Shallow Central Coast Reef - FijiCube

Kimosobey · Jan 22, 2022

Jumped back into the hobby a few months ago with a 20 long. Didn't last long because I was ready to upgrade. My name is Cory, I live on the Central Coast, Morro Bay. Things I enjoy are long walks on the beach with Penny (my dog), riding my 66' ironhead and spicy ramen.

Don't really have a specific direction I'm going for with this tank but mostly to just learn and enjoy the coral and fish that would make a good addition. Mixed reef with everything being carried over from the 20 gallon. I would love to grow some sps down the line and dive deeper into that world. Main reason upgraded to a 48 gallon is for more stability with the added water volume

Equipment
Tank: Fiji Cube 48 Shallow 30" x 23" x 15"
Sump: Fiji 20

Lighting: Aquaticlife 24" t5 hybrid w/ Hydra 32HD

Flow: Nero 3 & Vortech MP10

Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regel 150INT
Return: Ebay return pump (for now)
Doser: Kamoer F4 pro and X1

Thanks for following along, try to update this as much as I can. Currently waiting on PVC from BRS. Should be here today but possibly Monday. Currently working on the Aquascape

AJsReef · Jan 23, 2022

Sounds like a fun build, that beach is beautiful!

Kimosobey · Jan 30, 2022

Had some hiccups with plumbing sizing

Currently doing a leak test, working on aquascaping and planning out the cord management. Hopefully today is the day cycling begins!

Kimosobey · Jan 30, 2022

AJsReef said:
Sounds like a fun build, that beach is beautiful!

Thank you!

Kimosobey · Jan 30, 2022

Leak test - pass

Kimosobey · Feb 1, 2022

Open to critiquing my Aquascape. Right rock will mostly be covered in SPS then Zoas will be on the rock to the left and LPS and soft corals will be spread through out. I like the minimalist look and will keep a good amount bio load in the sump

Zoacoral · Feb 1, 2022

Is this the EXT or the INT version?. Either way looks good.

Kimosobey · Feb 1, 2022

Zoacoral said:
Is this the EXT or the INT version?. Either way looks good.

This one is the EXT. Yeah I’m happy with the quality from Fijicube

Kimosobey · Feb 4, 2022

The clowns were added today. Had a friends tank crash so I'm homing his purple tang in the meantime. Beautiful fish!

What's next for this tank?
GHL Mega Pack on its way, my first controller
Bubble Magus Reactor
Haven't decided if I want to include my clearwater algae scrubber. It might be too large
Transfer everything else (coral, inverts and a few fish) from the previous tank
Work on wire management

Needing lessons on how to take decent pictures of fish

Kimosobey · Feb 13, 2022

Sunday update here. Parameters are still swinging, letting it run its course for a few more weeks. Found an awesome fish store up in the Bay Area called Aquatic Collection. Good prices and healthy selection.

SO! New equipment came in, new skimmer and GHL controller. Setting up this controller is going to take some time and patience. A lot to learn about this machine and getting it dialed in.

Octo skimmer - much bigger than the previous SCA 301! Tough squeeze in the sump.

Next on the tank is cord organizing (many beers during this task) and refugium (mangroves/sand/light) in the small sump compartment

Cheers! here's some photos

Kimosobey · Feb 18, 2022

Just got back home from a week out of town. Did a little glass cleaning, refilled the ATO and added some new frags and snap some photos. This hobby has totally sucked me back in fully. It's been fun learning more and more about different ways of running a successful tank. I'm sticking with simple & stable.

Finally found some settings I half way like just need to dial in how to focus this camera

Skimmer is still breaking in. Ordering a ATI fixture in the near future.

Also my PH probe is off on the GHL. Going to try to recalibrate it this weekend. It's reading 10.5 but the Salifert test and Hanna are 8.1 - 8.0

Kimosobey · Feb 21, 2022

I really hope I can get this tank to strive off 20% water changes every two weeks vs 10% every week. Last week I did a 10% water change so today I decided to test Alk, Ca and Mag to see where I stand

Alk - 7.0
Cal - 430
Mag - 1480