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Travler83's BioCube 29g @ 19 months w/ Mandarin Dragonet Pair


Travler83

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Well, I am back in the hobby. I helped my father start and maintain a 55 gal in the 90's. Now at 26 made the expensive decision to get back into the hobby and see how much I remember. Things have changed, no more ozone, no more bio balls, no more dsl or is it dls? Either way, no more.

 

So, I decided to build out a 29g Biocube. At the moment the tank contains:

RO Filtered water

Around 30# of Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand

Stock Pump will upgrade to Rio HF6

Theo 100w heater

27# of Live Rock

Bioballs (coming out shortly)

Blue filter floss

Knocked out 1st chamber false floor

Theo 100w heater

Biocube filter (removing shortly)

 

Dosing

C-Balance A&B 5ml every other day. Tank is holding 21Gal.

 

Tank is sitting at 80F.

1.025 SG refractometer

 

I'm excited to hear feedback. I am still not sure if I want to use chemical media. Chemi-Pure, Purigen.

 

7th day

DSCN1945.jpg

DSCN1946.jpg

DSCN1949.jpg

Are those micro-bubbles?

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nor_cal_nano

I'd suggest breaking up those rocks with a hammer and chisel to make more, smaller pieces. I think it'll look more natural and give you more room for corals and such later. Just my opinion... GOOD LUCK :D

 

Also, why are you dosing?

 

and... the sooner you get those bioballs out the better. Try tomorrow??

 

and.. lastly :) those bubbles look like they're coming from algae respiration.

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Welcome back! Its nice you have some previous experience, even though I understand how times change. For the best I'm sure!

 

I use the kent A&B nano, just because I didn't want to OD. Problem is, I haven't noticed an increase in my calcium. Please let me know how yours works out.

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I'd suggest breaking up those rocks with a hammer and chisel to make more, smaller pieces. I think it'll look more natural and give you more room for corals and such later. Just my opinion... GOOD LUCK :D

 

Also, why are you dosing?

 

and... the sooner you get those bioballs out the better. Try tomorrow??

 

and.. lastly :) those bubbles look like they're coming from algae respiration.

 

I've been told the dosing would be good for the live rock. Should I stop?

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nor_cal_nano
I've been told the dosing would be good for the live rock. Should I stop?

 

General rule is that you don't dose something that you're not testing for; not sure if you are or not...

 

I don't see how it could be good for the live rock... it doesn't "absorb" any kind of trace elements like Ca. Maybe you were told that to aid the coralline growth on the rock? Even still dosing is unnecessary at this point, and probably will be for a long time.

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I'd suggest breaking up those rocks with a hammer and chisel to make more, smaller pieces. I think it'll look more natural and give you more room for corals and such later. Just my opinion... GOOD LUCK :D

 

Also, why are you dosing?

 

and... the sooner you get those bioballs out the better. Try tomorrow??

 

and.. lastly :) those bubbles look like they're coming from algae respiration.

 

Pulled my bioballs out, had to add water because the pump started to run dry then, tank nearly over flowed. Any ideas on doing the refuge mod a bit More easy? I put the tank back to the way it was ATM.

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So after some reading.

 

Going to remove the bio balls and put:

SteveT mediabasket for skimmers.

1st chamber heater and purigen (maybe some live rock?)

(flow mod)

2nd protein skimmer

Media basket: filterfloss

chaetomorpha w/ underwater light (maybe the live rock here)

chemi-pure elite

3rd Rio HF 6

 

How does that sound?

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So after some reading.

 

Going to remove the bio balls and put:

SteveT mediabasket for skimmers.

1st chamber heater and purigen (maybe some live rock?)

(flow mod)

2nd protein skimmer

Media basket: filterfloss

chaetomorpha w/ underwater light (maybe the live rock here)

chemi-pure elite

3rd Rio HF 6

 

How does that sound?

 

I wouldn't put live rock in the back chamber since you have plenty of live rock in the display, it will make it a lot cleaner in the back.

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Day 13

 

Steve's Media Rack:

Floss

Nothing at moment

chaetomorpha

Underwater light

 

Next to media rack is Chemi-Pure Elite

 

Wed. Cleaning crew.

 

Week after that some coral that friend is holding.

 

Sound good?

 

DSCN1952.jpg

DSCN1956.jpg

 

Any ideas to make the tank a bit more quite? I have a level issue that I am working out with the tank so I can not put more water in at this time.

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The nem is happy. Opened up a hour after being place in the tank. The numbers are perfect and trusted opinions outside this fourm said its fine.

 

I feel fine with it. Its staying on the rock its attached to.

 

The fact that he opened up within an hour doesn't speak for the animals long term health.

 

Care to name these 'trusted opinions'? Is it the fools who told you to dose a cycling tank.... or would it happen to be your good ol' friends down at the lfs? :lol: They love to sell clowns and nems together and the noobs eat it right up.

 

Do some research on them and come back... yes, even "outside this forum." I think you'll find you made a foolish mistake. Fret not, its not too late! You can still take him back!

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Since my criticism offends you, I will wash my hands of this thread.

 

Maybe someone will come along and tell you what you want to hear. Good luck with that.

 

 

 

So get off it mate,your online at the same time I am. We both have very few things to do.

 

btw... you're 2 hours ahead of me. :)

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  • 4 weeks later...
Welcome back! Its nice you have some previous experience, even though I understand how times change. For the best I'm sure!

 

I use the kent A&B nano, just because I didn't want to OD. Problem is, I haven't noticed an increase in my calcium. Please let me know how yours works out.

 

Dosing 20ml now and holding 9kh and 420 Calcium. Happy with the c balance

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2009-11-16174341.jpg

 

One and a half months.

 

Slowly added some coral. Zoas, mushroom, bubble coral, duncan coral and six line wrasse who did a bad ass job knocking down my bristle worm problem.

Added a cleaner shrimp today.

 

 

Numbers are perfect

Nitrate 0

Nitrites 0

Ammonia 0

Alk. 9

PH 8.4

Calcium 420

Temp.79

Salt 1.025

 

Actually having luck with my oceanic protein skimmer.

 

Running carbon, purgen, chemi pure elite, cheato.

 

Feed the tank every 3 days. Hand feed the anemone once a week and spot feed the duncans every day.

 

I know having the anemone in so early is not ideal, but Ive been watching the numbers and do the best I can to keep it happy.

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  • 1 month later...

Three months

2010-01-11135539.jpg

 

Royal Gramma

Ocellaris Clown

Six line Wrasse

Chromis

Purple FIre Fish

 

BTA ( spot feed once a week)

Duncans (growing like crazy) (spot feed once a week)

Bubble Tip (spot feed once a week)

Zoas

Candy Cane

Frog Spawn (spot feed once a week)

Toadstool Leather

 

Parameters good.

 

Still running

chemi pure elite

purgen

chaeto

activated carbon

 

 

Really enjoying the hobby.

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Oh snap, you added a nem early and it lived. Who would have imagined? :lol:

 

Anywho, cool tank. Sorry, can't help with the pump problem.

Yea. I wont do that agian, I attribute the nems survival to water changes and chemical filtration.

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Checked my calcium and holding a calcium of 345. Last two times I have tested. I dose pretty much the maximum 15ml akl and 25 calcium with C Balance.

 

I am thinking of supplementing some calcium dosing with kalkwasser.

 

What does everyone think?

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