Pete's Biolife Cube - Update with new pics

[Just Looking]

Introduction:
Just beginning so lets make a start.

System Objectives: Mini reef and a few fish

System Type: Mixed Reef

Display System:

Strike up Date: 16/08/08

Display Tank: Reef octopus biolife cube 60x60x60cm.

Display Lighting: Reef octopus 24w x 2 T5 (Actinic + 10000k)
Guppys 24w x 2 T5 (Actinic +10000k). Changed to a guppy's 150w Halide but kept 2 x 24w actinics working in January 2010. Then to BSLED 120w in November 2010.

Stand: Comes with the tank.

Hood: Comes with the tank.

Sump: Comes with the tank but modified by LFS to include refugium.

Refugium: 75 mm coral sand. Live rock and macro.

Refugium Lighting: Upgraded to Guppy's 350mm 2 x 24watt power compact. Using one light only. Now using a 24w T5, 6500k. Good macro growth.


Support systems:

System Water: Natural salt water from Kiama harbour

Display Water circulation: internal powerhead. Upgraded to two small Tunze's. Now just have one vortech MP10ES.

Return Pump:1300l/h. Upgraded to an Eheim compact+ 3000

Skimmer: Reef octopus Classic 500L OTP. Upgraded to an Aqua medic turboflotor skimmer / 1000 multi

Top Up: manual


Chemical Support:


Nitrates: 0 - 5 (aquasonic)
Phosphates: 0.03 (hanna)
Alkalinity: dKH 9 or 160ppm (salifert)
Calcium: 400ppm (salifert)
Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.024 (refractometer)
Magnesuim: 1250-1300ppm (seachem)


Images:

Tank with lounges for viewing

Sump

20 kg live rock cycling

Hitch hiker coral ( I think) Still here and growing 09/10/08 maybe a pulsing xenia?



09.03.09

Here is is so far.



09.09.09
Here is some new photos of the tank now. Tank is just over a year old.

Side photo showing the Guppies clip on halide

[blacjack]

G'day mate, so what's your stocking plans? fish and coral that is.

[Just Looking]

G'day mate, so what's your stocking plans? fish and coral that is.

Hi Blacjack
Some easy to look after corals, Coralimorphs and zoos I think in varying colours. A banded coral shrimp and fish wise two of the percular or ocellaris clowns, Royal dottyback or two if compatible, a blenny perhaps. After keeping tropicals for years and Discus at the moment, pretty as they are they just don't have the vibrant colours as many marines. These are the ones I want with my priority being compatibility and hardyness, so no impulse buying LOL. I have a lot of faith in my LFS guy so will be learning as I go.
I have set up a nsw collecting pump and a 220 litre storage drum so hopefully when settled and balanced should last me a year. The water in the harbour at Kiama (near home) is nice and collecting is easy with the trailer backed down the boat ramp, and the bilge pump tied to the jetty.
Pete.
PS I just noticed you are from Orange. I have two nephews (married with children) living in Orange.

[Just Looking]

Stacked the rock on and around a plastic crate trying to leave plenty of holes for future corals etc. Added the coral sand and now just bringing up the kH and calcium. Hopefully adding some fish and corals next weekend .

[jason angel]

Hey mate, tank is looking Good.... but don't rush this stage of the tank, the longer you can cycle the tank the better, at least a month, bare minimum IMO, then check your water parameters.
Keep the pics coming mate!

[Mr Miagi]

Looking good. I like the rock you have, im sure some more life will pop out from it yet. A word of caution, dont be in such a rush to add fish and coral. Good things come to those who wait, but disaster happens quickly! I would definitely let the LR and sand bed mature!

[Just Looking]

Just an update
A few additions after the water is constantly checking fine.






Thanks all.

[jpaudio16]

Looking good. I like the rock you have, im sure some more life will pop out from it yet. A word of caution, dont be in such a rush to add fish and coral. Good things come to those who wait, but disaster happens quickly! I would definitely let the LR and sand bed mature!

My tank just got its 1st live stock and it was after 3 months of water and 2 months since the tank started to cycle just dont rush the tank you will be happy in the long run with your tank,

Tanks looking awsome anyways, I cant wait to get my clowns

[Just Looking]

A few additions - About my limit I think just a few blue morphs and another plate
All going well
Need fo fill the gaps to hide the crate.

[Just Looking]

Just an update of photos.
A little cyano but seems to be settling down. Otherwise all good

Plate 1


Plate 2


Hammer


Refugium

[Just Looking]

Paid a visit to Reef secrets while at Surfers recently. All I can say is WOW and bought a few home.

[incomplet]

nice live stock
i've gotta 3 foot reff octopus
in the process of cycling atm
3 more weeks should do it =)

[Just Looking]

I could not believe what was available in the Gold Coast aquariums. My LFS said that QLD get to pick the good specimens from the collectors and the rest of the better ones go to the US. Sounds reasonable because I have not seen the same for sale near home or Sydney's shops.
How are these!! Sorry about the poor phone photos.

