Banasophia’s Biocube 16 & IM Nuvo 10 ☀️

[banasophia]

Hi everyone, thanks for visiting my journal. 🙂

 

I got started in the hobby to take my mind off of work stress back in February 2018, and set up my Biocube 16 on 3/3.  I was immediately hooked and started my second tank, my IM Nuvo 10, on 6/16. 

 

I really appreciate all of the knowledge and support I’ve found here. This hobby, and the community, got me through a tough time in my life, so thank you for that! I’ve learned so much in the past few months, and I’ve enjoyed the beauty and wonder in everyone’s tanks. 💛

 

Recent full tank shots:

 

Biocube 16 (stock LED lights), February 28, 2019

 

Daylights

 

Beauty Lights

 

Blues

 

 

Nuvo 10 (AI Prime)

 

 

Favorite Pics:

 

Biocube 16, Taken 4/23/19

 

Biocube 16, Taken 5/17/19

 

 

 

Current Biocube 16 Setup, as of 1/26/2019:

 

Light Schedule, Stock LED Lights:

LC1     11 am - 9:00 pm

LC2     10 am - 9:30 pm

LC3      6 am - 12:30 am 

 

Chamber 1:  Coralife skimmer, temp probe, false floor still intact, tab between chamber1 & 2 still intact (I recommend keeping the tab intact as it supports the Coralife skimmer if you ever want to use one) 

Chamber 2:  Stock media rack, filter floss, Chemipure Elite (for up to 25 gallon), 2 sacks of matrix media

Chamber 3:  Cobalt Neotherm 50W heater, Chill Solutions chiller pump and hoses, Purigen (for up to 100 gallon) which is sitting in the spot where the small black sponge filter was (if you take out the sponge, save it in case you want it in the future)

 

 

Original Journal Pics, from August 2018:

 

 

 

 

Equipment Ideas for Beginners:

When I first set up my tank, it was difficult to figure out what I really needed to run my tank, so I thought I would post my suggestions here to give people a nice starting point and maybe help you avoid the trial and error process I went through. 

 

The 101 Best Nano-Reef Species: How to Choose & Keep Hardy, Brilliant, Fascinating Species Perfect for Small Aquariums (Adventurous Aquarist Guide)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0982026242/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_0dS9Cb30MXXTY

 

Nano-Reef Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Reef Systems Under 15 Gallons https://www.amazon.com/dp/0793807174/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_ueS9CbNMZ92QM

 

Python Pro-Clean Aquarium Gravel Washer and Siphon Kit, Small https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002APRVK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_n.R9CbQ5NNTWK

 

Python Squeeze Siphon Starter Aquarium Adapter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017JHPA6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_R.R9CbM9BJDGP

 

Milwaukee MA887 Digital Salinity Refractometer with Automatic Temperature Compensation, Yellow LED, 0 to 50 PSU, +/-2 PSU Accuracy, 1 PSU Resolution

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Z4ITWU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_UaS9CbTGM555X

 

Coral feeder SPS HPS feeder, short version for marine fish and reef coral aquarium CFT-1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYNLLL2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_RbS9CbQ85W6AP

 

TAMSCO Hemostat Rochester Pean Forceps Curved 12-Inch, Extra Long Clamp Curved, Surgical Stainless Steel, 12-Inch, Curved Tip Style, Locking Ratchet

** Work great for removing Xenia and Kenya Tree babies if they are spreading where you don’t want them.**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HB4VKWU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_hES9Cb5PZDE63

 

BinaryABC Aquarium Tweezer 48cm Length Straight Type Stainless Steel Water Plant Tool

** I use these almost every day... I think they are currently out of stock, but I recommend finding something similar.**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0761PN8Q2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_xHS9CbD6DF5NV

 

Mandala Crafts Stainless Steel Aquarium Fish Tank Plant Aquascape Scissors Spatula Tweezers Tool Set (3 Tool Combo)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWH5NG5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_VIS9Cb1TDDZPK

 

Transfer Pipette, 3.0ml Graduated, 5.0ml Capacity, Large Bulb, 155mm, Karter Scientific 206H3 (Pack of 100) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Z4QVZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_HcS9CbK4RSPD9

 

Instant Ocean BIO-Spira Water Treatment for Aquariums

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ODDS5E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_UfS9Cb34GQ731

 

Caribsea Life Rock , 20-Pound

** I was able to get individual pieces from my LFS at the time I started my tanks, but if I couldn’t I would order either regular or shapes. **

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QSNHVLO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_1lS9CbG3NVKMC

 

Cobalt Aquatics Flat Neo-Therm Heater with Adjustable Thermostat (Fully-Submersible, Shatterproof Design) from 25W to 300W

