BlueChip's BioCube 29

[RedStangGA]

i also put some egg crate down before i put the sand in...

should i remove some sand?

My opinion is yes. However, I'm a newb myself so don't think that I've been doing this for years. My sand extends about .5-1 inch above the bottom rim in most areas. I've read that some people consider that too much. It was about 30lbs worth. Looks like you poured 2 20lb bags in?

Which power heads do you have? My Koralia Nano 425 moved a little sand around based on where I was pointing it. The MP10 created a freaking sand and detritus storm. You may want to see about getting a small amount of heavier substrate. Maybe even some crushed coral to put in the areas that get evacuated by the power heads. This will help everything stay put.

For the cloudiness make sure you rinse your mechanical filtration often. Like every day to begin.

 

[BlueChip]

I picked up a Atlantic anemone and 2 clown fish today. PC said that the clowns prob wont host in it, but i liked the look of it so i got it anyway.

Clean up crew came in Yesterday and got them in there too.. starting to look more like a fish tank not just a bowl of water.

 

[BlueChip]

 

[BlueChip]

Just saw a big bristle worm.. 3inches long 1/4 inch wide --- should I be concerned??

 

[IndexKey]

nope! bristle worms are beneficial little buggers, just be sure not to grab hem while you're cleaning the tank, the spines can really hurt.

John

 

[RedStangGA]

Are you sure it's a bristle worm? Mine are longer than that but nowhere near as wide.

 

[BlueChip]

Taking another look at it, its prob more like 1/8 - 1/4 inch wide. Its def a bristle worm.

I only saw it when i was feedign the new clowns... it came out to eat

 

[RedStangGA]

Taking another look at it, its prob more like 1/8 - 1/4 inch wide. Its def a bristle worm.

I only saw it when i was feedign the new clowns... it came out to eat

K, that's more like it then. Mine will occasionally do the same. I've seen a bristle worm fight a tug of war match with a hermit over a piece of flake and win .

 

[SlvrSurfRidr]

nope! Bristle worms are beneficial little buggers, just be sure not to grab hem while you're cleaning the tank, the spines can really hurt.

John

+1

 

[SlickDealPro]

lookin good man

 

[BlueChip]

Saw another bristle worm today.

The anemone and and the clowns are loving life and look great.

Had to get a new 10000k bulb but now its looking great.

Also took out a few scoops of sand and i think it looks better

Going to pick up some frag Zoa's this week for a little more color then i think thats it for a while and see how it goes.

Might get a new hood cause this one has been "modified" and has no rear cover.

 

[BlueChip]

for people with the standard Hood, what are you running your lights at? how many hours for the 10000k and how many hrs for the actenics?

Also - for those who have upgrades -- pull the hood and a pendent type light... or retrofit LED's in the regular hood????

 

[ange062]

+1

+2, I wouldnt worry about em.

 

[roly01]

for people with the standard Hood, what are you running your lights at? how many hours for the 10000k and how many hrs for the actenics?

Also - for those who have upgrades -- pull the hood and a pendent type light... or retrofit LED's in the regular hood????

i have a nanotuners led retro best investment coral growth is great and still keep the nice sleek look of the biocube

 

[Hextall]

Had to get a new 10000k bulb but now its looking great.

How'd you know it needed replacing (assuming it didn't blow)?

Also... here's my light schedule:

Actinics on at 8:30 am, off at 10:30 pm (14 hours... mostly for me)
Whites on at 12:00pm, off at 8:00 pm (8 hours)
Moonlights on at 10:30 pm off at 8:00 am (I'll also run a refugium light on this same time schedule when I get some chaeto)

 

[BlueChip]

The light wasn't powering up, I switched the atenic with the 10000k and the atenic powered right up in the same spot.

How critical are moon lights, I need to get a ballest for mine, so I haven't been running them...

Thanbks

Chris

 

[Hextall]

How critical are moon lights, I need to get a ballest for mine, so I haven't been running them...

I don't think there's any reef related functionality with the stock moonlights beyond just looking neat. I have some corals that glow under the moonlights.

I think that people that breed fish might cycle the moonlights on a realistic schedule to help the fish get in the mood. maybe the same with some corals and reproduction?

Don't the moonlights (LEDs) just use a DC adapter? I think that's what my stock ones have. Or is that what you mean by ballast?

 

[BlueChip]

Yeah just the DC adapter I am looking for, saw one on ebay for aboyt 17 bucks with shipping... Going to try to find something cheaper as I may go rapidled in the near future.

Thinking about adding a blue mandarin... Any thoughts on these with a nano??

For the lights -- do you use two timers or is there a all in one that can control multiple lights??

How strong should my flow be, I feel that it may be too strong, but I don't have anything to base it off of...

Sorry for all the questions.

Chris

 

[Hextall]

I would love to add a mandarin too.. But everything I read says it is extremely difficult unless you have a refugium that can produce a sustainable amount of copapods. And that is pretty hard to do without a sump.

People have trained them to eat nonlive food, but it is difficult and some say that it isn't enough anyway in the long term. Training one is way more work than i an willing to do, so I have resigned myself that it isn't a good idea to get one with a nano. Bummer.

 

[BlueChip]

Darn - they are super cool looking, maybe I will have to add a sump down the line.