50 gallon cube

[WCorbin82]

So this is my first cube. I've been in the hobby in and out for about 10 years. I'm just getting back into the hobby after 3 years of absence. I'm so glad to be back and a lot has changed in 3 years.

 

Tank: 50 Gallon Cube made by CAD Lights with Starfire 3 sides, back is black (24x24x20)

 

Sump: Eshopps Cube ECD

 

Skimmer: Bubble Magnus Curve 5

 

Return Pump: Ehiem Compact 3000

 

Heater: Ehiem 200 watt

 

Flow: (2) Jeabo RW-8

 

Lighting: Eco Tech Radion XR15W

 

Controller: Reef Keeper Light

 

55 lbs of Walt Smith Reef Rock 2.1

 

I love this rock very hard to tell if it's man made or live rock covered with coralline algae. The best on the market. Way better than Real Reef in my opinion.

 

50 lbs of Tropic Eden Live Miniflakes Sand

 

This sand is very clear when first addition to the tank with water. Wasn't cloudy at all.

 

Salt Mix: HW-Marinemix Reefer Salt Mix 160 Gallons

 

I've heard many good reviews about this salt it mixes very well no white powder residue in brute can and very fast mix to clear.

 

Dr Tim's One and only was added to the system for a quick cycle. This is good stuff highly recommend.

 

Week 1: 10/18- 10/24

 

Livestock: After about 15 day cycle checked all levels no ammonia, low nitrates

 

Yellow Tang (from my LFS)

 

So I actually had a RSM 130D to do the cycle and when added my first fish. After seeing a deal on CL I upgraded to the 50 Cube.

 

 

 

 

 

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[WCorbin82]

Week 2: 10/25- 10/31

 

Livestock added:

 

7 leg star fish: (I thought was pretty cool lol)

 

(4) Bangii Cardinals: Nice size came out a 300 gallon tank that actually cracked at a LFS smh

 

At this point I started seeing diatoms on the rock and sand

 

 

 

 

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[WCorbin82]

Week 3: 11/1 - 11/7

 

Transferred from RSM 130D to CAD Light 50 Cube

 

Added a CUC cause the Diatoms was out of control. Don't know the names but

 

5 zombie like snails lol. They bury in the sand and come out when food hits the sand bed

 

5 turbo snails. They clean the glass, and rocks really good.

 

1 brittle star. He hangs out under the rock and stick his arms out to catch food.

 

1 blood fire shrimp. He hangs under the rock but very visible thanks to the holes in the Reef Rock

[WCorbin82]

Week 4: 11/9- 11/14

Easy to keep corals

 

So I went a little over board and order a bunch of acans, some zoas from a fellow WAMAS member and 2 additional fish. Yeah I know I'm moving too fast. But my water quality is good and I test each week. All levels are low

 

Ora Purple Dottyback

 

Neon Dottyback

 

Corals:

Acans from Austin Aqua Farms. I highly recommend this company. They are not expensive and I got a lot for my money. I love acans lol. 15 frags/mini colonies

 

GSP Tonga Branch piece.

 

Leather Toldstood Purple tips.

 

 

 

 

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Edited November 14, 2015 by WCorbin82

[epleeds]

Looks awesome.

[WCorbin82]

Looks awesome.

Thank you any advice? Or tips?

 

 

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[epleeds]

Yea keep doing what your doing. That cube is looking sweet.

[YHSublime]

Yea keep doing what your doing. That cube is looking sweet.

+1

 

 

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[WCorbin82]

Yea keep doing what your doing. That cube is looking sweet.

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

 

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[SunWyrm]

Second what epleeds said. Tank's looking awesome!

[WCorbin82]

Second what epleeds said. Tank's looking awesome!

Thank you I'm trying to keep up with you guys awesome tanks. Lol. Now I'm considering going hybrid with the LED/T5 combo. I hearing this is the best way to go but coloration and growth along with controllability. So I will build a canopy and include some T5's along with my current Radion fixture. I'm also gonna upgrade my sump and skimmer. The Eshopps cube is good but the space is really tight. As for the skimmer the bubble magus is good but not great. I've near got that dark skimmate like my old Reef Octopus skimmer. I think I'm going with Triggers Emerald 26 and Reef Octopus Classic 202 or Vertex Omega 130.

