Waterbox 20 cube build

[BioActive]

(Forgot to post this as a build thread)
Just finished setting up my new waterbox 20 cube, I’m using 13lbs of live rock with some of that in the back to add dark filtration. I am going bare bottom with this system as I want to be sps dominant.
Equipment:
Waterbox 20 cube
Filter floss
Ai prime 16HD
Ecotech MP10

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Off to a good start

 

[BioActive]

Update: it’s been almost 2 weeks since I set up the tank, I’ve been dosing a cap of microbacter7 every morning and haven’t turned the lights on. I’ve been testing ammonia and nitrite every night( results attached) and I’m not sure if people experience that the salifert test isn’t really changing its readings for ammonia or maybe the live rock is already doing its job. Note on the 27th I got some dr Tim’s ammonia and doses the recommended dosage and no ammonia spike ever showed. I also haven’t had my lights running. I’m getting nitrate and phosphate test kits today so I’ll post the results once I test.

 

[kevgib67]

Very nice, chances are since you started with live rock your cycle has been done.

 

[Naturalreef]

Love the rock work!

 

[BioActive]

Just installed my new pump, the stock one was loud, so I got a ai axis 40. Also did the nitrate and phosphate tests, nitrates are somewhere around 50 and phosphate is around 1 but I can see why everyone recommends Hanna checkers for phosphate. Going to do a couple gallon water change

 

[kevgib67]

Just installed my new pump, the stock one was loud, so I got a ai axis 40. Also did the nitrate and phosphate tests, nitrates are somewhere around 50 and phosphate is around 1 but I can see why everyone recommends Hanna checkers for phosphate. Going to do a couple gallon water change

Nitrates are not a factor in saltwater tanks unlike freshwater . The only thing to know is the presence of nitrite will give you false high nitrate readings. Do your water changes and you are good to go.

 

[Flameback Pair]

@BioActive following. I have an Axis 40 pump too! Quiet, compact, affordable, and controllable. How are you controlling yours?
-Mitchell.

 

[BioActive]

@BioActive following. I have an Axis 40 pump too! Quiet, compact, affordable, and controllable. How are you controlling yours?
-Mitchell.

I’m using mobius, I have a single mp10 that I want to eventually switch out for a couple ai power heads since i can’t control it with mobius

 

[BioActive]

Nitrates are not a factor in saltwater tanks unlike freshwater . The only thing to know is the presence of nitrite will give you false high nitrate readings. Do your water changes and you are good to go.

I did roughy a 4 gallon water change after I tested and it’s coming down I’m gonna wait until the weekend and get a single clown I think, I’m thinking to leave the light off still for a month or so, don’t want photosynthetics taking over too early. I’m also thinking about adding copepods and phytoplankton.

 

[BioActive]

Here’s my test results after the water change
July 30

Ammonia : 0.05-0.1

Nitrite : 0

Nitrate : 25-45

Phosphate : 0.5-0.25

 

[Flameback Pair]

I’m using mobius, I have a single mp10 that I want to eventually switch out for a couple ai power heads since i can’t control it with mobius

@BioActive how do you like the Mobius app with the Axis? I tried the myAI app and didn’t like it. Bought the bullet and my MXM module should be here tomorrow.

-Mitchell

 

[BioActive]

@BioActive how do you like the Mobius app with the Axis? I tried the myAI app and didn’t like it. Bought the bullet and my MXM module should be here tomorrow.

-Mitchell

I tried my ai for the ai prime and I didn’t like it either, so I switched to mobius. I also switched because I wanna eventually get some ecotech dosing pumps then I can control them with mobius.

 

[Flameback Pair]

^^^ I might add if I eventually get an Orbit 2, two birds, one stone theory with the MXM and apex.

- Mitchell

 

[kevgib67]

I did roughy a 4 gallon water change after I tested and it’s coming down I’m gonna wait until the weekend and get a single clown I think, I’m thinking to leave the light off still for a month or so, don’t want photosynthetics taking over too early. I’m also thinking about adding copepods and phytoplankton.

Great time to get your pod population going!

 

[BioActive]

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I setup the tank, everything’s looking good, I did a water change today and cleaned up the detritus on the abs bottom, I’ve noticed I’ve gotten some brittle stars in on the live rock which I’ve never seen before which are cool. Anyway I tested my water a couple hours after my water change and the ammonia levels are still saying <0.15 (salifert kit) and I’m wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences with that kit since it’s been showing that reading for over a week. I was hoping to get some more life into the tank tomorrow like pods, phyto, and maybe a clown and CUC. I’m gonna get my LFS to test my water also so I can get a second set of eyes on the readings, especially phosphate since I’m having trouble seeing the reading properly.

 

[ajb55]

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I setup the tank, everything’s looking good, I did a water change today and cleaned up the detritus on the abs bottom, I’ve noticed I’ve gotten some brittle stars in on the live rock which I’ve never seen before which are cool. Anyway I tested my water a couple hours after my water change and the ammonia levels are still saying <0.15 (salifert kit) and I’m wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences with that kit since it’s been showing that reading for over a week. I was hoping to get some more life into the tank tomorrow like pods, phyto, and maybe a clown and CUC. I’m gonna get my LFS to test my water also so I can get a second set of eyes on the readings, especially phosphate since I’m having trouble seeing the reading properly.

Following this, keep up the good work!

 

[aztoza]

Y

Just installed my new pump, the stock one was loud, so I got a ai axis 40. Also did the nitrate and phosphate tests, nitrates are somewhere around 50 and phosphate is around 1 but I can see why everyone recommends Hanna checkers for phosphate. Going to do a couple gallon water change

Yeah I find the phosphate and alkalinity tests difficult to read. Usually read phosphate with a “control” vial of tap water for comparison.

 

[BioActive]

Today I went the my LFS and got them to test my water, and it seems like my ammonia test kit is giving me false readings as they tested 0 ammonia, so I picked up a pair of wild clowns and some hermit crabs, it’s nice to see the tank with some life in it, still planning on keeping my lights off since I have such high phosphate for now.

 

[getsammy]

Whenever in doubt I take the water to LFS. Just to make sure my readings are in the same range. Sometimes I give them two samples of same water to just make sure there is no difference.