Photos: My 16 Gallon Biocube (@3 Months)

[Johny123]

Here are some photos of my 16 gallon bio cube at 16months. I am new to the hobby, so far so good. Levels are all good, doing 10% water changes every 1-1.5 weeks.

Any thoughts on what I should add next? Any input in general? Thanks!


<a href="https://ibb.co/hNvSFQ"><img src="https://thumb.ibb.co/hNvSFQ/IMG_1811.jpg" alt="IMG_1811" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/jFM1aQ"><img src="https://thumb.ibb.co/jFM1aQ/IMG_1812.jpg" alt="IMG_1812" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/gGQuvQ"><img src="https://thumb.ibb.co/gGQuvQ/IMG_1813.jpg" alt="IMG_1813" border="0"></a>



(Also...for anyone concerned about that bleached coral in there, I had that lying around for about 30 years, so I used it. I don't condone the sale or use of bleached coral!)

 

[AlSimmons]

Everything looks great, but where's all the life at? (algae, spirorbid worms, sponges etc) The tank looks pretty steril for 16 months. Be careful with that Xenia too. If you give this coral an inch it will take a mile so you might want to isolate it on the sandbed somewhere instead.

 

[Johny123]

Everything looks great, but where's all the life at? (algae, spirorbid worms, sponges etc) The tank looks pretty steril for 16 months. Be careful with that Xenia too. If you give this coral an inch it will take a mile so you might want to isolate it on the sandbed somewhere instead.

Oh man. That was a typo. It's 3 months not 16 months. So slowly adding still.

 

[Johny123]

(That 3 months includes 1 month of cycling) so only two months since I started adding fish and corals.

 

[Ryan Darilek]

Looking good!! I have a Biocube as well (32 gallon) that is 3 months, 2 days old, so right about the same age. The best thing I did for mine was upgrade the lighting (after it was a month and a half old). I went with Steve's LED 14k retro kit and couldn't be happier with them. My tank has progressed as much as a tank that's been up for 6-8 months and I'm very happy with it. If you can swing the $275 investment, it's more than worth it IMO.

As far as what to add next, I would recommend maybe some mushrooms or leathers to add some green to the tank! Looking great though, keep up the good work and patience!

Here's a picture of mine:

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[Johny123]

Looking good!! I have a Biocube as well (32 gallon) that is 3 months, 2 days old, so right about the same age. The best thing I did for mine was upgrade the lighting (after it was a month and a half old). I went with Steve's LED 14k retro kit and couldn't be happier with them. My tank has progressed as much as a tank that's been up for 6-8 months and I'm very happy with it. If you can swing the $275 investment, it's more than worth it IMO.

As far as what to add next, I would recommend maybe some mushrooms or leathers to add some green to the tank! Looking great though, keep up the good work and patience!

Here's a picture of mine:

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Wow. That looks amazing. Perhaps I am being too over cautious? I'm buying like one little coral every two weeks. Testing levels, water change every week. Waiting. Maybe it's time to really start stocking up the tank? I was under the assumption you need to add like one thing at a time?

Also...is that an anemone? Aren't you scared it's going to walk around and sting your corals?

 

[Johny123]

Also...how do I get the most bang for my buck? I have a wife and kids, and although she admires the tank, she ain't to keen on me spending $50 or more every week on coral. Irony being that I make a good living and can afford it...but that doesn't seem to matter. Haha. Non-reefers just don't understand.

 

[Ryan Darilek]

Wow. That looks amazing. Perhaps I am being too over cautious? I'm buying like one little coral every two weeks. Testing levels, water change every week. Waiting. Maybe it's time to really start stocking up the tank? I was under the assumption you need to add like one thing at a time?

Also...is that an anemone? Aren't you scared it's going to walk around and sting your corals?

Well cautious is absolutely a good thing. More so for fish though since it is what adds to your bioload. I went nice and slow adding the fish
Yes sir, that's a bubble tip anemone and yes, that was a concern at first. BTA's actually have a pretty mild sting in comparison to other nems and once they find their spot, they will typically stay put as long as they are happy. While it was moving around getting its routine down, it did occasionally come in contact with a few corals, but being that their sting is mild I had time to move them out of its way (you should try and intervene within a day). Now that it is settled and her foot is anchored where she likes, the BTA goes into her cave at night and then extends out into the light during the day... Always in the exact same spot and now I never have to move the corals out of her way

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[Ryan Darilek]

Also...how do I get the most bang for my buck? I have a wife and kids, and although she admires the tank, she ain't to keen on me spending $50 or more every week on coral. Irony being that I make a good living and can afford it...but that doesn't seem to matter. Haha. Non-reefers just don't understand.

