My little bio 32

[bluey]

After a 15 year break. Going to try this again with the wife and kiddo. Hoping it goes well. I missed having a reef tank and wanted one for years but traveled too much. Starting small to see how it all goes.

 

[bluey]

I included some pictures of my tank with the aquascape. I cut the stones myself using an angle grinder and cut off wheel and an 8 pound sledge lol. I have 30 lbs of live sand. Added 35 gallons of live water. In tank media basket be and refugium. Matrix phosguard carbon media (forgot the kind) filter floss chaeto and something else (terrible memory). Uv sterilizer, protein skimmer (no clue how to set it up yet, but it's in and running) About 30 pounds total of dry dock. I let it run for a week. Did a 75% water change 3 days ago. Checked ammonia and etc. Everything good. Added fish (2 clowns one is really beat up and I'm worried about it... Didn't notice in store). 3 days later (today). Added seachem stability to help ensure fish not getting hurt by ammonia. Noticed brown diatom algae. Will check ammonia nitrite and nitrate levels after dinner.

 

[bluey]

Total tank age as of today is around 11 days. Have videos of the unboxing but I was giggling like an idiot so that won't be shared

 

[ELL23]

Beautiful. I have the same biocube before I moved to WB 60.2

 

[bluey]

Ammonia read at .025 maybe a little higher. Hard to read with that test kit. Not sure how much it will spike. Really hoping for a soft spike. Will continue to monitor

 

[bluey]

Beautiful. I have the same biocube before I moved to WB 60.2

Thank you very much. Wife and I are enjoying this way too much

 

[ELL23]

I still have the AquaMaxx Fr-s Internal GFO Carbon and Biopellet Filter Media Reactor. Let me know if you’re interested. I’m selling it

 

[bluey]

Beautiful. I have the same biocube before I moved to WB 60.2

We were actually going to do a 60 gallon but wasn't sure about how into it we wanted to invest. We probably should have just done it lol but we can buy used on the upgrade

 

[CoralBreeder87]

After a 15 year break. Going to try this again with the wife and kiddo. Hoping it goes well. I missed having a reef tank and wanted one for years but traveled too much. Starting small to see how it all goes.

Im getting back into the hobby after 4 years with a 29 biocube so im right there with you.

 

[bluey]

I still have the AquaMaxx Fr-s Internal GFO Carbon and Biopellet Filter Media Reactor. Let me know if you’re interested. I’m selling it

I'll let you know for sure. I don't think I can fit anything else in there though lol

 

[Pistondog]

Thank you very much. Wife and I are enjoying this way too much

Very enjoyable hobby, especially with a co-conspirator, now get the kiddo involved.

 

[bluey]

Very enjoyable hobby, especially with a co-conspirator, now get the kiddo involved.

Absolutely when he gets older I'll be sure he's involved. Great teaching opportunities around every corner. Looking forward to it (he's not quite 2 yet.)

 

[bluey]

Im getting back into the hobby after 4 years with a 29 biocube so im right there with you.

Awesome. Lfs guy made me feel like a dummy for not getting "his" products lol. *eyeroll*. I'm going to try it this way and not invest another 1k without knowing if the family will love it. Glad to have someone like me out there

 

[CoralBreeder87]

Awesome. Lfs guy made me feel like a dummy for not getting "his" products lol. *eyeroll*. I'm going to try it this way and not invest another 1k without knowing if the family will love it. Glad to have someone like me out there

Ya with as expensive as this hobby has gotten since i first started 10 years ago i definetly would not spend a fortune untill you know your gonna stay in it for awhile. Used stuff never sells for even half of what you buy it for....unless you buy used lol. If you ever need any advice feel free to message me and ill do the same.

 

[Shnolby]

Cool to hear you cut the stone yourself with a grinder. The scape came out great, can’t wait to see it progress!

 

[bluey]

Looking for advice, have diatom algae beginning to bloom. Did not see a noticeable ammonia spike. Checked last night. At proximately .025 API ammonia test kit no detectable nitrate or nitrites. 30lbs live sand 30 gal live water and added bacteria. Did I just skip cycle tank?? Asking because algae is forming. Anyone have any thoughts or input? Thanks in advance

 

[KoTS]

Looking for advice, have diatom algae beginning to bloom. Did not see a noticeable ammonia spike. Checked last night. At proximately .025 API ammonia test kit no detectable nitrate or nitrites. 30lbs live sand 30 gal live water and added bacteria. Did I just skip cycle tank?? Asking because algae is forming. Anyone have any thoughts or input? Thanks in advance

Diatoms will pass. Not much to worry about there at all.

People say API aren't great kits. Maybe have your LFS test your water as well?

 

[bluey]

I've read the same thing about the API test kit. Lfs has same kit. Just curious if algae formation is indicative of tank nearing competed cycle. Or if it's already finished? Will continue to monitor of course. Just exited to potentially move on to next phase/CUC. Thanks

 

[bluey]

Did some surfing on the forums and best guess is it's "the new tank uglies". Not sure if that means it's cycled, will have to do water tests to figure that out I assume. But might be time to add a cleaner crew later this week. If anyone has suggestions for the brown diatom algae or the green algae I'm all ears... Or I can look through the forums again later for my answer. Anyone have any good places to get cleaner crew from? (Ordering online potentially...lfs has a small selection and they over charge quite a bit)

 

[ELL23]

I'll let you know for sure. I don't think I can fit anything else in there though lol

I have this one in the 2nd chamber or the return chamber. Fits very well.