40 Gal AIO cube

[ks2509]

So the wife and I pulled the trigger on an Aquatop 40 AIO cube today to upgrade our IM 20. Would have gone bigger but money and space is not available for now. Anyway I will be using the AI PRIME HD from the other tank along with my Ice Cap ATO plan on ordering the Ice Cap gyre 1k for the power head. 40lbs of rock 15-20 lbs of sand. Have some media from the other up and running tank plus water from it to speed the cycle along. Will be doing a mixed reef with mostly LPS and Euphyllia. Hopefully it will be ready to go by the time we go to REEFDREAMS next month.

 

[Big G]

Very cool. Do you already have a list of "must have" fish?

 

[ks2509]

I have 2 black ice clowns a watchman a clown goby and some inverts in the other tank that will be moved over. Have a hand full of corals to move over. As far as new fish looking at a leopard wrasse and a couple fairy wrasses, royal garama, and fire fish. My wife and I are setting here thinking about what else to get. Any other ideas are welcome.

 

[ks2509]

UPDATE:
The tank is wet! Waiting a few days to make sure the cycle is good to go. Should be a quick one being that I added some media and media balls from my old tank and my LFS gave me 20 gallons of water from their display.

Ordered an Ice Cap gyre 1k and battery back up from BRS. Should be here in the next couple days.

Still on the fence with the rock in the center on the sand think I’m gonna go hunting for a smaller one. I want to eventually have a clam as kind of a center piece and that rock would block view to it. Also thinking about getting a nice BTA along the lines of a black widow there are some nice big gaps that I left hopefully if I get one it will stay in one and not roam to much.

All that said I’m happy and can’t wait to move all the current inhabitants of the old tank over so they can be enjoyed in the living room instead of my sons room.

New fish wishlist:
Leopard wrasse (pair??)
2-3 fairy wrasses
Royal gramma
Fire fish
Ruby red

 

[ks2509]

UPDATE: so yesterday while cleaning the glass my wife noticed the stand has a small wobble to it...probably not a huge deal but the thought of 450ish lbs of water and rock is not what I want on a not sturdy stand...so we have decided to build a new stand. Wish I had noticed it earlier before rock went in and got cemented together because I don’t think I can remove it in one piece now. So think I will build it and just drain the tank and get some help and slide it over. Any one have any suggestions on moving it over they would be appreciated.

 

[ks2509]

Update
Ice cap 1k arrived today along with the battery back up looks to be moving a lot of water which is the point. Can’t wait to see how the coral like it

 

[ks2509]

Been almost a month since last update. Was able to get the stand braced so it doesn’t wobble any more. The stock protein skimmer is out never made any bubbles or skimmate after 3 weeks going to try and turn that chamber into a Refugium. Got a red led hydroponic grow light that will mount perfect on the back.
As far as coral and fish I have purchased a royal garama who is doing amazing and a flasher wrasse that I believe is a whip fin. Awaiting my LFS to get me some purple fire fish and a leopard wrasse. Then stocking will be complete for now.
Corals I haven’t got much new just a frag of dragon eye zoas whish are awesome. Going to reef dreams this weekend to hopefully pick up more corals.

 

[ks2509]

So Friday picked up a purple fire fish that my son has named blaze, until this morning it has stayed hidden but looks to be settled in and is coming out a lot more. Also got back from ReefDreams with some awesome corals. 3 rfa that are all balled up deep under rocks will be photographed later but here are ones of the other buys.

 

[ks2509]

Update: refugium has taken off growing chaeto like crazy, lots of pods swimming around. Picked up some more coral this weekend from a local guy.

 

[ks2509]

Been a while since last update have been super busy traveling with work. My wife did an amazing job keeping everything alive while I was gone.

Did some rearranging in the tank as well as added some new corals including my first BTA and a Miyagi Tort.

Refugium continues to do well I pulled 2+ softball size chunks out yesterday hopefully that helps take the phosphates down a bit.

 

[WiscoFishNut]

Nice setup @ks2509 ! Does the refugium do a pretty good job keeping the nitrates down? If so that's really cool! Can you take a pic that shows the light setup? I'm curious to see how it's all arranged with the main lighting plus the one for the refugium.

 

[ks2509]

My nitrates stay between 2-4 depending on how much chaeto is in there. Phosphates stay super low as well. I run my light from 10pm-6am. I will post pictures when I get home. It’s been running for 3-4 months now. I pulled 2 softball sized balls out 2 weeks ago.

Nice setup @ks2509 ! Does the refugium do a pretty good job keeping the nitrates down? If so that's really cool! Can you take a pic that shows the light setup? I'm curious to see how it's all arranged with the main lighting plus the one for the refugium.

p

 

[WiscoFishNut]

My nitrates stay between 2-4 depending on how much chaeto is in there. Phosphates stay super low as well. I run my light from 10pm-6am. I will post pictures when I get home. It’s been running for 3-4 months now. I pulled 2 softball sized balls out 2 weeks ago.

Good stuff man, thanks!

 

[ks2509]

Here’s the light I have. It’s the perfect width and length when I put the 2 pieces end to end and hang it on 2 command hooks. The chamber has marine pure balls and chaeto and pods.

 

[WiscoFishNut]

Here’s the light I have. It’s the perfect width and length when I put the 2 pieces end to end and hang it on 2 command hooks. The chamber has marine pure balls and chaeto and pods.

View attachment 1106063

View attachment 1106064

View attachment 1106065

Awesome, thanks for the pics and info on the light. Definitely gives me some food for thought on how I want to set up the next project, aio cube build. The thought of natural filtration is really appealing to me

 

[ks2509]

Awesome, thanks for the pics and info on the light. Definitely gives me some food for thought on how I want to set up the next project, aio cube build. The thought of natural filtration is really appealing to me

I wanted to go bigger but if I do it would be in a part of the house I don’t spend time in. This one fits perfectly in my living room. The idea of refugiums always interested me and when the “skimmer” that came with this one didn’t work I just figured why not give it a shot. So far it is keeping nutrients in check. But once corals start to grow out and feeding increases I have my eye on a couple different skimmers that will fit if I need one.

 

[Stoffale]

I recently was given this same tank and the skimmer doesn’t work. Did you ever get a new one?
What do you use for the filter media?
Thanks

 

[edcactus]

I have this tank as well. The skimmer was trash. I just bought the IceCap K1 nano. LFS has this running on a JBJ tank that is about 40 gallons. It produces nice skimmate

 

[Arlen nemeth]

I wanted to go bigger but if I do it would be in a part of the house I don’t spend time in. This one fits perfectly in my living room. The idea of refugiums always interested me and when the “skimmer” that came with this one didn’t work I just figured why not give it a shot. So far it is keeping nutrients in check. But once corals start to grow out and feeding increases I have my eye on a couple different skimmers that will fit if I need one.

Wait so is there or is there not a leopard wrasse

 

[ks2509]

Wait so is there or is there not a leopard wrasse

No there was no leopard wrasse. My LFS that was ordering it for me recieved a couple for me that were sick/doa to them. After that I got busy with life and didn't add anymore fish.