60 Gal Cube Build...... help wanted!

now tryin to figure out how long to let the cube cycle before I return water flow to it and integrate it into the rest of the system. Tested pH and ammonia this morning, pH ihas not moved but i am seeing the slightest color shift on ammonia.

Holding off on sand for now, want to see if anything will drop out of the rock even after bleaching and acid bath. Easier to vacuum off the glass than let it get lost in the sand.

I added a basket of live rubble from the main system to hopefully speed up the process.

Do i let the cube complete a cycle on its own or flow it into the rest of the system and let the other 180 gallons cycle it for me?
 
likefish said:
now tryin to figure out how long to let the cube cycle before I return water flow to it and integrate it into the rest of the system. Tested pH and ammonia this morning, pH ihas not moved but i am seeing the slightest color shift on ammonia.

Holding off on sand for now, want to see if anything will drop out of the rock even after bleaching and acid bath. Easier to vacuum off the glass than let it get lost in the sand.

I added a basket of live rubble from the main system to hopefully speed up the process.

Do i let the cube complete a cycle on its own or flow it into the rest of the system and let the other 180 gallons cycle it for me?
Click to expand...

Is your 180 an established display? If so i wouldnt risk it and would probably let the cube do its own thing for at least a little while. When the cycle is near finished i would drain all the water from the cube and do a water change before plumbing it back into the main system.
 
I am totally confused...I thought you were plumbing everything together. If they are all plumbed together then there should be no cycling? Are you referring to something else?
 
Don't think he connected two systems yet. And depending on the amount of possible nutrients thrown into the system from the new rock it is possible there would be a cycle. Although I think the rock he used is pretty clean so I would imagine just connecting everything together would go over fine, but it's always better be careful with such things and wait a few weeks at least.

Adding rock from main system should help, I would also do water changes in a cascade. Whatever you drain from main tank put in the 60g for now after draining same amount from the 60.
 
2 recommendations
#1 - I would put a strainer on that return bulkhead from the frag tank....I had some chaeto get stuck in mine and put 20+ gallons on my floor....

#2 - Although I haven't used them I have heard/read that fiberglass rods can leech into the tank over time and kill stuff.

gl with ur build ...looking great!

#2 -
 
Chris, I would let it run alone for 2 weeks just to make sure that foam cures and doesn't leach anything out and also to make sure the rock isn't full of phosphates. After the 2 weeks do your tests including phosphates if all looks good mix up a new batch of saltwater (enough to fill the tank), now empty the tank fill it up with the saltwater u mixed making sure temp and ph are about the same than tie it into the system.
 
mattanderin said:
Is your 180 an established display? If so i wouldnt risk it and would probably let the cube do its own thing for at least a little while. When the cycle is near finished i would drain all the water from the cube and do a water change before plumbing it back into the main system.
Click to expand...

the main display is almost a year old and well stocked with coral.. Not really willing to risk pi$$ing it off. I like the suggestion, thanks
 
eg8r210 said:
I am totally confused...I thought you were plumbing everything together. If they are all plumbed together then there should be no cycling? Are you referring to something else?
Click to expand...

The tanks are all connected but valves allow me to turn them on/off. All valves and supply lines coming from main sump to 120 display, 60 cube, 40 breeder/frag tank. The 4th valve is my accessory line for GFO/carbon



All tanks return to common sump at same location to allow for filter sock whenever i clean.



Right now the frag tank and 120 display are running, the valve to the cube (with the yellow tape that reads 60) is currently off and the cube is isolated.
 
Swirlygig said:
2 recommendations
#1 - I would put a strainer on that return bulkhead from the frag tank....I had some chaeto get stuck in mine and put 20+ gallons on my floor....

#2 - Although I haven't used them I have heard/read that fiberglass rods can leech into the tank over time and kill stuff.

gl with ur build ...looking great!

#2 -
Click to expand...

#1 THANK YOU!!!!! thats why its so nice to have other people look at your work!

#2 too late..... im a new test subject. There is a good of the same rods in my display. We shall see.

Thanks for the input!
 
SaltWater226 said:
Chris, I would let it run alone for 2 weeks just to make sure that foam cures and doesn't leach anything out and also to make sure the rock isn't full of phosphates. After the 2 weeks do your tests including phosphates if all looks good mix up a new batch of saltwater (enough to fill the tank), now empty the tank fill it up with the saltwater u mixed making sure temp and ph are about the same than tie it into the system.
Click to expand...

Thanks Rich.... these seems to be the common suggestion and the one i will follow. No sense to rush it now (but my impatience is screaming to let it run)
 
LOL, something like this would be separate. The frag auctions haven't really been up to par in the most recent past.
 
UPdate:

Making all of these changes pi$$ed my 120 display off BAD! Nitrate spike, algae, loss of color, ich outbreak.

I have finally balanced the entire system back out and things are looking good once again!

Here is a crappy cell photo of the cube up and running.



Im now trying to make decissions on where to mount my chalices blastos and acans. Also going slow because i would like to add a BTA on the top tier and want to allow him to roam a bit till he finds his final spot.

Shopping for 2 more torches to add as well. Im holding our for something a bit differant. I got lucky with the flow in this tank with 2 small power heads behind the rockscape and a Hydor rotating head on the return. Great random water movement!
 
Now the challange is raising the nutrients a bit system wide. Without seeing another algae spike.

Also havent made a final decision on stocking list for this tank. It might end up all gobies and shrimp. Still undecided
 
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