Joshnieder216's biocube 32 build

[Joshnieder216]

Ok guys so a cycling question since this hasnt been talked about a million times before. Yesterday was day 8 of my cycle and with Red Sea Kits my readings were:

Temp:78.3
SG:1.024
KH:10
Ammonia:0
Nitrite:.5/1.0 (Hard to tell from test kit)
Nitrate: off the charts high

My question is at 8 days should my nitrates already be built up that high? I started with reef saver rock, did however use ocean direct live sand. I threw in a bottle of Birospira just for kicks and have been using the Red Sea reef mature program. I have no delusions of my tank being nearly cycled after only 8 days but could someone shed some light on my super high nitrates this early on?

 

[Smoke Inator]

My question is at 8 days should my nitrates already be built up that high? I started with reef saver rock, did however use ocean direct live sand. I threw in a bottle of Birospira just for kicks and have been using the Red Sea reef mature program. I have no delusions of my tank being nearly cycled after only 8 days but could someone shed some light on my super high nitrates this early on?

Everyone cycle is different. hard to tell what is normal or not, just take it slow and change the water as needed to remove the N. The ammonia spikes early on are the most important in that the growing bacteria can reduce a spike within a day. If i had to start fresh again, i would have done the controlled ammonia additions over time. I got impatient probably got my bio load too high too fast....I still took 3-4 months..Along the way i had the normal breakouts but, the hair algae was the hardest to control.

The pump on my reactor went out last week while i was traveling...combine that with the family over feeding the fish while i was gone and now ive got more hair to deal with this weekend.

Everyone has different methods and opinions but, I got great results from 20% weekly water changes combined with carbon & GFO early on....There was a magical day when the algae disappeared, literally. I still have snails that have a ring on the shell where the algae was soo bad it killed the coraline..now they have clean shells

 

[Smoke Inator]

on a good news front, My AL115 came in so i am determined to find the best spot for it.
if it will go in chamber 1 i will find a way....if not, i have an ATO to install and will post some pics

 

[Joshnieder216]

Bummer about the reactor pump.

I got frustrated with my skimmer in chamber 3 the other night and just took it out completely. Still waiting on intank to release the fuge that i can get it and the basket in and really start playing around with a more definitive layout.

As far as putting it back in chamber 1, There's a structure bracket inside the lid that could possibly be removed and might free up JUST enough room by the skin of your teeth but haven't tackled it yet. Like you said earlier its hard to start cutting away.

 

[Joshnieder216]

Oh, was wondering also if your reactor was able to fit in #1 if i were to scrap the fuge? If so would most likely put it there with the rack/skimmer in #2

 

[Smoke Inator]

reactor defiantly will fit in one.

I'm going for flow from 1 - skimmer, 2a - fuge to 2b - reactor, 3 UV & heater
If i go into 2 then im not sure maybe reactor, fuge, skimmer...I have UV in 3 so i wont know till i break it all down today

 

[Joshnieder216]

BORED with this cycle...Been testing testing testing. In the meantime ive got my intank rack ordered should be in between now and monday. Plan is to use floss purigen and chemipure elite until i get a reactor ordered in a month or so. I have the purigen and chemipure so i'd might as well utilize it for the time being.

Just for kicks the other night i dosed 4ppm ammonia, in 24 hours i had 0 ammonia 1 nitrite and my nitrates were off the charts. At 48 hours still 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and nitrates still off the charts so i did a couple 25-30% water changes. As of last night my nitrates were down to 20. Strongly resisting the urge to throw in a couple snails and crabs and just let my tank bio build a little more. Against the advice from the guy at my LFS mind you who assures me my cycle is ready to start adding fish...who isn't helping my patience haha.

I am curious as to what some of you are using for a cleanup crew in your 32 or anything comparable to that size for that matter? What im leaning towards now is:

4- Cerith
4- Nassarius
4- Trochus (if available) if not Astraea
1- Fighting Conch
1- Emerald Crab
4/6- dwarf hermits
1- Pom Pom Crab if i can find one

Not sure if thats too much too fast or too little? If anyone has any suggestions recommendations or advice please feel free to throw it out as nothing is set it stone. I'm itching to get some movement in this tank though!

 

[ReeferGrower]

Do you have any closer pictures of the rock wall? Hard to tell whats between the live rock to cover the egg crate. Looks awesome though. Theres a 32 for sale on craigslist right now for 250 Im thinking about grabbing to have a second tank.

 

[Joshnieder216]

Hard to get a great pic but I used great stuff pond and stone. For texture on the foam I pressed in water softener salt crystals around the rocks as I went. After letting it cure for 24 hours I placed the wall in a tub of water for another 24 hours for the salt to dissolve. The next step was painting the foam with epoxy and throwing sand on it but I got lazy and excited to see it in the tank. Plus I figured eventually it was all going to be covered with coralline.

Now, if I were to do it again I would try to find black egg crate. For now the white sticks out like a sore thumb. I would also place the rocks closer together to have less foam exposed between them. And lastly I would have trimmed the egg crate farther back from the edges. Once I got the wall trimmed to fit in the tank the outside edges of the egg crate were exposed and looks kinda trashy. Again, hopefully someday it's covered with algae and won't be noticeable but could have easily been avoided had the frame been cut smaller.


