reef cubers bio cube start up...

[reef cuber]

Well, I'm still here. Trying to figure out what works best for me and my tank.

I still have issues with NO3 and I'm trying not to chase PH. I turned the volume of air down so there are less bubbles, it was causing salt creep and water to seep out of the back of the tank slightly. I probably need a skimmer and more clean up crews.

I picked up a few new snails that are supposed to be helpful with algae on the glass, but we'll see. I think I would need about 100 of them to actually keep the glass semi clean, lol! I also added a small banded brittle star, though he may have to go back into my QT tank if I get what I think I am for the tank.

I was for the longest time not able to figure out why my friends tank/corals looked so much healthier and robust compared to mine (she uses my RO water). We change the water at about the same rate, once a week, we do about a 15% water change. I had two factors to work out. I had a Damsel who had become a total DICK in my tank. He was nipping corals and picking on my only other fish. So, he went bye bye!! Of course, I had to tear out all my rock and corals apart to get him out, but he is gone! After going over what my friend does and what I do, she suggested I also add a small amount of beneficial bacteria/water stabilizer to the tank (can't remember the product name). She does this on every water change.

Right away I noticed a HUGE difference in my coral conditions. My plate is puffed way out, my sun is out all the time now... other corals that looked almost dead are coming back. I'm happy as heck that there has been such a big improvement so quickly. So fast, I need to trade or sell the frog spawn, it's doing so well it's twice the size now and touching/irritating my other corals.

Homer, you are right, the blue berry is hanging in there, but not for long, It got a bit lost in the shuffle when I had to reset my rocks, and fell in the back and I can't get to it.

I picked up a few new coral from Cherry Corals. I hate buying on line and paying shipping.. I know it's necessary, but it's also the cost of another piece of coral for me! Luckily Cherry is only 1.5 hrs away and worth the drive! Great quality coral at a good price! They are my new go too!

I have decided to try a different direction with what livestock will be in the tank. I found a local source for seahorses and I'm going to get a pair for the tank. I know.. they are more work to some degree, but these are tank raised and doing well on frozen brine. I already added a pipe fish a month ago and he's doing well. I also added a bunch of pods to try to populate the tank more. I have my water circulators on timers so they will run on for an hour, and off for several and alternating between them (pump runs full time). I'm thinking about setting up my 60 gal FW tank as salt as it would better suit the seahorses and I already have a sump to put under it. I think it would be easier to manage water quality for them and I'll continue on with my little tank and maybe a few more reef fish.

 

[reef cuber]

Change of plans.... I took my 60 Gal, FW tank down, cleaned it out and now have a second SW tank. This is a bare bottom, seahorse only tank. I have a sump with a refugium under the tank and so far it is doing good. I rather have a more natural looking environment for the little guys, but it's easy to keep clean this way. I have 4 male seahorses, my friend has 4 females. When/if we decide to breed them we will swap them out. They are all captive bred and eating frozen. I was pretty proud of my self for figuring out how to get everything plumbed and working... Just used stuff I had on hand for the most part.

Here's two of the boys

I originally had the boys in a QT tank, but it crashed on me and luckily I was there to see it start. It was weird cause I had just done a water change on it, I pulled out the sea horses and put them in my main tank.. the next day I set up the 60 gal. I put the siphoned sand from the QT into the sump and let it run for a month, then added the horses. Water quality is good, though with the sump, I noticed that it evaporates pretty fast, so I need to set up an ATO and I'm looking to add a hob skimmer.

I started mixing my water in a 20 gal trash can and it sure speeds up the process and helps reduce the bucket carrying. At some point I hope to get hose to transfer water around. Carrying buckets is going to make this a short lived hobby if my back keeps acting up!!


My other tank is doing well. It has a pipe fish and green wrasse, they seem to be getting along well. I would love to set up a small sump for the reef cube some day, I am thinking about putting a refugium in the back to help with pods.

We are talking about moving in a few yrs, so I don't want to go too crazy setting up things at home, till we move. This is one of the things I'm looking for when we house hunt! Fish rooms!

 

[reef cuber]

Well, I guess this tank is always a work in progress to see what works and what doesn't. You can see the blasto is unhappy at the moment and my sun is on the way out. I hadn't touched a thing on the tank for a while, other than adding a stary blenny and a few other corals. Some I've had, but moved around to make them happier. I just topped off and monitor water.

I have been spending most of my time on my seahorse tank.

Water quality has been a constant battle. I have taken out the refugium, because the sump is too small to house everything I've added. I use a sock and sponge filter, added a skimmer, a carbon reactor, an ATO/AWC system, a second external canister filter and a homemade algae scrubber. I hope it's all helping and I'm only lugging water to keep my mixer can full of new salt water (next thing on my list to change - pumping water in for mixing)! The ATO is changing out 3 gallons every 12 hrs. and keeping the water topped off. The big white tube on the left is where the heater is housed. (too big for sump) It is open at the bottom on a sponge, and slats cut on the top allow hot water/air to escape. I have an air stone under the heater to create current. Works great and no more burns on the horses. I still have a battle on the sea horses health and will treat them as soon as the meds arrive. But, I think the water quality has greatly improved. If this doesn't work, I'll re-home the horses and I guess now I'm well on my way to a second reef tank, I just need better lighting!

photos of tanks below