Chip's 25 Gallon Rimless Cube

[marillion]

Gave up my 90-gallon FOWLR to get something more "portable" since I might be moving to a nicer/larger place before the end of the year.

This past Thursday I picked up the stand, which is a discontinued Perfecto Monterey Red Oak. I got the red oak in hopes it would match my piano...it's a little bit more red, but close enough.

Peace,

Chip

 

[marillion]

Received the tank & light today. The tank is a Mr. Aqua 25 gallon 18x18x18 rimless cube, and the light is a Kessil A150 Sky Blue LED.

Sand/saltwater/filter/heater get setup tomorrow. That will leave the only other piece of equipment left the Vortech MP10, which is on the way and should be here by the weekend.

Peace,

Chip

 

[marillion]

30 pounds of oolite rinsed and put in, saltwater mixed and put in, filter is running. When the water clears I'll snap a pic.

Planning on a minimalist aquascape mixed reef with only about 15-20 coral frags and 3 fish. Going with a banggai cardinal, percula clownfish and sunburst anthias.

Corals will be a 3 zonathids, 3 acanthastrea, a chalice, scolymia, couple blastos, frogspawn, duncan, and 3 or so SPS on top.

Peace,

Chip

 

[TimothyJ]

Looking good!

 

[gveng]

looks great!

 

[cnseekatz]

I love the placement of that stand and tank. Keep it clean and simple... hide as much of the equipment/hoses/wires as you can. That's going to be sick!

 

[marillion]

Thanks everyone!

The water is clear and it's pretty much up to temp already.

I'll check the salinity on Saturday morning, and if that's all set I'll be off to get the cured live rock from the LFS.

Peace,

Chip

 

[secrest]

Looks really nice so far.

 

[marillion]

Rock is in! I'm happy enough with the initial aquascape.

Now to wait a bit before I get some fraglets.

Peace,

Chip

 

[marillion]

Snapped a pic today with the heater now hidden. Hopefully the Vortech will be here in a couple days.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Johnic]

What filter did you go with?

 

[marillion]

What filter did you go with?

Just a small Aquaeon 100gph HOB to dose carbon. For circulation I've got a Vortech MP10 ES, which is now running in the tank.

I plan on water changes every other week and dosing 2-part Calcium/Alk each week. Will polish with carbon at least once a month.

No fish until all the corals are stocked, and even then I'll only have three...percula clown, banggai cardinal, and sunburst anthias.

Peace,

Chip

 

[jtgordon20]

How's the mp10 working for you?
I just got on also, and it is worth every penny! Clears up alot of space, especially in the smaller tanks! Took three other powerheads out of my tank!

 

[Lpabsolute]

Looking good so far

 

[marillion]

How's the mp10 working for you?

Great so far. Haven't messed around with any settings yet, though.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Johnic]

Just a small Aquaeon 100gph HOB to dose carbon. For circulation I've got a Vortech MP10 ES, which is now running in the tank.

I plan on water changes every other week and dosing 2-part Calcium/Alk each week. Will polish with carbon at least once a month.

No fish until all the corals are stocked, and even then I'll only have three...percula clown, banggai cardinal, and sunburst anthias.

Peace,

Chip

To ease up my water changes and keep good quality water I change out 4 solo cups worth of water each night and dose ESV two part each night as well...

 

[marillion]

Yeah, I need to get some 2-part to dose once I get corals in there.

I ordered a 9-for-$99 pack from IPSF to help the tank settle in. I remember ordering from them WAYYYY back when, so I know the stuff helps out.

My rock was cured, so other than bacteria there wasn't much fauna on it.

http://www.ipsf.com/

Peace,

Chip

 

[marillion]

Received my pack from IPSF over an hour ago and everything is acclimated and now bustling around the tank. Pods, snails, mini hermits, nerite and strombus snails, and the sandbed clams have already sunk themselves into the substrate. Tank is partially cloudy, but that will clear up soon. I'll dose carbon in a few days and hopefully will be all set!

Woot!

Peace,

Chip

 

[frugalreefer]

Yeah, I need to get some 2-part to dose once I get corals in there.

I ordered a 9-for-$99 pack from IPSF to help the tank settle in. I remember ordering from them WAYYYY back when, so I know the stuff helps out.

My rock was cured, so other than bacteria there wasn't much fauna on it.

http://www.ipsf.com/

Peace,

Chip

Ya, those guys are O.G. when it comes to sand bed inhabitants. I used them way back when too, but its been so long ago I couldnt remember the site, so thanks for the link. I'm glad to see they're still around.

 

[frugalreefer]

Btw, nice start and looking forwrd to updates