** I use the 50W in both of my tanks.**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008AGWZCC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_PoS9CbS1N8XE4

 

Jebao OW-10 Wavemaker 132-1057 GPH with Controller and Magnet Mount https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076FK8G1P/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_KpS9Cb9Y5SEBC

 

Rubbermaid FG296400ROYBL Roughneck Square Bucket, 12-Quart, Blue

** I use these two gallon buckets (two of them) for my waste water during water changes. (Five gallons a bit too heavy for me to carry/lift.)**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XMMN24/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_.qS9CbTQHBF1S

 

2 Gallon Plastic F-Style Jugs With 63mm Caps, Pack of 4

** I use these two gallon jugs for getting premixed water from my LFS, or for transferring water from my mixing bucket to my tanks if I’m mixing at home. Clean with vinegar then water before first use! (Five gallons a bit too heavy for me to carry/lift.)**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7TCQGY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_KNS9CbXR2V7YK

 

Aquarium Filter Pad - Premium True Dual Density 12" by 72" by 3/4 to 1" Aquarium Filter Media Roll for Crystal Clear Water

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AHIOM8A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_.sS9CbE5NB79T

 

Seachem Purigen Ultimate Filtration 100 ml. Bag Aquarium Fish Tank Filter Media https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079SN6SDY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_ItS9CbACKG0D4

 

Boyd Enterprises ABE16742 Chemipure Elite for Aquarium, 6.5-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BS96U60/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_OuS9CbP3T5ET1

 

Seachem Matrix Bio Media 1 Liter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002A5VIO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_bQ--CbV9FYGJ4

 

Seachem The Bag Filter Media Bag

** For the matrix media.**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002X6F7AW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_7Q--CbVYRKJQR

 

Flipper Nano Magnet Cleaner, 1/4 Inch

** For the Biocube walls, I use the Flipper Nano. For the Biocube corners, I use the Two Little Fishes Nano-Mag.**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MYHSD3I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_8vS9CbFJDVK33

 

Two Little Fishies ATLNM1 Nanomag Window Clean Device

** For the Biocube walls, I use the Flipper Nano. For the Biocube corners, I use the Two Little Fishes Nano-Mag.**

** For the Nuvo 10, I use the Two Little Fishes Nano-Mag daily, and I use the Segarty long handled scraper to clean more thoroughly during weekly water changes (and use the handle to stir the sandbed).**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JSTHXS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_

 

Segarty Fish Tank Scraper, 25.6'' Stainless Steel Algea Scraper Razor with 10 Blades Cleaner Tool Kit for Glass Aquarium Fish Tank Plant Grass

** For the Nuvo 10, I use the Two Little Fishes Nano-Mag daily, and I use the Segarty long handled scraper to clean more thoroughly during weekly water changes (and use the handle to stir the sandbed).**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KFZF7W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_wBS9CbPZ2WC6R

 

Tripp Lite 7 Outlet (6 Individually Controlled) Surge Protector Power Strip, 6ft Cord, Black, Lifetime Limited Warranty & $25K Insurance (TLP76MSGB) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NZLYB7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_dI--CbXS25T67

 

Tower Manufacturing 30440003 Auto-Reset 15 AMP Grounded 3-Prong GFCI 5-Outlet Adapter, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YPBITXU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_EJ--CbR0607CA

 

AutoAqua Smart ATO Micro Automatic Top Off System (SATO-120P)

** For the Nuvo 10, I use this ATO. My Biocube doesn’t get any significant evaporation, so it doesn’t need one.**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0195D3LC6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_cL--CbWB67FW5

 

Polyp Lab Coral View Lens (Original Version)

** I prefer the original version.**

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DVMFBNP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_N9S9Cb7BEC2R9

 

 

[NanoRox]

Welcome!   Wow, for being new to the hobby and your tanks being very young they look great.  Looks like you may have a natural talent for aquarium husbandry.  When you love something it shows and these tanks look great.  Looking forward to reading more details about each.  

[Aurortpa]

Those torches tho! 😍

[FlytheWMark]

Love the Dendro colony.  Just curious how many did you start with and how long have you had them?

[Daniel91]

Nice!

[specore]

I've got to get some dendros.  Tanks look great.  And totally understand what you mean about perusing the LFS being therapeutic.  

[banasophia]

4 hours ago, Duane Clark said:

Welcome!   Wow, for being new to the hobby and your tanks being very young they look great.  Looks like you may have a natural talent for aquarium husbandry.  When you love something it shows and these tanks look great.  Looking forward to reading more details about each.  

