homer1475's Biocube 29 Build Thread
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Deftones2015
New member
Very nice acans. Do you have a recent full tank shot?
homer1475
New member
Came home from work today to find the crown of my feather duster stuck in my mp10. The worm itself is still in it's tube(there is a small clear section in his tube, and I can actually see the worm in it). I know this is fairly common, but still makes me a bit concerned on why he shed his crown?
Deftones2015, just took this FTS:
It's the time of day when my gorgonian is all closed up. Beautiful coral when its fully open. It was one of my first corals and started off as a small 2 branch V, no longer then 2 inches. It now has 4 branches all roughly 6 inches long.
Deftones2015, just took this FTS:
It's the time of day when my gorgonian is all closed up. Beautiful coral when its fully open. It was one of my first corals and started off as a small 2 branch V, no longer then 2 inches. It now has 4 branches all roughly 6 inches long.
homer1475
New member
It seems I did let some spores of bubble algae get out and about in my tank. :angryfire:
I now have a couple small bubbles on the skeleton of both my sun corals, as well as still growing in the original spot. I think for now, I'm going to keep an eye on it and just leave it be. If it does start to become a nuisance, I'll deal with it then. I've seen quite a few tanks recently that all have a small infestation of bubble algae. As long as it doesn't start to choke out my corals, I'll leave it be as a nutrient export method(poor mans chaeto?). :lolspin:
I think my open brain may be developing brown jelly. While I've never seen or experienced it yet, there is a small brown spot on the outer skeleton(think its an injury from being moved), almost like a scab. Now I have noticed what looks like brown mucus in spots around his outer edge. It does blow off, and I see nothing else wrong with him. I know this can wipe out my tank full of LPS, so I'm really hoping it's not.
One more thing, Is it normal for a torch coral to loose tentacles? When I was blowing off my rocks last night, I noticed quite a few of small tentacles from my torch blowing off the rock he sits on. It is most definitely happy, always fully open, actually has grown quite a bit, and just lightly swaying in the flow. Again I don't think its an issue, but definitely has piqued my curiosity on why or how its happening.
I now have a couple small bubbles on the skeleton of both my sun corals, as well as still growing in the original spot. I think for now, I'm going to keep an eye on it and just leave it be. If it does start to become a nuisance, I'll deal with it then. I've seen quite a few tanks recently that all have a small infestation of bubble algae. As long as it doesn't start to choke out my corals, I'll leave it be as a nutrient export method(poor mans chaeto?). :lolspin:
I think my open brain may be developing brown jelly. While I've never seen or experienced it yet, there is a small brown spot on the outer skeleton(think its an injury from being moved), almost like a scab. Now I have noticed what looks like brown mucus in spots around his outer edge. It does blow off, and I see nothing else wrong with him. I know this can wipe out my tank full of LPS, so I'm really hoping it's not.
One more thing, Is it normal for a torch coral to loose tentacles? When I was blowing off my rocks last night, I noticed quite a few of small tentacles from my torch blowing off the rock he sits on. It is most definitely happy, always fully open, actually has grown quite a bit, and just lightly swaying in the flow. Again I don't think its an issue, but definitely has piqued my curiosity on why or how its happening.
homer1475
New member
Well we all love new pics and new corals........
Went to the big city to see an Imax movie for the first time, IMO waste of money for a really large screen(18.50 p/ticket for imax, or 9.50 for a normal) and sound so loud I could have used some ear plugs. I didn't know, never been to an Imax before, and never again. lol live and learn I guess.
Anyways, while I was in the big city I stopped at my LFS. Nothing caught my eye other then some really large colonies of Aussie Acans. Absolutely beautiful corals, nice deep reds, real pop to the blues, and deep deep purples....... So in love with Acans right now, I can see why soul has an obsession with them, kind of on a kick with them myself. Actually might just purchase some more from Austin Aqua Farms, as they just sent me an email about their holiday pricing for returning customers(nearly all their corals are half or more off). Saw a nice carpet anemone for only 10$, and a beautiful scoly for only 100$. If I only had a bigger tank!!!
Anyways back to being at the LFS, he said as soon as he fragged some of those acans he would hold a couple frags for me. I couldn't leave without buying something, so I pick up 2 small frags of Aussie rainbows.
Just as an example of prices in my neck of the woods compared to online or other LFS not in my area. These 2 frags I payed almost 50$ a piece, compared to the other 4 I bought online, including S&H I payed under 80$.
And What will eventually become my Acan garden
I also found these in my tank. Have been keeping an eye on them originally thinking they might be Majano, but the more they grow, I'm thinking they might be ball anemone's. I have several and one really large on on the underside of a rock I could not get pictures of because of it's location. What does everyone think?
Kind of hard to tell from the pics, but it has a central oral disk, with long clear tentacles with well defined white balls on the end. Haven't seen any pictures of Majano that looks like this.
