GTi Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I finally decided to put together a post detailing my tank and experiences with it. Some of the details area bit scant and the photos aren't great but I will try to do a better job from here on!Oceanic 29 Gallon BioCube. Approximately 30lb of live rock, 30lb of dry sand. Started Cycle 28 August 2011.Modifications:Removed bioballsRemoved stock filterRemoved false floors in chambers 1 and 2Increased the size of the cut out between chambers 1 and 2Removed the blue sponge between chambers 2 and 3Swapped 10000k and actinic bulbs around so the fans come on with the actinics (sunrise and sunset)Thinned out the fan slots and trimmed the metal heat shield to increase air flowAdded Fan over rear compartments, controller by Apex JrKorallia Nano 425 gph added for extra flowVortech MP10esEheim Jager 100w heater in chamber 1Blue stunner strip30 LED retrofitCoralife dual timer to control lightingTyphon lighting controllerApex Jr controllerReconditioned SpectrPure RODI system (much easier than going to the LFS!)Instant Ocean Reef CrystalsI tried a mixture of live rock rubble and chaeto (lit on the opposite cycle to the main tank) in chamber 2. I still had nitrates up to 40 ppm so I replaced them with the InTank media rack in chamber 2. In the rack I have filter pad on the top, purigen in the middle and a mixture of carbon and granulated ferrous oxide in the bottom chamber. The bag with the carbon and GFO is tied to the bottom of the middle shelf so it doesn't block the drain holes in the bottom shelf.I replaced the stock pump with a MaxiJet 1200. I removed the bulkhead elbow in chamber 3 and connected the (new) tubing directly between the pump outlet and the bulkhead fitting. I added a Hydor Flo to the tank side of the bulkhead fitting.I have a JBJ auto topoff and MJ600 waiting to be hooked up. A used Tunze 9002 skimmer waiting to go in to chamber 2 next to the media rack and an LED kit, Typhon controller and cooling fan kit on order. I'll get these done when I return from my business trip)Tank inhabitants:2 OcellarisRed FirefishYellow Watchman GobyMcCosker's Flasher Wrasse (was supposed to be a Carpenter's!)3 Peppermint shrimp removedEmerald CrabQuad colour bubble tip anemoneSnailsHermitsCoral:Green Star Polyps (originally on a rock, now on back wall)Frogspawn Traded inOrange and green zoasClove polyps Melted awayDevil's armor zoasYellow leather - diedRadioactive Dragon's Eye zoas Moved to frag tankRicordea Yuma - diedToadstool removedCandy CaneBlue Solomon Tree - traded inUltra Frogspawn Moved to frag tankGreen polyp toadstool Moved to frag tank as Emerald crab was eating itSuperman mushroom - MIAGreen hairy mushroom - traded inRicordea FloridaGreen DuncansDragon's eye zoasRed Montipora CapGreen Nephthea - DiedAcans - Traded inWar coral - Traded inAlien Eye ChalicePink birdsnestMiami Hurricane ChaliceScolyIce Fire EchinataRed Aussie Prism Favia - Traded inRasta ZoasStrawberry Fields (Monti?)Green Monti CapRed SetosaBlue MilleporaTorchTurbinaria19 September 2011: 12 October 2011: 29 October 2011: 7 November 2011: 9 December 2011:14 January 2012:26 February 2012:1 April 2012:25 May 2012:24 June 2012:Edit: 29 Nov - Added coral list, updated equipment listEdit: 9 Dec - Added new FTSEdit: 18 Dec - Updated coral listEdit: 1 Jan - Updated coral list and added photosEdit: 14 Jan - New FTSEdit: 15 Feb - Updated equipment and coral listsEdit: 26 Feb - New FTSEdit: 1 April - New FTSEdit: 26 May - New FTS. Updated coral list.Edit: 24 June - New FTS Link to comment
pismo_reefer Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Sorry... it bugged me. Link to comment
GTi Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Sorry... it bugged me. Thanks! You're right. Fixed it (added photos instead of links). Link to comment
xxmurrxx Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Looks good! Nice aquascape Link to comment
GTi Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Looks good!Nice aquascape Thanks! I have Updated with a few more pictures from a proper camera. I just got back from a work trip and can see the difference in coralline and some of the corals growing. Also, no more diatoms - woohoo! I think the GFO, carbon and purigen plus new SpectraPure RODI system helped. Rapid LED parts arrived, Typhon controller and cooling fan and controller. Those are meant to be a Christmas present but I'll see if I can wait or not! I'm planning to do a build thread for the LEDs, controller and cooling. Link to comment
GTi Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Some Coral (and Anemone) Photos.Montipora CapFrogspawnQuad Colour BTACandy CaneNeon Green ToadstoolDuncans Link to comment
JoelRHale Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Really nice monti you have Link to comment
GTi Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Really nice monti you have Thanks - I'm really pleased with it. I was at Tropicorium (a huge LFS/Warehouse near me) looking for some softies and maybe a LPS or two when I saw a nice frag of the Monti. I knew SPS wasn't meant to work under stock BioCube lighting but I thought I'd give it a try and put it high up to give it the best chance. Well, when gluing it to the rock, I broke it and there are 2 pieces on right at the top and one a bit lower. Both are growing and have good polyp extension. It was doing ok under the stock lighting but I have added a blue stunner strip and it seems even happier. Love your avatar btw. The look on Brody's face always makes me smile! Link to comment
