Chrisl609's gameroom nanocube

[chrisl609]

Chrisl609's 12 gallon nanocube

I haven't had a tank running for over six months since my wife and I moved from San Diego to Pittsburgh back in December. Just started recently thinking about setting one up again and found out about this contest two days ago. Decided to set up my wife's 12 gallon nanocube (she's getting a new tank) in my gameroom using mostly stuff we already have. Just placed an order today for the rest of the supplies I need to get started again so the tank should officially be running this weekend. A little late to the game, but shouldn't be too bad as long as I get some some nice cured rock from the LFS.

Equipment list:

JBJ 12G NanoCube (topless)
150w MH with 14K Phoenix bulb (was going to use a Viper I already had, but she found a disco ball for sale and bought that for it)
JBJ ATO
InTank Media Basket
DIY airstone skimmer
50w heater
Fan
Reefkeeper Lite
RKL moonlights
Koralia Nano
Maxi-Jet 1200 return pump with Hydor Flo

Real Reef Rock
Tropic Eden Miniflakes

Livestock (planned):

Yasha Hase/Pistol Shrimp Pair
Firefish

[FONT=&amp]ASD Blue Polyps Monti Cap
[FONT=&amp]ASD Cultured Red Monti Cap
[/FONT][/FONT]ASD Chilli Monti
ASD King Arthur Monti
RG Neon Green Slimer
RG Bird of Paradise Birdsnest
RG Fiery Orange Digitata
RG Magenta Stylo
RG Neon Emerald Stylo
RG Hyacinth Birdsnest
RG Tubb's Birdsnest


FTS as it sits right now:


I will take the verification pic this weekend once there is actually water in the tank.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Very cool stand!

 

[chrisl609]

Thanks! I just traced the bottom of the tank on a board and cut the pieces out with a jigsaw.

 

[chrisl609]

Tank is still dry, but I now have everything for it. My packages took longer than I expected with the holiday weekend. I did pick up the cured rock last week from a LFS so it's in a bucket ready to go. Last thing I need to do before actually getting it wet is adding a mount to the back of the stand for the light. If I screw the light directly to the stand it's too far forward. Should get that done tomorrow.

Here is the rock in it's temporary home. About 20 pounds, so more than I'll need:


And some goodies. Some basic supplies to upgrade or replace what I had gotten rid of, plus my RKL with moonlight module:


Also placed a couple orders for corals over the weekend and today. They will be coming in next week and probably hanging out in the frag tank for awhile before getting moved into here. Decided to go with an "easy" sps dominated tank so I picked up some monti frags from the Aqua SD live sale on Saturday and some birdsnests and stylophoras from reefgardener. Hopefully have another update in a couple days with water in the tank and my verification photo.

 

[chrisl609]

The tank is wet! Got it filled and scaped and took some pics, including my verification photo. I ended up moving it from upstairs in the gameroom to downstairs in the main area. We live live in an open loft so there aren't really "rooms" so to speak. Anyway, here it is in the new location with the disco ball attached:



Hooked up the RKL and got it all updated and running. Mounted the PC4 to the board I used for the light and attached the head unit and moonlight module to the stand:



Next up, verification pic and then close ups of the scape:











Still need to add the powerhead, ATO, and the Hydor Flo. I had it on and when I turned on the pump it shot off. I think it needs cleaned out. Need to pick up some floss to clear up the water too.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Looking good!!

 

[chrisl609]

Corals are in the tank! I'll do this in a couple posts to keep things organized. First up are the pics of the frags and finally a FTS with everything nice and mad from being moved. I'll get another pic in a few days when things are more settled and my wiring is finished up.

 

[chrisl609]

On to prices. Some things came from Aqua SD (a forum sponsor, so 1/2 price), some were freebies (so I assume these get assigned FMV?), and some were from an order with Reef Gardener, which I don't think is a sponsor.