 

 

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[WCorbin82]

Week 5: 11/15- 11/21

 

Adding a purple dotty back:

 

Big mistake smh. So I added this beautiful purple dotty back in hopes it wouldn't be a problem in my system. I told the LFS rep I already had a neon dottyback and ORA orchid dotty back (which doesn't fight at all). He said at your own risk they will fight. Now I expected some territory battles but not a full out harassment smh. And worst he came with ick. So when I first put him in he got chased for the first few hours. The next day he Is chasing both the neon and orchid. He doesn't chase as much the neon as he does the orchid. It's so bad he's hiding under a rock everytime he comes near. Then I notice white spots on my yellow tang and the purple dotty back smh Now I'm paying the price and I have no excuse for my actions. I saw that coloration and took the bait and what's even worst I didn't QT the new arrival. If there is some light at the end of the tunnel I plan on transferring some of these fish to my jobs tank. Which is currently being cycled now. I put a post up about my ick problem and most say catch them and QT them for 30 days. Which is an option only 1 said feed them heavily and make sure they happy and fat and they will build up enough slime to fight the ick off. So this week update I won't be adding nothing for a few weeks. But I will add on a UV to my system to help with the problem. I have an oversize one that was on my old system. And I will be setting up the QT tank and letting that cycle for a week or so. Here are some shots of the tank now

 

 

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[epleeds]

The tank looks great. There are many different views on how to handle ICK in a display tank.

 

My rule is to let the fish ride it out. I had a large hippo tang get ICK after it went into the display tank. It's was perfectly fine in QT but once it went into the main system it got stressed and broke out in ICK. It was eating fine and swimming so I just fed it well and let it go. After about 10 days all the ICK was gone and no other fish in the system got it.

 

You will stress out the fish more trying to catch it and putting it into a different system them letting them try to fight it off naturally.

 

I would pull the new dotty back and get rid of him and let everything get back to normal

[WCorbin82]

The tank looks great. There are many different views on how to handle ICK in a display tank.

 

My rule is to let the fish ride it out. I had a large hippo tang get ICK after it went into the display tank. It's was perfectly fine in QT but once it went into the main system it got stressed and broke out in ICK. It was eating fine and swimming so I just fed it well and let it go. After about 10 days all the ICK was gone and no other fish in the system got it.

 

You will stress out the fish more trying to catch it and putting it into a different system them letting them try to fight it off naturally.

 

I would pull the new dotty back and get rid of him and let everything get back to normal

That maybe my next option. Thanks for the advice. I don't see them scratching on the rocks no more not like the other day. I'm gonna keep monitoring it. Although I don't wanna get rid of the dotty back I understand what you saying. What do you know about freshwater dips?

 

 

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[monkiboy]

I like the size an scope of the build with the aquascape. you do love your acans, haha! if you have any questions about treatment or proper protocol for prophylaxis feel free to PM and i'll be glad to he help, sir. thanks for sharing photos of your progress.

[monkiboy]

After about 10 days all the ICK was gone and no other fish in the system got it.

this statement is very misleading as you are simply referring to the visual symptoms you noticed being "gone"; the parasite will always be in the tank and/or with the fish unless treatment or a proper fallow period takes place. Edited November 18, 2015 by monkiboy

[epleeds]

That is true but all the fish are showing no signs or Symptoms and it's been over 2 months. They are eating and swimming like normal happy fish. It's my belief that they have built up their immunity to it

[SunWyrm]

Let's not get into an ich debate on his build thread, he even made a whole other thread for that 

Your fish are looking pretty happy in the pics but what I really want to know is why are your clowns so freakin' yellow?! My spotcinctus have been black since I got them!  They're too cute.

[WCorbin82]

I like the size an scope of the build with the aquascape. you do love your acans, haha! if you have any questions about treatment or proper protocol for prophylaxis feel free to PM and i'll be glad to he help, sir. thanks for sharing photos of your progress.

Thank you for encouragement when you hear other reefers saying good things it's so motivating to by more corals lol (maybe more acans ). I will PM about certain questions I may have. I'm learning more and more everyday as I go along in this reefing journey. Thanks again

[WCorbin82]

Let's not get into an ich debate on his build thread, he even made a whole other thread for that

Your fish are looking pretty happy in the pics but what I really want to know is why are your clowns so freakin' yellow?! My spotcinctus have been black since I got them! They're too cute.

Thank you ick is such a topic of difference in opinions. But I like to hear them all. Now the clowns are a designer clarkii clown pair and I have no idea how they got that color. I bug Steve and Vince at Quantium Reef all the time and Steve sold me this pair for $40 can you believe it lol. This whole breading different designer clowns have really taken off. One person call them mutants lol.

[WCorbin82]

Week 6: 11/22-11/28

 

So my 33rd birthday was this past thanksgiving Thursday and I'm so thankful for be learning and growing. So I had to treat myself to some eye candy even against my own judgment dealing with ick. So here goes

 

Added fish and some corals

(But my Clowns hosting my favorite corals )

 

Cup Coral from: The Marine scene

Bam Bam Zoas from: Reef escape

Some type of Red Zoas from: The Marine scene

Light Green Yellow tip Torch corals from: Reef escape

Purple Tip Torch coral from: Reef escape

Multi Color Hammer from: Reef escape

Light Green Hammer from: Reef escape

Green Hammer from: Reef escape

Rose Bubble Tip Anemone from: Reef escape

 

