Angeles' 29 Cube!

[Angeles]

I've been around on NR for a while, but I never really started a thread for my tank. Since I just recently had some time off, I decided I might have some extra time on my hands to do a thread. It's a relatively young Biocube 29, without a ton of livestock yet. please excuse the cheapo thermometer, it'll be gone soon enough. Here is an FTS: (1-25-16)

Tank: Coralife Biocube 29 Gallon

Lighting: Stock Lighting (nano box incoming)

Filtration: InTank Media Basket: Purigen, Filter Floss, and Chemi Pure Elite

InTank Fuge Basket (Empty for now)

15-25 lbs Live Rock

Return: Stock Return Pump

Flow: Hydor Koralia 600

 

Livestock

Fish:

Clown pair(Amphiprion bicinctus)

Hi Fin Goby (Stonogobiops nematodes)

Six-Line wrasse

Inverts:

Randall's Pistol Shrimp(Alpheus randalli)

Rock Flower Anemone 7"

Various Hermits/Snails

Peppermint Shrimp

Thousands of tiny Brittle Stars

2x Emerald Crab

Coral:

Open Brain Coral

Duncan Coral

Neon Leather

Red People Eaters

Tyree Space Monsters

Various Acans

Candy Cane (Green)

Purple Grape Frogspawn

Various Ricordea

Green Mushroom

Neon Orange Mushroom

Blue Rhodactis

Bali Green Slimer

Red Robin Stag

ORA Bird of Paradise

Blue Montipora Digitata

Orange Montipora Digitata

LA Lakers Monti

Superman Monti

Green Pocillopora

 

 

Maintenance:

16% Water Change- weekly/bi-weekly

B-ionic Cal/Alk Two Part- Daily

Kent Marine Tech I- Weekly

Kent Marine Magnesium

Testing Water Weekly- API kits

Mysis Shrimp every other day

Coral Food Mix every other day

Clean Glass as needed

 

As far as livestock, plans are a pair of clowns, and at least one other fish. Also, intend to order higher lighting among other upgrades. I am completely open to suggestions, help, and questions about this build. I will also use this thread for any problems I might have. Do any of you have stocking ideas? Anything I should change? Coral/aquascaping ideas? I am thankful for all the help!

[Angeles]

Picked up these guys today! They dropped in and immediately started munching on algae. I saw a couple bubbles yesterday and I thought it would be best to catch it before it spreads. Hopefully they catch it all.

[cruiZe]

Emerald's are great! That Rock Flower Nem is beautiful.

[Angeles]

Emerald's are great! That Rock Flower Nem is beautiful.

It started out as a baby 3" fully extended. I really wanted it to grow out, so I spot fed it mysis for months. Now, it's almost 7" fully extended. They're amazing creatures.

[Angeles]

I took some more pics this afternoon, thought I'd share:

Acan and Mushroom.

For some reason, the shroom hasn't split at all after almost a year...Any ideas?

 

Open Brain

 

Side view

 

Tyree Space Monster. I love these, I got about 6 polyps for 20$. LFS didn't know what they had.

 

The Rock Flower Anemone

What do you guys think?

[Angeles]

I have decided it's time for an equipment upgrade. I just placed an order for a Nanobox retro, to get some better light on this thing.

Also, I'm getting a Tunze Osmolator, RKL, and a dosing pump to help with the tasks of manual dosing and top-off. This should move me towards my goal of a more automated system.

 

On another note: one of my emerald crabs has been picking at my duncan . The other one seems content with algae. Does anyone have any ideas what to do with the corallivorous crabby? Should I take him back to LFS?

[cruiZe]

hopefully he's just eating around it, I'd wait and see- I never had an issue with emeralds, but he could be crazy

[Fishstiks]

Wow, that is a huge Rock nem! Nice

I have decided it's time for an equipment upgrade. I just placed an order for a Nanobox retro, to get some better light on this thing.

Also, I'm getting a Tunze Osmolator, RKL, and a dosing pump to help with the tasks of manual dosing and top-off. This should move me towards my goal of a more automated system.

 

On another note: one of my emerald crabs has been picking at my duncan . The other one seems content with algae. Does anyone have any ideas what to do with the corallivorous crabby? Should I take him back to LFS?

I had an emerald crab that went to town eating my sps corals. I had to banish him to the sump and eventually rehomed him. He could not be trusted. I think they are just hit and miss sometimes. I would probably take the Duncan eater back to the LFs. Just my 2cents

[Angeles]

 

 

hopefully he's just eating around it, I'd wait and see- I never had an issue with emeralds, but he could be crazy

I hope so...the thing is I saw the piece of tentacle in his claw. The other one seems good.

 

Wow, that is a huge Rock nem! Nice

I had an emerald crab that went to town eating my sps corals. I had to banish him to the sump and eventually rehomed him. He could not be trusted. I think they are just hit and miss sometimes. I would probably take the Duncan eater back to the LFs. Just my 2cents

Thanks! I think I'll try just giving him a mysis every once in a while and see if he stops. If not, LFS it is.

 

Thanks for the help guys! Keep it coming.

[gena]

This looks GREAT! I love the showpiece RFA in the center. I think the rockscape is perfect. Is the open brain coral at the front right? It looks pretty bleached. In my experience that's from too much light. Does it ever eat for you?

 

As far as stocking ideas.....more Acans!!!!

[Angeles]

This looks GREAT! I love the showpiece RFA in the center. I think the rockscape is perfect. Is the open brain coral at the front right? It looks pretty bleached. In my experience that's from too much light. Does it ever eat for you?

