Say Cheeze! My Fiji Cube 38 AIO Peninsula is up!

Cheeze · Feb 12, 2021

Hi everyone! I've been out of the hobby for about 12 years now, but the itch (not ick thankfully) never went away and I finally dove back in! A LOT has changed since I last scrubbed algae off my glass, but thanks to this great forum and you all I've been catching up. So after weeks of (im)patiently waiting on orders and equipment, I finally have my new Fiji Cube 38 AIO Peninsula wet! As I cycle this rimless beauty, I'll update my thread but here it is for now:

Tank: Fiji Cube 38 AIO Peninsula
Stand: Fiji 38 stand (drilled 3" hole in side to run power cables under tank)
Lights: two Ai Prime 16 HDs
Powerhead: Ai Nero 3
Protein Skimmer: AquaMaxx WS-1 (had to trim the intake nozzle so it fits in the middle AIO chamber...not yet installed but might swap this if too large for an Eshopps Nano Skimmer or a Hydor Slim Skim)
Return Pump: stock that came with tank (for now)
ATO: AutoAqua Smart (not yet installed, might return and replace with XP Aqua Duetto if sensor does not work in dark chamber)
Heater: Cobalt 150w
Filter Sock for carbon (stock that came with tank)
Rock: 27 lbs of Macro Rock (dry)
Substrate: 30 lbs of dry Tropic Eden MacroFlakes
Salt: Tropic Marin reef salt
UV Sterilizer: AA Aquarium Green Killing Machine 9w (not installed, but have it for down the line when needed)
Red Sea test kits
Red Sea tank cover I'll put up one day soon
BRS RO/DI 5 stage system
No Control Center (I'm old school)

I'm starting the fishless cycle today with Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter XLM and QuikCycl.

Final note: I forgot how humbling and rewarding this hobby was, and respect the patience involved. And I look forward to getting advice and answers from you all as my tank evolves!

SPR1968 · Feb 12, 2021

Looks great and I love the aquascape design!

Reefing_addiction · Feb 12, 2021

Nice! Can’t wait to see it stocked!

Devaji · Feb 12, 2021

looks good man I have there 18.5 now the 20 peninsula love it.
only think i would suggest it hang your AI primes if you can, or build a floating canopy or t slot system for them. gotta keep that clean peninsula look. but what do I know...lol

Cheeze · Feb 12, 2021

Devaji said:
looks good man I have there 18.5 now the 20 peninsula love it.
only think i would suggest it hang your AI primes if you can, or build a floating canopy or t slot system for them. gotta keep that clean peninsula look. but what do I know...lol

Good thought for the lights! Definitely something I will consider as I continue to tinker and upgrade!

Devaji · Feb 12, 2021

Cheeze said:
Good thought for the lights! Definitely something I will consider as I continue to tinker and upgrade!

hope I did not come off as suggesting it does not look great, as it deff. dose!
just an idea.
I would LOVE another fiji cube tank ( not that I need anymore ) but hey always room for one more eh?

what is your stocking list?

zukihara · Feb 12, 2021

Cheeze · Feb 13, 2021

Devaji said:
hope I did not come off as suggesting it does not look great, as it deff. dose!
just an idea.
I would LOVE another fiji cube tank ( not that I need anymore ) but hey always room for one more eh?

what is your stocking list?

Nope, didn't come off that way at all...after all, I'm here for ideas and suggestions!

I'm not sure yet on my stock list, but I should start thinking about that huh! Honestly was just going to see what my LFS has in stock and go with the flow...my old tank years ago was mostly LPS (hammer, brain, bubble) which I loved, so may go more that way with a couple of SPS.
And fish wise, maybe a clown, wrasse and goby with a sand sifting star and cleaning crew to start?

evmibo · Feb 14, 2022

Any updates on this setup?

Cheeze · Feb 16, 2022

Thanks @evmibo for encouraging an update!

It’s been a year this month since I wet my tank. Since that time, I experimented with swapping out some equipment/pumps, did a small redesign of aquascaping, scrubbed brown hair algae until it came under control, gained a few fish (and lost a couple), and just within the last couple months started adding some corals and frags… Here are some pics!

I’m going to move some of the corals in the sand around to better locations, and don’t mind my camera shy Zoa’s…they are normally open.

evmibo · Feb 17, 2022

Looking good!
What’s the current equipment you’re using? I’m buying a this tank as soon as fijicube gets the white cabinet back in stock, so I’m just seeing what people are using. I do like the media tower idea with filter floss instead of filter sock. Seems like dice return pump is popular too. Still running the ws1 skimmer?

Cheeze · Feb 17, 2022

evmibo said:
Looking good!
What’s the current equipment you’re using? I’m buying a this tank as soon as fijicube gets the white cabinet back in stock, so I’m just seeing what people are using. I do like the media tower idea with filter floss instead of filter sock. Seems like dice return pump is popular too. Still running the ws1 skimmer?

Thanks! The tank isn't perfect in design but I do love it!

Some of the equipment I changed since putting up the tank:
- ditched the filter sock and got the Fiji media tower. I use filter floss in top and bottom with a bag of ChemiPure Blue in the middle
- switched the Skimmer to the Tunze Comline 9004. I recently tried the FijiCube NSK-70 but surprisingly it didn't quite fit the way it was supposed to into the middle chamber. I was able to manage it tho, but the pump burnt out after just 3 weeks which was very disappointing...so back to the Tunze I went
- switched out their stock return pump for a Sicce (can't recall which size, but similar gph to the stock)
- got a Jager heater to replace the Cobalt after reading some negative reviews about Cobalt reliability issues
- added a 5 gallon reservoir for the ATO which I keep hidden on one side of the tank
- everything else is the same and still working, knock on wood

Also, if I did it over, I would probably get a different stand (personally...not to discourage you). The Fiji stand isn't terrible, but it's very much like the RedSea or Waterbox stands and a pain to level on my floors.
- For ease of mind, I reinforced the inside of the stand with additional L braces where the different slabs connect.
- Bore a hole on one side so I can run cables to keep a power strip hung inside the cabinet. But not needed of course if your strip will be outside.
- Also there is a bit of hang-off of the tank from the sides of the stand, which I was assured is OK and designed that way, but I wound up putting a 1/4 inch sheet of plywood cut to the exact tank dimensions on top of the stand just to help absorb some brace of the tank.

