HippieHeadShot's First Reef -Biocube 8g- MAJOR UPDATE! Tank is back!

[Simulated Fish]

This was my first tank here on nano-reef.com but I have since moved over the livestock and have made this a QT/Softie tank. Maybe I'll turn it into a specialist tank down the road but for now it is running with only the pink and gold Zoa's and Xenia.

 

2/22/16 FTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current FTS 1-20-16




Hello all! This is my first reef tank and I've been ask to share it here with you all a few time so lets do it!


Background:
I am brand new to reefing and have been loving it! My mother did have a 360 gal tank that we kept bamboo sharks in with a few coral when i was very young. I also have a few friends that keep smaller tanks but they live rather far away, so it's just me in the hobby.

My wife was 100% firm NO to me getting a tank...... then I took her to the LFS to look at the reef tanks.
Muahahahahaha! She was hooked! Shortly after I found a Biocube 8g for only $50 andcouldn't say no. She has since become a very avid "dry hands" reefer, feeding the tank and always watching it.

Equipment:
I have changed very little to my biocube 8 gal. but my current equipment list is:

• inTank media basket - Floss, chem-pure Blue, Bioballs.
• Hydor Koralia Nano 240 - WOW super cheap but a great little pump that is whisper silent.
• Lighting is stock, regulated by a simple timer - Moonlights always on, Blues for 1 hr, Whites and Blues for 6 hr, Blues for 1 hr, Blues & Whites off for 16 hr.

Wish list:

• Protein Skimmer
• Heater - Winter is Coming!
• GFO Reactor
• Carbon Filter
• Custom/stock Biocube 8 gal stand - I need to build or find one for cheap.

Hopefully these come true soon. Money is tight with a baby due soon and my wife hates spending money!

Dosing:
I keep dosing down to a minimum. I dose Aquavitro Seed after a water change and Aquavitro prime two times a week. My coral growth in the last month has been crazy good but only time will tell if it's thanks to the Prime.

Livestock:

• Halloween Clown fish - Henry
• Two Peppermint shrimp - Bob & Bob
• One red leg Hermit Crab - Hannibal the cannibal (He ate the other hermit!)

And now the corals:

• Unknown Zoa (maybe pink and gold?)
• GSP
• Toadstool Mushroom Leather (unknown specific type - very very yellow stalk)
• Xenia (non-pulsing unknown specific type)
• Purple Pineapple Tree - Came on the same rock as Xenia and was not healthy but free. I was hoping to bring it back but it melted away within a week, I cleaned the rock and free of it and placed it back in the tank. The next day the Xenia were much larger and happy, I believe it was warfare - and the Xenia won.
• Frogspawn

Tank set-up and progress:
Now for the main event! Here is a FTS of my original aquascape when I started about two months ago.


As you will see this changes..... A bunch.

My first stirs of life!

[Simulated Fish]

My first corals!

 

 

First FTS - and a bad one

 

 

 

First Fish!

 

Meet Henry the Halloween Clown Fish, my wife picked him out.

 

 

 

Another picture - Cleaned tank and changed aquascape.

 

[Fiver]

Nice tank! I'm new to this, too. Good luck to you.

[Simulated Fish]

Hitch hiker is growing strong!

 

 

 

 

Buddy gave me a frogspawn frag for the clown, hope he grows big and the host!

 

 

 

Tank is extremely happy and healthy, GHA is starting to pop up but is being managed.

 

 

[Simulated Fish]

OKAY man I should have started this thread awhile ago but now we are all caught up and here is my current FTS about two months in.

 

In the photos you can see how my corals, especial the toadstool mushroom have EXPLODED with growth.

 

 

 

Here is a cool shot my wife got of Henry the Clown and of the two peppermint shrimp Bob & Bob.

 

[The_Noooob]

Nice tank bud, i am a new reefer as well. i haven't started my tank yet but getting ideas.

[Simulated Fish]

Quick update!

 

 

THE DIATOM BLOOMS HAVE INVADED!!!

 

Five days ago I woke up to an evil sight.....

 

 

 

After a Couple hours of scrubbing the rocks, pumps, media basket, tank walls, AND a 95% water change, AND cleaned the sand bed. My tank looked almost new!

Pictures the day after a good clean:

 

 

Other than my GSP being PO'ed my tank is very happy an healthy.

 

My worry is, what the heck happened?! Over night my tank went from being dirty and needing some upkeep(which I do on Tuesdays or Wednesdays) to a algae explosion!

All of my levels are normal and stable as they have been the last few months, only change was adding in chime-pure blue a few weeks ago.

 

Any ideas? I know I need a CuC ASAP but I am still waiting to hear from ReefCleaners, it's been about a week so I shot them another message on the website.

[Simulated Fish]

UPDATE!

 

My Frogspawn has finally finished splitting and has had a crazy growth boom, more than 2x the size in a few weeks! and with even BETTER NEWS my clown has started to tank a real liking to it, he will sit in it for a hour or two a day, but still sleeps in his cave under the Frogspawn.

 

 

 

Still fighting a bit of new tank diatom blooms, but they are under control. Wife is getting me a reef octopus protein skimmer for Christmas which will help a ton.

