Grandmaester's 32g LED Biocube

[grandmaester]

Hey all, first time setting up a salt tank so figured I would share the journey. So far I've made some mistakes but nothing too costly. This forum has been a great help so I hope to pass on a bit of trial and error knowledge to others who may get into it.

Bought the tank at a local pet store/fish store at dealer cost during a sale for $240 on August 20th. Got the stand for another 100, although I wouldn't recommend it. Pretty sketchy putting 300 pounds or so on top of a poor quality stand. Save some money and piece together some 2x4s and make a burly stand.

Went over to another LFS and bought around 30 pounds of live rock that was kept in a tank for a long time. Had good algae growth and good porosity by the looks of it. Transferred that into some buckets of RO pre mix water he also sold me and went home to set up the tank.

Set the live rock in first, set up the filter compartment, put in the live sand, then added the water. I let it filter and added a bit of food to trigger a cycle, then added a sailfin tang at my LFS's suggestion. I will be finding a new home for this guy soon as the consensus says it is too small of a tank for him.

Since then I have tested all water parameters daily and they're all great. I set up an ATO system with the Tunze osmolator (the cheaper one), bought the in-tank media baskets and set up a fuge, and added a chiller I got on craigslist for 75 bucks.

Currently in the tank:
Fish
-1 Christmas Wrasse
-1 Sailfin tang
-1 Diamondback Goby (sandsifting one)
-1 Sabae clownfish
Cleaner Crew
-12 Dwarf blue leg hermits
-2 Scarlet reef hermits
-10 Astrea turbo snails
-2 Peppermint shrimp
-1 Brittle seastar
-2 Fighting conch
-1 Pistol shrimp
-1 Pincushion urchin
-1 Short spine urchin
-1 Cleaner shrimp
Corals/nem
-About 8 frags of differing types:
-jason fox psammocora
-Giant green polyp Duncan
-Australian Achan
-Tangerine Zooanthids
-Acid Drop tyree monti
-Bird of paradise birdsnest
-My clementines zooanthids
-Plate coral
-Bubble tip anemone
-Frog spawn
-Yellow polyps
-Some kind of mushrooms my LFS sold me. Not sure what they are.

Most recent news is I lost my first clownfish, an Oscellaris I bought at a sketchy LFS. He had lymposystocis, and I think he got weak enough for my coral banded shrimp to eat him. That shrimp is super aggressive so back to LFS he goes.

I know it hasn't been very long since I have set up the tank, but I am pretty sure I am ok. I believe I carried over all the good bacteria on the live rock from the LFS and didn't need to create anymore. Could be wrong though! We'll see!

Pictures aren't uploading, view them here: http://imgur.com/a/LaMIc

 

[BClute]

That anenome (condy?) is bleached to the max. Might want to try feeding it silversides. Also you're going to regret having so much rock so close to the sides. Especially since both sides are viewable. You won't be able to clean them too well.

 

[Babydaull]

So how long have you had the tank for?

 

[grandmaester]

Have had the tank for 3 weeks now. So far so good...all parameters are looking great. That anemone is a LTA apparently, had to ask on the anemone forum. They also said it was bleached and stressed, but it has been eating fine and recently took the new sabae clown to host. As for the rock being close to the sides I know what you mean! Should have kept it more centered for sure.

Some updates...took back that sailfin tang I got when I set the tank up as per LFS recommendation. I noticed he was really aggressive and a real ******* to everyone in the tank. I think he was just stressed and needed some more room. He actually was preventing the clown from pairing with the nem and as soon as I took him back they paired up just fine. Also added another frogspawn, few more live rocks for a better look IMO, and another anemone, this time a BTA.

Oh also took apart the hood and tried to add on a couple computer fans to replace the noisy stock fan, but didn't realize one of the wires on the computer fans is a sensor wire. Couldn't figure out how to bypass that to keep them on all the time, and also stupidly realized halfway through that adding these fans doesn't affect cooling of the tank whatsoever, just the lights. Next mod though I think will be to figure out how to strip the black film on the plastic casing and wire in a few more strips of LED's.

Here it is right before I took back the sailfin. Gonna miss the guy but he's off to a bigger and better home.

 

[Scurvy Dawg]

Have had the tank for 3 weeks now. So far so good...all parameters are looking great. That anemone is a LTA apparently, had to ask on the anemone forum. They also said it was bleached and stressed, but it has been eating fine and recently took the new sabae clown to host. As for the rock being close to the sides I know what you mean! Should have kept it more centered for sure.

Some updates...took back that sailfin tang I got when I set the tank up as per LFS recommendation. I noticed he was really aggressive and a real ******* to everyone in the tank. I think he was just stressed and needed some more room. He actually was preventing the clown from pairing with the nem and as soon as I took him back they paired up just fine. Also added another frogspawn, few more live rocks for a better look IMO, and another anemone, this time a BTA.

