(Edit) First post: 55 gal to 32 Bio Cube Too drastic?

[Twisk]

8/11/23 just a quick update.
Old 55 and stand are gone to a new home
New Biocube was delivered cracked GRRR .
>GOOD NEWS, was a no return replacement. Which means I get to keep the LED light, pump, extra media, filter basket as spare parts.
>Bad News, I have to wait like another week for the new tank to arrive. (Getting hard to not keep buying more stuff as I wait & browse LOL)

12g smaller Bio Cube status
>More Good news, the clowns are doing great in the standby 12g Nano cube. They don’t seem to mind the wait as much as I do.

I switched out my old 802 powerhead for a smaller $10 wavepump I picked up from a local guy off marketplace. It’s perfect for this little tank. I bought a new Hygger 2600 for the 32G ( hygger Wave Maker Pump - hygger )

I did a canister cleaning of the Fluval 407 and still have it running the 12Nano at half and small water change. I’ve definitely cut back on my feeding from a daily full frozen cube to a 1/2cube every other day. With a tiny pinch of granules staplefood. They have been clearing it pretty quick.

So I’ll probably go silent now until the new 32 Buo Cube arrives (hopefully unbroken)

 

[griss]

Sorry to hear about the cracked tank. Glad you’re getting a replacement.

 

[Twisk]

Sorry to hear about the cracked tank. Glad you’re getting a replacement.

Better it was cracked in the box rather than after I got it wet a week later

 

[Reefing102]

Sucks it cracked but always awesome to have spare parts. Could also sell parts and get some money back

 

[Twisk]

Sucks it cracked but always awesome to have spare parts. Could also sell parts and get some money back

Yes. But now with 2 cubes running I may hold everything up on a shelf. I may look into using the 32Coralife LED bio lights for the 12G JBJ nano. They seem to be a little better and are programmable. The 12JBJ is literally on/off.

I may tinker with the pump to make a closed loop sock vacuum.

 

[Twisk]

Latest update: I was originally feeling a bit creative and was about to build an aquascape myself and avoid using live rock like I did 25 yrs ago. That experience had me starting with I think every critter that could have been known to reefing. I swear one rock must have been a haven for fire worms because I was dealing with them for almost a year through the cycling and dirty stages.
So by the time I had all the different types of marcorock, glue, syringes, chisel, hammer etc in my basket to check out I thought why am I going to put myself through all this. Put everything back and bought 50lbs of purple CaribSea Life Rock instead. Now I won’t have to wait the year for the natural purple. In the end the Life Rock saved me a lot of $ and time. For the lesser cost as the marcorock route I was able to pick up a digital thermometer and a few other little things.
Should have it all Thursday and finally get this tank wet and flowing. (Then I’ll need to head to the casino and try to win a jackpot to pay for all I’ve spent so far LOL)

 

[griss]

Can’t wait to see pics.

 

[Twisk]

Hey gang so all my CaribSea Life Rock is delivered today. Things are starting to come together. I plan to draft up my aquascape over the next couple days and get it glued and secure.

WATER MIXING QUESTION:
Edit: was too wordy

Can I prep the initial batch of RODI & salt IN the tank with the Live Sand aquascape or do I need to mix the water separate then add it?

I’m getting my 30g of RO-DI from the coral store
I am using Two Little Fishies AccuraSea Salt. (Pre measured bags.. I’ll still be checking the all/sal levels)

I plan to run the tank pump along with a Hygger 2600 wave pump to get it mixing and if needed toss in an extra 802 powerhead I have.

Was not sure if (making)mixing the saltwater with the Live Sand would affect anything or does it really matter? If I remember when I set up my 55 gal 25 yrs ago I mixed all the water alone first in the bare tank then added the substrate and rock, but i didn’t have Live sand back then either.

 

[griss]

Add salt TO the water, not the other way around. Personally, I would mix it outside the tank and then add to tank. No science behind this. Just personal preference.

 

[Twisk]

Add salt TO the water, not the other way around. Personally, I would mix it outside the tank and then add to tank. No science behind this. Just personal preference.

Yeah I know salt always goes into the water that avoids the clumping.

I’m just trying to avoid making batches and just mix it all at once.