 

Work is underway on the JBJ AIO 45RL, tank should be bought soon and set-up within 3 months. This little 8 gal will turn into a QT display tank for any new fish or coral. Updates will still come every few weeks!

 

 

FTS

[Newstead]

Nice tank!

[Simulated Fish]

Nice tank!

 

 

Thanks! It's my first reef tank and I have been putting a lot of love into it. Don't think I could ask for better growth. The coralline algae is spreading EVERYWHERE... back wall, pump, return nozzle, SNAILS! Tank is happy as could be.

[Dr. Pete]

The diatoms are a normal part of a new tank that is maturing. Just keep doing what you are doing. They will go away.

[Dr. Pete]

I have been trying to get my wife more involved as well. I even brought her to multiple LFSs. She's just content to watch right now. That's okay though. I have two daughters I'm working on as well.

 

 

What's that hitchhiker I see?

[Simulated Fish]

The diatoms are a normal part of a new tank that is maturing. Just keep doing what you are doing. They will go away.

Thanks for looking!

 

They have subsited and are in check. All my coral is so big I need to start fragging it out soon. Just got my JBJ RL 45g in and I'll be setting it up soon. I want to take it slow and do it right, I have big plans about this 45g being it will be my living room main display for the next few years.

[Dr. Pete]

Very nice! That'll give you plenty of room to grow.

[ABC]

I have been trying to get my wife more involved as well. I even brought her to multiple LFSs. She's just content to watch right now. That's okay though. I have two daughters I'm working on as well.

My wife is the same she watched the tank, named the fish and knows what the CUC is up to but will not even feed the fish other then looking wants nothing to do with the tank. Until it's time to stock the tank then gets upset because everything she wants to go in the tank can't go in a nano

 

What's that hitchhiker I see?

[gulfsurfer101]

Looking good man! That leather will have plenty of room to stretch it's legs in that 45!

[Simulated Fish]

Looking good man! That leather will have plenty of room to stretch it's legs in that 45!

That is one of my motivations for the bigger tank! My toadstool leather is damn near 3-4 times the size from when I got it. I never expected him to explode with so much growth. There is hardly and room left between the main rock and the tank wall, and I want to keep my coral happy with plunty of wiggle room! Cannot say my wife was as pleased, but she is coming around! She loves feeding Henry the clow from her hand!

[gulfsurfer101]

Lucky! My ex used to give me shit about my tank all the time! When I got with this one I laid down the law and she has never once given me greif. She even goes to the lfs while I'm out of town and will buy stuff she knows I'll like! She knows my reefing habbits likes and dislikes lol! She was like are you ok, when I made the decision to add xenia in my 20l lol! She used to like feeding the tank but my female clown is so aggressive that sheb will nip and pretty hard to so she refuses to do so anymore! You can't even fix a frag plug without facing the wrath lol!

[lostsol95]

UPDATE!

 

My Frogspawn has finally finished splitting and has had a crazy growth boom, more than 2x the size in a few weeks! and with even BETTER NEWS my clown has started to tank a real liking to it, he will sit in it for a hour or two a day, but still sleeps in his cave under the Frogspawn.

 

IMG_20151212_115900.jpg

 

 

Still fighting a bit of new tank diatom blooms, but they are under control. Wife is getting me a reef octopus protein skimmer for Christmas which will help a ton.

 

Work is underway on the JBJ AIO 45RL, tank should be bought soon and set-up within 3 months. This little 8 gal will turn into a QT display tank for any new fish or coral. Updates will still come every few weeks!

 

 

FTS

IMG_20151212_115114.jpg

 

Your frogspawn looks great!!! I can't wait until I have some.

[Simulated Fish]

Your frogspawn looks great!!! I can't wait until I have some.

Thank you, its my favorite along with my GSP. Noticed the Xenia is starting to climb the glass, so its time to frag!

[lostsol95]

Thank you, its my favorite along with my GSP. Noticed the Xenia is starting to climb the glass, so its time to frag!

 

Wow, that's some of healthiest coral I've seen!

[Simulated Fish]

Wow, that's some of healthiest coral I've seen!

Ha-ha its all about KISS and going slow!

[Simulated Fish]

Just an update or the frogspawn!

 

Here it is after feeding, you can clear see the multiple heads!

 

 

Here is a couple shot extended and happy after food showing her colors.

 

[lostsol95]

Just an update or the frogspawn!

 

Here it is after feeding, you can clear see the multiple heads!

 

IMG_20151230_181509-1200x1617.jpg

 

Here is a couple shot extended and happy after food showing her colors.

 

IMG_20151221_175902-1600x1188.jpg

IMG_20151221_175815-1600x1200.jpg

 

Looking healthy and happy!

 

I can't wait until I get some frogspawn.

[Simulated Fish]

Quick update!

 

Tanks is very happy and healthy. Xenia is still climbing the glass, I'm going to keep letting it do its thing for now.

 

Toadstool is WAY to big, I really hope my JBJ45 finishes cycling soon because he needs a new home.

 

GSP was pissed for a few days but bouncedback even better.

 

Lastly my frogspawn has been splitting heads like its on steroids! I also think it is growing a new branch under the new heads.

 

FTS