I have been running a biocube 29 for a couple years now, I use a 250w MH 14k Pheonix bulbs with (4) 24w T5 (2) ATI Blue + and (2) GIESEMANN super purple. I keep this 8" off the water and get around 175-200 PAR at the sandbed. I don't have any coral higher than half way up the tank, but this has been great for SPS for coloration and growth.
I keep our house at 70 degrees and have to have a fan on the tank whenever the MH are on and this keeps my temp around 79.3
Evaporation is pretty big, without a cover on the tank I go through about 3-5 gallons of RO/DI water a week.
I use a AQUAMAX HOB skimmer rated for 75 gallons and contribute a lot of my success to this skimmer. It is a beast!
I run (2) WP-10 and have a 1200 gpm return pump. I feel my SPS reacts better to strong flow, and it has helped keep from having dead spots.
Also I use an InTank media tray with a small amount of BRS Carbon which I change once a month. It's amazing how dirty water effects the light in your tank. All the stories about carbon bleeching corals I believe is because it makes the water so clear it greatly increases the PAR your corals are receiving.
I use a Jebao DP-4 dosing pump and it has been pretty good. I dose Calk, Mag and Alk. B-ionic 2 part works well, and I use Kent for mag. I wouldn't worry about a dosing unit until you have a decent stock of SPS, not frags even those you should be able to maintain with frequent water changes, but as you get into colonies you will need to dose.
For livestock I only have a pair of clown fish and a cleaner shrimp plus a small CUC.
For water changes I do 3-5 gallons every 1-2 weeks with instant ocean salt, I add potassium supplements the week I don't do a water change, I believe this has helped with color.
I ran GFO in a reactor for a while, but once the tank was mature I have had to try and keep my nitrates and phosphates from hitting 0. Unfortunately in the beginning I used bad rock and it leeched phosphates for several months. Be extremely picky about what rock you get and where you put it.
I would look at adding egg crates to the bottom of your tank so you can elevate your rock 1/8" above the sand to help keep things clean. Also make sure you vacuum about 1/2" off your sandbed when you do water changes. I would buy a turkey baster to blow off your rocks during water changes as well.
I have mine next to a window and have added a blanket to that window to keep sunlight out as I was having algae problems for awhile. Can't say if that was due to the sun or just because the tank was less mature. Now I only have to clean the glass once ever 3-4 days.
Someone made a good comment about keeping rock away from the sides, I didn't do this at first and had to rearrange everything at one point as I couldn't get the sides clean because of the rock and it drove me nuts.
Hope some of this helps, and welcome endless money pit of reef keeping!
I keep our house at 70 degrees and have to have a fan on the tank whenever the MH are on and this keeps my temp around 79.3
Evaporation is pretty big, without a cover on the tank I go through about 3-5 gallons of RO/DI water a week.
I use a AQUAMAX HOB skimmer rated for 75 gallons and contribute a lot of my success to this skimmer. It is a beast!
I run (2) WP-10 and have a 1200 gpm return pump. I feel my SPS reacts better to strong flow, and it has helped keep from having dead spots.
Also I use an InTank media tray with a small amount of BRS Carbon which I change once a month. It's amazing how dirty water effects the light in your tank. All the stories about carbon bleeching corals I believe is because it makes the water so clear it greatly increases the PAR your corals are receiving.
I use a Jebao DP-4 dosing pump and it has been pretty good. I dose Calk, Mag and Alk. B-ionic 2 part works well, and I use Kent for mag. I wouldn't worry about a dosing unit until you have a decent stock of SPS, not frags even those you should be able to maintain with frequent water changes, but as you get into colonies you will need to dose.
For livestock I only have a pair of clown fish and a cleaner shrimp plus a small CUC.
For water changes I do 3-5 gallons every 1-2 weeks with instant ocean salt, I add potassium supplements the week I don't do a water change, I believe this has helped with color.
I ran GFO in a reactor for a while, but once the tank was mature I have had to try and keep my nitrates and phosphates from hitting 0. Unfortunately in the beginning I used bad rock and it leeched phosphates for several months. Be extremely picky about what rock you get and where you put it.
I would look at adding egg crates to the bottom of your tank so you can elevate your rock 1/8" above the sand to help keep things clean. Also make sure you vacuum about 1/2" off your sandbed when you do water changes. I would buy a turkey baster to blow off your rocks during water changes as well.
I have mine next to a window and have added a blanket to that window to keep sunlight out as I was having algae problems for awhile. Can't say if that was due to the sun or just because the tank was less mature. Now I only have to clean the glass once ever 3-4 days.
Someone made a good comment about keeping rock away from the sides, I didn't do this at first and had to rearrange everything at one point as I couldn't get the sides clean because of the rock and it drove me nuts.
Hope some of this helps, and welcome endless money pit of reef keeping!
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