Another 50g Cube build/resurrection....

[bakbay]

I'm Ok currently with the flow, I haven't put in anything yet. If I go all in with sps, I have a pair of mp40's sitting around along with a pair jebao slw20's. So I can get some random higher flow if necessary.

I'm also running a single vertical gyre in my 120g (softie dominated) and in happy with it.

Spent the last 15min reading through your build thread and wow — what an ordeal going through all that! I would have thrown in the towel and reset for a few years! lol

Your 120 looks great — you have quite a fish collection! I only have 8 fish in the tank. Anyway, I’m a sucker for wrasses (ahem..read fish, that is) but I don’t have a cover on my rimless and these guys are good jumpers! Will consider once I order a custom cover.

Agreed on the MP40s I have 2 MP40s on my other tank and pretty happy with it since it’s a rectangle. Cubes are not that fun at 36” actually and I got 3 WAVs running at 80%+. I might add the 4th one but still debating.

 

[bakbay]

Sticks: Green Slimer does well for me and very easy to keep, including torts and of course, digitatas. I would not go monticap (although very easy and not “sticks”) — can be brutal once they take off!

My Green Slimer survived through alk swings, temp swings, and tank crashes! I’ve even fragged it a few times down to the core with no issues! As long as you can keep your params (esp Alk) stable, you can keep pretty much any sticks. Growth and coloration: different story

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Spent the last 15min reading through your build thread and wow — what an ordeal going through all that! I would have thrown in the towel and reset for a few years! lol

Your 120 looks great — you have quite a fish collection! I only have 8 fish in the tank. Anyway, I’m a sucker for wrasses (ahem..read fish, that is) but I don’t have a cover on my rimless and these guys are good jumpers! Will consider once I order a custom cover.

Agreed on the MP40s I have 2 MP40s on my other tank and pretty happy with it since it’s a rectangle. Cubes are not that fun at 36” actually and I got 3 WAVs running at 80%+. I might add the 4th one but still debating.

If it wasn't such a passion for me, I would of phoned it in when I had to break the tank down, or downsized to the 50g and left it alone. Flukes in February then the tank break down in July, rough year so far!

I've done a few cubes over the years, biggest was a 90g 30x30 cube years ago (pre gyre) and it was a pain to handle water movement.

I'm all about heavy stocking, biggest and longest duration tank I ran was a 150g fowlr so I'm more into the fish than the coral.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I decided to add a few today...

Lamarck's Angel

Green Mandarin Dragonet

Citron Goby

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

The mandarin was a must, my pod population is insane to the point I see the amphipods roaming constantly.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Can anyone help with ident (not the goby), lol.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Added a few fish.

One argus wrasse

One I'm prolly going to regret, velvet damsel... The GF 'liked it'.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Not much to report, moved the Lamarck's to the 120 and lost it. Think it was stressed out .

Decided to add a leopard wrasse. Been out swimming most of the day.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Not much to report, tank is plugging along. Had some algae issue due to used up DI resin I didn't catch (my fault). Now I have a clue on why my phosphate was so wack with both tanks. I can consider dropping some coin on basic sps after I let the tank stabilize.

Only addition is a coral beauty to replace the Lamarck's I moved to the bigger display then lost. Also lost the Mandarin, that was a weird one. Very active than poof, dead.

Current stocking list:
Coral Beauty
Argus Wrasse
Citron Goby
Neon Velvet Damsel
Lubbocks wrasse (pulled from larger display due to multiple escape attempts)

 

[jphilip813]

Not much to report so far. Plunged on a higher wattage light since the 50w wasn't cutting it.... Was considering a kessil a360, but the price can't be beat for the smatfarm light. Figure the 24x24x20 footprint will be ok.

Need to start peroxide soaking some rock that was pulled from the 120g, figure it's gonna be used for the 50g rescape, when I get the 120g restarted (hopefully next week).

View attachment 2788598

I have this same light on my 20 GAL Build... It Works GREAT!

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I ended up buying two more for my 120 gallon also, they are a great bang for the buck.

 

[TrevorHenryTDH]

who made those flow tips on the return lines?

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Same loc line stuff that everyone uses, lol nothing special. It's Just different colors, I had it for a water cooling setup for a band saw, just never got around to installing it on the band saw and used it for the aquarium. McMaster Carr will be the source.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Not much to report, tank is plugging along. Checked numbers after 2+ weeks of no water changes, etc.... Had a death in the family so had to do a bit of traveling. They aren't bad, but may try a smidge of GFO before dipping into starter sps!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Not much to report, tank is plugging along. Had some algae issue due to used up DI resin I didn't catch (my fault). Now I have a clue on why my phosphate was so wack with both tanks. I can consider dropping some coin on basic sps after I let the tank stabilize.

Only addition is a coral beauty to replace the Lamarck's I moved to the bigger display then lost. Also lost the Mandarin, that was a weird one. Very active than poof, dead.

Current stocking list:
Coral Beauty
Argus Wrasse
Citron Goby
Neon Velvet Damsel
Lubbocks wrasse (pulled from larger display due to multiple escape attempts)

View attachment 2962746

Tank looks great!

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Tank looks great!

It's in a holding pattern... I'm planning sps, just want tank stability first. I'm regularly checking n&p to figure out where to start.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Not much to report, got lucky at my LFS to find a elusive bluehead Klein butterfly, it's gonna live the chill life before it goes to the big tank. Hopefully will help with aiptasia as folks have said. Also added a pink skunk clown just because, lol. Always liked them.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Grabbed some (cheap) beginner sticks from my LFS the SPS adventure begins!

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Figured out real quick, I need MOAR light... Haven't even checked par, but it's gonna be a issue with trying sps. I went with a 4 bulb aquatic life t5 hybrid fixture, need to decide on bulb choices.

Also added one of two mp40's as one will be mailed off for repair of the wetside tomorrow.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Well, I got around to installing the new to me t5 fixture. Figure its a must need for sps. I got it for a deal locally. Its running without the smat farm fixture currently, as I need to order a bracket from aquatic life to mount it. Currently running two 50/50 bulbs, one actinic and one actinic blue.

The light spill is captain insaneo bad. Need to work on that... Otherwise I'm happy!