Waterbox Cubed (365 day challenge)

[McCune]

I have to say that for three days I was ready to throw the Eshopps nano against the wall because my whole tank was micro bubbles. All broken in now working well actually pulling skimate already 

[McCune]

So I have been having a little trouble maintaining temps in the cube. I was using a neotherm 50w which is rated for 12 gallons and the cube is probably 15 or so once you take the displacement of the sand and rock. So I order a 75w.

While I was doing that I ordered an intank media basket, then ordered a new ATO as me tunze has been giving me trouble on my other reef so I put my extra on that system. While I was looking at that I stumbled across the innovative marine UV sterilizer so I figured I would give that a try on this tank. I have always wanted to try one.

I ordered a conversion kit and a random flow generator for the return line.

 

Now I just need to explain to my wife why all these packages are coming and that I really needed these. 🤪

 

 

[McCune]

I installed  the IM UV sterilizer. It has been about a week now and all I can say is wow. The tank looks so clear that the water doesn’t even look like it’s there. I have never used a UV before but this is seriously making me think I need one on all of my systems. I will update if anything changes as far as UV goes.

the unit did come in with a crushed pump but that was replaced thanks to Marine Depot 

[debbeach13]

That sounds great. Made that big of a difference in a week.

[McCune]

5 hours ago, debbeach13 said:

That sounds great. Made that big of a difference in a week.

Ya I mean the tank wasn’t crazy dirty or super cloudy but wasn't crystal clear like right now. It seems to have just really cleared up the water the last bit. I’ll check my next water change and see what the Dorsey water looks like in the bucket 

[devaji108]

On 3/31/2020 at 10:24 AM, McCune said:

Now I just need to explain to my wife why all these packages are coming and that I really needed these. 🤪

 we have all been there buddy....the struggle is real. lol

 

that great on the UV. I bought a one for my soon to be big tank I think they have a real place in the hobby as long as one understand what the goal is. 

 

 

 

[McCune]

Tank is looking good today grabbed a few shoots with my cell phone.

[McCune]

[debbeach13]

I am jealous of the yellow and orange. I don't have either. Tank is really looking good.

[McCune]

21 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

I am jealous of the yellow and orange. I don't have either. Tank is really looking good.

It’s funny you say that I was just thinking the other day I have a lot of yellow and orange in this tank need some other colors.

 

I need some more red, green, purple, blue going on next 

 

[McCune]

I am thinking that the lowest ledge on the right of the tank might be a cool place to do an acan garden area.

The only issue is I have never done great with acans for some reason let’s hope I can change that and bring a bunch of red blue and green colors to that side of the tank 

[McCune]

[McCune]

I moved over some more corals for my Cadlights 50 long tank. I can’t figure out what is going on with that tank, it was dialed in and looking great for while. Now all of the sudden it’s way out of wack. Honestly it may have been I changed too many things to close together but either way I pulled some more corals and put them into the cube.

 

Everything opened right up and it looking happy. My Acanthophyllia lost a little color since it came in but as you can see in the pics is looking happy and huge. I moved my Aussie gold touch, a black torch with pink tips and green center, a few frogspawns a green hammer,  

 

[McCune]

I decided to change my salt mix, I was using Fritz pro and I was having mixed feelings about how it was going.

 

I decided to switch to Tropic Marin Pro. I have to say I can’t believe how fast the salt mixed clear and nothing in the bucket for residue. Excited to see how this goes

[McCune]

The first picture is the day I got this lobo coral in the winter. It has morphed into a stripped pattern now as it grows. It’s crazy how these corals we keep can Shane’s so much in our tanks 
 

[Tamberav]

26 minutes ago, McCune said:

 

 

 😂

 

Lobo looks cool.... interesting how it morph!

[Gramophone]

Bahaha

[McCune]

A few macro shots of my corals 

first picture is my Underwater World Cookie Monster chalice. It’s so hard to photograph, the color is a dark purple blue with bright yellow eyes. Next three pics are my three torches. Last is a super close up of my lobo 
 

[McCune]

newest addition to the tank 

[McCune]

Well unfortunately the new coral addition does not actually look like that spectacular picture above not very impressed with the piece at all

[McCune]

Unfortunately this is what the coral actually looks like. Not happy about it at all as you can see it is very dull and has zero or the color popping like the online picture showed.

Aggravated about this purchase waste of money.

As far as this coral goes I will keep it for a few months to see if I can get it to color up, if not I’ll sell it as it’s taking up a lot of real estate 

[McCune]

On a positive note I was able to grab a few other frags on Saturday.

Bubble gum monster chalice. I have always loved this chalice. It’s an oldie but a goodie in my book.

Red and blue acan I picked up. I let me son pick a coral at the store and this is what he wanted to get for the tank. This is the first acan of many as I want to make a whole section and acan garden on the rocks.

[McCune]

FTS for June

i have been switching up my lighting a little bit to a less blue color. I noticed done of the corals were loosing a little color so I’m going to give this a try.

[McCune]

This is not in the cube but I had to show a picture of my new carpet anemone.

Picked it up yesterday in a trade

[Waterbox Aquariums]

Keep up the impeccable work!