 

[griss]

If you're going to use live sand, I would add the water, mix in the salt and then add the sand. I don't know what impact the RO/DI water (prior to mixing with salt) would have on the bacteria in the live sand. I would assume that adding fresh water to sand with saltwater bacteria would kill the bacteria.

 

[Twisk]

An exciting day today.
32g Biocube came alive tonight at 9pm.

- my coral place had the option for RO/DI or Saltwater. They use RED SEA for their salt mix so I decided to skip the mixing and went with the premixed saltwater to start up the tank. Saved me Hours of mixing time. I’ll use my Acurasea for water changes later.

Tank came together nicely. It’s now in dark mode for a while as it starts to cycle. I went with 15lbs of Carib live reef sand to start and can always remove some later. I have another 10lb bag and plan to slowly remove the gravel to almost bare bottom then replace in the 12nano. So in meantime the extra can cure my 32 for me.
——
12 NANO UPDATE: I was going to buy a bubble tip anemone for the clowns, and the owner hooked me up with a rock that had a colony of 8 rainbow bubble tips on it. SWEET! They went in smoothly even though they floated for couple hours in a container. Right now the clowns could care less about them. It’s the first time in 21 yrs they have even seen an anemone. Will see in morning if they spread out around the tank or stick together on the rock.

We also talked about setting me up with an Ro/Di system. . He does ordering and maintenance. Glad I found this place.

 

[griss]

Looking good.

 

[Twisk]

Looking good.

Yes cleaning up well. I tossed my extra pump in just for some extra flow right now. Until I get my wave Hygger maker running. My gluemasters got delivered today so maybe I’ll try and cover my epoxy spots a little. Completely forgot about it yesterday before filling the tank.
The nems all stayed on their rock last night too in the small 12g. Clown still could care less about them LOL they were glowing orange last night before I finally went to bed.

 

[Reefing102]

Looking really good!

 

[Twisk]

Off topic but I just want to give a fist bump to my local store that I’ve been picking up some of my stuff. I’ve stopped in twice before, but just yesterday finally got to meet the owner Dan. It’s CORALUST and the funny thing is I’ve been watching some of his YouTube for a while but never connected the name until later. Never new this place was SO close, 15 minutes from me. (I thought he was in FL) Goes to show how disconnected I became with my old tank.

I’m so glad I found a place with people that know what they are doing and there to help you be as successful. Dan hooked me up with the nems and looking forward to supporting his local business going forward.

 

[Twisk]

I’m planning to keep it dark for at least 2 weeks, but it is in my living room which gets a good amount of mid-day light. Any opinions on covering with a towel for complete cut off or should I just keep the lights off and let the natural light do it’s duty.

I was thinking actually keeping it uncovered can point out if I have any “over exposure areas” that I might want to adjust any window open/closed periods. I think the tank is in a better spot that my 55g used to be.

 

[Twisk]

Well I feel stupid So all last week I’m watching this new tank and getting no results that show any sign of cycling starting. At first I think, the bacteria bottle was killed off shipped & delayed in the 100 degree heat. Then, I’m wondering if my older test kit was just expired and got a new one.

I start looking through my box of startup stuff & realized I packed away my Ammonia Chloride when I was cleaning up and never put it into the tank

Between the first cracked tank, shipping delays and my neglect this tank is truly testing how patient I can really be with this start up. LOL. So DAY ONE NOW was 9/2. On positive notes I won a LOT at the casino and took advantage of Labor Day sales: RODI ordered, new bathroom faucet to connect to, New Jackery portable power supply, and other items I know I was going to need later down the line. Support your LFS.

 

[Reefing102]

Looking really good

 

[Twisk]

Looking really good

Thanks. Will see what it looks like after a week now that I finally got the ammonia chloride in it LOL. At least the bacteria had a week to establish in the live sand and aquascape.

Just did a water change on the small 12Nano tank.
Clowns are happy and still ignoring the anemones. Hoping as the nems get bigger maybe they will get more appealing to them. Hermits and turbo snail are chillin till lights out. Once the bigger tank is ready these clowns will move into their new forever home. Then I can do a full reset on this smaller 12nano and replace everything. I have an extra bag of sand & two large Carib life rock arches left. I can break one up and make a small scape in here for a tiny frag nursery and/or quarantine tank if needed