The great Canadian 9 gallon cube - Dino’s are history

[Koleswrath]

Hi everyone, I always regretted not keeping a build journal for my first tank and since I get so much inspiration from Nano Reef and all you wonderful people I decided to keep one here for my 2nd tank. Here we go!

 

THE TANK AND EQUIPMENT

-Tank size is roughly 13" square and the total water volume after sand and rock is taken into account is close to 7 gallons.

-I have a Seachem Tidal 35 hang on filter running fleece and occasionally carbon. 

-Jager heater - no controller yet. Yes, I'm living on the edge.  

-Two Jebao SW2 powerheads set on Else mode provide ample randomized flow. 

-Lighting is provided by an AI Prime 16HD roughly set to BRS AB+ spectrum at 40% of max for the moment. I may ramp this up slowly depending on how the Montipora fares.  I made a mount from some flat bar and 1" square tube I had kicking around in the shop and bolted it to the wall behind the tank. 

-ATO is a gravity drip system hidden in a closet on the other side of the wall from the tank. I use a precision needle valve to adjust the drip rate which often needs slight adjusting based on the evaporation rate but I can typically leave it for a few days without worry.  

 

THE PLAN AND METHODOLOGY

We're going to try to limit pests this go around by using dry rock from my last tank which has been sitting around since we moved into our new house 7 years ago. I bleached it for a week to break down any organics and did a quick vinegar bath to try to open up some pores. Dry Caribsea special grade sand was used while cycling and some Ocean direct live sand was used to seed biome. 

Biome and diversity of beneficial bacterial and microcrustaceans is the main goal and major focus of methodology. Starting dry and adding the organisms we want as we go will be the name of the game. Exacting nutrient control via careful and consistent input and calculated export (water changes) should be easy enough with a tank this small. 

That brings us to the end of this introduction post, hope I can inspire someone else with this build as I've been inspired by so many!

Check out the quick links to major post updates if this turns into an overly long thread which I'm sure it will.

Thanks!

Greg

IN THE BEGINNING

 

 

Full tank shot - Jan 9, 2023 

 

BEFORE THE UGLIES

 

 

Full tank shot - Feb 9, 2023

 

UGLIES NOT SO BAD 

 

Full tank shot - Feb 18, 2023

 

DINO'S AND CYANO INVADE! FULL SWING UGLIES

Full tank shot Feb 26, 2023

 

BAD GUYS ON THE RUN!

Full tank shot March 11,2023

 

DINOS are NO MORE!

Links to major updates/interesting posts:

 

RO/DI and Mixing bin setup:

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/426358-the-great-canadian-9-gallon-cube-dry-start-working-well-so-far/?do=findComment&comment=6088147

 

Custom light mount for AI Prime 16HD

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/426358-the-great-canadian-9-gallon-cube-dry-start-working-well-so-far/?do=findComment&comment=6088539

 

First sign of the "uglies" appears at around the 1 month mark 

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/426358-the-great-canadian-9-gallon-cube-dry-start-working-well-so-far/?do=findComment&comment=6089715

 

First SPS added - Forest fire Montipora digitata

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/426358-the-great-canadian-9-gallon-cube-dry-start-working-well-so-far/?do=findComment&comment=6091256

 

[debbeach13]

Hi Greg

2 hours ago, Koleswrath said:

I get so much inspiration from Nano Reef and all you wonderful people I decided to keep one here for my 2nd tank. Here we go!

That's a great into. Catch more flies with honey than vinegar. 9 Years and now is your 1st post!!!! Welcome.

 

2 hours ago, Koleswrath said:

I bleached it for a week to break down any organics and did a quick vinegar bath to try to open up some pores. 

This might sound silly. How does the rock feel? Is it still rough? Curious.

 

2 hours ago, Koleswrath said:

stay tuned for a DIY ATO/Kalk drip that I'm pretty proud of.

OK Following

[Koleswrath]

54 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

Hi Greg

That's a great into. Catch more flies with honey than vinegar. 9 Years and now is your 1st post!!!! Welcome.

 

This might sound silly. How does the rock feel? Is it still rough? Curious.

 

OK Following

Hi Deb, thanks! Yep the rock feels the same but the vinegar helped get off some old Coralline that isn't very porous. 

[Koleswrath]

So, the tank is filled and I've been able to get the ATO plumbed and running. With the limited footprint of a tank like this and no sump I didn't want to have a big float visible so I decided to make a drip system using a clamp I made and was able to hide the 2 water reservoirs (Nalgene water bottles) in a closet on the other side of the wall. The drip clamp is just two small pieces of wood I cut and drilled for some 1/4" knobs so they can be easily adjusted by hand. I bent and drilled some acrylic to make a small tube holder that is barely noticeable. I haven't seen a lot of options like this commercially available so I'm pretty happy how it turned out. 

