Bleigh's 60 gallon cube

[Bleigh]

I think I'm going to do this light for the fuge. It seems to have decent growth for people, and if I decide I'd like to replace it with something fancier, $20 isn't a huge loss. I'm also running by the LFS to get some live sand for it and copepods for my goby (in the biocibe). I'll ask in the local group about getting some chaeto from a reefer nearby.

I was thinking I would move the rock over from the bio cube, but I cannot think how to do this safely. My rock has corals attached to it, and the new tank hasn't cycled, so I don't think corals can be moved over. I read somewhere that the bacteria in the live rock moved like that will mean the tank is nearly instantly cycled, though I've seen other people disagree about those merits. Am I just going to have to buy all new rock? And not move the corals until the tank has cycled and ditch the biocube rock? I hate to just waste the rock.

 

[crusso1993]

Sorry I went kind of MIA on you yesterday about the OF leak but waited a while for your reply and then had to get going with my day. I'm happy you got it settled. Chances are that it was not tight enough and adding the pvc compound helped make it tighter. BTW - in my experience, I have never been able to overtighten a bulkhead fitting and I'm a fairly strong dude.

Happy it's running silently for you!

 

[siggy]

That is pretty much what several do during an upgrade. You could always place the new rock in a sump for a few weeks just to get the tank started, also transfer some salt water too. My last upgrade was done in two days and started with a dry tank, I had no problems

 

[Bleigh]

Sorry I went kind of MIA on you yesterday about the OF leak but waited a while for your reply and then had to get going with my day. I'm happy you got it settled. Chances are that it was not tight enough and adding the pvc compound helped make it tighter. BTW - in my experience, I have never been able to overtighten a bulkhead fitting and I'm a fairly strong dude.

Happy it's running silently for you!

No worries. '

I was tightening it so far, that the gasket was starting to push out from under the nut. Once the thread lubricant was added, I didn't need to tighten it nearly as far and it there wasn't any leaks.... I really think the water was just making its way through the threads.

 

[Bleigh]

That is pretty much what several do during an upgrade. You could always place the new rock in a sump for a few weeks just to get the tank started, also transfer some salt water too. My last upgrade was done in two days and started with a dry tank, I had no problems

Oh that makes me feel better. I did a water change in the biocube and just siphoned the water into the new tank also... lol. Figure it shouldn't go to waste.

 

[siggy]

I did a water change in the biocube and just siphoned the water into the new tank

That will kick start the heart if you have a piece of rock with out corals plop that in too....filter floss , sock etc
edit: did you add Dr Tims or something ? ....any leftover shrimp?...probably not

 

[Bleigh]

That will kick start the heart if you have a piece of rock with out corals plop that in too....filter floss , sock etc

I have one that doesn’t have any corals on it. It is half buried by the goby. So that brings me to another point. My plan had been to buy all new sand. But I got to thinking about the goby. He’s is ocd about moving sand. Even in the lfs, he had moved all the sand in the tank into one giant pile so that the glass was visible in most the tank. He’s constantly changing where he wants his mountain. I feel like if anything dangerous was trapped in the sand, he would have already released it. I’m kinda thinking about using the sand in the biocube for the refugium. I don’t think it’s enough for the entire tank, but may be a decent amount for the fuge. Is that incorrect thinking?

 

[Hemmdog]

I have one that doesn’t have any corals on it. It is half buried by the goby. So that brings me to another point. My plan had been to buy all new sand. But I got to thinking about the goby. He’s is ocd about moving sand. Even in the lfs, he had moved all the sand in the tank into one giant pile so that the glass was visible in most the tank. He’s constantly changing where he wants his mountain. I feel like if anything dangerous was trapped in the sand, he would have already released it. I’m kinda thinking about using the sand in the biocube for the refugium. I don’t think it’s enough for the entire tank, but may be a decent amount for the fuge. Is that incorrect thinking?

What are you trying to achieve by putting sand in the Fuge? Just curious, I don’t see that done to often. Was wondering if there’s a hidden benefit I overlooked.

 

[siggy]

I let @GoVols answer that one, re-purposing sand is a touchy subject.