Oh also took apart the hood and tried to add on a couple computer fans to replace the noisy stock fan, but didn't realize one of the wires on the computer fans is a sensor wire. Couldn't figure out how to bypass that to keep them on all the time, and also stupidly realized halfway through that adding these fans doesn't affect cooling of the tank whatsoever, just the lights. Next mod though I think will be to figure out how to strip the black film on the plastic casing and wire in a few more strips of LED's.

Here it is right before I took back the sailfin. Gonna miss the guy but he's off to a bigger and better home.

On the computer fan, if you are talking about the third wire which is usually yellow, you can do two things with it. Cut it off and seal the end with electrical tape, or you can just twist it together with the red wire. Either one will work.

I am in the process of making a pattern that I can cut out of flat acrylic to upgrade the fan from a 50mm fan to a 60mm fan using the stock screw posts in the hood. My IT guy at work said that 50mm fans are odd ball size and they are almost always junk. The make some real nice 60mm fans that are much quieter.

For what it's worth, I measured the temp coming out of the vent openings with the lights on full blast and the temp was not very high at all. I dont think you really need to add a second fan.

 

[grandmaester]

What do you think about disconnecting the existing fan and going fanless? I think the LED's don't put off enough heat to actually affect anything negatively. Especially since I have a chiller hooked up.

 

[Scurvy Dawg]

What do you think about disconnecting the existing fan and going fanless? I think the LED's don't put off enough heat to actually affect anything negatively. Especially since I have a chiller hooked up.

To be honest, I've thought about it. I may pull the plug on in and try it. Even with a fan on, you don't really feel any heat coming out of the vent holes.

 

[balanced1]

The fan and the LED's are enclosed in the clear acrylic lens, don't think you will see much of a increase in water temp. But, sense there is no heat sink for the LED's their will be a increase. And Higher temperatures of the LED light sources can result in reduced lumen and shorten useful life, and we want all the lumens we can get.

Mine was making an awful racket, I took it out and put one drop of non-petroleum oil under the silver sticker. but I think my fan blade was not on the shaft all the way and the screws where not tight all the way.

If it is quiet in your hand (running unmounted ) then its vibration noise, and you could cut a piece of a wide rubber band and put between the fan and the mounting studs to act like isolators.

 

[grandmaester]

I also noticed the led panel is screwed with just two screws on opposite corners. I think the fan vibrates the panel a bit against the plastic on the empty screw holes. I put some dampening thick tape in between and it helped. Also used that tape to just tape the fan to the vent instead of screw it back in. There is some weird oscillation with the fan and the hood...can't quite figure out where but I know its not the fan itself, that runs smooth. Only when it is remounted does it make that low vibrating noise.


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[Babydaull]

just a suggestion, you should think about finding a new home for that fairy wrasse as well. it seems your LFS may have given you some really bad advice

 

[grandmaester]

just a suggestion, you should think about finding a new home for that fairy wrasse as well. it seems your LFS may have given you some really bad advice

It's a christmas wrasse, is that a type of fairy wrasse? He seems to be doing fine.

 

[Scurvy Dawg]

I also noticed the led panel is screwed with just two screws on opposite corners. I think the fan vibrates the panel a bit against the plastic on the empty screw holes. I put some dampening thick tape in between and it helped. Also used that tape to just tape the fan to the vent instead of screw it back in. There is some weird oscillation with the fan and the hood...can't quite figure out where but I know its not the fan itself, that runs smooth. Only when it is remounted does it make that low vibrating noise.


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Just ordered a 60mm fan that has a dba of 11 compared to 30 dba of the stock fan with the same airflow.

 

[grandmaester]

Tank update:

Got the salifert test kit to replace my API test kit. Only API test I have now is for ammonia. New levels are:
Ammonia- 0ppm
Phosphate- 0ppm
Nitrate- 10ppm
Magnesium- 1080ppm
Calcium- 415ppm
KH- 8.3dkh
PH-8.0
Salinity- 1.023

My magnesium is a bit low I think so I got some Kent marine essential elements and added 5ml to tank. Also got some seachem pristine, thought it may be good to add?

Got another anemone, this time a bubble tip. Also got a couple of leather corals and a cardinal fish.

Couple problems so far...my monti has developed a white spot on it. Bad? I got the SPS frags to see if the LED lighting was good enough...not sure if it is yet. Also, the frogspawn in the middle of the tank doesn't open up too much. I adjusted the flow, but what else can I do to help him out?

Also have some hair algae growing on glass and on the back. Not too concerned, but is there someone I can buy that would take care of that? More cleaner crew?

