Rimless Cube Tank Build **Picture heavy**

[andyman]

I would avoid any gap or soft coral in that small tank. It will take over your tank and you'll wish you started over. Also watch out for some fast growing spa's too.
I would also watch out for zooanthids. Those suckers are taking over my rocks as fast as a GSP would.

I think if you got a hand full of full cured rubble from someones tank and you got a dosing setup from BRS, you can start with SPS immediately.


andy

 

[D-Nak]

Hey, I was actually just about to PM you. Looks like I might not stop by this weekend, but thank you regardless!

Any LPS/SPS recommendations (other that Birdnest stated above)?

Most LPS will be fine in your tank. It boils down to personal preference as you what you get. However, many LPS have sweeper tentacles that require you to keep them away from each other.

The hardiest SPS tend to be the quickest growers, but that can also be a curse because once they take off they require a lot of pruning. Here's a short list of hardy SPS (along with my favorites):

1. montipora capricornis (starburst monti)
2. montipora digitata (forest fire digi)
3. most staghorn acropora (Bali green slimer)

Neptune Aquatics in San Jose n California Reef in Fremont have a good selection of LPS/SPS

+1. Neptune has a ton of $10 frags to choose from. Aquatic Collection in Hayward is also worth checking out. They have quite a fish selection too.

I personally feel like dosing is required once you got a tank full of coral. Either dose manually by hand or set up an automatic dosing pump. Unless you plan on doing big water changes OFTEN.

Once you fill that tank with coral and you got coralline algae growing, your alkalinity/calcium is gonna drop.

Right now you dont have to worry about it since your coral load and fish load is super low.

Gary I feel like if you can program an apex, you're most likely going to be able to set up a dosing pump.

I'm actually in the process of setting up a dosing pump right now. Not that hard. I've got 3 cups that I'm dosing into right now to make sure it doses the correct amount before I add the dosing pump to my tank.

Dosing pumps on the Apex are really easy to set up and maintain. For about a $150 premium over two BRS dosers, the Neptune DOS unit is nice, especially when combined with the dosing containers. It'll let you know when the dosing containers are low, and will give you a visual display for what and when you're dosing via Fusion. It also has oversized motors so it should last a long time.

Nice build! To all the NorCal reefers, the OP is a great guy. Clowns are looking comfy in their home.

So when are you moving up here? First Clorox, now Gary... you're next!

 

[CoralsAddiction]

So when are you moving up here? First Clorox, now Gary... you're next!

Been thinking about setting up a satellite office for my firm in Palo Alto or San Jose for couple years now. Plus family in the East Bay is getting old. It's just a matter of time I think. Lol.

 

[chowberg]

Neptune Aquatics in San Jose n California Reef in Fremont have a good selection of LPS/SPS

Thanks for the recommendation - I actually haven't checked out any of the local fish stores in the bay area yet.

I personally feel like dosing is required once you got a tank full of coral. Either dose manually by hand or set up an automatic dosing pump. Unless you plan on doing big water changes OFTEN.

Once you fill that tank with coral and you got coralline algae growing, your alkalinity/calcium is gonna drop.

Right now you dont have to worry about it since your coral load and fish load is super low.

Gary I feel like if you can program an apex, you're most likely going to be able to set up a dosing pump.

I'm actually in the process of setting up a dosing pump right now. Not that hard. I've got 3 cups that I'm dosing into right now to make sure it doses the correct amount before I add the dosing pump to my tank.

I'm thinking about getting a dosing system and ATO now. I probably should have known that I'd try to go more elaborate and accounted for this during my build!

I would avoid any gap or soft coral in that small tank. It will take over your tank and you'll wish you started over. Also watch out for some fast growing spa's too.
I would also watch out for zooanthids. Those suckers are taking over my rocks as fast as a GSP would.

I think if you got a hand full of full cured rubble from someones tank and you got a dosing setup from BRS, you can start with SPS immediately.


andy

Andy, I believe when we first talked I was thinking about SPS but went back on my decision. The fellow reefers post piqued my interest in SPS again.

