Setting up the BioCube

pdiehm · Jul 18, 2019

Following a home renovation, I can finally start the cube back up.

Picked out the location at the bottom of the stairs, got it all cleaned up.

Instead of using the marco rocks I had since they are covered with bryopsis and vermetid snails (thank you live aquaria) decided to use 20lbs of CaribSea Life Rocks shapes. Also tossed the 3 year old Reef Flakes sand and got Arag Alive Fiji Pink.

The rocks were EXTREMELY easy to aquascape with as I love how it turned out. Swim throughs, caves, overhangs. Looks as natural as I can get it in a small space.

My coralife pump died last year and got a mighty jet 327gph pump. Fits well and works well. I am also going to be using the random flow generator from VCA.

Filtration will be an InTank media rack with floss, purigen, chemipure, and the InTank Fuge Basket with some marinepure spheres, and eventually chaeto. I am hoping to use this area for pods and whatnot. The plan is to not have a skimmer and do 10% water changes weekly with ESV salt.

Lighting is the Noopsyche Pro G2, which I have to figure out how to set up at some point.

As for livestock, the 2 clowns and the bi-color blenny will return to the tank. Eventually the anemone will (maybe both?). Dunno.

Future plans involve a cleanup crew of 6 nassarius snails, 4 cerith snails, 3 Nerite snails, and 2 scarlet hermits. This may increase but probably will be the initial stocking at separate times. Other fish that will likely make it into the tank: a Pink Streaked Wrasse, and a Yasha (or Yellow watchman) goby with a candy cane pistol shrimp.

Corals: LPS primarily.

Additional equipment...MAYBE an MP10. We will see.

And I also ordered a ClearView lid.

pdiehm · Jul 18, 2019

Starting almost 2 weeks ago, did an initial dose of BioSpira and 1.3ml of Ace Hardware Ammonia. Also have been doing the daily dosing of 5ml of Brightwell Microbacter7. Right now we are taking about 48 hours to process ammonia and nitrites. For example, last night at about 4:30, got home from work, tested. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites. 1.3ml ammonia into the tank. Tested at 1pm today, 0 ammonia, but about 2-4 ppm nitrite. Got me thinking. Maybe the LifeRock isn't porous enough for the bacteria colonies? By now I should (in theory) be able to put the clowns in there. I added 7 marinepure spheres into the InTank Fuge Basket for additional fitration. I also ordered some One and Only which will be delivered on Saturday.

I'm looking forward to getting this thing going, and to be honest, the first time I set it up, I really didn't know what the heck I was doing. This time, I'm not touching the sand, going to get the microfauna, snails, and whatever do the sand work for me. This is also why I was strongly (am still) considering a sand sifting Goby.