Thanks so much, @Duane Clark, that’s a really nice compliment. I’m really enjoying the initial planning and stocking. It’s fun to read up on all the different corals, fish, and inverts, figuring out how to get them all to work together in a nano tank and anticipating how they will all grow together. My coral and fish choices haven’t made it easy because I have chosen things for my Biocube that need very heavy feedings, but my approach has meant that I’ve had to keep a very close eye on it to keep it stable, and thus it takes my mind off work. I’ll try to post more history and details on each tank when I have a bit more time. 

[banasophia]

2 hours ago, Aurortpa said:

Those torches tho! 😍

Thanks so much, @Aurortpa I think torches are my favorite corals... but they sure are fierce sometimes! 

 

1 hour ago, Daniel91 said:

Nice!

Thank you, @Daniel91!!!

[banasophia]

1 hour ago, Mark L. said:

Love the Dendro colony.  Just curious how many did you start with and how long have you had them?

Thanks,  @Mark L., they are actually sun corals. There are two colonies: the orange one is from an LFS and I’ve had it since 4/18, the yellow one is from a guy that sells corals from his home business and I’ve had it since 5/7. For the yellow one, I had him frag it into 3 pieces so I could position it under that overhang. They haven’t spawned in my tank yet, we’ll see what happens when they do. 

1 hour ago, specore said:

I've got to get some dendros.  Tanks look great.  And totally understand what you mean about perusing the LFS being therapeutic.  

Thanks very much @specore! I love my suns and I’m happy I have them, but because they are nonphotosynthetic, they do require heavy feeding which definitely changes husbandry requirements for the tank. 

[Daniel91]

Send me a couple of frags of the torch. Thanks!

 

I have something like this coming in tomorrow; 

[banasophia]

5 minutes ago, Daniel91 said:

Send me a couple of frags of the torch. Thanks!

 

I have something like this coming in tomorrow; 

Ah wow that is gorgeous! Where did you order it from? A gal on one of my Facebook groups has some beauties and said she gets them all from Coral Savers Live Sale... haven’t had a chance to check it out yet.

[Daniel91]

AquaSD - got it during their 40% sale.

 

I’ll have to check above. I’m gonna hold off on buying anything for a few weeks atleast - need to make sure the shipment tomorrow thrives in the tank first.

[MSunkin23]

Nice banasophia, I also started my tank in March.

 

One overlooked aspect of an aquarium (at least for some people), is how it works with a room as a whole, not to turn the room into a "tank room"

Good job in making the tanks part of the room. One reason I prefer AIO tanks is that the pumps, wires, and components are mostly hidden. Your setup is a well executed example of "why" that is important, and how tanks could be a centerpiece for a room.

 

I am sure you have friends come over and say: "How do I get started with one of these" ?

 

Nice Job!

 

 

[banasophia]

22 hours ago, Daniel91 said:

AquaSD - got it during their 40% sale.

 

I’ll have to check above. I’m gonna hold off on buying anything for a few weeks atleast - need to make sure the shipment tomorrow thrives in the tank first.

Looking forward to seeing a pic. 

 

22 hours ago, MSunkin23 said:

Nice banasophia, I also started my tank in March.

 

One overlooked aspect of an aquarium (at least for some people), is how it works with a room as a whole, not to turn the room into a "tank room"

Good job in making the tanks part of the room. One reason I prefer AIO tanks is that the pumps, wires, and components are mostly hidden. Your setup is a well executed example of "why" that is important, and how tanks could be a centerpiece for a room.

 

I am sure you have friends come over and say: "How do I get started with one of these" ?

 

Nice Job!

 

 

Thank you so much. It’s definitely easier to get a tank to fit in with the rest of the room when it’s a nano, at least in my house anyway. And it’s fun having a variable like existing cabinet dimensions to try to work with when choosing a setup. TBH I’d turn it into a tank room haha, but the hubby reins me in! 

[banasophia]

Here are some updated pics of the Biocube from today. I’ve made several changes in the past couple months after losing my green torch, which was really my centerpiece and favorite coral. I decided not to replace it with another torch since the sweepers seriously limited the addition of other corals. 

 

As you can see, I no longer have any SPS in the tank. I feed heavily in this tank due to my mandarin, suns, and an NPS gorgonian, so it’s really not a good setup for SPS. And I’m now really going for it and adding some of the more invasive corals that I enjoy including Xenia, blue cloves, Kenya tree, and GSP since I’m already pretty well stocked and things don’t seem to grow too quickly in my system. I was really considering upgrading my lights since things are growing pretty slowly under the stock lights (especially compared to how they do when I move them over to my Nuvo 10 with the AI Prime), but instead I decided to embrace the situation and see what happens while keeping it stock. 

