First Tank Ever - BioCube 32 Newbie Build

[dantimdad]

Everything looks good.

You might want to consider a little less rock to allow room for growth and flow.

Eheim heaters are good, I would definitely get an ink bird heater controller from amazon. They are good insurance.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Katrina71]

I was about to say...your rock looks great, but my son has a big rock scape as well and flow has been tough. I would suggest 2 wavemakers for turbulence.

 

[Unskilled Reefer]

Ok so either less rock or more money (wavemakers) are my options. Smart move would be take our rock but more toys sound fun. Decisions, decisions.

 

[dantimdad]

Remember more room for corals as well

 

[Unskilled Reefer]

I probably should have listed this earlier in the thread but here it goes now.

Equipment List

Coralife BioCube 32
DIY Stand (I think this required 9 trips to Home Depot and many returns at customer service. Thanks to those patient women working that weekend!!)
40lbs CaribSea Dry Rock
20lb bag of CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink
14lb bag of Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
35 gallons of DI Water (From lfs)
150w Eheim Jager Heater
Both the API Saltwater and Reef Test Kits
ATC Refractometer with 35ppt Calibration Fluid
Flipper
Zacro Digital Thermometer
Seachem Reef Buffer
Dr. Tim’s Ammonium Chloride
Instant Ocean BIO-Spira

 

[Unskilled Reefer]

I was about to say...your rock looks great, but my son has a big rock scape as well and flow has been tough. I would suggest 2 wavemakers for turbulence.

Either way I will eventually get a powerhead. A wavemaker is what you recommend? What model for my BioCube 32? Do I need two or can one work to start?

 

[Katrina71]

You can use any kind you want. I think the most popular is an mp10. They are pricey. Coralife is ok, but bulky. Jebao or hydor are probably the most economical.

 

[Katrina71]

Sure you can start with one.

 

[Reefbuds]

Welcome, good build so far!

This is my Boston terrier Bentley when I get him going, literally lol.

 

[Reefbuds]

Hey man looks great so far! Rock looks great but I would recommend thinning it out a bit. Looks too congested, which will restrict light and flow to certain areas.

 

[Katrina71]

If you remove some rock, keep your caves.

 

[Katrina71]

First suggestion. RFG. Random flow generator. Cheap. Easy. Effective. Vivid aquatics sells them. It's a plug n play.

 

[Craigb350]

Nice work so far, love the stand

 

[Unskilled Reefer]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback so far!

I found the Jebao OW-10 on amazon for $50. Seems like a good entry point. Might order this later tonight.

 

[Unskilled Reefer]

First suggestion. RFG. Random flow generator. Cheap. Easy. Effective. Vivid aquatics sells them. It's a plug n play.

This might be a silly question but how do I know which size RFG. What line size are they referring to when they list 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” options?

 

[Katrina71]

This might be a silly question but how do I know which size RFG. What line size are they referring to when they list 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” options?

Go to Vivid Creative Aquatics and shop by tank

 

[jabberwock]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback so far!

I found the Jebao OW-10 on amazon for $50. Seems like a good entry point. Might order this later tonight.

I like that one. Had mine running for six months. I use the "else" setting. It pulsates randomly. The corals seem to like it. Don;t know how long it will last, but for $50...

 

[jabberwock]

If you remove some rock, keep your caves.

I agree, I would thin out some rocks. Keep the ones you don't use for scape. The rubble is useful as things move along. I actually use rubble for frag plugs.

 

[Unskilled Reefer]

Does anyone have any feedback on the Jebao cross wave series? Like cp-40 or cp-90?

They claim no dead spots for flow which could be an issue for me as people have pointed out.

 

[Unskilled Reefer]

Finally finished my stand door.