My rock/sand is already live (pulled it from a holding tank that I've had up for over half a year) with beneficial bacteria and curious for the purpose of cured rubble. Thanks for your advice!

 

[chowberg]

Nice build! To all the NorCal reefers, the OP is a great guy. Clowns are looking comfy in their home.

Been thinking about setting up a satellite office for my firm in Palo Alto or San Jose for couple years now. Plus family in the East Bay is getting old. It's just a matter of time I think. Lol.

Thanks for the kind words! Agreed with D-Nak, when you coming to the bay?

 

[kes_reef]

Very impressive stand! Beautiful tank!
I'd be happy to give you SPS to start. Just pm when you're ready.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Good looking set up!

SPS aren't that difficult until you start getting into sticks. Easy SPS would be any Montis, Birdsnest, or Stylos. As far as sticks, Bali Slimers are pretty bulletproof (and cheap!).

Zoas are easy, but make sure you either isolate them or like the color because they will spread.

 

[chowberg]

Thanks for everyone's advise and comments!

I've decided to go LPS/SPS. Here is a picture of the tank w/ the light on and a close up of the clowns.

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[EnderTurtle]

Wow your tank's water height is very high

Watch out for suicidal fish. You could get some sort of screen, if that becomes a problem.

 

[vhuang168]

Looks great!

@Mike. My water level is similar. About an inch below the edge.

 

[chowberg]

Got two frags (Orange Digi & Birdnest) over the weekend.

I haven't figured out how to take pictures of the tank with the light on. Any tips?

 

[EnderTurtle]

The issue you're experiencing is due to color balance.

Most cameras are set to automatic color balance meaning the camera is trying to correct the colors it's seeing.

The blue lighting is exaggerated big time when we try to take pictures = why pictures become more blue than in person.


To correct this issue, try to turn up the whites and lower the blues of your lights before taking pictures.

I'm gonna try and set up an Aquarium Photography Workshop next year.

 

[andyman]

If your in SF area your welcome to some free sps. I got a green monti and sunset monti's growing like weed in my tank. You got a doser for your setup yet?

 

[chowberg]

The issue you're experiencing is due to color balance.

Most cameras are set to automatic color balance meaning the camera is trying to correct the colors it's seeing.

The blue lighting is exaggerated big time when we try to take pictures = why pictures become more blue than in person.


To correct this issue, try to turn up the whites and lower the blues of your lights before taking pictures.

I'm gonna try and set up an Aquarium Photography Workshop next year.

Let me know, I'd attend that! Thanks again for your help.

If your in SF area your welcome to some free sps. I got a green monti and sunset monti's growing like weed in my tank. You got a doser for your setup yet?

I just picked up some frags and maybe picking up two more this week. I think I'm going to try to keep those alive for the time being before I get more. Thank you so much though! Doser set up should be done in about two weeks!

 

[Zacktosterone]

gorgeous tank

 

[chowberg]

I ended up switching my ER skimmer out for a SSA ES5 skimmer. This sicce pump is so silent and draws less power. Plus it saved so much room in my sump.

It isn't dialed in yet but will post a picture of it later tonight.

 

[danchon]

This tank is straight stuntin'

 

[chowberg]

This tank is straight stuntin'

LMAO. Thanks for creating an account to post that. Go buy that Nuvo38. Welcome to Reef Central

Also attached is an extremely high-tech blueprint of my sump. I posted it another thread asking which chamber to dose it, might as well ask here also so I have it all in one place!

Bottom left drain is a full siphon from the herbie over flow, top right drain is the overflow. I plan on dosing into the bubble trap area, what do you think?

 

[chowberg]

SSA ES5 is amazing!

SSA ES5 is amazing!

Hey - I was hesitant to upgrade my ER RS80 because it was working nicely but I have no regrets getting the SSA ES5. It is so silent and started pulling waste overnight (I didn't even give it a vinegar bath). It also freed up so much room in my sump.

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[wpeterson]

Beautiful setup!

Did you get an ATO yet? I have an extra AutoAqua SmartATO if you're interested. I've had very good luck with them on both my nanos and the 90 gallon we run now.