Also they had a RBTA that had split and several small soft corals and minimal CUC. The tang is less than 2" so I will leave it in for now, I have taken out one of the RBTA and sold it. I added a handful of hermits and snails as I didn't think there were enough in there.
The LEDs make the tank look really blue in pictures but the nem has opened up bigger than I have ever seen it and it has started bubbling up the tips.
Oh and I did end up bringing home the 90g as well.
When I first got it...
After adding LEDs