[pebbles]

Just looking, the scolys you have posted are available in sydney LFS - you just have to look around and help 'unpack' when shipments come in.

cheers

[Samcarl]

So was the 150w lamp for this tank? Any pictures or updates?
were you supplementing the bacteria growth? a lot of progress in a few months.

[Just Looking]

It has been a few months. Over whitespot and fish are back in.

[Jared]

I could not believe what was available in the Gold Coast aquariums. My LFS said that QLD get to pick the good specimens from the collectors and the rest of the better ones go to the US. Sounds reasonable because I have not seen the same for sale near home or Sydney's shops.
How are these!! Sorry about the poor phone photos.

Was this at reef secrets aquariums? my fav feef shop on the coast

[Just Looking]

Was this at reef secrets aquariums? my fav feef shop on the coast

Yes, Reef Secrets.
I thought it was the best. Darren is very helpful and friendly.
Corals and shrimp I brought back are doing well. Happy to spend some money there.

[Daz the reefo]

I was going to ask you where you bought your stock from cause around our neighbourhood the LFS's or should i say petstores i've found are hopeless!!! i don't bother down here anymore and in touch with a few of the sydney guys.

[Just Looking]

Hi Daz, sorry for the late reply.
F F & F at Warrawong get good fish most Thursday and Fridays and ok corals from time to time. Staff are friendly.
Jason at A L and pets in Wollongong is in touch with an old supplier that also does reef secrets in QLD. So I was told after he got a few scollys. Jason started me off and have some faith in his knowledge.
The rest are pretty ordinary.
Which sydney stores do you prefer?

Pete

[Daz the reefo]

At this stage the main southern ones, as i hate driving to sydney, Majestics i like cause Paul is always available to talk to or even email during the day and they have a good selection of fish and corals and the other is St.George in Kogarah, i sometimes frequent Strictly aqauriums in engadine but there is a psycho hose beast that works there and she drives me insane. she watches over your shoulder to make sure you buy something and not waste her time!!

[Just Looking]

Is that the one that works between her smoke breaks?
Need to pay a visit to the two you mentioned and have a look.
Thanks

[Just Looking]

I added some new photos yesterday. It has been a few months.... All is going well with the cube, bringing much enjoyment.

Added equipment: 150w guppies halide (clip on) and another powerhead.

Updated pictures at the start.

Pete

[sydneydrewid]

nice one, the tanks looking great!! congrats! some beautiful clams you have there

[Just Looking]

nice one, the tanks looking great!! congrats! some beautiful clams you have there

I just purchased the brown clam from my lfs to try. Sat it in and it secured in a day or two. Very responsive and extension was great. Looked so good I got the other from the same store. They certainly help finish a tank off. They look a bit plain from the sides but really light up from the top. Just like most clams for sale have the pics from the top.
Pete

[Just Looking]

Well it has been a long time since updating. All is going well and progressed. The basic gear has been replaced with newer / better technology and I think it shows.
With the move from t5 lighting to a 150w halide and now to LED came a chance to try some cheap clams and SPS frags. Surprising they all did well and were not as demanding as expected. So more and better colours were added as funds allowed. Nice zoas were added as frags as well when available from fellow MASA members.
One problem was trying to maintain calcium and carbonate hardness. This was going on for months and could never keep them up. Jason, formally from aqua life and pets suggested the magnesium level may be low. I'm sure it would have been suggested here too had I asked. Anyway once adjusted things stabilised. Magnesium in my opinion is very underrated!
Now some updated photos
Please excuse the frag rack (but we all need one)

[Quietelk]

Hey Pete,

How are you doing top-up on this tank?

[Just Looking]

Hey Pete,

How are you doing top-up on this tank?

All topups are still manual. About 2 litres a day of RO water. I fill about a dozen 3 lit milk containers from the RO tank at a time. This makes it very easy.
Pete.

[Samcarl]

Wondering what your light cycle is like, as im using 120w bsled 1:1 aswell. Im finding it too strong for some of my lps.

[Just Looking]

Wondering what your light cycle is like, as im using 120w bsled 1:1 aswell. Im finding it too strong for some of my lps.

Hi Samcarl
Firstly I have a 600mm twin T5 with 10000 and actinic that comes on at 6.00am.

The LED
I have the 3 sections each with 50:50 white:blue leds and timer. I have it setup like the sun moving overhead. Rises and sets pretty quick though
6.30am RHS and centre third on
2.30pm LHS on. So all are now on.
3.30pm RHS off
9.00pm LHS and centre off
9.15pm T5 off and fishbowl moonlight on moon cycle comes on.

With this my few SPS are doing great with good growth up top and regrowth over the plug or liverock. Maxima and squamosa clams are doing great with both colour and growth.
Morphs, rhodactus, zoos, cinarinas, xenias, cats, blasstos, plus others are all great. What are suffering a little are the 4 fungias and 2 trachys on the bottom. Growing and expanding well but a little washed out in colour. Heliofungia on the bottom next to them is fine. So how do you know?
Overall very happy with the light.