Smith's 29g LED Biocube

[trsmith18]

Starting a new build on a used 29g LED Biocube that I picked up off marketplace. First off boy a lot has changed in the 8 years since I last had a reef tank! Regarding this tank I made some modifications:

1. sealed up the bottom intake to force more surface skimming
2. added an in-tank brand media rack (eventually to run carbon/GFO or chemipure blue)
3. added a tunze nano skimmer (DOC9001)
4. upgraded return pump (IM Mightjet DC)
5. added tunze nano ATO
6. hygger mini wave maker x2
7. IM spin stream return nozzle

I started by adding 25-30lbs of purple dry rock and have been doing a fishes cycle for the past 4 weeks. Ive been "ghost feeding" and using bright well microbacter start. Will also be dosing Biospira and adding Fritz Turbo start prior to adding the fish. I figure as long as I have enough time in between bacterial dosing it should avoid a bloom and create bacterial biodiversity.

I've got two gladiator clowns on order through Dr Reef and are set to complete their quarantine and be delivered two weeks from today! Im planning to run a mixed reef of softies and LPS, but may also try a birdsnest SPS.

Love to here your thoughts and suggestions, and let me know if the images/video don't work.

 

[NanoJHB]

Looks great! Looking forward to seeing how it progresses

 

[trsmith18]

Thanks. Its been exciting to stare at an empty tank and imagine, but having livestock will be much better

 

[trsmith18]

New additions update! Unfortunately my clownfish I ordered were DOA.

 

[trsmith18]

Finally…

received a paired clownfish couple! Unbelievable deep coloration and one has a cool misbar.

I’ve really struggled to receive alive or healthy fish via shipping so fingers crossed these survive.

they are super active and enjoy riding the current from my power head

 

[trsmith18]

Update: Clowns have settled in. Truly amazed by there personality and eat out of your fingers.

colors are killer and will try to get some better pics

Fingers crossed…nervously optimistic!

 

[trsmith18]

New arrivals today. Couple of cool zoa and clove polyp frags that have yet to emerge and 4 micro lord frags.

 

[trsmith18]

Refugium is operational. chaeto and pods!

 

[trsmith18]

Added a new buddy today. Always love the personality of these guys.

 

[trsmith18]

tested some nutrients today.

Nitrate - 4.2
Phosphate - .02

I’m thinking this is pretty solid for my current tank setup

 

[trsmith18]

Got a neon green toadstool arriving tomorrow and some zoa on Fri.

Hope they ship well…

 

[trsmith18]

So I added possibly my favorite coral to the tank today and have sent my prays to the saltwater gods that it works out.

i’ve tried several times before in previous tanks to get a healthy specimen and keep it alive with no success.

it just went in about an hour ago so it is obviously closed up but it is a neon green toadstool. I purchased it off of liveaquaria.com and looks to have not gotten too beaten up with shipping. Was only in the shipping box a little over 12 hours.

I’ll send additional pictures when it opens up.

 

[trsmith18]

So my toadstool has settled in and opened up.

The zoa arch/garden is starting to open up and fill in some after getting some new additions from a fellow reefer.

Let me know your thoughts…and sorry about the brown algae. I’m working on it.

 

[trsmith18]

Couple updates and questions:

All my “acans” seems to be loosing they’re color and treading towards blues and browns.

I have them in the bottom 1/3 of the tank under my biocube LED lights. I’m obviously thinking that the lighting is responsible for the change but they seems open plump and happy

any thoughts or suggestions? Should I target feed them to color them back up even though they look happy other than the color change?

 

[OldRed1]

Love the tank!

 

[trsmith18]

Thanks

 

[trsmith18]

Thanks

 

[trsmith18]

Been awhile since updating my build. I had a pretty destabilizing event and lost all my coral when I removed my clownfish for quarantine and the food chain/ parameters collapsed. ( now all fish are purchased and quarantined)

I just got some new fish and coral the last two weeks. The tank now has a pair of clowns, royal gramma, firefish and a very shy tailspot blenny.

Enjoy and LMK your thoughts!

 

[acropora4u]

Looks nice !

 

[Haggisman14]

Well done! I loved my BioCube! I like the way you aquascaped with the 2 little islands! Keep up the great work!