Frag list:

ASD Blue Polyp Monti Cap $6
Heat Seaker Palys $7.50
ASD Cultured Red Monti Cap $2.50
Chilli Monti Freebie ??? FMV
King Arthur Monti Freebie ??? FMV
Sub Zero Acro Freebie $20 FMV
Orange Digitata $15
Bird of Paradise Birdnest $50
Neon Emerald Stylo $24
Magenta Stylophora $15 (We purchased two magenta stylos, but one large one was substituted. The frag placed in this tank was a very small frag of the $60 one that we received. The rest is going in the wife's tank).
Hyacinth Birdsnest $22
Neon Green Slimer $25
Tubb's Birdsnest $22
Bicolor Hammer $25
Cherry Red Mushroom (w/ zoa hitchhikers) $10
Hot Aqua Mushroom $15
Super Blue Mushroom $16
Green Mushroom Freebies (3 plus one bleached looking one, not sure it will make it) $40 FMV
1" Green Toadstool Freebie $20 FMV
Green Ricordea Freebie $20 FMV

I think I got the FMV of all the freebies besides the monti frags, which I did not see on the list. Without those included, my current tally is: $355

Geez, adds up fast.

 

[chrisl609]

Quick update. Added a mushroom that I got from Gonzo's live sale. Here is the link: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/go...ctioned-sale-event-thread-12.html#post1945460 Was $35, but since it's from a sponsor it's $17.50, bringing the new total to $372.50 (without the montis, still need to find a fmv on those). All the stuff we got from his sale looks awesome. Might end up adding a couple zoa frags from the order. One of the freebie green mushrooms split already. They might end up coming out though if that's not against the rules. The FMV on those is kind of killing the budget, especially since I didn't actually buy them. Here's a shot of the new mushroom in the tank and a new FTS. Post water change, but everything is still looking pretty happy.

 

[chrisl609]

Finally time for an update. Changed around a couple things. Took out three of the four "free" mushrooms and added a rainbow one my wife found at a LFS. The hitchiker zoas actually grew under the red mushroom and knocked it off its rock, so I moved that one to the frag tank in a container until it reattached to a little piece of shelf then moved it back in. Added a couple zoas and an acro.Took out the original acro. It never showed any improvement after being shipped and started to get algae growing on it. Haven't given up on it yet, but I took it out and put it back in the frag tank. Oh, and I moved in the free goni from the aqua sd live sale. Per the pm I got about the rules, free items actually count as being free as long as we have proof. That means my ASD and Gonzo freebies will count as $0, but not the ones from reefgardener. I'll add a FTS, the LFS receipt, paypal receipt for Legendary Corals, and an updated stock/price list:







ASD Blue Polyp Monti Cap $6
Heat Seaker Palys $7.50
ASD Cultured Red Monti Cap $2.50
Chilli Monti Freebie
King Arthur Monti Freebie
Orange Digitata $15
Bird of Paradise Birdnest $50
Neon Emerald Stylo $24
Magenta Stylophora $15 (We purchased two magenta stylos, but one large one was substituted. The frag placed in this tank was a very small frag of the $60 one that we received. The rest is going in the wife's tank).
Hyacinth Birdsnest $22
Neon Green Slimer $25
Tubb's Birdsnest $22
Bicolor Hammer $25
Cherry Red Mushroom $10
Hot Aqua Mushroom $15
Super Blue Mushroom $16
Green Mushroom $10 FMV
1" Green Toadstool Freebie $20 FMV
Green Ricordea Freebie $20 FMV
Gonzo Mushroom $17.50
Gonzo Cars $12.50 (https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/go...nctioned-sale-event-thread-6.html#post1945290)
Gonzo Lunar Chaos $7.50(https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/go...sanctioned-sale-event-thread.html#post1945114)
Sunny Ds $12.50
Gonzo Green Granny Freebie (https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/go...nctioned-sale-event-thread-8.html#post1945358)
LFS Rainbow mushroom $15
ASD Ogre Killer Goni Freebie

Which brings the new total to... $370. So pretty much the same as before, even with the new additions. Taking out those three mushrooms and having the freebies be free really helped.

