Wazzel's mostly SPS 60 Cube

[Wazzel]

Just a little build thread for my little tank.

It is a marineland 60 cube, hydra52 lights, 2x vortec MP10's, a custom sump from Melvsreef, Reef Octopus 150 skimmer.

26 SPS frags
2 Euphillia frags
5 acan frags

2 ocellaris clowns
1 Fairy wrasse

handfull of snails

Tank was filled in late April

New tank day, late January

Sump plumbed in late March

Inital scape and filled, late April

Left Side

Right side

 

[Wazzel]

Really bad iPad photo from yesterday. I just got back from a week vacation and my tank sitter overfed so fighting a bit of hair algae. It is going away so no big deal.

Left side

Right side

 

[thetaggeffect]

Nice looking cube, have the same model myself. What size sump are you using? Cubes are definitely a challenge but it looks like yours is off to a great start!

 

[cugly]

Great start so far

 

[Wazzel]

Nice looking cube, have the same model myself. What size sump are you using? Cubes are definitely a challenge but it looks like yours is off to a great start!

Thanks, My sump is 22 l x 15 w x 16 t.

 

[Wazzel]

Great start so far

Thanks, I am ready for things to start growing. My last tank was about 2 years old when I took it down due to work and family commitments. I had a couple nice sized colonies by then. Everything is growing bases so it is just a matter of time before up and out happens.

 

[footballdude2k3]

any closeups of the coral?

 

[Wazzel]

Not yet. Need to take out my camera and snap some.

 

[swk]

Nice! Love your avatar. I was in a band years ago that was on the same label as them and the queers. Still some of my favorite stuff to listen to

 

[Wazzel]

Nice! Love your avatar. I was in a band years ago that was on the same label as them and the queers. Still some of my favorite stuff to listen to

Thanks, Most people have no idea where it comes from. I got a buddy to animate the orginal image for me. I still like that music. Took my teenage girls to warped tour just two weeks ago and last year.

 

[theaquareef]

Looks like you've got a good batch of corals already! Looks good man, how is everything liking the hydra? What are you using as far as dosing goes? Keep up the good work, gotta love the 60 cubes

 

[glaukos]

That's a beautiful tank and a great start wazzel:thumbsup:
When the corals grow big,it'll look awesome!

The only thing i'd change is the third pump you have in the DT.
I'd take it out
Or the two vortech's,don't create enough flow?

 

[Wazzel]

Looks like you've got a good batch of corals already! Looks good man, how is everything liking the hydra? What are you using as far as dosing goes? Keep up the good work, gotta love the 60 cubes

Thanks. Just about done with the coral stocking. Would like an eflo and a few more branching LPS. Hydra52 is good so far. Based on what I have seen so far it will be as good as the 250watt MH/ Vho set up I ran last time. I use seachem reef builder and reef advantage calcium dosed manually twice a week. I am going to go to a dosing set up in a bit. May or May not stay with the seachem products. I have had luck with them in the past.

 

[Wazzel]

That's a beautiful tank and a great start wazzel:thumbsup:
When the corals grow big,it'll look awesome!

The only thing i'd change is the third pump you have in the DT.
I'd take it out
Or the two vortech's,don't create enough flow?

I am planning to take it out one I get the vortechs up to full power. I just had it laying around and used it when I first filled up the tank. The vortechs have more than enough flow.

 

[Wazzel]

We'll. need some picture taking tips. I shot a few tonight and the all sucked. I have a Nikon 5100 dslr. Help.

 

[AudiSportB5S4]

What mode are you in? Shooting manual would be what you want to do here, and I would recommend getting the whites up on your lights because the blues really throw off the white balance. You can play with the settings on your camera to get the WB more neutral because the LEDs are going to really throw the image sensor, but you could also just try temporarily for pictures cranking up the whites or whitest producing LEDs for the shots.

I took this shot in my BioCube earlier this year.. LEDs I know will be more of a challenge but I will do exactly what I told you to do.

I've also seen the method of if you have off-camera flashes to have one firing down into the tank for the exposure to really get a ton of light on the subject you're shooting.

 

[Wazzel]

I have tried manual and apature priority. I think manual will be the best bet, just need to practice. I have an off camera flash I could try. Probably would also get better results if I used a tripod. I have been free handing my shots so far. I have planned to set up a picture setting on my controler so I can switch to it for picture taking. That way I can find an agreeable setting and keep it. Mostly I just need to shoot and get a feel for it.

 

[AudiSportB5S4]

I have tried manual and apature priority. I think manual will be the best bet, just need to practice. I have an off camera flash I could try. Probably would also get better results if I used a tripod. I have been free handing my shots so far. I have planned to set up a picture setting on my controler so I can switch to it for picture taking. That way I can find an agreeable setting and keep it. Mostly I just need to shoot and get a feel for it.

Yep, agreed. Do you have a speedlight from Nikon? I read this article and found it pretty useful for a good intro.. I'm sure you know but with photography you can only read so much, it's about getting out there and doing it. http://www.scantips.com/lights/awl.html

Definitely give the tripod a shot. Any time I'm shooting anything in the tank it's on manual to give me the control I want.. I typically crank up the ISO a little bit (make sure your automatic ISO override is off..) but not too high because then you'll get a grainy picture with the light shimmering in the water. Take a test shot and post it up using something like Flickr so I can see the EXIF data and I'll have a look to see whats going on with it.. If you want of course

 

[Wazzel]

Yep, agreed. Do you have a speedlight from Nikon? I read this article and found it pretty useful for a good intro.. I'm sure you know but with photography you can only read so much, it's about getting out there and doing it. http://www.scantips.com/lights/awl.html

Definitely give the tripod a shot. Any time I'm shooting anything in the tank it's on manual to give me the control I want.. I typically crank up the ISO a little bit (make sure your automatic ISO override is off..) but not too high because then you'll get a grainy picture with the light shimmering in the water. Take a test shot and post it up using something like Flickr so I can see the EXIF data and I'll have a look to see whats going on with it.. If you want of course

No it is a studio flash. I will chsck out the article. My normal shoot mode is apature priority and every things else set manually, including ISO. When I get to taking some shots I will welcoms comments. Kind of busy right now, I am taking in part of the first floor attic to build a walk in closet for my son. I will find some time to take some shots sooner or later.

 

[Wazzel]

I got red bugs, bummer. Not bad I have found them on only one frag. I am fairly sure they came on the frag I found them on. It was one I got from a local guy. Planning on starting treatment this weekend. Going to see if my vet will sell me what I need. I got three land animals they take care of so I suspect they will be helpful.

Not a bad time to find this since I have one piece left to get them I will be done stocking SPS. It has been ordered and I shold get it next week. I was planning on treating the tank as a precaution after I put the last piece in anyway.