Sounds like we are in the same boat. The ability to spend more than we should and a wife who rolls her eyes every time we do. Haha!
So on the bang for the buck, I've tried about every route (online, expensive colonies from the LFS, and less expensive frags from the LFS). What's been the best and what I recommend is from other Reefers. You can't get better quality and value for sure. See if you can find and join a local marine aquarium club in your area. I joined Southern Colorado Marine Aquarist Society and its been great. Members are always selling and/or swapping awesome pieces (and equipment too) for only a fraction of the cost. Even group buys on food and supplements. Just ordered 10 100g trays of krill, brine and mysis for only $20 going in on a bulk purchase from a supplier with a few other members where as I was paying $10 for ONE tray at my LFS. Hell of a deal!! You can sometimes get lucky on Craigslist too and find someone shutting down their reef and selling their livestock. I've spent $160 on one coral at the LFS and then on the other hand, I paid $100 to a fellow reefer and got the incredible anemone and 5 amazing and better quality pieces. It's the way to go man!

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[bradleyv1714]

Wow! I have always been into freshwater as sw tanks tend to cost a lot to keep up with and to stock. I came across a 29g biocube and have been keeping it around just in case. But... I still feel like I'm not ready and I'mm scared about the amount of money I'll have to invest plus the time that I will have to invest.

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[bradleyv1714]

I was thinking about starting out my tank by getting live sand, dry rock and a piece of live rock to start the rest off since its so expensive.

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[Ryan Darilek]

I was thinking about starting out my tank by getting live sand, dry rock and a piece of live rock to start the rest off since its so expensive.

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It can be expensive, but there's also ways to accomplish it on a budget. Myself and I'm sure others will be more than happy to help you along the way. I too have a lifetime of experience with FW, but SW is much more gratifying because it's so much more work and intricate. Totally worth it!!

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[Hawaiian Stylin]

Im just starting as well, 4 months, just started adding 3weeks ago. I plan to grow a few different frags up and then swap frags with local reefers. I met some great people while trying to hunt for good deals on equipment through the local classifieds. Every single reefer has been great and I've been keeping touch. I now have 8 different types of corals for about $200. Their small, but they should grow in a few months. Then I can frags them for other species.
David

 

[neacewood]

IMO everyone who has never had a SW aquarium should get a biocube. What I figured out since starting a year ago (And let me go on to say this may not be right but it worked for me) is the only thing you really need to do in a biocube is water change and clean the factory sponge every week. 5 gallons of saltwater from the lfs cost me close to 20$ per month. As long as you kept the fish fed everything was good. Of course who wants to keep everything factory.... so I then once I had a squirrel fund ( money that the wife didn't know about saved) I went ahead and upgraded lights added a few more corals and so on... so what I'm saying is if you want too you can have a fish tank for 20-40$ a month. And +1 on other reefers. You will find amazing deals from other people over fish stores but with that being said you will find good deals at a fish store on occasion too!!


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[bradleyv1714]

Im just starting as well, 4 months, just started adding 3weeks ago. I plan to grow a few different frags up and then swap frags with local reefers. I met some great people while trying to hunt for good deals on equipment through the local classifieds. Every single reefer has been great and I've been keeping touch. I now have 8 different types of corals for about $200. Their small, but they should grow in a few months. Then I can frags them for other species.
David

How did you find these other reefers? I have tried on Facebook and Craigslist but it seems everyone has moved on from Craigslist and very few people do the Facebook ads.

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[FullBoreReefer]

Looking good!! I have a Biocube as well (32 gallon) that is 3 months, 2 days old, so right about the same age. The best thing I did for mine was upgrade the lighting (after it was a month and a half old). I went with Steve's LED 14k retro kit and couldn't be happier with them. My tank has progressed as much as a tank that's been up for 6-8 months and I'm very happy with it. If you can swing the $275 investment, it's more than worth it IMO.

As far as what to add next, I would recommend maybe some mushrooms or leathers to add some green to the tank! Looking great though, keep up the good work and patience!

Here's a picture of mine:

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3mths; patience my friend lol

 

[Ryan Darilek]

3mths; patience my friend lol

Lol yeah it looks like I rushed it a bit... But I went very slow with the fish and inverts. Corals now... Yeah not so much

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