Peter's Biocube 14 Build Thread
 

- NOTICE -
I started this tank a while ago, this is an old post on another forum that I though I would update and repost here. Enjoy..


So I picked up a Biocube 14 at J&L's a few days back. I think its the one that came with the upgraded lighting. (also picked up a stand)
http://s14.postimg.org/3mbo1xqlp/IMG_6053.jpg


Also got around 25LBS of this new "Real Reef Rock", both base and branching.
http://s14.postimg.org/6hor8sulp/IMG_6059.jpg


Here is the tank before I added anything to it, with the stand.
http://s14.postimg.org/i82oq6ne5/IMG_6061.jpg


I took out the half bioballs and added a bag of chemipure elite. Not sure if I should take all the bioballs out. any advice anyone? (I took out all the bioballs already)
http://s14.postimg.org/4gy7nyygd/IMG_6073.jpg


That is the tank after set up, still very cloudy because of the fine sand I used.
http://s14.postimg.org/42wvodect/IMG_6064.jpg


After a day, the water has cleared up and you can get a good view of the aquascape I did with the rock and branches.
http://s14.postimg.org/sn8uz3kkt/IMG_6067.jpg


My tank is near the windows, although the tempature is just right, it gets a bit of sunlight everyday for a while. Would this cause huge algae problems? because its not to late to find a solution now then be sorry later.
http://s14.postimg.org/5ztlsy50t/IMG_6087.jpg



Here is a view of the aquascaping I did
http://s14.postimg.org/ew8zaml0t/IMG_6089.jpg

Update #1
 

After a week

Ammonia : 0.2ppm yesterday, 0ppm this morning

Nitrite: 0ppm

Nitrate: 2ppm

Update #2
 

1 Month and a half ...

Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0ppm Nitrate: 5ppm
Algae came and gone (thanks to the CUC)
http://s9.postimg.org/n8pb8ipa3/IMG_6277.jpg

Added a tiny candy cane frag which is doing good
http://s9.postimg.org/3pkpz5qij/IMG_6259.jpg

updated #2 filter chamber :

|-----------| <- Floss
|********| <- Cheato
|-----------| <-Floss
|[0000000]| <- Chemipure Elite
|(o)(o)(o)(o)| <- Bioballs
|(o)(o)(o)(o)| <- Bioballs (GONE NOW)

Got a pair of black ice clowns from Timbits! and a frag of GSP. Thanks for the clowns!
http://s9.postimg.org/huqj0yzjv/Scre...8_53_42_PM.jpg
http://s9.postimg.org/j8i5w9yt7/Scre...8_54_21_PM.jpg

Need to get rid of black percula clown.
FS 20$ or trade for a frag or two.
If no one takes it by next sunday, it will be brought to Timbits.
Thanks!

Update #3
 

2 Months and a half...

Tank had a copepod infection, they where really small and I thought they where parasites. Changed the water 50% which stressed out my fish and got infected with some kind of bacterial infection. Treated with furan-2 for a week, Then they died :(, really miss them :sad:

Update #4
 

My cleaner shrimp and CUC survived, everything else died.
Redid aquascape and ran empty for a month.

at the end of the month added some corals
-orange digi
-favia frag
-acan frag
-red mushrooms
-clove polyps
-gsp
-few random zoas
http://i.imgur.com/7aQNHQD.png

Update #5
 

after running smoothly for a month and a half, 6 and a half months from start now, added some more corals. everything is doing good and thriving. ammonia always at 0, nitrites at 0 and nitrates always at 0 - 5 ppm and no higher.
Still running fishless but tank is looking better.
-torch coral
-frogspawn
-big star polyp colony (not open in picture)
-toadstool
-bunch of new zoas
-yellow and green polyp frags
-candy cane
- and some macro algae that I trim once in a while
http://i.imgur.com/w29KPln.png
http://i.imgur.com/ktscH03.png
http://i.imgur.com/ZqZOACT.png
http://i.imgur.com/MlCjz3L.png
http://i.imgur.com/dZwacG2.png

This is what my tank currently is right now. Im glad i managed to pull a crashed tank into a thriving tank again. :mrgreen: