60 Cube 3.0 Build

[MHG]

replaced the COR15 with a COR20 today. Was only getting 265-270 with the COR15. Getting about 365-370 with the COR20. Thats at 65%. Last 35% don't seem to change the flow any...

[MHG]

Both algae reactors fired up..

[MHG]

Don't know why the FT won't finish cycling. High Nitrites for a couple weeks. No ammo...

[MHG]

Let there be light!!!

Got the canopy rebuilt. Some Brazilian Cherry left over from the staircase to accent it. Should last alot longer now that the eurobracing stops all the water splashing over...it's nice to use the mag float and not have water sloshing over the side...

[MHG]

Added some Fritzime bacteria and the FT is finally catching up. Nitrites almost gone in 3 days

[MHG]

So both systems are up and running. Adding fish to the DT. Have an issue with my apex rebooting so I installed the backup base unit (cloned it). Ill see if that helps.


Algae reactors working will. Nitrates down to low single digits...The only issue with these skimz algae reactors in the cheato snakes into the output tube. Other than that they are growing like crazy.

I am concerned about the slow movement of water in the first stage of the sump. The volume moving through is about 350 gph but there is certainly a nice dead spot for detritus to build up in. So I threw a small Tunze nano stream in there just to push any detritus into the flow and get it to a more accessible stage...


More photos and a video coming eventually.

[Vinny Kreyling]

Wish I had "a" dead spot, makes removal a snap.

[MHG]

So in the hair algae phase. Not too bad. Interesting how most people will blame this on dry rock yet my frag system has no dry rock and has more HA than my DT...oncle I get past this it will be time to add some coral

[MHG]

Almost past the hair algae phase. The dry rock in the DT looks like little dots of cyano all over it. ***. I feed a cube a day of frozen. Maybe I should go half a cube and toss whats left. Next time Ill by the smaller cubes.

Got a lawnmower blend for the FT. He is loving all the HA.

[MHG]

All the HA is gone in the DT. The lawnmower blend in the FT is chowing down on that HA... This red dust looking stuff is all over everything.... Gonna hold off on the corals until I get past this. Cut feeding in half. changed GFO.

[MHG]

So today the DT looked like it was getting the start of Dino. ***.... Nothing from the old talk was used without drying out and being cleaned in vinegar. Inside the algae reactor looks like dino as well. Scrubbed all the rock down with a brush. Cleaned the skimmer. very dark green skimmate in the skimmer. Sump is spotless.

I am gonna adjust the light cycle but Its only at 80& for 4 hours. AND its one less kessel than I had before when I ran them all at 100% for like 8 hours a day. Regardless Ill go dark for a week. Its just fish right now.

Food is 1 cube every other day divided between the two systems. Now the FT is spotless but the algae blenny does a great job. Only 2 fish in the FT but the same amount of food . Auto feeder is only one tumble a day. so a pinch of pellets.

My P04 is zero in both. Nitrates spiked up to about 2.5 in each system after I cleared my algae reactor. The cheato died the second time around in both tanks. The new batch is growing fast so hopefully than will bring them down. Gonna do a big water change this week as well.

Its frustrating when both systems are mechanically similar and the same age and same food and same maintenance. The DT does have a UV sterilizer. Was hoping to see an improvement on general issues.

[MHG]

New Vid

[MHG]

So added my first corals. Got some sticks from TJM...Also added 3 lyre tail anthias and a Kole tang. Rock work is clean, snails have been doing a great job but the HA loves this course substrate.

In trying to keep my tank as sterile as possible from transferring over peoples tank issues into my tank, I have managed to have zero pods. Adding copepods is easy but I miss those little munching amphipods. Since I rinse my cheato that I get from others in RO water to ensure I am not getting any aphasia, its hard to import them.

[MHG]

GHA seems to be outcompeting my huge. Cheato is dying and GHA is thriving. Ill mess with the light cycles a bit and manually do what I can to see if I can correct this.

[MHG]

So my cheato seems to be lasting. sea urchin from a friend tool care of keeping the rocks clean. The gravel is looking a little better these days.


I have not had any lick keeping new fish alive. anthers killed each other off and the sole survivor dies of his wounds. My kole tang (just a baby) was doing great for a month and just up and died. A month later my mydas blend up and died. who knows how old he was. Meanwhile my clowns crank out eggs like clockwork...Go figure.

My one chalice is doing well. Once I get the algae under control Ill add some ups

[MHG]

So new batch of frags. Thanks TJMCorals.... tank has been stable.

[MHG]

So most of the new frags are growing like weeds. Consumption is way up... But recently my nitrates have gone to zero and the colors are fading fast...

[Vinny Kreyling]

Might be time to add some.

[MHG]

If only there was a place where I can buy corals this weekend....Oh thats right there is.....

[MHG]

In my tank we wear the skulls of conquered kings.

[hottuna]

Fwiw...the BEST culture bacteria for starting a new tank is a product called aquagold by NFP...powder form ...works in 24-48 hrs...reduces nuisance algae on startup. CAN be used for saltwater ...even though the pkg says otherwise...

[MHG]

Some pics

[MHG]

Well growth is up. New corals are encrusting. Purple style branches are deciding. Vihn color is returning since heavy feeding. But even though the new frags are encrusting, my consumption is reducing. Color on new frags is fading. But that’s to be expected I guess

[H2oGarden]

Very nice, like rock build. Im starting a 60 gallon and wundering what size sump you are using?

[MHG]

I am using a 20H diy sumo.