Now for the status of the actual tank. Bit of an algae bloom, but not terrible. I only had one snail in there and he wasn't keeping up, so I added two more. The rock is already looking cleaner, the one ate a nice clear path along the top shelf as soon as I put him in. There are a couple patches of what my wife is convinced is bryopsis. She thinks it came in on the liverock, as it is in the frag tank as well. Currently treating both tanks with Tech M. Corals seem to be dealing fine with the treatment so far. I've been manually removing it whenever I do a water change as well. It's been 6 days since the mg level reached 2000, so still have awhile to go. It doesn't seem to be spreading anywhere which is good news. Some of the corals have definitely grown. The green and blue monti cap and the hyacinth birdnest have noticeable growth. The heat seaker palys have a ton of babies. The green granny acro is coloring up well, especially the areas where the light hits it the best. On the downside, the hammer seems a bit bleached. It's not terrible, but the purple tips definitely look lighter than when it was first in the tank.

I got a yasha hase goby and pistol shrimp for the tank. They are currently in a QT though. Had them now for a couple weeks, and the goby is finally started to show himself. He's eating well. Think I'm going to get a firefish too, but will add them one at a time. Once I move the yasha in I will get the firefish and put him in the QT.

 

[chrisl609]

Added some chaeto last week to help with the algae bloom. It's in the bottom section of the inTank media basket. Cut away the black sticker and added the little magnetic refugium light.



Most of the corals are doing well, but a couple are looking slightly bleached. Decided it was time to start feeding to help them out so I finally put the skimmer on the tank. DIY airstone skimmer FTW. The hose goes down to the bottom shelf where it's attached to a soda bottle lid. Just unscrew the bottle to empty it, works pretty good. You can see the skimmate working it's way to the hose.



Like I said, most of the corals are doing well. Couple issues though. Hammer usually looks pretty happy, but still a little lighter than it was. Same with the digi. Polyps are out and looks fine other than washed out color. Same story with the acro. Started coloring up at first, but now is pretty pale. Polyps still out. Montis and zoas are pretty good. The sunny d plug got covered in hair algae, but a manual cleaning made a big difference. That's why they are partially closed in the pic, still mad from being "scrubbed." All but one mushroom is happy. The red one has not been looking good the last couple days, but not bleached. Just kind of... crumpled. The one right next to looks great so I'm not sure. Algae bloom seems to be under control between snails, water changes, and the chaeto. I guess at the point the only question is do I raise the light up or since most of the stuff is good do I wait it out at this point. I guess it just doesn't much sense that it's two sps primarily having trouble. I'm thinking it might have more to do with nitrate and phosphate (considering the algae bloom) than light, but I thought they would have turned brown if that was the case. The slimer is doing awesome. Working on ecrusting the plug and it's SUPER green. Anyway, here's a current FTS. I did a higher angle so the corals show a little better.

 

[fishroomlady]

tank is looking great!

 

[chrisl609]

tank is looking great!

Thank you! I think things are going pretty well (knock on wood) for a brand new tank.

 

[chrisl609]

Added some more frags tonight. This thing is packed. Hopefully once they start growing together there aren't any issues. I've seen some really tightly packed picos that were just amazing, I'm hoping this one ends up with the same look.

Apple Jacks Stylo $7.50 (ASD charity sale: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/aq...-sale-~-8-9-14-~-4pm-pst-~-5.html#post1968474)



Homegrown Setosa $2.50 (ASD charity sale: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/aq...-sale-~-8-9-14-~-4pm-pst-~-7.html#post1968559)



Hot Pink Pocci $2.50 (ASD charity sale: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/aq...-sale-~-8-9-14-~-4pm-pst-~-9.html#post1968632)



Peppermint acan $10 (Listed on Legendary Corals receipt in post #10 as bubblegum acan. They sent the peppermint as a substitution because the bubblegum one wasn't looking good. Also half price b/c of sponsor!)



