Barton’s 60g Cube

[mbarton2010]

I’m back from a longer than expected hiatus. I recently bought a 60g Planet Aquariums cube from a local for a killer deal of $400. IncLife’s was the tank, stand, light, sump, rodi reservoir, ato, return pump, heater, skimmer, and wave maker. I plan on this being a mixed reef havent planned the fish yet though. I have an 100gpd rodi unit the garage and a 2 barrel mixing station I built. 
 

 

hardware list:

Tank: Planet Aquariums 60g Cube
Light: Ocean Revive t247 AquaticLife T5/AI Prime Hybrid
Tank: Custom 3 door stand
Wavemakers: jebao SLW-20 and Jebao PP-8
Returm Pump: IceCap Evo-2000
ATO: AutoAqua Smart ATO micro with 5g acrylic reservoir
fuge light: Zetlight led Amazon Grow LED
Skimmer: Bubble Magus Curve 5
Heater: Finnex 300w Titanium Controlled by Apex
Controller: Apex Classic
40-50lbs caribsea rock
more rock and chaeto in sump

 

Current FTS 6/22/2022

 

 

[kimdawg]

You got a great deal.  While you are getting it cycled, you will have plenty of time to research and ask questions about how many and what kind of fish.  I think adding fish and coral is the most exciting time.  Can't wait to see what you do.

 

[WV Reefer]

11 hours ago, mbarton2010 said:

I’m back from a longer than expected hiatus. I recently bought a 60g Planet Aquariums cube from a local for a killer deal of $400. IncLife’s was the tank, stand, light, sump, rodi reservoir, ato, return pump, heater, skimmer, and wave maker. I plan on this being a mixed reef havent planned the fish yet though. I have an 100gpd rodi unit the garage and a 2 barrel mixing station I built. 

Looks good so far. 😊

[mbarton2010]

Here is my home made mixing station 

I have the rodi running off the cold water input of my water heater 

[mbarton2010]

Salt is here and water is mixing. Gonna be wet this afternoon! 

[mbarton2010]

Stopped at my lfs to get some test kits and other stuff and saw they had the same tank and stand that I bought for $400 with literally everything listed at this: 

 

[Christopher Marks]

Incredible deal on your new system!

 

I like your water mixing station, but that tower makes me anxious! It looks like the upper barrel supports could be pushed over without much trouble, once the barrel is full of heavy water. 

[mbarton2010]

And she’s wet! Added a bottle of fritz turbo start 900 and will be dosing the fritz fish less fuel for this cycle. 

It’s actually level. The wavemakers jsut pushed the water at the wrong time when I took the picture 😂

[debbeach13]

What a great deal, on a sweet set up. I hope you enjoy it for years. Oh, welcome back.

[mbarton2010]

13 hours ago, Christopher Marks said:

Incredible deal on your new system!

 

I like your water mixing station, but that tower makes me anxious! It looks like the upper barrel supports could be pushed over without much trouble, once the barrel is full of heavy water. 

All the supports are screwed together and braced with metal stud braces on the inside. It may not look the best but it is sturdy as heck

[mbarton2010]

So the fritz turbo start 900 is the real deal. Tested everyday and ammonia dropped from 3ppm to 0 and nitrates rose then fell to zero and am showing a little nitrates. So I went ahead and added a pair of clowns. Gonna wait probably another month before I add some coral

[mbarton2010]

Todays test results

 

ammonia: 0ppm

nitrite : 0ppm

nitrate : 10ppm

calcium 480ppm

alk: 179 ppm

phos: not measurable

 

PH 8.1

SG: 1.024

[mbarton2010]

[mbarton2010]

Tested again today. 
ammonia: 0ppm

nitrite: 0ppm

nitrate: 10-15ppm

[mbarton2010]

give me fish suggestions! I’ve never had a tank this large and would like some opinions on the stock. This will be a mixed reef so reef safe only 

[M. Tournesol]

You can have some cool wrasses in a 60 gallon. You could also go for a cool group of cardinalfish (yellow, five lined, longspine).

Don't forget to have bottom, middle and top dwelling fish 😉.

[mbarton2010]

And the diatoms are here 

[mbarton2010]

Initial CUC has been introduced:

10x Astrea

10x Cerith

10x Red and blue legged hermits

 

[mbarton2010]

CUC has really taken a bite out of the diatoms. I added a bag of phosguard because im getting phosphate readings even out of my RODI unit even though its reading 000 TDS. I have a phosban reactor arriving tomorrow to take care of the phosphates for good. 

[mbarton2010]

Still a little film algae on the glass. Added a 2 little fishies PhosBan reactor and some chaeto to the sump

Haven’t decided on permanent placement of the corals yet 

[mbarton2010]

Bacteria bloom is over!

I need to go buy a lot more frags 

[mbarton2010]

Tank is cruising along great. Had a pod EXPLOSION. Literally millions of pods. Looks like it is snowing in my tank because of so many pods. Every square inch is covered. The clown fish can’t eat them fast enough 

 

everyone of the specks is a pod 😳

[ShaneMiami]

On 2/28/2022 at 4:24 PM, mbarton2010 said:

give me fish suggestions! I’ve never had a tank this large and would like some opinions on the stock. This will be a mixed reef so reef safe only 

I have a 60 cube and love my carpenters flasher wrasse and yellow coris wrasse. Also orchid dottyback is a great fish.  

I would also think about a goby pair ( yellow watchman, high fin red banded, etc) with a pistol shrimp. They have such a cool symbiotic relationship.
 
My absolute favorite fish is my yellow clown goby, but he nips sps corals. Not enough to kill the coral, but decrease polyp extension on acros. My duncans, montis and stylos are fine with him.

[mbarton2010]

Have some killer sps coming Tuesday from a live sale on R2R. Fraghouse coral had some stupid low prices yesterday 

[DevilDuck]

Wow nice deals! I've been looking out for "easy acro" like the green slimer.