60 Gallons of Barebottom, Metal Halide Rockin, SPS Dominant Cubeness

[RCS82]

More time at home so maybe time for an update. Couldnt resist the urge so I got a few new frags ordered and they showed up 4 days ago. Super thrilled to have Vivids Confetti now. Being in Canada we have a pretty tiny selection of SPS, especially if you don't count Reef Raft Canada. The 3 other frags I got were basically replacements for some frags I lost in last years rough times lol.
So here is the Confetti on the right, not too colorful right now but seems in great health so far. Plus JF Fox Flame, ORA Pearlberry and RR Rainbow Loom.

 

[RCS82]

Been a while since last update. Fell into some new additions from a buddies tank and things are plugging along. Tank is now 7 or 8 months old.

 

[RCS82]

This big chunk of 3G Mummy Eye that came out of a buddies tank I am absolutely loving. It's a gorgeous chalice.

And a full tank shot with the frag rack removed

 

[RCS82]

Long overdue update here.

The tank was abruptly shut down in May of 2020. After only being set-up maybe 6 months. Live stock sold and into a storage unit the tank and equipment went. Fast forward to now after working on the road basically the last 2 years straight, I have found an opportunity to set it back up while I work near Vancouver. Over this last weekend I loaded everything up that I wanted and the tank made the 1200km trip down here in the back of a truck, silly yup but whatever lol. Hoping tonight to give it a water/leak test and over the weekend I'm hoping to have some water and live rock in it.

Pics to follow.

 

[afrokobe]

Loved the old build! Looking forward to see what you come up with. I absolutely love cubes. I am rocking a 25g cube and I saw the 60 g aqueon for sale last weekend. Took a lot of willpower to not just purchase it on the spot.

 

[RCS82]

Loved the old build!

Thanks.

This 60 gallon was my first cube experience and I only had it set up maybe 6 months. Was really enjoying it and filling it with SPS. But life changes and the last 2 years have been great none the leas. I'll be placing the tank in a corner this time around and have 2 sides viewable. The challenge I had before was aquascaping and keeping the rock off of 3 sides. Never liked the big pile of rocks look. This time around I'll have rock from far corner to far corner, if that makes sense. I'm fine with rock close to the glass in the corners as I'll be trying to keep the rockwork open and still going bare bottom for max flow.

I bought one of those pails of emarco cement to also help with coming up with a nicer aquascape with more overhangs etc. Metal halide is planned for this one, 14k Phoenix bulb to start and a pair of the 15" reefbrites from an XR30 kit. Plus a pair of Ice Cap gyres I'm looking forward to trying.

 

[RCS82]

Got nothing done with the tank last week after unloading it but when I finished work Saturday it was action time. Did a test run on the patio Saturday night, easy peasy. Hooked the plumbing up, filled it with water and turned the return pump on. All good there. This tank is literally built like a tank with thick glass, eurobracing and trim. Drained it and moved it inside for rock and saltwater next.

 

[RCS82]

This tank has no overflow also, little unusual but works. Has 3 holes drilled in the back and I just use 2 as a herbie more or less and the 3rd is for the return. So the tank is the overflow, and it works. Even with just a ball valve I can tune it to where it's silent and with the elbows on the inside with strainers, I can set the water height just right.

On Sunday it was rock and saltwater time. Found some great live rock local here that was real clean yet had some real established looking pieces, a real mix of variety too.

Also this little guy came in on a rock. He didn't seem to miss a beat as he was placed in the tank and away he went. Would be great if he sticks around.

 

[RCS82]

Lighting is going to be my trusty 12" hamilton MH fixture, a Cayman Sun I believe. With a 14k 250W Phoenix bulb to start which I may switch out to a Hamilton 14k once things get going. No need to blast the tank with that just yet. Two years ago I had this tank and light setup with a Radion XR15 gen4 pro to offer some ramp up and down and for bluing up the tank.

This time around I'm adding one of the Reefbrite kits for an XR30. This gives me two 15" reefbrites. Attaches to my light rack super easy and I like it.

Lots of blue there lol. I much prefer the more daylight spectrum with metal halides but with the sps I want to add, gotta have some Reefbrites for sure.

 

[RCS82]

Making progress and doin good.
Wednesday night did a re-scape after getting rock and water in the tank this last Sunday. Really liking it. Yes I prefer a lot of rock but have a lot of open spots here even with rock against the glass on each side. I basically want the biggest amount of real estate possible in such a small space.

There are two sides viewable as the tank is in a corner, and I like it. So i really tried to make the aquascape attractive from both sides. Just need to get the one side black with some plastic background material or something.

And man, taking pics with this Samsung S21 isn't going too good lol. Definitely could use some tips.

 

[RCS82]

Added to two cardinals on Wednesday night which are doing good and eating nice, although they hide a lot with all the rock they have all to themselves.

