Micah’s Biocube 32 reef build.

micahsoft

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This is my first saltwater tank. I’ve done multiple freshwater tanks in the past and have always wanted to do a saltwater tank. I got a friends used Biocube 32, with the stand, and a bunch of other items, and I started getting other items together. I’ll list what Items I have soon with photos of most things.

Tank plans:
My plan for the tank is to do a reef tank with live sand and rock. The main things I want in the tank are two ocellaris clownfish. I’d like to do a bubble tip anemone as well. The other occupants are flexible. I’ve posted a list with some of my ideas for stocking as an attachment. I’ve also included my planned cleanup crew there.

I like having projects so I’ll probably do some other upgrades to the tank in the future. I have my own 3d printer (I’ll be monitoring the new forum for ideas with that). Depending on how things go, I may install Steve’s LED lighting upgrade on the tank. I also will be using the new reef-pi forum to build my own aquarium controller soon.
Looking forward to posting how my tank does and reading any advice people have for me. Thanks.

Let me know if I’m forgetting to post something I should. I can be pretty scatterbrained.

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micahsoft

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Stocking Plan

CUC

  1. 30x Dwarf Ceriths
  2. 7x Nassarius vibex
  3. 11x Florida Ceriths
  4. 10x Nerites
  5. 2x Scarlet hermits
  6. 2x Blue Leg hermits
Macro Algae
  1. Chaeto
Invertebrates
  1. 1x Rainbow Bubble Tip Anemone’s – Entacmae Quadricolor
  2. 1x cleaner shrimp
Maybe
  1. 1x scarlet shrimp
  2. 1x smaller variety of conch?
  3. 1x ornamental starfish (any reef safe suggestions?)
(I need a lot more research on these options)

Fish
  1. 2x ocellaris clown (pair. Perhaps 1 standard, one black. Maybe even Longfin variety)
Maybe
  1. 1x blue mandarin dragonet (preferably male, only if already eating frozen foods. Definitely only a late addition, perhaps after 6months-1 year)
 
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micahsoft

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Equipment list (sorry about the lack of organization in the pictures)
Let me know if there’s anything I’m missing. Going to clean up the tank and get it ready to start cycling tomorrow, but im going to take the cycle slow so I can grab any important items I’m missing.

Tank
• Biocube 32 LED tank (used)
• Biocube stand (used)
• 100W eheim heater (used)

• 200W Eheim heater
• 3x digital thermometers

• Self Leveling Aquarium Mat


Filtration
• Media basket (used)
• Fuge basket (used)
• Water director for media basket (used)

• Return pump (used)

• UV sterilizer (used)

• Uniclife 1058 GPH Controllable Wavemaker

• Bio balls

• Chemi-pure elite
• Purigen
• Coralife protein skimmer (used)

ATO (Still need to pick up a reservoir)


Water mixing
• 2x AQUANEAT Aquarium Circulation Pump 240Gph for water mixing

• RO buddie 50gpd

• Instant ocean Reef crystals (enough for 160gallons)


Tools
• API test kits

• Refractometer
• Calibration fluid

• 6-in-1 cleaning tools

• Algae scrubbers (used)

• Drip aclimator


Odds and ends
• Epoxy putty

• Substrate vacuum

• Sicce Pump Cleaner
• Maintenance notebook

• Some already opened water additives. Need some others (what do I need?)



Still Need

• Spare pump
• Water additives?
• Backup power and/or emergency air pump. (Have a small generator)
 

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micahsoft

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got rid of most of that coralline algae with a little vinegar and an old AAA card. Now just finishing mixing the salt in 5 gallon pails and checking salinity. 4ED3BB04-B986-4E98-A4D3-88032163C13A.jpeg
 
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micahsoft

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What would be my best Target for salinity in the tank? I know Ocellaris have a range of 1.021-1.026. Should I just aim in the middle of that and go 1.023-1.024?
 
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micahsoft

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Nice. You will want an ATO. Here is a pic of my. Build
Nice. Looking good. I’ve got my ato. Just need to pick up a resivoir for it today. Going to get the rock and sand in a couple hours. Unfortunately the LFS store is 40 mins away, while Walmart and other stores that have whatever I still need are 25-30 in the other direction. It’ll take me a bit to get everywhere today.

2FA69DAF-D447-4A59-A281-7ADEFF4372CD.jpeg
 
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micahsoft

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Alright. Just got back from the LFS. got 20 pounds of CaribSea arag-alive reef sand, fiji pink. Also got 25 pounds of live rock, a few types of macro algae, 2 snails and 3 hermits. Just asked for some chaeto, but he just gave me the others as well, then said the mini cleanup crew will help it cycle. Guess we’ll see. I’ll add the sand now, then a bit of mixed water, my cured live rock, then the rest of my water and the new critters. Sorry for the low quality photos. I’ll get better at it.
 

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micahsoft

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These are my rocks. Looks like I got a Kenya tree coral hitchhiking.
 

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micahsoft

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Haha sent my plans to reefcleaners.com and that’s the custom crew they suggested for me. The 30 dwarf snails are supposed to be very, very small. If people think I should adjust it, happy to hear any input. I’m very new to saltwater tanks, and it’s been awhile since a did anything g other than a 5 gallon beta only tank.
It does seem like a lot more than I thought too.
 

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Haha sent my plans to reefcleaners.com and that’s the custom crew they suggested for me. The 30 dwarf snails are supposed to be very, very small. If people think I should adjust it, happy to hear any input. I’m very new to saltwater tanks, and it’s been awhile since a did anything g other than a 5 gallon beta only tank.
It does seem like a lot more than I thought too.
I am a new reefer as well but even I feel that is way off. I don't see how your tank can sustain all of those snails long term (or even short term)
 
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micahsoft

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I think this is what I’ll go with for now. Let me know if you have advice about temweaking the aquascape. Again, I’m new and essentially know nothing, not matter how much I read. Always happy to hear more experienced people’s opinions.
 

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micahsoft

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I am a new reefer as well but even I feel that is way off. I don't see how your tank can sustain all of those snails long term (or even short term)
Yeah, I’m going to give it another look before ordering my CUC. I do have two snails and three hermits for now. (Actually 3 snails) found a hitchhiker.
 
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micahsoft

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Alright. Got the water. Still cloudy, but we’ll hopefully it’ll clear soon. I’ll probably do small tweaks to the aquascape over the next few days. image.jpg like that piece in the from right. I think I moved it after testing with my algae scrapper. I think it needs another bit of clearance so it has room for coral growth.
 
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micahsoft

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Alright. My InTank media basket has filter floss, bioballs, and chemical-pure elite. Now what have I done wrong?
 

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