Went to the big city to see an Imax movie for the first time, IMO waste of money for a really large screen(18.50 p/ticket for imax, or 9.50 for a normal) and sound so loud I could have used some ear plugs. I didn't know, never been to an Imax before, and never again. lol live and learn I guess.
Anyways, while I was in the big city I stopped at my LFS. Nothing caught my eye other then some really large colonies of Aussie Acans. Absolutely beautiful corals, nice deep reds, real pop to the blues, and deep deep purples....... So in love with Acans right now, I can see why soul has an obsession with them, kind of on a kick with them myself. Actually might just purchase some more from Austin Aqua Farms, as they just sent me an email about their holiday pricing for returning customers(nearly all their corals are half or more off). Saw a nice carpet anemone for only 10$, and a beautiful scoly for only 100$. If I only had a bigger tank!!!
Anyways back to being at the LFS, he said as soon as he fragged some of those acans he would hold a couple frags for me. I couldn't leave without buying something, so I pick up 2 small frags of Aussie rainbows.
Just as an example of prices in my neck of the woods compared to online or other LFS not in my area. These 2 frags I payed almost 50$ a piece, compared to the other 4 I bought online, including S&H I payed under 80$.
And What will eventually become my Acan garden
I also found these in my tank. Have been keeping an eye on them originally thinking they might be Majano, but the more they grow, I'm thinking they might be ball anemone's. I have several and one really large on on the underside of a rock I could not get pictures of because of it's location. What does everyone think?
Kind of hard to tell from the pics, but it has a central oral disk, with long clear tentacles with well defined white balls on the end. Haven't seen any pictures of Majano that looks like this.
Yea, looks like a ball anemone. Harmless and don't spread.
Mojanos aren't clear like that, and have big bubbles on the end of their tips. Think aptasia mixed with a bubble-tip anemone, except not colorful. Usually just kinda white, maybe with some horizontal striping of brown/white.
Nice score on the new frags even though they're expensive. Gotta keep the LFS going... I get it...
"big city", I figured you came to NYC, but I guess around those parts Albany may be the "big city" lol. It's all relative.
Mojanos aren't clear like that, and have big bubbles on the end of their tips. Think aptasia mixed with a bubble-tip anemone, except not colorful. Usually just kinda white, maybe with some horizontal striping of brown/white.
Nice score on the new frags even though they're expensive. Gotta keep the LFS going... I get it...
"big city", I figured you came to NYC, but I guess around those parts Albany may be the "big city" lol. It's all relative.
Nick James
New member
Would a UV sterilizer reduce this time? I was considering getting one for my biocube to use when I introduce new fish to the tank. reefthuz on youtube explained it was beneficial for this purpose.
soulpatch
New member
No. A uv unit can kill free floating ich but not those on rocks, sand, fish, corals, ect. It can perhaps slightly slow the progression but that is it.
homer1475
New member
UV works, but keep in mind you never pass all 100% of your water through the UV filter. Also ich cysts can survive a trip through a UV filter. A total waste of money in my eyes.
Only way to cure your DT of ich is to pull the fish and let the DT remain fallow for 72 days. Even that isn't 100%, but then again nothing in the world is 100%.
FYI
those reefthuz videos will only set you up for huge issues down the road. Trust me, I set my biocube up his way, had major problems, then found RC and have since removed all his garbage and have a nice tank now.
Only thing I still use is the Aquaticlife 115 skimmer with his mod for fitting it in the first chamber. All those sponges will end up giving you a huge nitrate issue, and the matrix media, save your money and buy some more live rock with it.
Only way to cure your DT of ich is to pull the fish and let the DT remain fallow for 72 days. Even that isn't 100%, but then again nothing in the world is 100%.
FYI
those reefthuz videos will only set you up for huge issues down the road. Trust me, I set my biocube up his way, had major problems, then found RC and have since removed all his garbage and have a nice tank now.
Only thing I still use is the Aquaticlife 115 skimmer with his mod for fitting it in the first chamber. All those sponges will end up giving you a huge nitrate issue, and the matrix media, save your money and buy some more live rock with it.
Nick James
New member
Really??? Blah.. Back to the drawing board. And more reading on here..
homer1475
New member
Good luck!
And ask away, thats one of the reasons we make these build threads, to help people, and see what works and what doesn't. Hopefully, my mistake won't be someone elses if they read the threads. :thumbsup:
Save your money. Honestly, the best filter is liverock, skimmer, water changes, light stocking, and time. Maybe some competitive algae growth. Check out some build threads, see what other people did to be successful, and ask plenty of questions, we're happy to help!
ZeeSparrow
New member
Hey Homer, I've seen you around on the forums and finally took the time to check out your build thread. Your tank looks great!
I also wanted to say thank you for mentioning Austin Aqua Farms. I placed an order for a bunch of acans and an orange frogspawn that should arrive tomorrow. A great deal, and Matt's CS is fantastic!
