My "first" reef - 30 Gallon Innovative Marine Cube

[Fruity Reefer]

I am soooo excited to start this build thread/journal!
I will be posting a personal update every Tuesday when I do TLC Tuesday or when something new happens with the tank.

I have had a Fluval Evo 13.5 that I have kept with only fish for about 1.5 years and I decided its time to branch out and build a reef tank! so when I was walking through my LFS the other day I found this beautiful tank and it came home with me.

I plan on doing mostly softies and LPS
I am very much a fish person before a coral person, I Absolutely love my fish but I am excited to try my hand at a reef!

My current plan is to grow a nice Zoa Garden and get a torch for the top of my scape, the rest I guess will come in time.
my only rule going into this is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WILD, I have no judgement for anyone he does, but I cannot stand putting something in a glass box that once had an entire ocean.

Gear

Tank:
Innovative Marine 30 Gallon Cube

Filter:
1 Icecap K1 (it came with the tank so I may swap it later depending on performance)
2 Innovative Marine Media Basket

Skimmer:
Icecap K1

Powerhead:
Jebo SLW-10

Heater:
Innovative Marine 200 Watt (Single Element) Helio PTC Smart Heater

Rock:
MaroRock - 30lbs

Sand:
Caribsea Arag - Fiji Pink

Light:
AI Prime 16HD



Planned Livestock

Fish:
**All Captive Bread**
Snowflake & Black Snowflake Clown pair
Blue Mandarin
Tailspot or Algae Blenny
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

Coral:
Mixed Zoa Garden
Banana Torch

Nothing exciting yet, but if you want to follow along I would love some friends!

 

[A Young Reefer]

following along

 

[Fruity Reefer]

After 5 days…. I finally settled on a “natural” scape instead of an NSA. I’m pretty happy with it.

also sand is added!

 

[Fruity Reefer]

Sadly I gave up after this tank sprang a leak just a few days after starting the cycle… but my husband just got me a new cube and I will be starting my build thread soon!