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Cultivated Reef

Aquageek's Little Reef (now with video!)


aquageek

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Ok, here is attempt number 2. Again trying to create caves and stuff, but being mindful of coral placement and dead spots. I am concerned about the sides, do you guys think those will be dead spots? Also, I am concerned they are wasted space, would I even be able to place coral in those areas? Here are a few pictures, and a video for a better idea of this second attempt.

 

Front

IMG_20131008_155741_552_zps8e11252c.jpg

 

Right

IMG_20131008_155754_644_zps8dde0dd5.jpg

 

Left

IMG_20131008_155718_222_zps64243575.jpg

 

Video

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/VID_20131008_155829_947_zps4eeb4b8c.mp4.html

 

Coral! :)

IMG_20131008_155820_006_zps068f0d6d.jpg

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I got my new power head from BRS today. Nice thing about living in Iowa is BRS ships from Minnesota, it's always next day delivery :D.

 

I also took my hood off again and took my new LEDs out. I removed the stock reflector, took it outside, and beat the crap out of it until it was nice and flat. One thing I've noticed between the Coralife and the Oceanic BioCubes is the reflector. On the Oceanic BioCubes the stock reflector looks much more flat. My modules weren't mounted flat with the reflector, rather at an angle. So I fixed that tonight :).

 

Here are a few more pictures. The lighting is much more even now, but the back is still more blue then the front... I don't think there is any fixing that with my setup. Any comments on my scape, or suggestions? Going to let the tank sit for another day, run all my tests tomorrow to see where I am at. If all looks well, I am off to the LFS Saturday to get some more coral! So excited!

 

IMG_20131009_193436_526_zps5dfc6778.jpg

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Well, after work I got home and tested my water. Temperature, salinity, nitrate, calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, pH - all looking good. So I decided to finally start stocking my tank! Off to the LFS I went like a kid in a candy store, oblivious to the world, and purchased...

 

Some sort of torch frag that looked really cool:

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131010_200304_125_zps803d99ce.jpg.html'>IMG_20131010_200304_125_zps803d99ce.jpg

 

He looks really cool, and it was the first time I've seen one at my LFS - good luck today, they just got stock in and I took the only one! I put him mid-low in the tank, and he's off alone due to what I've read about them stinging at night. I am concerned that he's going to have too much flow where he's at though.

 

Also picked up this really awesome green bubble tip anemone:

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131010_200253_197_zpsc580586a.jpg.html'>IMG_20131010_200253_197_zpsc580586a.jpg

 

From what I understand, these guys move and decide where they want to live on their own? I just placed him on the sand bed, and the current pushed him off into the front corner next to a rock where I snapped the picture. They had some Rose BTA as well, but they apparently weren't for sale yet, I am very happy with the green one though, he looks really cool under my lights.

 

I am so excited to actually start adding stuff to my tank now!

 

Just for fun I snapped a picture of the frag tank at my LFS. It is a shallow acrylic tank under 3 kessil hanging lights of unknown wattage lol. It's cool because the water flows over the edges all around the tank like an infinity pool.

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131010_184517_253_zpse799fbf0.jpg.html'>IMG_20131010_184517_253_zpse799fbf0.jpg

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Well my new additions are doing well. My bta found an awkward spot on the back of my tank between the wall and a rock, is this normal behavior?

 

IMG_20131012_201307_166_zps19cff6b8.jpg

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Very normal, hes going to find the spot thats best for him even if we don't agree with it. He'll probably move out of there at some point though. If you ever really hate where he seems to be staying, you can make adjustments to the flow to make where he is currently less favorable and hell move around again.

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  • 5 weeks later...

Update time!

 

I have slowly but surely been adding more coral to my tank. I have added 2 acans (I think?) and most recently a candy cane (with a small colony of Zoa's attached since my last post. Starting to look more like a reef everyday now.

 

What do you guys think for more coral? This is where I am not very good, and I would like to add more color - it seems like I keep adding things that are green lol. Any suggestions for more live stock?

 

I also finally added a skimmer to my filtration. I went for the AquaticLife Mini Skimmer 115. I've read a bit about other BioCube owners using it with good success so I thought - why not - it can only help. So, installing thing, holy crap! At first I had it in my second chamber (I took out my chaeto basket). That was a terrible idea. I couldn't get it to stay put and the water fluctuation was a pain. So I decided to move it to my first chamber. Well that required cutting a hole in the side of my cover for the bracket to come through, which doesn't look too bad. Once I finally got that thing in chamber 1, the air intake was barley under water. So I pulled the whole thing out again and took it apart, luckily I had about 15' of black airline tubing laying around and modified the length of the air intake. I am quite pleased with how it turned out. So now, I need to figure out where to put my heater. I am concerned about putting it in chambers 2 and 3 because of water level. Does anyone know if the Jager heaters have a fail safe to shut them off if they get to hot? I don't really want to put the heater in my display.

 

Thanks for reading.

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Thanks 1.0reef. My problem is that my LFS (I have 2 LFS that have coral) don't get a ton of variety - most of their stuff is green in color.

 

I got all excited and forgot to add my new pictures lol.

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131111_184442_156_zpseca8a30e.jpg.html'>IMG_20131111_184442_156_zpseca8a30e.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131111_184506_297_zpsefe9804f.jpg.html'>IMG_20131111_184506_297_zpsefe9804f.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131111_184555_292_zps0f7b7068.jpg.html'>IMG_20131111_184555_292_zps0f7b7068.jpg

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Thanks again for the links. Will definitely order some coral when I get back from my business trip to New York next week.

 

Installed a DIY muffler on my skimmer intake - reduces the noise that thing puts off quite a bit. Very satisfied with the mod, only took 5 minutes to do. The skimmer is chugging right a long and I've already got some off color water in the cup!

 

Here are a few pictures of my live stock so far. I'm going through a bit of an aptasia out-break currently - thinking about adding a peppermint shrimp.

 

Skimmer muffler:

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131112_191933_812_zps6cb920eb.jpg.html'>IMG_20131112_191933_812_zps6cb920eb.jpg

 

Torch:

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131112_192034_818_zps32ecb581.jpg.html'>IMG_20131112_192034_818_zps32ecb581.jpg

 

Zoas (have had these guys the longest):

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131112_192000_914_zpsa231fff3.jpg.html'>IMG_20131112_192000_914_zpsa231fff3.jpg

 

Candy Canes with Zoa bonus:

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131112_192024_547_zps5afab357.jpg.html'>IMG_20131112_192024_547_zps5afab357.jpg

 

Skimmer (phone inside of sump area for this shot! I've now got Skimmer, filter floss, purigen, chemi-pure elite, and chaeto!):

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131112_192214_297_zps75b1bd7c.jpg.html'>IMG_20131112_192214_297_zps75b1bd7c.jpg

 

Green BTA (Sadly he doesn't look well. He's been acting weird since my last water change... I think I changed too much water - 5G. Will keep a close eye on him and from now on will try doing weekly small changes instead of bi-weekly 5G changes):

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131112_192115_097_zps9015da70.jpg.html'>IMG_20131112_192115_097_zps9015da70.jpg

 

Unknowns (Can some one ID these two? I picked them up at LFS a few weeks ago and I am not exactly sure what they are, or if I have them placed well. Sorry for poor quality, using my phone and zoomed in):

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131112_192057_131_zpsd73f1e67.jpg.html'>IMG_20131112_192057_131_zpsd73f1e67.jpg

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Well my BTA looks better today. Before I went to work this morning I turned my LEDs down - I did have them on 100% and now I would say they are 60-70% and he is opened more today. Still not sure if it was too much light, or if it was the big water change that freaked him out. His color is still really good, even if he's not open all the way, his foot looks really healthy too.

 

On my way home I picked up some aptasia treatment stuff - the non-toxic reef safe stuff as well as two peppermint shrimp to help tackle my aptasia problem. Also picked up a purple dottyback - he is very cool looking. Some purple in the tank will really look good. I'll post some pictures later!

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  • 1 month later...

Tank update! Things are looking good. I finally got my heater all sorted out and we have been stable at 77.5 for over 24 hours! Before I was having a tough time keeping it below 81. My skimmer has been working great, happy with that purchase still! I also took care of all of my aptasia so that makes me really happy too!

 

My BTA is also starting to come around. I've started to spot feed him pellets when I feed my fish and he has been more active and starting to look healthier.

 

As promised, once I got back from my trip to New York I ordered some new coral! I decided to order from Planet Zoa, and I am glad that I did! Travis at Planet Zoa was great to work with, and my package arrived today in great condition from Fed Ex. The packing was great, very well insulated. The water was still nice and warm. The coral's were protected very well in some sort of plastic container that the frag plug slid into to protect the coral, and that was in an individual packed, vacuum sealed bag. Will definitely be ordering from there again in the future.

 

For corals, I ordered 1 zoa polyp of Green Lantern, 1 paly polyp of Eye of Sauron, and 1 mushroom Barney Road Kill. They all showed up looking great and healthy!

 

Crappy camera phone pictures inbound!

 

Barney Road Kill

IMG_20131217_203153_070_zps5ba69ca8.jpg

 

Eye of Sauron

IMG_20131217_203216_890_zpsc5fbf6ef.jpg

 

(Edit - Forgot the new FTS)

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20131217_204523_152_zpsd56d7944.jpg.html'>IMG_20131217_204523_152_zpsd56d7944.jpg

 

 

Sadly I couldn't get a decent (camera phone quality) picture of the Green Lantern. May move it a bit and try to grab a picture later this week after it's had time to get situated.

 

Non-related picture just for fun!

 

My dog, the hard core gamer! (Yes, this is dog!)

IMG_20131214_111621_074_zps4857b374.jpg

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Help me decide what to get. Boss just gave us a little cash today that I didn't have yesterday, so I thought I'd treat myself to a little something for the tank. Thinking either a Vortech MP10 or a Neptune Lite Controller.

 

What do you guys think?

 

2 Hours to decide for same day shipping at BRS. Also picking up some Reef Chili :D

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well I decided to hold off on ordering a controller or an MP10 - both of those things are still on my wish list though lol. I did get my Reef Chili though and that stuff is awesome, everything in the tank loves it!

 

Aqua SD has a pretty good sale going on right now so I am picking up some more new coral!!

 

Here is what I ordered:

 

Neon Frogspawn - Euphyllia

Pink Barbie - Acan

Sunrise Ric - Florida Ricordea

Alligators Might - Chalice

Aussie Purple Stick - Acropora

 

I'm a little nervous about the Acropora with it being an SPS and all. It just looked so cool, and if I can keep it healthy it will be an awesome contrast to my current inhabitants in the tank!

 

It's going to be like Christmas all over again waiting for the new coral to come in. If all goes well I should receive the order on the 8th of January.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Getting new goodies tomorrow! My shipment from AquaSD will arrive in the morning, also receiving a package from BRS that contains a VorTech MP10 and a SICCE Syncra Silent 1.5 pump to replace the stock Coralife return pump! Super excited!

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Update time! All my stuff arrived in good order. The coral I ordered from AquaSD came in great condition with excellent packaging! Awesome customer service by those guys, they even threw in a bonus frag! I will definitely order from there again in the future. I got the Sicce return pump installed, as well as the MP10 and am loving them both. I got the coral placed and things are looking pretty good.

 

I've been delaying posting pictures because I am going through an algae bloom right now for some reason and I can't figure out. My tests all look great (0-1 on the nitrate test). I realize that the algae could be consuming enough nutrients so it tests low. I've cut down on feeding and have replaced my purigen and chemi-pure elite but that's all I have done. I am already doing weekly water changes which includes replacing my filter floss. One thing that I did realize, over the past month or so on my water changes I have been stirring the sand bed with my siphon pump as I take water out and I am wondering if I released a bunch of nutrients into the water column when I did this? I am going to refrain from doing that on my coming water change this Saturday. I am also going to replinish my clean up crew to help attack the issue. Other then that, I am out of ideas on what could be causing the outbreak.

 

Oh, I also bought a 40G breeder yesterday lol. So look for a thread on that in the coming months, going to be a slow build on that one but I am super excited.

 

Pictures!

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20140122_202929_504_zps05d5ff7d.jpg.html'>IMG_20140122_202929_504_zps05d5ff7d.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20140122_203010_750_zpsa88b36b5.jpg.html'>IMG_20140122_203010_750_zpsa88b36b5.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20140122_202850_068_zps124ef0b3.jpg.html'>IMG_20140122_202850_068_zps124ef0b3.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20140122_202830_210_zpsc53391e9.jpg.html'>IMG_20140122_202830_210_zpsc53391e9.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20140122_202819_973_zpsb3360ea7.jpg.html'>IMG_20140122_202819_973_zpsb3360ea7.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20140122_202758_846_zpse23c73c9.jpg.html'>IMG_20140122_202758_846_zpse23c73c9.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20140122_202748_435_zpsce89da3d.jpg.html'>IMG_20140122_202748_435_zpsce89da3d.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20140116_144554_386_zps50ed4ea1.jpg.html'>IMG_20140116_144554_386_zps50ed4ea1.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/IMG_20140122_202808_598_zps4dd0c3bd.jpg.html'>IMG_20140122_202808_598_zps4dd0c3bd.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Very nice tank. I think you have found a good scape for the tank. It is really starting to come along! I also have a biocube in the works feel free to check it out...

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/335131-29-gallon-biocube-reef-journal-my-first-saltwater-aquarium/page-4

 

Also earlier in your photos you posted a picture of a "torch" but it looks to be a small hammer coral.

 

Good luck with the tank!

 

Braden

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...

Thanks for the comments guys. Yeah, I think I had a post earlier where I mentioned that my "torch" was actually a hammer, or maybe I was just thinking that and never posted because I wasn't sure. Thanks for looking out though!

 

I've been gone a while. Not a whole lot of change in my tank. I have been getting lazy on my top offs with my water changes and my salinity got low on me (1.023). Noticed when I started to see some of my corals not looking so good. So I am slowly bringing the salinity back up in my tank. Also re calibrated my refractometer to make sure that my readings were accurate (they were). I also decided to order an ATO yesterday, that I should get today (live so close to BRS that it's next day delivery even when I select ground :D) so I hope to get my top off laziness fixed with that. Also my skimmer died since my last post. I didn't think the thing did a great job anyway.

 

So since my skimmer died, I think I am going to pull my fuge media basket out and replace that with a Tunze 9002 with the upgraded cup from InTank. I am just not convinced that, that little fuge basket can do more nutrient extraction than a nice skimmer. What do you guys think?

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Installing some upgrades today. Got my loc-line hooked up to my return nozzle with a Y fitting to help direct some flow. It's looking pretty snazzy now. I just added some salt water to chamber 3 to bring the water level up (and salinity) in preparation for the new skimmer. Removed my old skimmer from chamber 1 and threw it away. Moved my heater from display back to chamber 1.

 

Waiting for that water I just added to settle to check the salinity of the tank and figure out where I want the water level to be at so I can install the ATO. Also found an old 12v 1 amp ac adapter that I am going to wire up to my hood fans. When I gutted the hood early fall last year I left the fans and that is it. So they have been off since I installed the LEDs. With summer setting in I think I'm going to need those lol. I will put them on the same schedule as my lights for now.

 

Since we're talking about equipment, I am thinking about pulling the trigger on a controller on Friday as well as the skimmer. On the fence between the apex jr (I don't need the full deal with this tank) or the RKL. If not Friday, then in the next month for sure.

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  • 4 months later...

So pulling the fuge basket out was a terrible idea. I ended up crashing the tank. I lost most of my coral, the fish are still doing fine though. I couldn't for the life of me get that skimmer dialed in right, it was always either too much water, or no skim at all. Tons of hair algae that I can't get rid of. :(

 

With that being said, time for some changes. I am tired of messing around with the little "sump" area in the back of my BC. It's just too small of a space. I am going to take the BC29 down completely and make some serious modifications. Last night I set up an old 20G in my office. I am going to move my fish and some rock into the 20 gallon so I can take the cube completely down. I am going to tear out the back chambers completely and add an over flow box. I just submitted my order at Glass-Holes for an overflow box and return kits. Last night I also picked up 4 18"x24" sheets of .220 acrylic that I am going to use to create a custom sump that fits in the stand.

 

I've never setup a sump before, or drilled a tank so this is all new territory for me. I am not sure how to do the sump yet. I want to move my little Tunze skimmer to the sump. I plan to use a filter sock. I want a spacious refugium area where I can have plenty of chaeto and some mangroves, and a return area where I will have my Sicce Syncra Silent 1.5 (357GPH). The overflow box I got from glass-holes is rated for 400GPH I believe.

 

I may need help designing the sump as I really have no idea what I am doing here. Any ideas or advice on this?

 

I will post pictures of the entire process for fun and your viewing pleasure. I wanted to get started this weekend on building the sump, however, I couldn't find any acrylic cement locally, so I had to order it online and I may not have it until early next week. I could at least get started on drilling and removing the back chamber this weekend though.

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I got the biocube disassembled and my fish and part of my rock transported into their temporary home. I took the tank outside and removed the back chambers - it actually went pretty smooth and the whole process only took 20 minutes or so. I just took a sharp razor and went along the silicone lines and slowly wiggled the divider back and forth and it all came out as one piece - mostly.

 

Last night I took another razor to the left over silicone on the inside and outside to get all of that removed. Tonight I plan to paint the back glass black (I have the Coralife version and it's all clear) to make it nice. I am also going to re-silicone the outside seams in the back where the back wall meets the side walls as some of the silicone came off with the plastic on the outside. I am also still debating derimming the tank as well. I hear a lot of back and forth, but to me, it seems like the top brace isn't doing much for the structural integrity of the tank.

 

I plan to drill the back and install the overflow box Wednesday night and hopefully get a plan on paper for the sump so I can get the acrylic cut and assembled.

 

I have also decided that sense I will not be putting the lid back on (that has the Ecoxotic pro modules), I will be buying a Kessil 150 with a gooseneck.

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141025_161428_418_zps3j9v9yy4.jpg.html'>IMG_20141025_161428_418_zps3j9v9yy4.jpg

 

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/jskyn/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141025_161353_821_zpsoevlw4wu.jpg.html'>IMG_20141025_161353_821_zpsoevlw4wu.jpg

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