 

So I just got the GSP on Saturday and glued it to the back wall; it opened up today. I had originally intended to do an encrusting monti or cyphastrea there, but I think those are probably a no go in my system. Trying to decide if I should keep the green GSP, or possibly trade it for a purple variety to create more of a neutral backdrop... leaning toward the purple and would love input on this.

 

 

 

[Krish87]

7 minutes ago, banasophia said:

Here are some updated pics of the Biocube from today. I’ve made several changes in the past couple months after losing my green torch, which was really my centerpiece and favorite coral. I decided not to replace it with another torch since the sweepers seriously limited the addition of other corals. 

 

As you can see, I no longer have any SPS in the tank. I feed heavily in this tank due to my mandarin, suns, and an NPS gorgonian, so it’s really not a good setup for SPS. And I’m now really going for it and adding some of the more invasive corals that I enjoy including Xenia, blue cloves, Kenya tree, and GSP since I’m already pretty well stocked and things don’t seem to grow too quickly in my system. I was really considering upgrading my lights since things are growing pretty slowly under the stock lights (especially compared to how they do when I move them over to my Nuvo 10 with the AI Prime), but instead I decided to embrace the situation and see what happens while keeping it stock. 

 

So I just got the GSP on Saturday and glued it to the back wall; it opened up today. I had originally intended to do an encrusting monti or cyphastrea there, but I think those are probably a no go in my system. Trying to decide if I should keep the green GSP, or possibly trade it for a purple variety to create more of a neutral backdrop... leaning toward the purple and would love input on this.

 

 

 

I'm really clueless as to how I missed your post! My apologies! To be honest - this is one of the best BioCubes I have seen. You have an awesome collection of corals, and it looks stunning! It's just gorgeous @banasophia . . . 🙂 

[banasophia]

5 minutes ago, Krish87 said:

I'm really clueless as to how I missed your post! My apologies! To be honest - this is one of the best BioCubes I have seen. You have an awesome collection of corals, and it looks stunning! It's just gorgeous @banasophia . . . 🙂 

Aww, thanks so much Krish!!!

 

I’ve always been a terrible journaler, and apparently keeping a tank journal is no exception, so I never add to it. 😬😂 But I feel bad posting my pics on everyone else’s threads all the time, so I really should try to do a better job of keeping it up.

 

Any thoughts on the GSP, whether I should stick with the green or trade for a more neutral purple? 

 

[Jackal227]

7 hours ago, banasophia said:

Any thoughts on the GSP, whether I should stick with the green or trade for a more neutral purple? 

I can't seem to find too many pictures of the purple GSP.  The ones that pull up on Google look like they are taken under blues.  I wonder how they look under the white lights, whether they stay purple or are more pale like xenia. 

 

You also mentioned blue cloves which might also look nice on the back wall. 

[Daniel91]

Do both! Little purp and little green!

[Krish87]

15 hours ago, banasophia said:

Aww, thanks so much Krish!!!

 

I’ve always been a terrible journaler, and apparently keeping a tank journal is no exception, so I never add to it. 😬😂 But I feel bad posting my pics on everyone else’s threads all the time, so I really should try to do a better job of keeping it up.

 

Any thoughts on the GSP, whether I should stick with the green or trade for a more neutral purple? 

 

The ones you have now do look good. Perhaps, next time you go to the LFS, maybe click a picture of the purple ones. I can't find them online either.

 

 

[banasophia]

14 hours ago, Daniel91 said:

Do both! Little purp and little green!

Yeah! You totally reminded me I was thinking of doing that months ago, maybe making a wave or swirl design with the two colors... definitely want to consider something like that.

 

7 hours ago, Krish87 said:

The ones you have now do look good. Perhaps, next time you go to the LFS, maybe click a picture of the purple ones. I can't find them online either.

 

 

Great idea! I’ll get right on it... you don’t need to tell me twice to pay a visit to the LFS haha. 

[Daniel91]

The unlimited options with pattern(s) using both colors would be some unique and cool!!

[Christopher Marks]

On 10/9/2018 at 10:08 PM, banasophia said:

Your biocube is gorgeous 😲! What a great coral collection!

[banasophia]

1 hour ago, Christopher Marks said:

Your biocube is gorgeous 😲! What a great coral collection!

Thank you so much, @Christopher Marks!  

 

It’s fun to see what does well with my Biocube’s stock LEDs/high nutrients vs my Nuvo 10 with the AI Prime/less feeding/lots of macro in the display. Here’s the Nuvo right now, too:

 

 

[Christopher Marks]

I like the direction you're going with the Nuvo 10, more LPS forward! It's awesome under the actinic light! What do you like to feed the corals and anemones?