Three month old Biocube 14

[ReeferMadness1023]

Okay so I started this 14 gallon journey three months ago. My daughter is really into Finding Nemo and Finding Dory. I used to have tanks about 12 years ago so have a bit of knowledge but always larger tanks than this one. Everything was going great for two months and now its getting wonky and with never having such a small tank I'm looking for advice and help to get my husbandry foundation more solid.

Purchased a used Oceanic Biocube 14 w/ stand
Light was upgraded already to an older Nicrew or similar blackbox LED
Adjustable 930 GPH Marineland return pump
Added Hygger Mini 530 GPH Powerhead
Intank Media Insert (Chemipure Elite, Matrix mixed with ceramic media, purigen, and Fluval Bio Foam Filter Block.
10 lbs of dry Aragonite Sand
8 lbs CaribSea Life Rock

Beginning of tank, checking my rockscape and sandbed before filling it up.

Filling it up.

I did a fish cycle. Added Fritz 900 and one Clown fish(Nemo). Made it through the nitrogen cycle without fuss. Everything leveled out and stayed consistent after about 15 days. Unfortunately no pictures of the cycle period. On day 21 I did a 20% water change and have been doing that weekly since.

After a month I brought in a Purple Firefish(Blueberry) and five Astrea snails. Of course Blueberry hid for about 18 hours and finally came out and started interacting with Nemo and has been a great addition. I waited another two weeks and went out and grabbed some zoas and a Branching Montipora as well as an emerald crab.

I let everything settle for another month. During this time I tested every 3 days just trying to learn any absorption and increase rates. I started dosing Fritz RPM Part 1 Alkalinity. Alk was staying around 7. I dosed the adjustment dosage once a day for two days. It leveled back out and now i am able to just maintain dose it a couple times a week. After getting that figured out I grabbed two mushrooms. They are actually still in a jar/ shotglass with rubble.


Okay so the tank today.

Parameters:

Alk: 9.0 dKH Nitrite: 1.5 ppm Ammonia: 1.2 ppm Calcium: 440 ppm

pH: 8.0 Nitrate: 7.5 ppm Phosphate: 0.25 ppm Magnesium: 1280 ppm
Salinity: 35 ppt

I'm using RedSea Tests and Salifert for Cal., Phos., and Mag. Refrac for Salinity.

I've only been dosing the Fritz RMP Alkalinity at this point. Feeding frozen Brine Shrimp and Mysis. I target feed the corals ReefRoids. I found broadcast was too much for my phosphates. I feed the fish twice a day very tiny amounts. Brine in the morning and Mysis at night. I have been feeding ReefRoids once a day at night. Corals mostly seem to be okay except the Montipora has been keeping its polyps sucked in most of the time. It was fine at first but its definitely not been happy. It does extend polyps when I feed it thankfully but still not all of them or a full extension.

I am currently waiting on an AI Prime HD non 16 to get here next week. As well as scouring and brainstorming how to get a sump/ refugium going on it. Also looking at smaller powerheads/ wavemakers to lower my flow. This isn't a low budget setup but definitely not looking to spend a lot of money on it either. Buying used and DIY is more my speed.

You will see in my last pictures that I'm also dealing with flow issues. I have too much at this point or can't figure out how to break it up enough to not move the sand bed around. (This could also be part of the Monti’s issue?). I was moving it around almost daily for awhile but have vowed to let it rest and see if the monti levels back out.

Any advice is welcome. I really need to get this figured out and have a routine so i can keep it dialed in and everything thriving. Right now I am doing weekly 20% water changes, cleaning out my sponge in fresh RODI once a week and replacing half a month. Plan on replacing partial bio media once every month. I will not be adding anything else to the tank until I get it under control. Thank you in advance and Happy reefing!

 

[JumboShrimp]

You can easily find loc-line and various duel nozzle configurations to send (direct) your flow in two different directions; that could help.

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

You can easily find loc-line and various duel nozzle configurations to send (direct) your flow in two different directions; that could help.