"Yea, well, that's like, your opinion man" -The Dude

 

[Joshnieder216]

Thanks for the compliments on the wall though I really appreciate it but can't take credit for originality as I borrowed all the ideas from various other places. As an extra tank If you can pick one up for $250 I'd say go for it but for a primary tank I'm not sure I'd go this route again. Especially after taking my wife to the lfs the other day she saw a 90 gal cube and said "why didn't you get one this size?" Sheesh.


"Yea, well, that's like, your opinion man" -The Dude

 

[ReeferGrower]

Thanks for the compliments on the wall though I really appreciate it but can't take credit for originality as I borrowed all the ideas from various other places. As an extra tank If you can pick one up for $250 I'd say go for it but for a primary tank I'm not sure I'd go this route again. Especially after taking my wife to the lfs the other day she saw a 90 gal cube and said "why didn't you get one this size?" Sheesh.

"Yea, well, that's like, your opinion man" -The Dude

Definitely like the rock wall look. Wish I wouldve seen your tank before we put together our 32. I would love to have a larger tank, but currently we are in an upstairs apartment, so my theory is if I spread the tanks out I can spread the weight out. This next one I want to buy a few nicer things than our first tank.

 

[Joshnieder216]

So after going to the lfs to pick up some cleanup crew the owner convinced me that with using dry rock and the tank being "sterile" the cuc would basically be worthless since there was nothing to clean up. So with that being said I took the plunge and bought a pair of ocellaris, cleaner shrimp and a strawberry crab.

Here's to hoping it's not too much too fast but I did dose to 4ppm nh3 again the other night and zeroed out in under 24 hours so I'm thinking I'm good. Drip acclimating now and afraid the lights will be off by the time I get them added so pics to come tomorrow most likely.

Ps the strawberry crab is AWESOME!


"Yea, well, that's like, your opinion man" -The Dude

 

[ReeferGrower]

Rad! Wouldnt mind tossing in a strawberry if I come across one. Didnt know there was such a thing as too early for a clean up crew though. I couldnt wait for mine to show up, never thought Id be so excited to see a box of snails. Lol

 

[Joshnieder216]

Alright so as promised here's the new guys. Got them all in late last night, fed lightly today when the lights came on and again about 30 min before lights out. Everyone seems to be eating well. Tested water this evening just to be sure and everything checked out so that's good.

Clowns are swimming frantically up and down in the corner and I'm hoping this is just adjustment period. Really hard to get a pick of both of them.

Shrimp has been moving around the rocks all day trying to find his happy spot.

Strawberry crab has been hanging by the lower intake to the filter picking up any and every little thing that floats by. Thinking he's gonna like it there. From what I've gathered he's essentially the same thing as an emerald only a different color.

"Yea, well, that's like, your opinion man" -The Dude

 

[Smoke Inator]

Joshnieder216's biocube 32 build

Good looking crab, our lfs doesn't ever get anything unique


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Joshnieder216]

Good looking crab, our lfs doesn't ever get anything unique


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

He said they only get these in a couple times per year so it was really a fluke I just happened to catch him. He's found a super hiding spot though, since I fed last night He's been nowhere to be found. Even went so far as to check through all the back chambers to find nothing. Really hoping he's not one of those shy guys that you never see but time will tell.


"Yea, well, that's like, your opinion man" -The Dude

 

[Joshnieder216]

Me last week: "I wish I could get some diatoms or algae in my tank to get rid of this sterile look"

Boom, ask and you shall receive. Full on explosion took place in under 48 hours. Threw in 4 margarita snails and 4 dwarf hermits last night. Wish I had got a before and and after picture because these guys killed it overnight.




"Yea, well, that's like, your opinion man" -The Dude

 

[bdare]

Not to downplay the hard work put in by your CUC, but diatoms also recede at night when the lights are off and come back during your photo period.

 

[Joshnieder216]

Not to downplay the hard work put in by your CUC, but diatoms also recede at night when the lights are off and come back during your photo period.

Buzzkill. Good call though, I didn't know about that. I guess the true comparison will be at 3:15 when I normally get home from work.


"Yea, well, that's like, your opinion man" -The Dude

 

[Joshnieder216]

Potential disaster averted this evening. I noticed last night it looked like the light was off on my UV and found out tonight why. I took it out of the tank to find that the bulbs had not only burnt out but more or less exploded. There were several pieces of glass rattling around in the shell and even worse what was left of the elements looked like as if beginning to break down. Called amazon to see if they would replace since it had only been in the tank for a few weeks which they agreed to refund after returned then I could buy another.

Now the question I'm asking myself is do I really want to replace it? I'm not going to bash coralife as the bulbs very well could've been damaged in shipping and I failed to check before install. But fact of the matter is I've got my money back and do I really wanna put it back into something that I considered a novelty to begin with.

If anyone has any input good bad or ugly on the coralife mini UV please feel free to help sway me. I have some time to decide.


"Yea, well, that's like, your opinion man" -The Dude