My 60g cube progress thread

[cmac330]

So I figure its time to do a build thread (I tried to keep my setup simple and easy to maintain so it's really more of a progress thread). My tank was cycled back on 8/13 and was able to cycle in less than 2 weeks with dead rock (bought from custom reef creations was stored in DI water) by spiking with pure ammonia to 1.5ppm.

My dog really likes fish... the tank currently has nothing in it while cycling but she knows what a fish tank is

Early aquascaping

 

[cmac330]

My female black onyx was the first fish added. Talk about personality too.

First picture after getting my Kessil a350w added... the pictures are always so blue

 

[cmac330]

First full tank shot with original aquascaping... didn't take long to like the cube this is at about 3 months in

My Gold Torch from Custom Reef Creations right after purchase, easily one of my favorite pieces

After 4 months got my first bubble, hard to capture the color, it is neon green with neon orange tips

The large rainbow was purchased on a trip to Dallas from Neptunes cove also scored a nice chalice and daisy polyps (also nabbed a green kryptonite candy cane that my emerald crab face planted in the sand while I was away)

And thus began my bubble tip problem...

 

[cmac330]

Sorry that random pictures keep getting inserted, I cant figure out how to edit them out... and they don't show up until I post.

Anyways... here is bubble tip mountain, clearly I have a problem

Here is another nice piece from custom reef creations that I am coral-sitting for a friend (hoping some breaks off on my rocks first)

Full tank shot as it sits now, I'm sure it will change but for now I'm happy

 

[cmac330]

Stocking list:

Fish-
Purple tang doing well until she gets large enough to need a new home

Onyx (great looking clown from Custom Reef Creations) in a bonded pair with a male snowflake (who are currently using my gold torch as a host...)

Yellow Corris wrasse (survived a jump to the floor, its a fighter)


Coral-
Gold torch (custom reef creations)
Purple tipped green frogspawn
Two rainbow BTA (one from neptunes cove)
Two orange and green BTA
Two GBTA one with orange tips one with blue
Green fuzzy mushrooms
Gold mushrooms
Emerald Cyphastrea (custom reef creations)
Blue pulsing Xenia
Red Goniopora
Hollywood stunner chalice (neptunes cove)
Daisy polyps (wife saw them at neptunes cove and had to have them...)
Nice mystic sunset montipora I get to watch (great piece and good size from custom reef creations)
Misc. palys (PPE and lunar eclipse look alikes) and zoas (dragon eyes watermelons)

Other inverts-
Blue Maxima Clam
Fire shrimp
Feather duster

Equipment-
60 gallon rimless marineland corner overflow and stand
trigger systems cube sump designed for dsa cubes
Kessil a350w
BH90 reef octopus skimmer
300W Finnex titanium heater
Off and on use kent marine phosban reactor (montipora seem better off with out it)
Small refugium in side compartment
tunze manual flow adjustment powerheads
roughly 40 lbs LR in display 15 in sump

Parameters:
Magnesium 1250-1300
Specific Gravity 1.024-1.025
Nitrates 5-10
Alkalinity 8.4-9.4
Calcium 420-440
Phosphates <.1
Temp 80

 

[cmac330]

Most of my equipment came from Custom Reef Creations its a great shop here in OKC if you are ever near, some stuff is posted online but the shop has much more. Good to work with and supports a local club and this forum.

Neptunes cove also has good pieces since I have family in Dallas I try to give it a look whenever I'm down that way.

The R2R sponsors are pretty solid in my experience