FlCandy Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Looks great! Love the monti. Link to comment
GTi Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Looks great! Love the monti. Thanks - I'm gald to be getting some views! I started the thread with some cell phone shots and they were rather sad to say the least. Now I'm home I finally got some half-decent photos up. Link to comment
JoelRHale Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Fwiw, my thread went 2 weeks without a comment, it happens You keep adding coral like the ones you just added and you're not going to have problems with views. Link to comment
GTi Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Fwiw, my thread went 2 weeks without a comment, it happens You keep adding coral like the ones you just added and you're not going to have problems with views. Thanks. <cough> Cultivated Reef and Phil Your Aquarium <cough> Link to comment
jedidad Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Love the McKosker's. Aquascape is nice too. It will be fun watching this one fill out. Link to comment
FlCandy Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Trust me it happens. Took a while to get responses. Joel is great at making sure to read newer threads etc. Big thing, go into the other parts of the forum and get to know people, that will get you views and responses. It really does looks nice. Link to comment
GTi Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Love the McKosker's. Aquascape is nice too. It will be fun watching this one fill out. Thanks! He is a very active fish and really perks up the tank. I actually ordered a Carpenter's and didn't realise he was a McCosker's for a few weeks - I thought he hadn't developed all of the adult characteristics! He is a character. Link to comment
GTi Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Trust me it happens. Took a while to get responses. Joel is great at making sure to read newer threads etc. Big thing, go into the other parts of the forum and get to know people, that will get you views and responses. It really does looks nice. Thanks! I know what you mean - I have seen it with other threads - some get a lot of posts and others very few or none. I guess it is human nature to click on a post by someone you know. As my knowledge increases bit by bit I'm posting more. I don't like to ask too many questions without paying it back with some answers, too! Hope to hook up the JBJ ATO this weekend if I get time to pop out to HD to get the hose and fittings! Link to comment
GTi Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Took a few photos of the fish with varying degrees of success.McCosker's Flasher Wrasse:Firefish:No-longer-Yellow Watchman Goby:Ocellaris hiding out in the corner (as usual):One of the Peppermint Shrimp: Link to comment
GTi Posted December 18, 2011 Author Share Posted December 18, 2011 Just added a couple of new corals:Unidentified Acan:Unidentified War Coral:Alien Eye Chalice:If you can identify the Acan or War Coral, please post! Link to comment
GTi Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 I came back from a week away yesterday. I had set up an Eheim 'Every Day Fish Feeder' automatic feeder to dispense food pellets while I was gone. I had to modify the opening slightly to get it to dispense the small pellets consistently. Everything was in good shape when I got back. The glass needed a clean and I have water stabilizing for a 20% change tomorrow. Time to get the LED retrofit underway! Link to comment
GTi Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Traded in a few corals and frags (Blue Solomon Tree, Devil's Armor Palys, Hairy Mushroom, One piece of Monti Cap, Pink Zoas) at the LFS yesterday and came away with a tiger pistol shrimp and some new live rock for the pico tank and a pink birdsnest for the BioCube. LEDs are mounted to the heatsink and wired. I need a trip to Radio Shack to get some odds and ends before hooking up to the drivers, Typhon and fan and controller. Will update LED build thread and coral photo soon. Link to comment
vash028 Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Yo ill be fallowing ur tank. I started my first sw in September and its a 29 gallon....but enough of that why im fallowing is i have a 2007 Volkswagen Fahrenheit GTI....and my cousin has a 2005 GTI as well so VeeDub. Link to comment
GTi Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Yo ill be fallowing ur tank. I started my first sw in September and its a 29 gallon....but enough of that why im fallowing is i have a 2007 Volkswagen Fahrenheit GTI....and my cousin has a 2005 GTI as well so VeeDub. Nice! Mine's a 2011 6 speed in Carbon Steel Gray. I've wanted a GTI ever since I learned to drive and finally did it. No regrets! Link to comment
vash028 Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Ha ha same here mine had the DSG and I love it. Welcome to te VW family. Link to comment
GTi Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Pink BirdsnestVariety of Coralline Algae Link to comment
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