- Joined
- Jul 31, 2018
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Hi all,
This tank has been up and running since July 6th, 2018. I'll document my progress up to this point and beyond. I'm hoping this will help anyone else with a 32g Biocube as they optimize their system.
Important modification I've made:
Back chamber:
Grow Lamp (runs opposite to main display LEDs):
2018-07-11:
Dust has settled. Started with ~13 lbs of live rock and Caribsea Ocean Direct live sand + fine crushed coral.
2018-07-13:
Added 10lbs of dry rock and formed a few structures out of it using JB Waterweld epoxy.
2018-07-31:
Diatom and nitrogen cycle complete; relied on die-off from live rock for source of ammonia.
2018-08-11:
Added 4 hermit crabs, 1 clownfish, a few snails, and some hardy soft corals. Corals and snails died almost immediately, more on that next post. Added another ~5lbs of live rock to fill in the structure (there's ~28lbs of rock total).
2018-08-21:
HUGE ERROR IN SALINITY! Bought a cheap refractometer on Amazon that didn't calibrate properly with RO/DI water. Turns out my salinity this entire time has been 1.040 instead of 1.026. I'm amazed that the hermits and clownfish have survived. Gradually corrected to 1.026 and added about 1lb of live rock rubble to reseed with important fauna the salinity may have killed.
2018-09-03:
After fixing salinity a couple weeks ago I'm finally seeing lots of copepods and other marine life spreading throughout the tank. Snails and corals no longer dying. Nanobox LEDs are in but blue channel malfunctioned; replacement array should be here next month.
2018-09-11:
Royal gramma added along with more corals. Everything looks healthy, water parameters are good and currently dosing to keep calcium between 400-500 ppm. Nitrates and phosphates have never been an issue and have consistently tested zero or trace. I'm very careful not to overfeed the fish. Soft corals are fed mysis and SPS are given spurts of nano reef roids every few days. I've been pulling chaeto out of the fuge every two weeks and doing a monthly 5 gallon water change.
Will continue to update this thread with notes and additions. Feedback is appreciated!
This tank has been up and running since July 6th, 2018. I'll document my progress up to this point and beyond. I'm hoping this will help anyone else with a 32g Biocube as they optimize their system.
Important modification I've made:
- InTank Media Basket (running poly filter floss + carbon + chemi-pure)
- InTank Fuge Basket w/ chaetomorpha (added 1 month into cycle) + 30W LED Grow Lamp
- Nanobox Duo LEDs (retrofit; added ~1.5 months into cycle)
- Cobalt MJ1200 Return Pump
- VCA Random Flow Generator Nozzle
- 1050 GPH Powerhead aimed at rockwork and surface (until I can get an MP10)
- Removed filter sponge from b/w 2nd+3rd compartment in back; replaced with plastic cross-stich canvas to prevent chaeto from contacting return pump
Back chamber:
Grow Lamp (runs opposite to main display LEDs):
2018-07-11:
Dust has settled. Started with ~13 lbs of live rock and Caribsea Ocean Direct live sand + fine crushed coral.
2018-07-13:
Added 10lbs of dry rock and formed a few structures out of it using JB Waterweld epoxy.
2018-07-31:
Diatom and nitrogen cycle complete; relied on die-off from live rock for source of ammonia.
2018-08-11:
Added 4 hermit crabs, 1 clownfish, a few snails, and some hardy soft corals. Corals and snails died almost immediately, more on that next post. Added another ~5lbs of live rock to fill in the structure (there's ~28lbs of rock total).
2018-08-21:
HUGE ERROR IN SALINITY! Bought a cheap refractometer on Amazon that didn't calibrate properly with RO/DI water. Turns out my salinity this entire time has been 1.040 instead of 1.026. I'm amazed that the hermits and clownfish have survived. Gradually corrected to 1.026 and added about 1lb of live rock rubble to reseed with important fauna the salinity may have killed.
2018-09-03:
After fixing salinity a couple weeks ago I'm finally seeing lots of copepods and other marine life spreading throughout the tank. Snails and corals no longer dying. Nanobox LEDs are in but blue channel malfunctioned; replacement array should be here next month.
2018-09-11:
Royal gramma added along with more corals. Everything looks healthy, water parameters are good and currently dosing to keep calcium between 400-500 ppm. Nitrates and phosphates have never been an issue and have consistently tested zero or trace. I'm very careful not to overfeed the fish. Soft corals are fed mysis and SPS are given spurts of nano reef roids every few days. I've been pulling chaeto out of the fuge every two weeks and doing a monthly 5 gallon water change.
Will continue to update this thread with notes and additions. Feedback is appreciated!
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