My BioCube 32 Build

[Airwolf]

Little over 24 hour update after adding the corals. Things are opening up and the RFA is moving a bit.

 

[The_ReefB0y_FOX24]

Represent! Boiler up, hammer down!

Glad to see some other boiler makers!

 

[Bobthebrewer]

First fish are in!

How are your Clowns doing? Have you added anything else?

 

[OldRed1]

How much did you pay for your torch?

 

[Airwolf]

How are your Clowns doing? Have you added anything else?

Clowns are doing good, growing. Other than the snails and corals, no other additions. Working through the uglies right now. Want to get them overwith first. Either an algae or cyano or both.

 

[Airwolf]

How much did you pay for your torch?

Got it at one of the sales that are posted on here. It was around $35 if I am remembering correctly.

 

[cgripp256]

Clowns are doing good, growing. Other than the snails and corals, no other additions. Working through the uglies right now. Want to get them overwith first. Either an algae or cyano or both.

Same here. My turkey baster is getting a workout.

 

[FreshCoastReef]

Not sure I will get the quantity of responses here versus posting this to a different thread but here it goes:

In referencing my 'ugly stage' photo above. (Post #30), the what I assume are diatoms are a bit more pronounced today. My question is, it is time to start a small clean up crew? I currently do not have one, as there was nothing for them to eat. If so, what is the recommendation for a snail or two? I am assuming that I should expect some algae growth after the diatom phase. I am thinking a single trochus, but not sure if they work on the substrate as well. Also looking for snails that can 'self right'.

Nice meeting you today at the Marine Aquarium Club! As for CUC, I've got 2 Trochus (self righting), 1 Cerith, 1 Emerald Crab, and 1 Sexy Shrimp.

The Trochus and Cerith do great work. Trochus are primarily on rocks and glass, occasionally the sand bed. While the Cerith is mainly on the sandbed and occasionally the rocks. It's a good combo.

Following.

 

[Airwolf]

Few update pictures. No new inhabitants, just trying to get through the ugly stages for now. Seem to be getting less of the diatoms/golden algae, but cyano is now showing up. Normal from what I have been reading. Tank is stable as parameters don’t change from above tests. Doing weekly/every other week10-20% water changes.

 

[Airwolf]

Been a while since I have posted, just a little update:

Parameters have been holding steady. Last test, Mg and Alk was up a bit, but was a month since the previous test. Also since I am not dosing anything I am just going to retest in a couple days to see what the numbers are doing.

Good news is that I seem to be through the majority of the ugly stages. Dinos and cyano have seems to “gone away”. Along with some of the what I think was golden algae.

Bad news is I have some bubble algae showing up all over. Thinking of getting a emerald crab.

Mounted some corals to rocks today, will see how long they stay upset.

The rock flower decided to move after a water change on Saturday. Made me nervous, but it is looking normal in its new spot.

Before mounting

After mounting:

 

[kevgib67]

Been a while since I have posted, just a little update:

Parameters have been holding steady. Last test, Mg and Alk was up a bit, but was a month since the previous test. Also since I am not dosing anything I am just going to retest in a couple days to see what the numbers are doing.

Good news is that I seem to be through the majority of the ugly stages. Dinos and cyano have seems to “gone away”. Along with some of the what I think was golden algae.

Bad news is I have some bubble algae showing up all over. Thinking of getting a emerald crab.

Mounted some corals to rocks today, will see how long they stay upset.

The rock flower decided to move after a water change on Saturday. Made me nervous, but it is looking normal in its new spot.

Before mounting

After mounting:

Looking great, everything will be open and happy soon!

 

[ilikefish69]

zoas should be happier like that up off the sand bed tank looking good! boiler up

 

[Airwolf]

Been a while since I have updated the thread, not too much has happened. Lost the Rock Flower Anemone, decided to take a trip around the tank and landed up in the wavemaker. Added some gutter guard on the backwall to keep one of the clowns from jumping into the back filter area.


Working on bubble algae at the moment, but have some coralline growing, green that is fading into a white and purple and pink.

 

[VanDalsenReef]

Looking great.

 

[Airwolf]

Added a springer’s damsel today!

 

[VanDalsenReef]

Added a springer’s damsel today!

Neat fish. Great color but can get boisterous later.

 

[Airwolf]

Not much new to add to the post, things are fairly steady and the coralline seems to be accelerating a bit. Got a bit lazy in my testing, been around two months since last testing and most numbers are creeping up. Assuming that is due to the salinity creep. Brought salinity back in line via water change over the weekend.

Salinity: 37
Calcium: 420
Magnesium: 1500
Alkalinity: 10.9
PH: 8.2
Phosphate: .15
Nitrate: 0

 

[ilikefish69]

That looks really good. What are you using for algae control? I don’t see too many snails or urchins, but those are some nice looking clean rocks.

 

[Airwolf]

That looks really good. What are you using for algae control? I don’t see too many snails or urchins, but those are some nice looking clean rocks.

Thanks, I have a very small clean up crew compared to some of the recommendations on clean up crew sites. All I have is, 4 torchus snails and an emerald crab. Once I got through the ugly stages it has been really stable. Have a decent amount of bubble algae, but when I do water changes I scrape it off with a fingernail and net it out.

 

[ilikefish69]

Thanks, I have a very small clean up crew compared to some of the recommendations on clean up crew sites. All I have is, 4 torchus snails and an emerald crab. Once I got through the ugly stages it has been really stable. Have a decent amount of bubble algae, but when I do water changes I scrape it off with a fingernail and net it out.

I’m at 4 trochus in a 125 and with 2 urchins and a handful of hermits and it’s getting a bit out of control, might need another couple trochus they seem to do the best cleaning. Boiler up! Just went to campus today to buy the 4 year old a dress at the bookstore. I say boiler up and she finishes with hammer down, gets a lot of attention