 

UPDATE FEB 2023:

I switched the clamp to a precision needle valve. Works the same but only one knob to adjust and it doesn't deform the tubing. 

[sapling]

any stocking ideas in mind yet, or just going to wait for where the wind takes you? good luck on the tank!

 

also wanted to ask what kind of tank is that? just wondering because I see the black trim at the bottom, looks neat, but I cant recall a rimless tank like that 

 

 

[Koleswrath]

13 hours ago, sapling said:

any stocking ideas in mind yet, or just going to wait for where the wind takes you? good luck on the tank!

 

also wanted to ask what kind of tank is that? just wondering because I see the black trim at the bottom, looks neat, but I cant recall a rimless tank like that 

 

 

My absolute favorite nano option would be a Yasha hase goby and pistol shrimp pair but to keep a little more activity in the whole water column I'm going to go with a clownfish (maybe a snowflake morph). Limiting myself to 1 fish for maintenance sake. Thinking Seriatopora, Montipora, Stylophora, etc. for coral. Some Duncanopsammia would be great to see if the Clown hosts it. And of course as a tank progresses, plans change and this could be completely different than what I eventually do but I'm pretty stubborn so we'll see. 

The tank is an Aqueon Aqua springs that my son got from a friend. We had it setup as a planted freshwater tank for the longest time and decided to move the Platys to our other freshwater tank and start a reef build. It came with a hang on filter/LED combo with a little waterfall dealie. Evaporation was a nightmare but it was a nice little display.

[sapling]

if you have any mollies in your freshwater bunch, they might be a good candidate for the choice of fish! but I'm unsure how they would do in a higher flow tank that those sps you listed would want, 

 

yeah I checked it out, thats a wild looking water filter/waterfall attachment haha, 

 

 

[Koleswrath]

1 hour ago, sapling said:

if you have any mollies in your freshwater bunch, they might be a good candidate for the choice of fish! but I'm unsure how they would do in a higher flow tank that those sps you listed would want, 

 

yeah I checked it out, thats a wild looking water filter/waterfall attachment haha, 

 

 

Freshwater smreshwater lol. I do find it amazing that Mollies can tolerate fresh and salt.

[Koleswrath]

Made some progress this past weekend! I had the tank running without bacteria for the week while I was up North working (lovely Grande Prairie) just to ensure my rock was completely free of any nutrient accumulations. Everything tested great when I came home! Only 0.03 Phosphate from previously used dry rock. That's a win for the rock bleaching routine. I wonder if the vinegar dip helped.....

So onwards and upwards! Microbacter Start was added yesterday along with some ammonium chloride. Took awhile for my Seachem Ammonia alert to respond - like 4 hours. I've never used the alert badge thing before but I figured it would be quicker. It also didn't register the 2ppm I dosed. Only about .25ppm. I have a feeling it doesn't read ammonium. The water went cloudy as the instructions said it would. It's cleared up as of this morning.

Oh well, I'll start testing for nitrite today and see if I can catch it before it's gone.

Fun fun! I'll post daily readings for anyone else looking for quick cycle method results.

Greg

 

[ml86743]

Exciting stuff!  Awesome looking tank, can't wait for some critters to arrive!

[Koleswrath]

Gotta say I’m impressed with this Brightwell Microbacter Start bacteria. I got a hint of a nitrite reading a day after dosing the bacteria and ammonium chloride solution. Had to compare it against a vial of RODI water to see a hint of pink but it’s there. Not sure it shows in the picture.

[Koleswrath]

Cycle day 2:

Nitrite increased to about 0.1ppm and Nitrate is now showing up at a whopping 2ppm!

Ammonia’s still in there but my alert badge thing doesn’t seem able to measure it accurately. Showing at 0.05ppm but it should be up around at least 1ppm.

Glad my little bacteria buddies didn’t kick the bucket in the -20 degree weather we had during shipping.

In Situ tank shot:

[Koleswrath]

Cycle day 3:

All measurements the same as yesterday. 
Apparently testing water is something close to “science experiments” and my son loves it. He’s designated to PH for now and argues vehemently with me over the supposed colour. Luckily I record the values and have final say.

