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Patricks Third Monitor


prdoring

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5/9/2012 New FTS!

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Hi all!

I have been lurking for some time trying to consider my entry point into nano-reefing. A few weeks back I had the idea to turn one of my fresh water tanks into a nano-reef... then the lurking got serious. After a bit I decided to just say screw it and I ordered a 14g biocube.

 

So my stuff is coming in the mail and I figured I would start my log here. So here is the rundown.

 

What I Have Bought

  • Coralife BioCube PC/LED Fish Tank, 14 Gallons
  • Hydrometer Refractometer (And never looking back)
  • 50W Heater
  • Hydor Koralia Nano 240 Aquarium Circulation Pump, 240 gph
  • API Salt Water Master Kit
  • Hydor FLO deflector
  • Aiptasia X
  • Filter Floss
  • Eggcrate (Media Rack Material)
  • Corrugated Plastic (Media Rack Material)
  • Digital Timer Surge Protector

 

Mods

  • Chamber 1 False Bottom Removal
  • 1/2 Overflow Tab Removal
  • DIY chamber 2 media rack
  • Hydor FLO

 

Planned Mods

  • Mid Chamber fuge
  • Fan Upgrade (If Needed)
  • (~4-6 months from now) DIY led lighting
  • (~4-6 months from now) DIY Ethernet controlled lighting / heat

 

The lighting and Ethernet controller mod will be built sometime in the future (I.E. When I have enough time to build/program the system)

 

I have a really decent LFS close by so I will be buying live rock/sand and any stock from them.

 

Planned Stock

  • 2 Clowns
  • Goby of some description
  • ?

 

Planned Corals

  • Frogspawn
  • Hammer
  • Various Ricordea
  • Various Zoanthid
  • More.. but above is what I know I will be getting.

 

 

As far as CUC goes... this will depend on LFS stock and the algae/pests I encounter while cycling.

 

I will try to post as many pictures as possible. Even boring ones of boxes showing up, and me hugging the mail man!

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04-12-2012

 

Halfway through work my tank arrived!

 

Eight hours later I came home and made the following modifications.

 

  • Removed False Bottom
  • Removed Balls
  • Removed Sponges
  • Removed flow restricting tab from chamber 1-2

 

Then I set it up for a wet-test. Everything Is working like a charm! I am super excited for my third monitor.

 

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So Saturday morning I will be going down to my LFS to pick up some live rock/sand RO/DI and Premixed H2o and some filter floss.

 

I plan on doing a fuge in chamber 2, so my question is... when in the cycle is a good time to add Chaeto?

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altolamprologus

Hey, your plans sound great so far. Only suggestion I have is to ditch the hydrometer and invest in a refractometer. They're only like $50 but are so much more accurate than hydrometers.

 

Add the chaeto a few days to a week after you add your rock. If you add it right away, there won't be any nutrients for it and it could die

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ditch the hydrometer and invest in a refractometer

 

If LFS is not super overpriced I will pick one up there... If not I will go home and immediately order one :)

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i would add the chaeto once your cycle ends. there is no reason to add it that early. are you going to order a media basket?

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altolamprologus
i would add the chaeto once your cycle ends. there is no reason to add it that early. are you going to order a media basket?

Actually there is a reason. Chaeto sucks up all the nitrates produced during the cycle and any phosphates that may leach from the rock thus preventing algae outbreaks after the cycle :)

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are you going to order a media basket?

 

I will most likely build one I have most of the tools and supplies on hand... just need a lazy Sunday to do it.

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Actually there is a reason. Chaeto sucks up all the nitrates produced during the cycle and any phosphates that may leach from the rock thus preventing algae outbreaks after the cycle :)

oh, i just figured the amonia and nitrite would not be good for it

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altolamprologus
oh, i just figured the amonia and nitrite would not be good for it

Algae actually tolerate those quite well. And in the absence of nitrate they will use ammonia as a nitrogen source. I actually cycled my last tank with chaeto and in the few months it's been up, I have not had a single nuisance algae pop up

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Ok! Rock and sand in!

 

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Check it out!

 

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Pretty nice scape huh! Just kidding... Here it is +2 hours

 

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Starting to clear up I guess... Later tonight when it is a bit clearer, I will post a few scape shots for opinions.

 

Also I found this dude on one of my rocks, any idea what it is?

 

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Welcome to BioCube land. I give it two months before you are wanting to upgrade! :P

 

Haha yes, In my fw days I caught a bad case of MTS and upgrade fever. It will take all of my willpower to not to let it get out of had this time :P For now hopefully the 14 will keep me sane :)

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I only say that because we started with a betta on my desk, then a Glofish tank for the kids, then the Biocube SW tank, then a pico SW on my desk. Now I'm running three tanks and wishing for a bigger SW! :lol:

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I only say that because we started with a betta on my desk, then a Glofish tank for the kids, then the Biocube SW tank, then a pico SW on my desk. Now I'm running three tanks and wishing for a bigger SW! :lol:

 

Yeah this is my first SW endeavor... If it goes well... I have a 5g sitting in a closet just itching to become a pico...

 

 

On a side note... does anyone have an ID on whatever that last picture was?

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altolamprologus

Give in to MTS!!! I have 4 permanent tanks+a quarantine tank+copepod cultures+guppy breeding bucket+ I take care of my brother's 3 freshwater tanks. MTS FTW!!!!

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+guppy breeding bucket

Ahhh the guppy... those little jerks are what got me into this hobby :) Natural progression: Small FW->LargeFW->Small Reef-> I'm screwed :P

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altolamprologus
Ahhh the guppy... those little jerks are what got me into this hobby :) Natural progression: Small FW->LargeFW->Small Reef-> I'm screwed :P

They got me into it too. Now I just breed feeder guppies to feed to my bangaii cardinalfish :lol:

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The tank was a bit clearer this morning, so I was able to get some shots of the scape... What do you guys think?... any suggestions?

 

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So the one hitchhiker from earlier turned out to be an aiptasia, I hit it with aiptasia X so hopefully I got it before an outbreak.

 

But heres a new one! Anyone have any idea what this is? Its quite small, and much more green in person. It has a very green center that fades to a brownish green on the tips.

 

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Is the back left rock one big piece? I think you might like it better if you break it into 2 or 3 pieces so you can make a nicer shape with some caves or an arch, etc.

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Is the back left rock one big piece? I think you might like it better if you break it into 2 or 3 pieces so you can make a nicer shape with some caves or an arch, etc.

 

Yes it is, but the picture is deceiving, It is quite flat, only about a half inch thick so I have it butted up against the back wall to create a sort-of backdrop.

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OK Did my first water test tonight... the results are strange.

 

PH : 8.0

Amonia : 0

Nitrite : 0

Nitrate : 20ppm

 

Why is my tank reading like it is cycled? Its way to early for this reading... any ideas?

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