Cube update

[pdiehm]

Well, a 3rd coral has been added. Got a Fluorescent Green Polyp for $10 at a local place. the torch, and zoanthid are doing well. the clowns are honory as ever, and nip your fingers if you would put them in there....I am a food god. They are also acting like they are hosting my mag float glass cleaner. Not the sharpest tacks in the wall. Saw this the other day and started to think about getting a bubble tip anemone as the next addition. Not sure though. Tank is about 6 months old.

anyhow, the system is stabilizing. Been doing 5g water changes (about 25%) each week, and am really toying with changing that to 2 gallons each week.

Last round of tests (day before last water change) was:

8.0-8.1 pH
9.5 dKh
1.025 salinity
450 calcium
1600 magnesium
10ppm nitrates
0.0 phosphates

Magnesium is one thing that I haven't ever tested lower than 1550 since I switched to red sea coral pro. I guess that could explain why i was able to eliminate the hair algae outbreak I had quickly and other nuisance algae. One of the spare snail shells is getting purple blotches on it, and I'm assuming that's coraline algae.

The hunt for a used Aquamaxx HOB is ongoing, and if I have to buy new, I will...was trying to avoid that break in period. Will also be getting the intank media rack for floss, purigen and carbon. I am toying with getting the intank refugium and tossing some chaeto in there, but if I do that, I don't expect it to do much in terms of nutrient export. If anything, a place for pods to play.

Remaining fish for this tank is:

Pink Streak Wrasse
Purple Firefish
Watchman Goby with a shrimp - though I am toying with getting a sand sifting critter.

 

[saltyphish]

I would change your water change regiment to 10% weekly. That should replenish any elements missing. Also If the only reason why you are wanting to buy a used Aquamax hob is to avoid a break in period I don't think that will help you. When you buy used equipment I recommend you clean and disinfect it. Hate to add something extra to your tank and cause harm to your livestock. I never trust where the equipment came from. You just never know.

 

[pdiehm]

Well true. Also saving $100 or so is an incentive as well

 

[Flameback Pair]

A good wash and scrub in Chlorox should kill any pathogen that may happen to reside in used equipment. Just make sure to rinse it good although it will probably smell like bleach no matter how good you rinse it off.