Tri-Color Wrasse (Don't know the name) from: Dutchman Reef

 

Although I've been battling ick all my fish are doing well. I got a wrasse which I've added last Sunday 11/15 and he's doing good no signs of ick (fingers cross). I took the advice of one of the fellow members and I've been feed in the fish more often and I started with Rod's food, also picked up some LRS Reef Frenzy. I got the chance to visit a local (not so local for me) fish store The Marine Scene. I must say very impressive store. I brought a few corals and food from there. My center piece and now one of my favorite corals I don't know what to do. I brought them a RBTA and its hiding in the right corner after I put it on the rock I wanted it to stay but knowing Anemones they do what the H-E-double hockey sticks they want. I don't even think the clowns know it's in the tank yet. It's only been 1 day so I will see how this goes. Other than that I'm still happy reef'n. Any advice for what's happening to my cup coral it's a beautiful center piece and I don't want it to stress cause they dumb ass clowns lol. Here's a video and some pics of the tank. Thanks for the advice and comments they are so helpful https://vimeo.com/147267061

 

Future Plans: Equipment

 

Upgrade Sump Triggers System 26 Emerald 1/2016

 

Upgrade Skimmer Vertex 130 or 180 after I get sump (depending on size for skimmer department in triggers sump)

 

Purchase: Bio Pellet Reactor 12/2015

 

Purchase: Bio Ceramic Ball for 1st chamber 1/2016

 

Purchase: Wine cooler for storing food and future auto dosing for thawed out food 2/2016

 

Purchase: Mini Freezer for Frozen food 2/2016

 

Future Plans: Livestock

 

Purchase: Zoas mini colonies 1/2016

 

Purchase: Hammers (Red/Pink, Orange) 1/2016

 

Purchase: More Torch corals 2/2016

 

Purchase: Neon Green Candy Cane 2/2016

 

Purchase: Ricordea Pack (10) 12/2015

 

Purchase: Rock Anemone Pack (10) 12/2015

 

Purchase: Blue and Red sponges (when available)

 

Purchase: Bright red or tricolor Meat coral or Brain 3/2016

 

Purchase: Mulit color Blastos 12/2015

 

Purchase: Flower Pot coral 3/2016

 

Purchase: Colorful wrasse (What ever Dutchman Reef has lol) 12/2016

 

Don't asks me how I will fit these corals in this tank but I will some how lol. I love a wall to wall coral reef tank. Unorganized Beautiful Living Art.

 

 

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[SunWyrm]

Try taping a picture of clowns hosting an rbta to your tank where the nem is. I've had luck doing this in the past and it's worked fairly quickly. 

Everything's looking great!

Edited November 30, 2015 by SunWyrm

[WCorbin82]

Try taping a picture of clowns hosting an rbta to your tank where the nem is. I've had luck doing this in the past and it's worked fairly quickly.

 

Everything's looking great!

Thank you Sunwyrm. At this point I will try anything lol. But today was rather strange in the tank. I actually saw the Bangii Cardinals guarding the cup coral from the clowns. For about 20 mins or so. I have (4) Bangii in the tank and the biggest one and his mate was keeping the clowns out of the cup coral. I tried to record but I was too late.

 

So I end up finding the RBTA and Re-Aqua scape the tank. Not a lot but it was a change. I'm praying that the RBTA stays in this rock it's getting enough light with a cliff for shade. Hopefully he will settle in that spot and stay put . I like the new aqua scape because it allows more water movement through the rocks. I'm even thinking about putting a small power head on each end at the bottom to keep food from settling in the back of the rock work.

 

 

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[SunWyrm]

Thank you Sunwyrm. At this point I will try anything lol. But today was rather strange in the tank. I actually saw the Bangii Cardinals guarding the cup coral from the clowns. For about 20 mins or so. I have (4) Bangii in the tank and the biggest one and his mate was keeping the clowns out of the cup coral. I tried to record but I was too late.

 

So I end up finding the RBTA and Re-Aqua scape the tank. Not a lot but it was a change. I'm praying that the RBTA stays in this rock it's getting enough light with a cliff for shade. Hopefully he will settle in that spot and stay put . I like the new aqua scape because it allows more water movement through the rocks. I'm even thinking about putting a small power head on each end at the bottom to keep food from settling in the back of the rock work.

 

 

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Too cute!

 

And RBTAs can stretch pretty far, it'll find a spot it likes, whether you like it or not is another story... 

[WCorbin82]

Too cute!

 

And RBTAs can stretch pretty far, it'll find a spot it likes, whether you like it or not is another story...

Well after the Re Aqua scape I found a perfect spot for the RBTA. He didn't move from last night so I'm hoping he likes that spot. Keeping my fingers cross. He has his own rock for now (until I glue some corals to it lol). But he's doing great. I didn't see the clowns host the cup coral today. But they haven't taken the RTBA as their host home. So I'm hoping that this changes in the next coming days.