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My 29G Biocube
I'm located in Maple, Ontario (just north of wonderland). Tank has been going for a bit now, but I'll post my entire journal from another site. I will include dates of the events.....
December 16th, 2007 I started up my 29G biocube. Below are pics and descriptions of what's happening. As far as equipment I have the 150watt MH hood from nanotuners, 100 watt heater, 2x koralia 2's, Oceanic protein skimmer, Coralife dual power center. Not everything is in yet, or in the final resting place since the tank is still going through the cycle. So here we go.... A few shots of all the equipment. Yes, I know the Red Sea kits are terrible. An API kit is on the way as a replacement. Yes, that's a simpson's throw cover. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1423.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1424.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1425.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1426.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1427.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1429.jpg This is the custom acrylic tray I had made to keeps any spills off the dresser. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1431.jpg Ok, first thing I modified was the opening from chamber 1 to chamber 2. The reason I left the little piece was because that's where the Oceanic skimmer hooks onto. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1432.jpg Next I got to work grinding off the return nipple, to open the hole for a bulkhead. The reason I went to a bulkhead was so I have flexibility in the future. With the stock nipple, you can't really do much. With a bulkhead, I can do something. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1433.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1434.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1435.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1439.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1441.jpg The upgraded hood was stripped down, and rewired. It was purchased used, so I wanted to make sure all was ok. Plus I added high heat loom on the wiring. One of the PC bulbs is missing because it broke during shipment. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1442.jpg |
continued....
So here's some water, with the sand already in the tank. Looks nasty huh? Slowly filled her up checking for leaks. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1443.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1444.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1445.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1446.jpg December 17th, 2007 After a day, she looked like this. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1448.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1452.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1449.jpg December 23rd, 2007 While doing a complete system test (lights and all) I found the 150watt light was causing the temp to spike by about 5 degrees during the on cycle. So time to get out the old dremel and modify the cooling system. Cut the intake grill right out, removed the stock weak fan, and stuck on a blower. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1454.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1455.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1457.jpg Also took the dremel to the exhaust grill and opened em up to allow more flow. Jumped on e-bay, and ordered a fan to move a lot more air. Also ordered more powerful fans to cool the MH bulb. Sorry, no pics, since I'm still waiting on the fans. But just doing the blower mod and opening the exhaust grills, the temp stays within 1 degree during a full day cycle. |
contiuned again...
December 26th, 2007 Next came the addition of live rock. Newmarket Big Al's had a $3.99/lb sale on fiji rock for boxing day. How can you say no to that??? So I grabbed 34 lbs of the good stuff, and did some aquascaping. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1475.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1484.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1510.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1464.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1507.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1504.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1501.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1462.jpg December 30th, 2007 To help with the cleaning, I have 2 emerald crabs, 5 Astrea snails, and 5 blue leg hermits. I only have pics of the crabs. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1515.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1517.jpg So that's where I'm at right now. I've been dosing the tank with purple up daily, and am getting some very beautiful coraline growth. When the tank is done the cycle, I will be putting the heater in chamber 2, along with chemi pure elite and filter floss. The stock filter in chamber 1 is getting tossed, and the skimmer is going in there. I will also be putting in a second koralia 2 to get the water flowing everywhere. January 16th, 2008 Been a month today since the tank started going with water. I was getting upset with the results of the Red Sea test kit (kept telling me I have high ammonia with everything else 0 ppm). So I upgraded to the API test kit. All I can say is don't waste your money on the Red Sea kits. They are WAYYYYYY off. Anyhoo, here are my parameters: kH = 8dH Nitrite = 0 ppm Nitrate = 2.5 ppm (not quite 0, not quite 5) pH = 8.4 Ammonia = 0 ppm Calcium = 500 ppm Salinity = 1.023 (I know, a bit low) I think it's safe to say my tank is cycled. I will do my major water change today or tomorrow, plus vacuum the sand bed. Then I'll be off to buy my captive bred true percs. January 19th, 2008 Got some new tennants. Did my major water change, all water parameters stayed perfect. First off, look at the size of this turbo snail, geez! http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1554.jpg Now the 2 new tennants. They are a pair of true percula clowns. They are still little guys (about 3/4"), as I wanted to watch them go through growing up. Out of the entire tank, they seemed to stick together the most. They are always swimming together in the tank. I love watching these guys go. hehe. I think my koralia 2 is a little too strong for them right now, so I gotta move it a bit. The second koralia 2 is coming out altogether. No names yet. FIancee is in charge of that department. Waiting til they do something unique to help with names. Anyhow, enough typing, here are the pics. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1557.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1556.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1558.jpg |
that's pretty well up to date. I'll be sure to post my updates here as I update my journal on nano-reef.com
cheers. |
Looks good! Like your mods. Maybe you can give the manufactures some lessons on how to build a tank.
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Looks good,
I'm impressed how quickly you did the mods and got the tank up and running. It was 4 weeks before I got rock in my tank. |
hehe, thanks. I spent countless hours reading all the info I could find. I think I've done more reading about marine aquatics in the last couple months than in all of high school. :mrgreen:
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Went to local big al's today after work. They were kind enough to sell me a piece of rock from one of their display tanks. Check out the coraline growth on this thing. it's pretty crazy. Made the fishies a swim through cavern. I also picked up 2 new friends for the clownies. They are getting the drip right now, so no pics yet. hehe. Check back in about 1 hour for the reveal.
In the mean time, here's the slightly changed aquascape. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1586.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...m/PICT1589.jpg |
hehe, well, it looks like the new tennants will not let me photograph them. I think they are pretty ****ed off from the move. One is freaking out, the other is just hiding under a rock (of course).
So I'll play the spoiler for now, and post pics when they decide to show off for the camera. Got 2 gobies. No idea of the species. One is white with brown bands and blue spots, and the other is white with blue spots with the small black mark on the fin. Again, sorry no pics, but they don't look too pleased right now. |
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