Biocube 32, new to marine

[chrislynn]

Not sure exactly what all to include in a build thread, so I’ll start and you guys tell me what I’m missing!

Biocube 32, standard lighting so far, but drooling on Steve’s lighting mod.
slot one: heater
slot two: intank media basket
slot three: another heater (I like my house cool, this helps keep constant temp)
powerhead on the left pointing to center front

started with live rock
cycled
added livestock in this order with time in between each: two clowns, blue-legged hermit crabs, assorted snails, flame hawk fish (my favorite by far!), sad little anemone from local store because I felt sad for it, one little patch of zoas, and a cleaner shrimp.

parameters are staying very consistent, water changes bi-weekly, top off with rodi

Fish are are awesome and demanding little buggers of attention. I can’t look in the tank to count/find snails and hermits with having to look around fish faces. They bug me relentlessly when I‘m testing water by bumping the tubes as I’m filling them.
Zoas are open and pretty and growing.
Cleaner shrimp staked out a place under the rock and stalks all the fish who are still hesitant of him
Anemone is attached, eating and I’m hopeful for it.

future plans: another fish of some type and more zoas. I love the zoas! And I need to learn how to take better pics of my goodies.

open to thoughts, suggestions, and comments! Pics from along the way to now.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Do you mean your Flame Hawk hasn’t eaten that shrimp yet?

 

[Peace River]

It looks like you are off to a great start on your build thread! Most people treat it as an online journal for their fish tanks. In addition to being able to share your system and where you're headed, it is great to be able to look back after six months or a year and see where you were!

 

[chrislynn]

Do you mean your Flame Hawk hasn’t eaten that shrimp yet?

No interest so far! But I got a shrimp bigger than my flame. So far he’s likely responsible for one snail and the definite harassment of one hermit crab (but nothing above pestering).

 

[chrislynn]

It looks like you are off to a great start on your build thread! Most people treat it as an online journal for their fish tanks. In addition to being able to share your system and where you're headed, it is great to be able to look back after six months or a year and see where you were!

Thank you!

 

[Mike H2020]

Looks great!! How old is your tank in the pics ? What did you put in your media basket ?

 

[chrislynn]

Looks great!! How old is your tank in the pics ? What did you put in your media basket ?

Those pics are probably about month two or three.
intank media basket with chemipur, Purigen, and filter floss.
Now it has a torch, hammer coral, zoas and a mushroom rock. And a new tuxedo urchin!

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

You don’t need two heaters. I keep a 150w in mine and my house stays 68 F. Tank stays a constant 78.

 

[chrislynn]

You don’t need two heaters. I keep a 150w in mine and my house stays 68 F. Tank stays a constant 78.

When I had just one (and more wattage than was needed for the size tank) it didn’t keep up and had temp swings at night. With the two it stays within one degree of 78 all the time.

 

[Brady4000]

Nice! Another Bicocube build! Love the look already, can’t wait to see it develop.

Following.

 

[chrislynn]

Nice! Another Bicocube build! Love the look already, can’t wait to see it develop.

Following.

Thanks!

 

[Mike H2020]

Those pics are probably about month two or three.
intank media basket with chemipur, Purigen, and filter floss.
Now it has a torch, hammer coral, zoas and a mushroom rock. And a new tuxedo urchin!

Let’s see updated pic! How much algae you got ? I had an urchin.

 

[ShepherdReefer]

Looking great.

 

[chrislynn]

Here it is now. Excuse the anemone in a wineglass, he’s going to someone else and I got him to release by changing my flow and wanted to grab him while he was floating so I didn’t hurt his foot. A bit of an ugly stage right now because of feeding while I was on a trip.

 

[Mike H2020]

Here it is now. Excuse the anemone in a wineglass, he’s going to someone else and I got him to release by changing my flow and wanted to grab him while he was floating so I didn’t hurt his foot. A bit of an ugly stage right now because of feeding while I was on a trip.

So nice and clean ! Looks awesome

 

[jtp7004ft]

Your tank looks great! I don't have a wine glass in the tank, just empty beer cans around it

When I had just one (and more wattage than was needed for the size tank) it didn’t keep up and had temp swings at night. With the two it stays within one degree of 78 all the time.

I have the same tank and had the same issues with the temperature. After installing this new heater, I only go between 78-79. My tank is in my basement against a poured concrete wall and I'm in Michigan.. Worth looking into. The 150W option.

HMX-S Heater w/ Digital Controller

Heaters are by far one of the most important pieces of equipment on any reef tank. Finnex has been making high quality, compact electric, titanium heaters for years and allow you to create a safe and very stable temperature within the tank. The titanium body of the HMX-S heater is virtually...

www.marinedepot.com

 

[chrislynn]

Your tank looks great! I don't have a wine glass in the tank, just empty beer cans around it


I have the same tank and had the same issues with the temperature. After installing this new heater, I only go between 78-79. My tank is in my basement against a poured concrete wall and I'm in Michigan.. Worth looking into. The 150W option.

HMX-S Heater w/ Digital Controller

Heaters are by far one of the most important pieces of equipment on any reef tank. Finnex has been making high quality, compact electric, titanium heaters for years and allow you to create a safe and very stable temperature within the tank. The titanium body of the HMX-S heater is virtually...

www.marinedepot.com

Thank you!! I was worried about the labels and etching on the beer glasses. Lol

thanks for the tip on the heater!

 

[chrislynn]

Current video! Open to any and all suggestions.

ugh, can’t get the video to load. I’ll do some pics from it instead.

 

[Brady4000]

Looks good!

Open to any and all suggestions.

Add more coral!!! Until you can’t even fit your hand in the tank ROFL.

Joking aside, I love the scape and the look of the live rock.

Only one question, is that GSP on your main rock scape? If it is... that might take over.

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

Love the wine glass lol