Heavily Modified Biocube Build

[MidMichiganReef]

I have the same setup only with the 14 Biocube, if I was to do it again, I would remove the false wall and build a custom overflow for the back pane of glass. I too have pulled my clowns out of chamber 2 a few times...

I probably would too if I redid the tank. But I will say it's nothing I regret as the 29g has plenty of space. But in reality, with all the mods I did building an overflow wouldn't be hard.

 

[MidMichiganReef]

A long overdue legitimate update. In September of 2013 I sold my last house and moved to a rental while we built a new place. This obviously isn't ideal for a reef tank. Mind you I also had a new baby who was 3 months old at the time. I made the decision to put my tank in "survival mode" and get it right when it settled into the new place. I lost some coral and my midas blenny in the process. The blenny I can't explain but the corals are my fault. There were stretches that I went 2 weeks between water changes and good SPS just won't survive that in a nano. I moved into the new place at the end of June and have been going to town on getting everything corrected. The corals are having a lot of new growth and the tank looks healthier. I have some residual GHA that I am fighting. I tried a sea hare but he didn't touch it. He eventually was decapitated by the MP10. So here are some update pics.

FTS

New RBTA mutlicolor

Left to right: RPE, Magicians, PPE

Top down in the front:

 

[hypnoj]

What wrasse do you have in it?

 

[MidMichiganReef]

A female red solon fairy

 

[MidMichiganReef]

I had the hood up last night and snapped a quick top down shot of the whole tank and one of some nice zoas I picked up.

FTS top down:

Blue hornets, Tyree Rainbow, Peach something lol (I'm not huge on names anymore)

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Today's new toy, a second MP10wes. Not really looking for stronger flow just trying to spread it out through the tank. Also, working on getting that ph up.

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Here is an FTS showing the new vortech positioning. Sorry but I took it with the iPhone. The corals seem to like the new flow

 

[MidMichiganReef]

The tank is coming along nicely. I removed the female solon fairy wrasse and decided to put in a Linespot Flasher Wrasse and a Yellow Coris Wrasse in her place. I've always thought the ideal number of fish for this tank was four and being that wrasse are my favorite fish I thought it was best to remove the big dominant female and replace her with 2 young wrasse that get along.

Here are some bad iPhone pictures of them:

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Added a sea hare for a bit to clean up hair algae that came during my neglectful period. Today he got done and I swapped him at the store for a rock anemone.

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Despite keeping a strict WC and feeding regiment, my GHA came back with a bang. After doing a WC I noticed that my pump was barely generating good flow. I replaced it with a Tunze and it is a world of difference. I would estimate that I have increased 200-250 GPH. I'm wondering if I was not getting enough turnover in the tank and nutrients and waste were sitting in the DT.

I suppose we will see in a few months if this makes a large difference.

EDIT: Oh, and the line spot randomly stopped coming out for feedings. I could see it hiding in the rocks. At times it would be swimming and there was no bullying or anything like that. Anyway, it disappeared about a month ago. I presume it died in the rocks further adding to my nutrient problem.

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Snapped a quick pic today.

 

[waucedah_joe]

I'm getting ready to do a similar project and came across this thread. Great work! I saw earlier that you said the return was 3/4", It looks like it gets bigger at the union/ball valve. True? What size line is the drain line? Thanks

 

[MidMichiganReef]

I'm getting ready to do a similar project and came across this thread. Great work! I saw earlier that you said the return was 3/4", It looks like it gets bigger at the union/ball valve. True? What size line is the drain line? Thanks

1" drain, 3/4" return

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Just a quick FTS from the iPhone today. Seemed to have won the war over hair algae but am fighting bubble algae.

 

[cherubfish pair]

subed

 

[Desmondkg]

Cool tank and really nice clowns

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Cool tank and really nice clowns

Thanks. They are some Grade A Picassos that I picked up from a guy who breeds in Michigan. Sure wish the would go live in the RBTA but they are uninterested.

When I had the H Malu one of them dove right into it. Unfortunately the Malu died.

 

[cnewsom91]

Awesome build! Just wondering if you had the specs on your sump setup?

 

[shyerdj]

nice job

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Awesome build! Just wondering if you had the specs on your sump setup?

17" wide 18" deep 16" high