[Koleswrath]

Man! How could I start a build thread without the cornerstone of the whole system? Totally forgot to go over the RODI and mixing area. 
I found a sale on the Ice Cap dual DI canisters and bought a couple to form 4 stages and bought everything else from the lowest cost vendors I could find in Canada on Black Friday. Total cost for the 5 stage system with a gauge, dual inline TDS meters, Dow membrane, chloramine block, 4x DI refills, fittings, hoses and valves was $346.50.  I figure I saved $150-$200 and I was able to configure it on two separate walls to fit my small area.

Very happy with it!

 

Best thing about a small tank is the small mixing bins required! These fit on a shelf I added above the washing machine and don’t really require any extra space. A vinyl hose with a ball valve is routed down the side wall to easily fill my ATO cups and mixing bin. Love this setup! Instant access water 2 feet away from my ATO coat closet.

 

 

 

Well that’s the gist of my RODI setup. Time will tell if I add to it or change anything but it’s super convenient at the moment.

Stay tuned for some livestock additions in the next week!!

Greg

[Koleswrath]

Cycle day #4 - no changes from yesterday except a possible very slight PH drop. 

[Koleswrath]

Merry Fishmas!!
Did a few tests over Christmas and ammonia is now reading zero on the alert badge. I threw some ammonium chloride in a cup with some tank water and put the badge in to make sure it was working and it immediately turned toxic blue. Back in the tank for a few hours and it’s yellowish again. Day #8 today. Hoping Nitrite drops to zero in the next couple of days. Going Clown shopping tomorrow. Nitrite at 0.1ppm isn’t going to be an issue for a captive bred clown.

[Koleswrath]

Big progress update today!

The light for the tank arrived and I was able to bang out a custom mount. I didn’t want to go with a typical clamp on fixture since the glass is so thin on this tank so for my peace of mind I welded up a swivel mount that bolts to the wall behind the tank. I haven’t painted it yet but I think it looks pretty sharp so far. It’s super nice to push the light out of the way whenever I want to. Need to figure out a bit of cord management and get some water bourne acrylic paint on there and call’er a day. 
Water is still mid cycle and I should be heading out for a small fish this weekend. Fingers crossed.

[ml86743]

That light mount is awesome!

[Koleswrath]

Thanks! I’ll post some pics when it’s painted. Primer is drying right now.

[Koleswrath]

Nice satin black finish for the mount. Matches the light quite nicely.

You can see the small clownfish we picked up yesterday as well!
If you’re in Canada (Edmonton specifically) I can’t recommend Mitchell at New Dawn Aquaculture enough. Spotlessly clean setups with the nicest selection of incredibly healthy coral I’ve seen yet. Clowns are doing great and he’ll trade me back when they get too big.

Added some more Microbacter start when I added the fish which clouded the water a bit for the photo.

 

[Squid_reef]

Great little setup! looking forward to see what your planning to stock. 👍

[Koleswrath]

Clownfish are eating like champs and doing great so far! I set a light schedule at roughly 10% of max wattage at mid day peak intensity to get that reefy feel while we wait for the cycle to complete. If we start growing algae I’ll turn them off again.

Love the ramp up and down!

Here’s some interesting contrast between a freshwater planted tank and a reef tank.

 

 

Recent full tank shot- I’ll need to pickup an orange filter for my phone! Man that’s blue.

[Koleswrath]

Hooray! We finally have some movement with nitrite after a few weeks of a static 0.1ppm reading. It’s dropped to about 0.05ppm and I expect it to be 0 tomorrow or the day after. Ammonia is a definite 0 today after an uncertain yellowy green colour on my alert badge. As expected with these numbers nitrate is up to between 3 and 5ppm.
Looking good!

Next steps:

Get some bio diversity in this tank! 
I’ve got Microbacter clean going in in about a week.
Copepods and phytoplankton maybe going in this week. Still researching the best time to add for my situation (basically sterile tank with fish in it).

I’m going to add a spoon full of Ocean direct live sand. Possibly weekly for awhile.

I think I’ll throw in a candy cane after all this and turn the lights on to LPS levels.

I’ll order some Microbacter 7 for down the road a bit.

Then we’ll get to the really fun stuff…….

 

[Koleswrath]

Today I’m adding a few spoonfuls of Ocean Direct sand to get that diverse bacterial population seeded in the tank. I didn’t use this sand as my main sand because I don’t like the small grain size. I might try screening it through a colander and adding all the big chunks to provide some interest in the sand bed.

I think I’ll wait a week for this bacteria to settle and begin to grow and then dose Microbacter clean to get those species in here as well.

Any opinions? I’m not sure if adding all these different sources of bacteria at the same time is the right answer.

 

Greg

[Koleswrath]

I’ve had a slight bacterial bloom for a few days and it seems to be receding as of this morning. 
Interestingly this is the day after adding the Ocean direct. Coincidence?