 

[Babydaull]

my honest advice is you just need to slow down. Your tanks take around one month to cycle and even after that your system is still "weak". you need to give it time to mature. After your tank cycles it kind of goes through a puberty stage where you get a lot of random algae growth and this is when you add your clean up crew. unless you added it when the algae popped up during your cycle. You are probably shocking your system with all the fish and corals at once. you have had your system set up for 3.5 weeks and you are already have 3-4 fish? Ive always gone by the rule of... you should not double your fish load with in a mouth. This gives the bacteria in your tank time to populate and be ready for another fish after awhile. So like i said at the beginning. Please take my advice of slowing down from someone that went to fast himself. At 3.5 weeks, you should really just have a clean up crew in the tank. I don't me to sound brutal, but this will help you in the long run.

 

[ReefWreak]

Babydaull is right.

Also, consider a few additional things to make the maturation stage easier:

1. Move rocks away from glass so you can clean your glass. Corals will grow in and block the glass, but don't start off on the wrong foot.

2. Get rid of those yellow button polyps. Trust me.

3. No condylactis anemones unless you're setting up a caribbean themed tank, as clownfish won't host them. I think you said bubble tip, but that looks like a condylactis to me.

Still lots of learning, but that's okay, that's why you're here and not just following the LFS advice.

 

[grandmaester]

Babydaull is right.

Also, consider a few additional things to make the maturation stage easier:

1. Move rocks away from glass so you can clean your glass. Corals will grow in and block the glass, but don't start off on the wrong foot.

2. Get rid of those yellow button polyps. Trust me.

3. No condylactis anemones unless you're setting up a caribbean themed tank, as clownfish won't host them. I think you said bubble tip, but that looks like a condylactis to me.

Still lots of learning, but that's okay, that's why you're here and not just following the LFS advice.

I agree as well, but I never got the cycle because I used wet live rock. I don't get how live rock in one tank acts as the bio filter by housing beneficial cycling bacteria, but once you transfer that same live rock to a new tank it triggers a cycle. My understanding of the 1 to 2 month cycle period was to build up this bacteria in your tank. If I introduced a good amount of it to begin with then no cycle, which is what has happened in my tank. I may be wrong though or missing something, can someone fill me in?

Get rid of yellow polyps because they spread? Also you're right its a condi...I don't plan on getting any more fish and my clown has paired with the other nem so I will keep it for now. Is there another reason I shouldn't as in does it affect tank mates?

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[ssick92]

I agree as well, but I never got the cycle because I used wet live rock. I don't get how live rock in one tank acts as the bio filter by housing beneficial cycling bacteria, but once you transfer that same live rock to a new tank it triggers a cycle. My understanding of the 1 to 2 month cycle period was to build up this bacteria in your tank. If I introduced a good amount of it to begin with then no cycle, which is what has happened in my tank. I may be wrong though or missing something, can someone fill me in?

Get rid of yellow polyps because they spread? Also you're right its a condi...I don't plan on getting any more fish and my clown has paired with the other nem so I will keep it for now. Is there another reason I shouldn't as in does it affect tank mates?

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Take everyone's advice and slow down.

If you used cured live rock you are correct in that you probably only had a mini cycle, but that doesn't mean that you can add all of your livestock at once.

If you continue down this road then you will run into all sorts of problems and will get frustrated. You might have enough denitrifying bacteria to handle the breakdown of detritus, but there is A LOT more that goes into your water chemistry than that. Every tank's water chemistry is different and yours still needs time to figure itself out and stabilize before adding anything else.

 

[grandmaester]

Thought I'd give an update on how things are going...since my last post I've bought a few new corals and critters. New additions are:

-Lawnmower blenny
-Small goby...I think it is a dracula goby.
-Pom pom crab
-Cool rock with lots of clams covered in Zoas'
-Green star polyps
-Small cardinal fish, didn't make it though. Too small, couldn't eat.

Everything is going great. Levels are good, filtration and fuge good. Anemones have lost their bleaching and are growing great. My schedule has been:

-5 gallon water change every saturday. Test calcium, kh, mag, ph, temp, salinity, ammonia, nitrate, phosphates.
-Add 5ml kent marine essentials.
-Add plankton solution, about 20ml.
-Mix up one cube of frozen mysis shrimp and spirulina brine shrimp with some reef roid nutrients and target feed the zoas, frogs, and anemones. Also squirt some under the purple rock to feed the critters that live in there.

One thing you guys may find interesting is my lighting mod...I really like it. Barely a mod, just tacked on some led strips off amazon to add more blue light and shimmer. Looks really good especially in the evenings. Adds a bit of depth to the tank IMO.

Pretty much a full tank now...I would like to get another Sebae clown though at some point. Also another cleaner shrimp as I think my last one was eaten by the wrasse. I might be returning the wrasse.

Tank overview from front. Little stirred up from the cleaning today.

Good coraline growth so far.

Both nems looking great.

Pistol shrimp cave under the mushrooms. It's cool to watch him do his thing on the side of the tank.

Added lighting

Filter setup. Heater chamber one, in tank baskets chamber two, lots of random stuff in chamber three.

 

[Jenyphur]

Any updates to this tank? Also...what lights did you get? Thanks.