Biocube 32g (Mixed Corals Only for now)

[Bridgette Wiltz]

Hello, I am posting here to see if I can get some assistance and to make sure I am heading in the right direction with my tank. I do not want to change the lit so my settings are:

LC1 (1200 to 4:00)
LC2 (4:00 to 2100)
LC3 (0515 to 2200)

I am also confused about the placing of corals because I continue to see so many different opinions. I did move my Zoanthids to the bottom of the tank and they seem to be doing better. I currently do not have any fish in the tank but I do have snails, crabs. Also I think the green coral at the top is a favia but not 100% sure.

 

[Biocube32]

I used to have a favia like that in a biocube before it declared war on a neighboring war coral and lost. It liked lower lighting than way up top. Mine bleached up high

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

I used to have a favia like that in a biocube before it declared war on a neighboring war coral and lost. It liked lower lighting than way up top. Mine bleached up high

See the guy at the fish store told me to put up top but all the pictures I’ve seen they are lower!! That’s why this is so confusing. So many different answers

 

[Biocube32]

Typically favites are low to moderate lighting and the biocube is basically a low to moderate lighting tank. Maybe thats why he suggested putting it up top. If i recall, my lfs said the same thing yours told you at the time, and mine bleached up high but then recovered when i placed it low. Once its acclimated to higher light up top, it will probably grow faster with more light

 

[Biocube32]

I feel biocube lighting is sometimes sold short a little (and sometimes rightfully so) and some people think the only way to get any coral to survive in them is to place it way high up. While it is true to an extent that many corals will not thrive in a biocube, i have found that low to moderate light corals still like to at least start out at a relatively low position in a biocube from my experience.

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

So this is my Duncan and I got it low to the sand bed. It’s not looking good.

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

I feel biocube lighting is sometimes sold short a little (and sometimes rightfully so) and some people think the only way to get any coral to survive in them is to place it way high up. While it is true to an extent that many corals will not thrive in a biocube, i have found that low to moderate light corals still like to at least start out at a relatively low position in a biocube from my experience.

Do you still have the original lights? If so what are your settings?

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

I read on another post about the GSP and how to tell if it’s dead. They were talking about the purple plate. I know when the plug came off so did a piece of purple rock. So wonderful if that was not the plate? It was doing fine in another tank until I removed the plug and the other piece just fell off

 

[Biocube32]

Do you still have the original lights? If so what are your settings?

Yes original. I have a 16 and 32. Moonlights 7 am to midnight. Evening lights 9-9. Daytime i think are 11-5

 

[Biocube32]

When

So this is my Duncan and I got it low to the sand bed. It’s not looking good.

did you put your duncan in?

 

[Biocube32]

I have a duncan that i used to have on the bottom of the 16. I raised it up for two reasons... it seemed to be stretching out for more light and also my frogspawn was attacking it. It is now stretching out slightly less, although it could still probably use slightly more light. I have had two frogspawns in a biocube 16. Both had grown well and had good coloration (the first one was by far the most beautiful frogspawn i have seen) and were low and on the bottom of the biocube 16 with stock ligts

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

When did you put your duncan in?

I’ve had it for about a week now. Just trying to make sure I got it in the right spot. If u look at my tank that one is low.

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

This is current setup.

 

[Biocube32]

I’ve had it for about a week now. Just trying to make sure I got it in the right spot. If u look at my tank that one is low.

Did it ever look happier than it does right now? It doesnt look toooo bad to me. If it looks like it is continuing to open more, then i would just leave it until it opens. I would probably end up moving it up though when it starts looking happy so it doesnt start “trumpeting” out for more light

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

Did it ever look happier than it does right now? It doesnt look toooo bad to me. If it looks like it is continuing to open more, then i would just leave it until it opens. I would probably end up moving it up though when it starts looking happy so it doesnt start “trumpeting” out for more light

Okay thanks!! Appreciate your time!!

 

[Lloyd Williams]

So this is my Duncan and I got it low to the sand bed. It’s not looking good.

This is midtank with Steve’s LEDs upgrade lighting. Started with 4 heads in December. Can’t count how many I have now. My lights are WAY brighter than stock.

 

[Biocube32]

This is midtank with Steve’s LEDs upgrade lighting. Started with 4 heads in December. Can’t count how many I have now. My lights are WAY brighter than stock.

Do you have any before and after pictures of the lighting upgrade?. I have also been considering this.

 

[therealman1]

Do you have any before and after pictures of the lighting upgrade?. I have also been considering this.

I have a lid coming in for my biocube 32 to add an AI Hydra 26. I plan to do a before and after thread for it. I could tag you in it to see if you are interested. If you are looking to do stony coral I would recommend a light upgrade. I have a duncan in my tank with three heads that is happy half way up the side on a frag rack getting quite a lot of flow.

 

[fishnchip]

I added an AI Prime HD to my biocube 32 and it's probably the best decision I made

 

[fishnchip]

This is current setup.

Tank is looking awesome by the way!