Four head frogspawn frag $40 ($46.50 from Cultivated Reef minus 15% from their Labor Day sale. Screen cap from order following pics)





One coral was removed from the tank. The red mushroom that was looking funny detached from the rock. They just don't seem to like that spot in the very front, it must be too much flow from the shape of the bowfront or something. It is back in the frag tank. This makes my new total $370-10+40+10+2.50+2.50+7.50= $422.50

Really getting close to the cap now. I have one spot I left open on the top rock for an acro, but wanted to check my budget before I chose one to go there. My wife ordered a few from Cultivated Reef when she got my frogspawn, so I will probably use one of those. The acan was hers too. They are her favorite and this one was the only one she would let me take. It's not permenantely mounted yet, I just have the frag plug in the sand. I need to add a little rock for it. I'm hoping to use the piece the one mushroom is on. It's currently moving backwards from one piece to another and is about halfway right now. Once it detaches I'll mount the acan on the piece and move it where I want it. No fts shot tonight. I'll get one next week sometime, maybe after adding the acro.

Still fighting with hair algae. I've been doing extra water changes and manually removing what I can reach. Finally broke down and got some CPE, had only been running charcoal. Minimal feeding too, I do about half the reccommended amount and only once or twice a week. Hopefully with the water changes, skimmer, CPE, and the cheato things start improving. It's not terrible though, mostly just a couple spots where it grows really thick and some on the sandbed.

 

[chrisl609]

9/9 FTS



A wider angle:



Final Additions

The final frag was added yesterday. It's a blue slimer, located in the very top right of the fts. It was $35 from my wife's order with cultivated reef (Blue Slimer). With that my final budget ends up being: $457.50

There are actually two more additions, but they don't count towards the budget. I finally moved in my yasha hase goby and pistol shrimp. The goby is still being shy, but I happen to catch him in one of the pictures I took tonight.



I know tomorrow is the last day to add livestock, but I am assuming we are still able to move things around. I still have to glue the acan to a rock and glue the blue slimer in place. I think I'm going to move the hyacinth birdnest over a little too since it is so close to the stylo. Possibly move the setosa forward a little bit so it gets some more light and is a little further from the toadstool.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:
Birdsnests are all growing a lot, and the new growth has good coloration. The digi has regained it's color that it lost during the tech m treatment. Monti caps are looking good and very bright. Mushrooms and toadstool have grown, and the one zoa colony has had a ton of babies. The CARs haven't had any new polyps, but they always look good. The green slimer is super bright and has nearly encrusted the upper (lit) portion of the plug.

The Bad:
The little green stylo doesn't look good. It's grown, but the old growth is very bleached looking and it's just kind of... scraggly. The green granny acro has been slow to do anything. It has the slightest bit of polyp extension and has slowly gone from brown to white to now just the tiniest bit of green coming back on the parts where the light hits. I'm hoping it is just taking longer than the other sps to recover from the tech m. And finally the newest stylo is losing some color from the light. I should have just sat it lower in the tank and then moved it up later instead of gluing it in. I moved the light up a couple inches to help it out some.

The Ugly:
The algae situation is improving. You can see from the pics that it is indeed there, but what you can't really tell is that it is dying. Or at least most of it. A lot of it has turned white/clear, but there are still a few stubborn patches that are thick and green. My snails I think have the most on them. They are like little mobile algae scrubbers. Still doing manual removal and extra water changes.

Just Cuz

One final picture, just because it is my favorite coral in the tank right now. This hammer is seriously bright, like brighter than anything else in the tank. It definitely recovered from when it was looking slightly bleached there for awhile.

 

[chrisl609]

Things are slowly stabilizing and improving. GHA is almost gone, just a couple isolated spots hanging on (including the one snail's shell). A little bit on the sand, mostly in the back underneath the powerhead. No surprise since it's going to be the lowest flow area. A lot of growth on the birdsnests. The yasha and shrimp are doing good. The yasha's "home" is of course in the very back of the tank so you can't really see him except at feeding time. I got a firefish to add to the tank later, he's currently in the QT. He's surprisingly bold, only took about a day to adjust and now spends almost all of his time out in the open. It will be nice to see him in the tank when the time comes. The acro is still pretty blah. A little polyp extension, a bit of color. Not surprising though in such a young tank. On to pics.

The firefish in QT:



The hyacinth birdnest tonight...



versus 7/31...



And finally a fts from tonight: