bevo5 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 ***Updated with FTS 1/17 Hey everyone - so I've had my 29 biocube running for a little over two months now. I've been slowly adding a couple small corals each week since it was cycled. I thought I would upload a photo and see what you all thought as far as where stuff is etc. The equipment is fairly standard: -biocube lights -MJ 1200 pump -Small powerhead in corner (although that broke last night so new one coming in) -Ebo heater in back (doesn't really need it now as that 1200 keeps things a bit too warm. I run with the lids open to keep it about 79-80. But it dips to 77 at night and maybe up to 81 during the day. I don't know if this range is bad. Thoughts?) Fish: -Clown (of course) -Coral beauty (I understand this is a horrible idea. I did not understand that when they sold it to me. But so far he isn't causing problems) -Leopard wrasse Corals: -You can see them. CUC: -Lots of snails (need more for sifting through the sand) -Cleaner shrimp -2 Peppermint shrimp -Few crabs: couldn't resist. I guess main questions - there isn't a ton of flow in the tank and nothing is swirling around. The zoas get a little back/forth action. The rose tip gets pretty good flow but I think he doesn't like it. I'm not sure if I really need the additional powerhead in there as I don't want stuff to just look like it's blowing in the wind. I just got the red sea reef test kit but haven't done them yet. I do 5g water changes 2x a week and nitrates have been about 5ppm. As you can see I'm getting a nice little green algae bloom, but lots of coralline flecks popping in. **Here is the 1/17 tank shot. Lots of similar stuff. Super bummed to see the acans in the original. I have had zero luck with those guys. One of the left of the original shot is still kicking and doing ok, but not nearly this huge. I think either my peppermint shrimps are to blame, or something else is messing with them because water quality is fine and everything else is growing. Link to comment
Smurf Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 You can probably cut down to one water change a week if you are doing 5g, and just let the tank do its thing. Your flow seems fine however, depending on what corals you want to support or have down the road, you might want to get a little bit more flow in the tank. What kinda of crabs do you have? I've had problems before with emerald crabs, I feel like they are a little on the messier and aggressive side. I know personalities differ, but I've always noticed hostility especially during feeding time. I had a standard 29g with a coral beauty in it for a month until I returned him, they do way too much swimming for nano tanks. Link to comment
VAReefDog Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 1. Slow down. 2. Leopard Wrasse should be in much bigger tank with large pod population. Make sure it is eating well. 3. Coral beaty should be in much larger tank. It will be unhappy and will likely go after your corals. 4. Test your water routinely- just to be sure. 5. Water change- 10-15% weekly - you are overdoing it. 6. None of your corals need super high flow- but they look ok with what you have- I wouldn't remove the powerhead. 7. Be careful trying to keep everybody happy and fed- with the angel/the wrasse and the anemone - you will be feeding alot on a young tank- and that will likely lead to more of the algae issues you are seeing. 8. Most people rec waiting 6 mo or more for stable parameters before trying anemones. Sorry for the critiques-- all your fish choices are beautiful fish- just not meant for small tanks to live happily for any length of time. Hope that is helpful and not raining on your parade too much. Link to comment
Deleted User 8 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I agree with VAReefDog. 2 months is a brand new baby tank! Whatever you are feeding, I would cut in half. At least for a few weeks then slowly ramp the feeding up. Try and get the temps a bit more stable. You have what, a 5 degree swing? Point the powerhead or return nozzle toward the surface to get a bit more agitation and evaporation. A fan would help too. Get the temps down a bit and let the heater regulate the temp. Put the fan on a timer to run with the lights. Also, cool the house a bit more could help (this hobby gets expensive in many ways). I think you may be dealing with algae for a while yet. Your rocks could be leaching phosphate that promotes algae growth. Where did you get them? Looks like some of them were well encrusted. Crack that test kit open and get some readings! Buzz Link to comment
Deleted User 8 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Actually, the more I look at it, the more I like the green rocks! But then my favorite color is green... It also looks like the crusted rocks are not as bad (if at all). It's hard to see. Can you take some close up shots? It could be those encrusted pieces are well cured and not leaching phosphate.. Got those test numbers yet? Buzz Link to comment
bevo5 Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 Hey thanks for the input everyone. You are definitely not raining on my parade….you’re helping me keep my parade alive - keeping the analogy going. The things that y’all marked as problems (coral beauty, rose tip, leopard wrasse) were all the result of one ill-advised trip to the LFS. They had been giving me very good advice and I just didn’t stop and do research. I will move the coral beauty out. I don’t want him to not live a fulfilling life in there. There are tons of pods in there (or were, leopard wrasse eats nonstop). Before I got him the walls were covered. I bought some more pods and I see things crawling around still. He also eats the reef frenzy I drop in. He loves eating. And the rose tip - I’m going to be bringing him back to the store I think. He looks awesome and seems to be happy, but I don’t think I have enough light to give him a proper life. The rocks - lots of neon green. Kind of cool, but not as cool as purple or red coralline. The rocks that look ‘encrusted’ are man made. I only put in a few chunks of real live rock. So what you see is mostly bleached florida base rock that is going through some changes. I’ll slow down on water changes and cut back on feeding. I test ammonia/nitrite/nitrate all the time. And PH. I use the same store bought water every week so things are consistent. My history is with freshwater tanks where you can’t change enough water…used to do 50% a week, so it’s a hard habit to break. I actually left town today for a week - put wife in charge of top offs etc. But I am going to test the crap out of that tank when I get back. Then I can sort out if I need to add anything. I ordered a clip-on fan to put on there to keep temp down. The plan would be to have heater keep it at 78 over night, and then have the fan come on during the day with the lights. I have been battling the heat nonstop. So far all of the corals seem happy enough. The zoa on the bottom right has a few new little polyps growing...which is fun. Link to comment
bevo5 Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Bump with new FTS. Link to comment
ghostgr Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Nice. I believe our tanks are about the same age. I too am running a biocube 29. Always interesting seeing how others have their biocubes setup. Link to comment
reefernanoman Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Nice tank. So I see that you have a RBTA with stock biocube light and it's doing fine? Link to comment
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