Hello all,
I've just set up my Waterbox 25 a few days ago and have been rolling along with a fishless cycle using Dr. Tim's arsenal of bacteria and ammonia. I've kept aquariums before but this is my first nano reef tank. Because I'm in the last couple years of grad school and anticipate at least a couple of moves in the next few years, I'm going with a smaller and more manageable (price and space wise) AIO tank. I know it'll be tougher to care for than a larger tank would be, but you've got to do what you've got to do in situations like these. My goal is to have a nice mixed reef tank 4-5 hardy and fun fish.
Ongoing Updated Equipment List:
Tank Equipment
Tank: Waterbox Cube 25 Peninsula
Lid: Waterbox Cube 25 Peninsula Lid w/clear mesh
RODI: BRS 6 stage value plus configured as sediment - carbon 1 - carbon .5 - RO - DI - DI (local water supply uses chloramines)
Rock: CaribSea "Life" Rock aprox. 25 lbs
Sand: CaribSea AragAlive Special Grade 20 lbs
Salt: TropicMarin Pro Reef Salt
Powerhead: AI Nero 3
Light: AI Prime HD 16 Reef w/ prime mount (early pictures show the 12" flex mount. I changed to the prime mount later).
In AIO equipment
InTank Chamber 1 media basket (housing filter floss, Ceramic Bio-Spheres, and gfo)
Eshopp's Nano Skimmer
Heater: 100W Titanium BRS element w/ InkBird controller
Pump: Sicce Syncra Silent 1.0
Other
Aqua Ultraviolet 15 Watt Advantage UV Sterilizer
Dosing
Microbacter 7 (temporary - for ugly stage)
Tropic Marin All-For-Reef
Food
PE Frozen Mysis
Hatchery Diet Pellets
Reef Chili
Testing Equipment
RedSea Marine Care Test Kit (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, ph)
RedSea Calcium
Hanna Alkalinity
Hanna Phosphate
Aquaforrest Magnesium
BRS Refractometer
Ongoing Updated Stocking List:
Fish
Pics of getting the rock scape set up
Pics of everything up and running for the fishless and lightless cycle
As far as aesthetics go I'll be doing some cable sheath and management once I get a small ATO figured out.
For anyone wondering about the stability of the granite countertop: it is reinforced underneath and was tested prior to set-up with 500 lbs. and it didn't budge. That being said, I might place a support rod under there just for my peace of mind... How about that immaculate fitment? Didn't plan it like that, but what a great fit. I'm moving in 5 months and will place it in a spot where all 3 sides are visible, but for now I'll enjoy this location on my counter.
Thanks for reading my first build thread post. Because I'll be moving apartments in 5 months this first stage will most likely just be a slow and steady cycle and practice with maintaining parameters, though I anticipate that I'll be too impatient to keep from stocking quicker than I probably should... Once cycled I'll add two clownfish and a very small CUC, then I'll get the rest of the stocking ramping up!
Any thoughts, comments or things I should mind? Please let me know!
I've just set up my Waterbox 25 a few days ago and have been rolling along with a fishless cycle using Dr. Tim's arsenal of bacteria and ammonia. I've kept aquariums before but this is my first nano reef tank. Because I'm in the last couple years of grad school and anticipate at least a couple of moves in the next few years, I'm going with a smaller and more manageable (price and space wise) AIO tank. I know it'll be tougher to care for than a larger tank would be, but you've got to do what you've got to do in situations like these. My goal is to have a nice mixed reef tank 4-5 hardy and fun fish.
Ongoing Updated Equipment List:
Tank Equipment
Tank: Waterbox Cube 25 Peninsula
Lid: Waterbox Cube 25 Peninsula Lid w/clear mesh
RODI: BRS 6 stage value plus configured as sediment - carbon 1 - carbon .5 - RO - DI - DI (local water supply uses chloramines)
Rock: CaribSea "Life" Rock aprox. 25 lbs
Sand: CaribSea AragAlive Special Grade 20 lbs
Salt: TropicMarin Pro Reef Salt
Powerhead: AI Nero 3
Light: AI Prime HD 16 Reef w/ prime mount (early pictures show the 12" flex mount. I changed to the prime mount later).
In AIO equipment
InTank Chamber 1 media basket (housing filter floss, Ceramic Bio-Spheres, and gfo)
Eshopp's Nano Skimmer
Heater: 100W Titanium BRS element w/ InkBird controller
Pump: Sicce Syncra Silent 1.0
Other
Aqua Ultraviolet 15 Watt Advantage UV Sterilizer
Dosing
Microbacter 7 (temporary - for ugly stage)
Tropic Marin All-For-Reef
Food
PE Frozen Mysis
Hatchery Diet Pellets
Reef Chili
Testing Equipment
RedSea Marine Care Test Kit (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, ph)
RedSea Calcium
Hanna Alkalinity
Hanna Phosphate
Aquaforrest Magnesium
BRS Refractometer
Ongoing Updated Stocking List:
Fish
- 2x "Vivid Fancy" Oscellaris Clownfish from Sustainable Aquatics
- White Sleeper Goby
- Gold/Green Branching Hammer (3 heads)
- Purple & Green Tip Torch (1 head)
- Green & Purple Tip Frogspawn
- A handful of assorted hermit crabs
- 3x Nassarius snails
- 3x Astrea snails
Pics of getting the rock scape set up
Pics of everything up and running for the fishless and lightless cycle
As far as aesthetics go I'll be doing some cable sheath and management once I get a small ATO figured out.
For anyone wondering about the stability of the granite countertop: it is reinforced underneath and was tested prior to set-up with 500 lbs. and it didn't budge. That being said, I might place a support rod under there just for my peace of mind... How about that immaculate fitment? Didn't plan it like that, but what a great fit. I'm moving in 5 months and will place it in a spot where all 3 sides are visible, but for now I'll enjoy this location on my counter.
Thanks for reading my first build thread post. Because I'll be moving apartments in 5 months this first stage will most likely just be a slow and steady cycle and practice with maintaining parameters, though I anticipate that I'll be too impatient to keep from stocking quicker than I probably should... Once cycled I'll add two clownfish and a very small CUC, then I'll get the rest of the stocking ramping up!
Any thoughts, comments or things I should mind? Please let me know!
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