 

As far as stocking ideas.....more Acans!!!!

 

Thank you!!! The open brain is at the front. When I first got it, It had a lot more green, and I don't really know what happened. It fully inflates, but I don't know why it is getting bleached. It got stung pretty badly by the frogspawn about three months ago, so that might be why? It usually takes mysis, but I was thinking of switching him onto LPS pellets. Any ideas as to why he got bleached/what to do? Thanks in advance!

[gena]

Thank you!!! The open brain is at the front. When I first got it, It had a lot more green, and I don't really know what happened. It fully inflates, but I don't know why it is getting bleached. It got stung pretty badly by the frogspawn about three months ago, so that might be why? It usually takes mysis, but I was thinking of switching him onto LPS pellets. Any ideas as to why he got bleached/what to do? Thanks in advance!

I have an open brain in my tank that I've had for like 4 years. I've had it bleach a couple of times and each time it was a lighting issue. They just don't like a lot of light. I always move mine to a side of a tank. Never in the middle. Just keep trying to feed it. Especially when the feeders are out. But when you get the LPS pellets try dropping a few on it even when the feeders aren't out. I too want to try the LPS pellets. I read about those on this month's featured reef profile. Didn't know about them before that .

[Angeles]

I have an open brain in my tank that I've had for like 4 years. I've had it bleach a couple of times and each time it was a lighting issue. They just don't like a lot of light. I always move mine to a side of a tank. Never in the middle. Just keep trying to feed it. Especially when the feeders are out. But when you get the LPS pellets try dropping a few on it even when the feeders aren't out. I too want to try the LPS pellets. I read about those on this month's featured reef profile. Didn't know about them before that .

Thanks. I'll try moving it to the sand bed on the side. Yeah, I didn't know about them until recently, but from what I hear they're pretty good, and wont float away from feeders. I'll update as to how it goes.

[Angeles]

Okay, so I added a pair of clowns last night! They were labeled as 'bicintus clowns', so that means they should be either red sea clowns or spotcinctus... I did my research, and I know that these guys can get a bit big, and if I have to move them to a new home later on, that's ok. I was wondering if anyone could fully id these, and give any tips? They swim with a certain beauty, bobbing up and down.
They paired up nicely and seem happy so far. I think I'll feed mysis and see if they take that.

I might get a nem for them soon, but I want to make sure I have my powerhead situation sorted out. What do you guys think?

[cruiZe]

those clowns are pretty cool! Looks like "Amphiprion bicinctus" to me - live aquaria says 30g tank and 5 1/2" max size - your tank is pretty open so it's not like you're way short of the requirement...

 

I've wanted a nem forever too, always nervous of it moving around and smoking my corals or going in the powerhead like you said. It doesn't like they will go near the rockflower from what I read.

[gena]

Looks like clarkii clownfish! The cutest of the clowns IMO . I think you will be fine with them.

[Angeles]

those clowns are pretty cool! Looks like "Amphiprion bicinctus" to me - live aquaria says 30g tank and 5 1/2" max size - your tank is pretty open so it's not like you're way short of the requirement...

 

I've wanted a nem forever too, always nervous of it moving around and smoking my corals or going in the powerhead like you said. It doesn't like they will go near the rockflower from what I read.

Yeah, they should have enough space for at least a while. Same, if I get one, I think I want a nicer one like acid rain or glowstick from coral collection. I can drive there too, so no need to deal with shipping cost. I want it to be just right so I'm not risking the decimation of my tank.

 

Looks like clarkii clownfish! The cutest of the clowns IMO . I think you will be fine with them.

Yeah! I love the way they swim in the current.

[metrokat]

What a huge RFA! how big is it exactly?

[gena]

I see you do dose 2-part! The photo of the leather in the FTS...is that the biggest you've ever seen it? Maybe that's just how it is????

 

Or if your tank isn't "dirty" enough...the new clowns will help with that .

[Angeles]

What a huge RFA! how big is it exactly?

 

Thanks! It started out at about 3" but I spot feed it mysis three times per week (crazy, right?!?) and by now it's about 7 or 8 inches in diameter!

I see you do dose 2-part! The photo of the leather in the FTS...is that the biggest you've ever seen it? Maybe that's just how it is????

 

Or if your tank isn't "dirty" enough...the new clowns will help with that .

In the FTS, it's a bit smaller than what it used to be. When it used to be happier, it would extend more than that, and kind of reach outwards, and I would get polyp extension. Now, it's kinda curled up. I'll test my alk like you said, and we'll figure out what's wrong. On top seems best for it so I'll leave it there. Clowns will help.

[vlangel]

Nice tank and coral!

[Angeles]

Nice tank and coral!

Thanks! I'm eyeing the rainbow acans from LC...

[vlangel]

They will be a nice addition to your tank. I am partial to acans and LPS in general. I also love softies like mushrooms, nems and zoas. No wonder I like your tank.

[Angeles]

They will be a nice addition to your tank. I am partial to acans and LPS in general. I also love softies like mushrooms, nems and zoas. No wonder I like your tank.

Haha yep, that's what I like.

[teenyreef]

Beautiful tank! And welcome to N-R

I did the same thing when I got started. I lurked here forever learning everything I could, and I didn't even start a tank thread until six months after it was established. I have loved every minute of it ever since!

 

Have you decided what to do about the emerald crab yet? In my experience once they get a taste from something in the tank, no amount of extra feeding seems to distract them away from it