TexasCube32

[rpkneumann]

With 10+ hrs of light the algae is growing.
The inverts are trying their best. My yellow watchman arrived blacka nd white and still shows no sign of turning yellow. His friend the tiger pistol shrimp had undermined every single rock and creates a ever varying landscape.
plus sometimes he is very loud (snaps)
I added a link to my video playlist. .. its a start

 

[rpkneumann]

Time for an update. The Cube started on 8/4/2020. Today is 10/21/2020
Inventory:
4- Clown fish
2 Banggai Cardinals
1- Yellow watchman goby and his body a big pistol tiger shrimp (the goby came black and white and has not yet developed a spec of yellow)
1 Court chester goby
1 Serpent star fish
1 Fire shrimp (who doesn't like the cleaner shrimp but my fingers seem to be delicious) a bit teritorial)
1 Cleaner shrimp (also likes my skin)
15 or so hermit crabs (mexican heritage, fresh and a bit aggressive but.
1 red legged hermit (also a bit aggressive towards the snails, keeps trying to pry them of the glass when they're near the sand.
1 blue legge dhermit
5 nassarius who only come out of sand when i server reef-roids
5 trochus
a few cerith (lost track of them)
A few small corals. Selected by the beginner list ;-)
Have a look on my youtube video.

My BioCube 32 on Youtube

 

[rpkneumann]

4-Months later.

 

[lafarrow]

I think it looks great. I really appreciate your matrix to show your parameters during your fishless cycle. I think data like that shows folks there is nothing to worry about and that chemistry will do what it does. How did the 4 clowns work out? I can see 3 in the pic so going well?

 

[rpkneumann]

The clowns are doing great. Have a bit of low ph problem but aerating in chamber 2 for a few horUs a day seems to have taken. Are of it,

 

[rpkneumann]

End of year 2020 Update
Started 8/04/2020
Today 12/31/2020
Current parameters
Sal 34.8
PH 8.1
Alk 9 dKH
Phosphate 0.5
Nitrite 0.1
Nitrate 10
Amonia 0
Temperature 79.9 F

Current livestock/invertebrates:

Neon Goby
Court Chester Goby
2 Percula Ocellaris
2 Ampherion Ocellaris
Yellow Watchman Goby (Actually grey and white)
Tiger Pistol Shrimp Aka Landscape Bulldozer
Serpent Starfish
Fire Red Shrimp
4 Peppermint Shrimp
Green Emerald Crab
Pom Pom Crab
Tube Anemone
Long Tentacle Anemone
Pencil Urchin
Blue Tuxedo Urchin
5 Trochus
Fighting Conch
4 Nassarius
1 Spiny Star Astrea , used to be four but crabs invaded them
4 Mexican Hermits
3 Fuzzy Chiton


Losses

- 2 Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp First one just disappeared not trace of him, second one I bought also disappeared after 8 hours
- Green Emerlad crab cornered in crevice bu pencil Urchin for a few days.
- Bubble Tip Anemone. Was simply to early for the tank. Didn’t want to attach to anythingShe vanished
- 2 Monti. Had self produced alkaline swings for a week because I experimented with lime water without dosing pump try8ng to get ph up. Aerating in chamber 2 for 6 hours at night solved the problem and stabilized pH.
- 2 Feather Dusters. They lost their crowns. Very small crowns grew back and I hardly see them now.

3 Side View

Started of like this....

This was the start

 

[lafarrow]

Looks great for less than 6 months. I like where it’s heading.

 

[rpkneumann]

Thank you for the encouragement.
Have a great 2021

Looks great for less than 6 months. I like where it’s heading.

 

[rpkneumann]

Here is an update.
The tank has. One a long way. Still seem to have more luck with softies than anything hard.
My red fire shrimp as well as a cleaner shrimp has disappeared. Give for 3 weeks now.
my pencil urchin got tangeled in my nicely growing daisies and subsequently uprooted them. I glued back what was left of them, they are now a quarter of the original size.
Survived winter storm. 3 days no heat no electricity.
My sugar cane has become much smaller polyps. The Xenia seems indestructible. It’s back with a vengeance

these are today’s pictures

 

[lafarrow]

Looks great especially after 3 days no power.

 

[rpkneumann]

Looks great especially after 3 days no power.

Here is my link to that happening:
Power out

 

[rpkneumann]

Update: May 6, 2021
Latest view of my Cube after all the winter happenings. The xenia has come back with a vengeance. Seem to not have much luck with hard coral but softies thrive.
The toadstool lost its "base" During the winter storm a crack developed in the stem and it had been leaning around the crack when the water flow stopped. One day it just came apart. I "replanted" a couple fo weeks ago. Seems to recover. As usual its a drama queen. Any disturbance and the needles disappear.
My trochus' seem to have a "beatles 60's" phase with green hair growth. Wonder if I should scrape it off. Doesn't seem to bother them
BioCube32 Update 5/6/2021

 

[count krunk]

Tank looks really good, especially considering the Texas freeze