I also wanted to say thank you for mentioning Austin Aqua Farms. I placed an order for a bunch of acans and an orange frogspawn that should arrive tomorrow. A great deal, and Matt's CS is fantastic!
homer1475
New member
Yeah I definitely can't say enough about these guys, excellent CS. They even emailed me after they saw my package arrived to see if everything arrived alive. I have ordered from them again with a "secret sale" they emailed me about. They have an ebay auction site also, and some of their stuff sells for super cheap on there.
One thing I hate about their pictures, they are taken under pure actinics, which makes what you receive not look like anything in their pictures(only reason I know, is I asked them when one of my acans didn't look like what I received).
Thank you, it has definitely been a fun journey so far!
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ZeeSparrow
New member
Ooh, good to know! I do know about their ebay site, as I bought two corals there first. Then I inquired about adding more from their site to the shipment (no problem!) and they shipped it out the same day. I should be getting mine tomorrow so now I am curious to see how they look. Won't matter - acans are great no matter what!
champion6sigma
New member
You have a lot of great livestock homer.
I'm subscribed now, will enjoy seeing all progress.
I'm subscribed now, will enjoy seeing all progress.
homer1475
New member
Had a 9 hour power outage last night, luckily I have a generator. Unfortunately I waited for 5 hours to go out and start the genny. Didn't lose anything, but my fish were definitely stressed and were having a hard time breathing(all were at the top of the water breathing very rapidly). All seem to be ok today.
The large Hawaiian feather duster I have that shed it's crown a couple weeks ago, has regrown it. He also shed the bottom one inch of his casing(for lack of a better term), and regrew it attached to my rock(he previously was just laying on the rock). I'm wondering if this is why he shed his crown? To save up energy to regrow his tube? Will have to do some research and see if my reasoning is correct. His crown is all white now and is growing larger every day.
The large Hawaiian feather duster I have that shed it's crown a couple weeks ago, has regrown it. He also shed the bottom one inch of his casing(for lack of a better term), and regrew it attached to my rock(he previously was just laying on the rock). I'm wondering if this is why he shed his crown? To save up energy to regrow his tube? Will have to do some research and see if my reasoning is correct. His crown is all white now and is growing larger every day.
homer1475
New member
So I posted this as a new thread in the newbie forum(I hate to admit it, but I am still a newbie) about dosing ALK.
I'll summarize here and see if any of you have an answer.
After several weeks of testing my ALK comes in at 7.3DKH, so i decided to start dosing randys 2 part(just the alk art as my CA is 450 and my MAG is 1400). I mixed up a gallon per his instructions(2 1/4 cups baked baking soda to 1G RO/DI, yes my PH is low too, 7.76 to 7.45 at night). I used the reef calculator and it told me to raise my ALK to 9 I needed 30ml. I dosed this in a high flow area(back sump) and it immediately shot my PH up to 8.3 and my ALK up to 9 after I let it cycle through the tank for a couple hours.
So heres where my dilemma comes from......
I tested today(24 hours later) and my ALK is back down to 7.3(I tested several times to make sure). Is it possible to use ALK without using CA or MAG? is it possible to use that much? DO I have to dose this every day? I was under the assumption that since my ALK was a constant 7.3 for a few weeks, I would only need to dose this when my ALK was low? Now I'm beggining to think I need to dose this every day?
I'll keep testing for a few days to see where my ALK is, and if it stays at 7.3 daily, do I need to dose the 30ml daily? Maybe its just me and not understanding doseing correctly(I've never had to dose anything as my previous experience was just FOWLR)?
I'll summarize here and see if any of you have an answer.
After several weeks of testing my ALK comes in at 7.3DKH, so i decided to start dosing randys 2 part(just the alk art as my CA is 450 and my MAG is 1400). I mixed up a gallon per his instructions(2 1/4 cups baked baking soda to 1G RO/DI, yes my PH is low too, 7.76 to 7.45 at night). I used the reef calculator and it told me to raise my ALK to 9 I needed 30ml. I dosed this in a high flow area(back sump) and it immediately shot my PH up to 8.3 and my ALK up to 9 after I let it cycle through the tank for a couple hours.
So heres where my dilemma comes from......
I tested today(24 hours later) and my ALK is back down to 7.3(I tested several times to make sure). Is it possible to use ALK without using CA or MAG? is it possible to use that much? DO I have to dose this every day? I was under the assumption that since my ALK was a constant 7.3 for a few weeks, I would only need to dose this when my ALK was low? Now I'm beggining to think I need to dose this every day?
I'll keep testing for a few days to see where my ALK is, and if it stays at 7.3 daily, do I need to dose the 30ml daily? Maybe its just me and not understanding doseing correctly(I've never had to dose anything as my previous experience was just FOWLR)?