And a Duncan frag went in Thursday and it has its polyps out nice so pretty happy about that too.

And had to plug this in to make sure it was operating up to code, and I think it is lol. Sure lights up that room. 250watt 14k phoenix hqi bulb in a Hamilton 12" fixture.

 

[RCS82]

Put the Phoenix bulb over the tank for fun. Best color ever. Really not needed for the little Duncan frag in there but sure does make the tank look better. Rock scape I'm keeping, even if rocks are up against the glass.

 

[JoshH]

And man, taking pics with this Samsung S21 isn't going too good lol. Definitely could use some tips.

Things are looking good man, have you tried the PRO photo mode on the Samsung? I debated running halides for a long time. Nice to see a new tank with them on.

Oh and loving the scape, in some pics it almost looks like the rock is touching the glass but in others it clearly isn't. Awesome effect

 

[RCS82]

Things are looking good man, have you tried the PRO photo mode on the Samsung? I debated running halides for a long time. Nice to see a new tank with them on.

Oh and loving the scape, in some pics it almost looks like the rock is touching the glass but in others it clearly isn't. Awesome effect

Absolutely, using the pro mode and playing arond with the speed and darkness with orange filters. At least with the halide on it takes great pics that are 100% true to real life.

What lights did you go with?

 

[JoshH]

Absolutely, using the pro mode and playing arond with the speed and darkness with orange filters. At least with the halide on it takes great pics that are 100% true to real life.

What lights did you go with?

I went with Kessil A360x's over mine. They certainly do the job. The tank has been setup for years now and I am only now starting to fill it with coral. Everything seems to be happy but I need to track down a PAR meter to see if they need further tuning.

 

[RCS82]

Lots is happening. Last Sunday a few frags went in, 3 sps, a chalice and a couple others. All looking good. So yesterday I accidentally got carried away and picked a dozen or so more sps frags. I don't even want to post this cause the tank has only had water in for 2 weeks now. I'm breaking all the rules I think and just asking for this to blow up in my face lol. But I'm pretty optimistic about most things and the tank has been plugging along.

Have 7 fish so far
3 urchins
2 dozen snails
App 18 sps frags
Couple chalices, favia and zoas

And no casualties to report

 

[mitten_reef]

Lighting is going to be my trusty 12" hamilton MH fixture, a Cayman Sun I believe. With a 14k 250W Phoenix bulb to start which I may switch out to a Hamilton 14k once things get going. No need to blast the tank with that just yet. Two years ago I had this tank and light setup with a Radion XR15 gen4 pro to offer some ramp up and down and for bluing up the tank.

This time around I'm adding one of the Reefbrite kits for an XR30. This gives me two 15" reefbrites. Attaches to my light rack super easy and I like it.

Lots of blue there lol. I much prefer the more daylight spectrum with metal halides but with the sps I want to add, gotta have some Reefbrites for sure.

with the winter on the way, any concerns with the sump being so close to that heat register?

Everything looks good so far on the restart

 

[RCS82]

with the winter on the way, any concerns with the sump being so close to that heat register?

Everything looks good so far on the restart

Good eyes.
I thought about that and put a piece of black plastic across that side of the stand. Hasn't been too cool down here yet, but the heat has been on and I don't see a noticeable difference in the tank temp. My heater is hardly ever on but the tank temp stays at a constant 77. After 4 hours of the metal halides being on I've measured the tank at 78. So I'm pretty fine with that. May in the near future add a fan blowing across the water top but no real concerns right now.

 

[RCS82]

 

[RCS82]

3 week mark today. I can't believe this tank hasn't blown up in my face. But there's still time for that. Braced for some ugly phases. Regardless everything has been doing awesome. Over 20 sps frags added now and only one casualty. One from a week or so ago just up and bleached, was bone white in just a couple of days. 9 fish now and all are doing great. Lost one of my 3 urchins but the other 2 are rockin and the 24 snails added all seem good. Really haven't come across a dead snail or abandoned shell yet. I'll do a list of the frags and what I've added with some pics. I'm not digging the blue cell phone pics on this Samsung but the daylight pics with the halide on I like. Very true to what I see in real life.

SPS:
Oregon Tort
Pink Cadillac
Pink Tenuis
CC Orange Sherbet
CB Maleficent
Vivids Confetti
Orange Passion
Pink Leminade
SSC
RRC Wildfire (I think)
Tyree Blue Matrix
Blueberry Wine Stag (I think)
Green Hulk
A cool no name mini colony
Hellfire Milli
Walt Disney
JF Jolt
MCC Killer Bee
Four Seasons (RRC maybe)
Pink Milli
And a Crazy T Monti

Also:
JF Raja Rampage
Dragon Favia I think
3 zoa frags
Duncan

Fish:
3 Firefish
2 Clowns
2 Pyjama Cardinals
1 Yellow Eye Tang
1 White Starry Blenny I think