Waterbox Cube 10 build by SaltwaterandLime

[SaltwaterandLime]

Went shopping this morning at WorldWideCorals and picked up an awesome Waterbox cube 10, along with a few extras.

10g Waterbox cube
10lbs live sand
10lbs dry rock
AI prime 16
Prime flex mount
Microbacter bacteria starter
Duetto ATO

Already owned a Tunze 9001 protein skimmer and a small heater. I plan on getting another ink bird temperature controller like I have on my larger tank. Still researching ideas for other upgrades. I know I definitely want to get a screen top.

My other build thread;
Thread 'Upgrading to a Fluval Flex 32.5' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/upgrading-to-a-fluval-flex-32-5.791619/

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

This little fluval 10gal freshwater tank is being given to my mom who lives next door and has been asking for a tank of her own for a while. The waterbox 10 will be getting set up in its place.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Starting to work on some scape ideas. I've got some glue masters glue on the way to help hold it all together before I really set it up

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Glued my rockwork together and added water today. Pump is running but no other filtration for now. Added Brightwell QuikCycl to 2ppm and then startXLM. Lights are staying off for now

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Tunze 9001 protein skimmer and Duetto ATO installed

still just running with lights off and testing every day

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Making some more progress, testing water every day. I know I could wait but I enjoy doing it. Added the helio 100w heater and controller, a Nero 3 powerhead, and a cover over the back chamber from InTank.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Got a cover and a few other items from kraken reef.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Moving a little faster than expected, had to do some coral rescue out of my other tank. We also picked up two tiny clownfish babies. Their names are Right and Left.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

I keep forgetting to pay anything here, but moving right along.

Found an awesome little cabinet at a thrift store that had a marble top. I'm painting it and rebuilding the interior to make a great little stand out of it.

The left side now has a controller board and electrical organization. The right side has a pull out shelf for my ATO container. Everything is painted and then sealed with multiple layers of protection.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

I knew that there were going to be risks to moving so quickly with this tank, but when the big tank crashed I didn't have much choice if I wanted to save my livestock.

Now I'm struggling with a case of dinos.

I'm already dosing bacteria daily, I've increased the temp on the tank and have been dripping a tiny bit of kalk to raise the pH slightly. I'm hoping it clears up soon. I really thought it was diatoms at first, but now it's obviously bubbly snot.

 

[rishma]

Dinos are a pain. In addition to your current strategy, boost N&P and If you can get some sand from an established tank or some live rock to add bacterial strains I think it helps. I used a commercial Dino product (tropic Marin?) that seemed help. On a small tank I just took a throw everything at it approach. Best of luck.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Nitrate is 15.3, phosphate is 0.02

 

[rishma]

Nitrate is 15.3, phosphate is 0.02

That should be ok actually. 0.02 Is maybe a little low when fighting dinos but not bad at all. I’d double down on getting some biodiversity

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

That should be ok actually. 0.02 Is maybe a little low when fighting dinos but not bad at all. I’d double down on getting some biodiversity

Nitrates were lower, I've been trying to feed heavier this week. Also adding Microbacter

 

[rishma]

Nitrates were lower, I've been trying to feed heavier this week. Also adding Microbacter

Got it. With patience and what you are doing I expect you’ll get there. I also did some dark period to knock them back.

FWIW, I think the commercial bacteria doesn’t add the diversity we used to have. I think it has only a handful of strains (7?) We didn’t have dinos in the old days when liverock came from the ocean. You might want to look up some recent stuff on biome. Nothing for certain or proven, but resonates with me lines up with the experience of many.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Got it. With patience and what you are doing I expect you’ll get there. I also did some dark period to knock them back.

FWIW, I think the commercial bacteria doesn’t add the diversity we used to have. I think it has only a handful of strains (7?) We didn’t have dinos in the old days when liverock came from the ocean. You might want to look up some recent stuff on biome. Nothing for certain or proven, but resonates with me lines up with the experience of many.

Thank you!

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Tank space is really coming along beautifully. Left side has a sliding control panel with wifi outlet strip behind. Right side has a pull out drawer/shelf that holds my ATO container... it allows me to just slide out the shelf without having to pick up the container to refill it

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Tank is already filling up with help from @WWC 's flash sale a few weekends ago.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

My clowns have decided that my torch coral looks an awful lot like an anemone