Sorry @evmibo if I rambled but I hope it gave you some ideas on your potential setup! If you have any questions or want to bounce ideas off me, let me know!!

never2clever · May 12, 2022

Cheeze said:
Hi everyone! I've been out of the hobby for about 12 years now, but the itch (not ick thankfully) never went away and I finally dove back in! A LOT has changed since I last scrubbed algae off my glass, but thanks to this great forum and you all I've been catching up. So after weeks of (im)patiently waiting on orders and equipment, I finally have my new Fiji Cube 38 AIO Peninsula wet! As I cycle this rimless beauty, I'll update my thread but here it is for now:

Tank: Fiji Cube 38 AIO Peninsula
Stand: Fiji 38 stand (drilled 3" hole in side to run power cables under tank)
Lights: two Ai Prime 16 HDs
Powerhead: Ai Nero 3
Protein Skimmer: AquaMaxx WS-1 (had to trim the intake nozzle so it fits in the middle AIO chamber...not yet installed but might swap this if too large for an Eshopps Nano Skimmer or a Hydor Slim Skim)
Return Pump: stock that came with tank (for now)
ATO: AutoAqua Smart (not yet installed, might return and replace with XP Aqua Duetto if sensor does not work in dark chamber)
Heater: Cobalt 150w
Filter Sock for carbon (stock that came with tank)
Rock: 27 lbs of Macro Rock (dry)
Substrate: 30 lbs of dry Tropic Eden MacroFlakes
Salt: Tropic Marin reef salt
UV Sterilizer: AA Aquarium Green Killing Machine 9w (not installed, but have it for down the line when needed)
Red Sea test kits
Red Sea tank cover I'll put up one day soon
BRS RO/DI 5 stage system
No Control Center (I'm old school)

I'm starting the fishless cycle today with Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter XLM and QuikCycl.

Final note: I forgot how humbling and rewarding this hobby was, and respect the patience involved. And I look forward to getting advice and answers from you all as my tank evolves!

Wow. Your tank looks great! I have the same one and attempting to start a fishless cycle as well. My first time attempting a reef tank, actually. I just wanted to ask, do you think two of the AI Prime 16s are 100% needed? I've never measured PAR before, but it seemed like some of the BRS vids where they tested the PAR on the AI Primes really provided a lot of coverage. Maybe for what you will fill your tank with, two AI Primes are a necessity - I'm still on the fence about getting 1 or 2 only because of the price point, but would appreciate any insight or additional opinion you have about the lights.

Thanks so much!
Michael

Cheeze · May 15, 2022

never2clever said:
Wow. Your tank looks great! I have the same one and attempting to start a fishless cycle as well. My first time attempting a reef tank, actually. I just wanted to ask, do you think two of the AI Prime 16s are 100% needed? I've never measured PAR before, but it seemed like some of the BRS vids where they tested the PAR on the AI Primes really provided a lot of coverage. Maybe for what you will fill your tank with, two AI Primes are a necessity - I'm still on the fence about getting 1 or 2 only because of the price point, but would appreciate any insight or additional opinion you have about the lights.

Thanks so much!
Michael

Hi, and welcome to the addiction!!
If you are hoping to keep corals, I would highly recommend 2 AI Primes vs 1. The tank would be too wide to keep just one, unless you are only planning on having corals in one spot (which, given experience, will not last long once you decide to fill the tank as much as you can with corals

). You'll definitely have some dark areas with just one light on this tank.

dixons_reef · Jun 12, 2022

What do you run your prime 16’s at? Just ordered this tank and I am still debating on the lights.

Also, do you use the UV sterilizer listed and does it help control algae?

Cheeze · Jun 13, 2022

db2022 said:
What do you run your prime 16’s at? Just ordered this tank and I am still debating on the lights.

Also, do you use the UV sterilizer listed and does it help control algae?

I use one of the pre-sets from the AI site, the Andrew Ozorzco one. Have also fiddled with others, but the AI site has a variety depending on your tank and planned inhabitants:

Signature Series - AquaIllumination

www.aquaillumination.com

And in honesty, I haven't had to use the UV at all...I had the uglies but my algae has never (yet) been at a stage that I needed it. I would suggest holding off on one until you really need it.

dixons_reef · Jun 13, 2022

Thank you so much! All the info above will help me come up with my own ideas for my Tank. I will probably start a build thread once I get the tank. I appreciate your help

dixons_reef · Jun 21, 2022

what lid did you use for your tank? I found the Fiji cube 38 gallon peninsula tank lid on their website but I am trying to find something around 100 bucks if possible.

Cheeze · Jun 22, 2022

db2022 said:
what lid did you use for your tank? I found the Fiji cube 38 gallon peninsula tank lid on their website but I am trying to find something around 100 bucks if possible.

Fiji didn't have the lid when I bought my tank, so I tried making my own using the RedSea DIY kit which I botched only because I didn't have the right tools...later wound up ordering a custom built lid from ClearView Lids which cost north of $100 (can't recall what I wound up paying exactly) but is a solid lid.