 

[Bleigh]

What are you trying to achieve by putting sand in the Fuge? Just curious, I don’t see that done to often. Was wondering if there’s a hidden benefit I overlooked.

I don’t know. Algaebarn says a refugium should have 1-2 inches of sand. I haven’t seen where people said not to have sand, just where people said it’s good to have it as an anaerobic place to breakdown more crap. Lol. Should I not have sand in the fuge?

 

[Hemmdog]

I don’t know. Algaebarn says a refugium should have 1-2 inches of sand. I haven’t seen where people said not to have sand, just where people said it’s good to have it as an anaerobic place to breakdown more crap. Lol. Should I not have sand in the fuge?

Interesting. Up to you, I usually just do live rock in my fuge then add macro algae once I need more nutrient export in the system. That’s about it.

 

[Bleigh]

I let @GoVols answer that one, re-purposing sand is a touchy subject.

Oh I know. Everything I’ve read is not to because things get trapped. But I wonder how much can be trapped due to the goby. Like, I really think he moves sand as a tik. It’s more than I think he should. The giant pile he had made at the lfs should have been my clue, but he’s he one the kid liked.

I also have a ton of copepods in my sand. Would be nice to migrate those over if possible too.

Was just wondering if it would be safe or if I shouldn’t do it. I’m cool if I shouldn’t. My plan had been to buy new anyways.

 

[Bleigh]

Interesting. Up to you, I usually just do live rock in my fuge then add macro algae once I need more nutrient export in the system. That’s about it.

It may be just to support more copepods too. I guess I should do some more research on that.

 

[siggy]

But I wonder how much can be trapped due to the goby. Like, I really think he moves sand as a tik.

re-purposing sand ?

 

[Javiv3]

How old is the sand? Do you have nitrates? Do you siphon your sand when performing water changes?

 

[Bleigh]

How old is the sand? Do you have nitrates? Do you siphon your sand when performing water changes?

About 8 months. I don't siphon it. I do have nitrates. All that being said, the sand is white. The goby def does his job in that respect.

 

[crusso1993]

I don’t know. Algaebarn says a refugium should have 1-2 inches of sand. I haven’t seen where people said not to have sand, just where people said it’s good to have it as an anaerobic place to breakdown more crap. Lol. Should I not have sand in the fuge?

Interesting. Up to you, I usually just do live rock in my fuge then add macro algae once I need more nutrient export in the system. That’s about it.

Way back when, in days of old, before refugiums really, I kept a couple of cut down 5gal buckets with about 6" of sand in a large sump. It provided a "DSB", of sorts, that I could easily remove. I realize you're not really going for a DSB and, now that I think about it, have no idea why I'm making this comment.

 

[Bleigh]

Way back when, in days of old, before refugiums really, I kept a couple of cut down 5gal buckets with about 6" of sand in a large sump. It provided a "DSB", of sorts, that I could easily remove. I realize you're not really going for a DSB and, now that I think about it, have no idea why I'm making this comment.

I have seen where people do a deep sand bed in a refugium also. I wouldn't be opposed to it if it provides some benefit.

 

[Bleigh]

I just ordered a pack of 12 barnacles. Now I have to get to work on setting up some caves for my goby using some pvc. My plan is to put it on the bottom, sit the rocks on it, and attach the barnacles at the entrances to his "cave structure" Then cover it with some sand. When I get the sand to a height I like, I'm going to put some in the pipes for him to excavate. I'm hoping this will prevent me from having massive piles of sand around the tank. I also hope this will limit the shifting of any rocks he wants to tunnel under since a supported tunnel will be there. I wonder how big I should make the pipes....

 

[Hemmdog]

I just ordered a pack of 12 barnacles. Now I have to get to work on setting up some caves for my goby using some pvc. My plan is to put it on the bottom, sit the rocks on it, and attach the barnacles at the entrances to his "cave structure" Then cover it with some sand. When I get the sand to a height I like, I'm going to put some in the pipes for him to excavate. I'm hoping this will prevent me from having massive piles of sand around the tank. I also hope this will limit the shifting of any rocks he wants to tunnel under since a supported tunnel will be there. I wonder how big I should make the pipes....

What kind of goby? Real live barnacles or just the calcium carbonate deposits they leave behind?