Do you think if I did that the return pump would be enough? I’ve thought about getting a Y with a bit extension I just want it to also focus on the top for gas exchange as well.

 

[JumboShrimp]

It's what I'm doing right now with a BioCube 16 gallon (stock pump). I have the stock nozzle (square) directed into the tank for primary flow, and a smaller flair nozzle pointed upward to skim (and slightly break) the surface of the water. Best wishes!

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

The sand dune in the middle actually looks pretty cool.

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

The sand dune in the middle actually looks pretty cool.

lol, I keep thinking I like how much movement it brings to the tank. It is pretty cool looking.

 

[Aquadude1]

https://www.santa-monica.cc/DROP2-d...-surfaces--02-cubes-feeding-per-day_p_47.html
I have one of these on my nano. It works great for me.

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

https://www.santa-monica.cc/DROP2-d...-surfaces--02-cubes-feeding-per-day_p_47.html
I have one of these on my nano. It works great for me.

Very interesting! Going on my list!

 

[ryan4444]

I just bought myself one. Following!

 

[Science/G]

https://www.santa-monica.cc/DROP2-d...-surfaces--02-cubes-feeding-per-day_p_47.html
I have one of these on my nano. It works great for me.

I am always amazed at the new equipment that comes out. Necessity is the mother of invention. This little thing looks awesome.

 

[Science/G]

Your tank looks great. It is still very young though. The presence of ammonia and nitrite is the clue here. The AI Prime will be a great addition. There are tons of users on the app willing to share their schedule with you and others available through a basic search. Cut the reef roids altogether. Those corals will get all they require from the prime and good settings. Watch your alk. Stability is key. I would recommend a doser if that's in the budget. Whole on the subject, I can't say enough about the ease of use and affordability of Tropic Marin All for Reef. One solution, one dosing pump. Also, check out the Bubble Magus mini Q skimmer. It might take some work to retrofit it in the hood, but it should work well for you. Go easy on the fish feedings also. Great work BTW Dad.

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

Your tank looks great. It is still very young though. The presence of ammonia and nitrite is the clue here. The AI Prime will be a great addition. There are tons of users on the app willing to share their schedule with you and others available through a basic search. Cut the reef roids altogether. Those corals will get all they require from the prime and good settings. Watch your alk. Stability is key. I would recommend a doser if that's in the budget. Whole on the subject, I can't say enough about the ease of use and affordability of Tropic Marin All for Reef. One solution, one dosing pump. Also, check out the Bubble Magus mini Q skimmer. It might take some work to retrofit it in the hood, but it should work well for you. Go easy on the fish feedings also. Great work BTW Dad.

Right on! Actually researching dosing pumps now! I removed the hood and have the Prime on there now. My pH leveled back out and alk and cal have been staying unnervingly still haha. Added a bit more rock and got my flow okay for now. I have to get some dc power heads to really dial it in. The youth is definitely true! Have a diatom bloom now. What I’m realizing the most is I rushed it way too fast and I need to step back and let the tank come into itself. Now that I have things inside to a workable place I’ve stopped messing with any of it other than maintenance. Added some tiny blue legs to start getting into the nooks and crannies. 2 nassirus snails moving the sand bed around. Lighting acclimating as well. Running Saxby with the light 11” off the water and a diffuser on there. I did add a tiny hammer on Thursday but don’t think that’s going to hurt anything right now and I have one of each(2 softies, 1 LPS, 1 SPS). Now I can test things out and get dosing figured out. Thank you! At some point I’m going to get her a neon that says “her” reef.











Edit: I also started doing 2.5g water changes 2x a week now. It’s really been helping me keep all my levels stable.

 

[Science/G]

I run modified Saxby schedule on my mixed reef. It's a great schedule.

 

[dcook]

Any updates pictures?
Are you currently running open top?

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

Any updates pictures?
Are you currently running open top?

I am! Made a lid for it although I realize now it should have been polycarbonate not plexiglass. I think it will hold for awhile but I’ll have switch over eventually. Here’s a few pics.