Project BioCube (Lots Of Pics)

[Hawkeye]

Nice.

Hey - please note that Calupera is a noted invasive species http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/caulerpa.shtml...so if you ever decide that macro isn't for you - do not flush it...let it dry out and then toss in the trash.

Reasons for why you would want to rid calupera...if/when the macro ever decides to reproduce - the results could foul up your tank...check out this article: A Warning Sign of Impending Caulerpa Sporulation. Granted many a hobbyist is able to avoid that by careful pruning...but why risk it- cheatomorpha is perfect for the needs.

 

[Phyl]

The grape caulerpa is actually more likely to spawn than the feather/fern-y looking kind. I've got the grape and (knock on wood) haven't had a problem with it going sexual. Over rated concern unless you really neglect your fuge (I've even done that with both the razor caulerpa & grape and didn't have a problem)

 

[Hawkeye]

ah - cool to know phyl!

just don't go dumping that caulpera

 

[JRWOHLER]

BTW are you running it on a reverse light cycle. I understand it helps with PH fluctuations. I have mine that way with the timer. Works pretty well.

 

[reefitup]

Yes, I should've mentioned that. It comes on 1 hour before the actinic's go off, and stays on 1 hour after the actinic's pop on

 

[reefitup]

As just an update...

Put some smaller frags in there and they're holding up nicely. Thanks to adesimone1

Put in a few zoos (dragon eyes), couple small colt coral pieces, frilly shroom, reg. shroom, and GSP's.

You can see the ZILLION copepods on the glass. Every once in a while, I see what I believe to be a substantially larger amphipod shell floating around, so I know they're in there too. I wish they'd all ajourn to the fuge Even a deformed little starfish popped out today... Probably going to wait a couple more weeks before I put in fish. I was thinking of maybe trying to do just a pair of mated clown fish, but I've not decided yet. I have reservations that they will do much of anything in this little tank...

Darker spots on the back look like they may be coraline, but it's hard to tell on the black wall...

Still trying to figure out how to get the best pictures that show the best colors... ???

 

[CONSTANTNE]

Great Start! It seems to me that you are using a flash taking pictures. Taking photos without a flash tends to give coral better color.

 

[Big_Suki]

The starfish on your glass looks like a coral eating starfish. Im not not 100% sure. Maybe someone else will chime in about the starfish.

 

[Hawkeye]

it's an asterina starfish...i have quite a few in my 55...they multiply very quickly.

Most people think they are harmless - one website thinks that they eat SPS coral.

I don't have SPS in my 55 so can't comment. Though it would be great if they multiply enough to pick up a harlequin.. :

 

[Phyl]

I have them. I haven't seen any evidence that they eat anything. They're typically on my glass.

 

[reefitup]

Great Start! It seems to me that you are using a flash taking pictures. Taking photos without a flash tends to give coral better color.

I started trying that. Also, I've read that using the timer with a tri-pod helps too. Camera is a GE 8.0MP camera. Not the greatest, but it takes decent pics now and again. I've also been tinkering with the apperature settings to see if it helps some...

On the starfish, I'll keep an eye on him. I worked from home today and watched him go all around the glass. It was a hoot. He eventually went on the back wall and then over into the filter compartment, so I think currently he's in the 'refugium' I have set up in the 2nd chamber, but I'm not sure.

I'll definitely keep an eye on him. Anyone got a trick for moving the pods to the fuge? hehe... I thought about getting a flute and seeing if I could march them in like Pied Piper

 

[reefitup]

Just finished another round of testing...everything is doing well...

Ammonia - 0
Nitrates - 0
Phosphates - 0 (and Chaeto has tripled)
Calcium 440
DKH 8
PH is stuck at 8.0 but maybe it's because everything is sleeping :

GSP's are growing and I'm seeing more and more of them... Colt coral is doing well. Frilly mushroom is happy. Only thing that's not too happy is a single mushroom on a rock. I say not too happy...he just hasn't grown like everything else is all. I moved him tonight when I did my cleaning. Wonder if he'll be happier in a different spot or something.

Seeing LOTS of copepods and amphipods. I added a couple Red Legged Hermit crabs the other day. Seeing new Coraline growth on the glass, and the back wall. Might try to add a clown fish. In about 2 weeks or so. I'll get some pic's this week. I'm working through the weekend from home so I'll be happily staring at it while I'm working so pics should be easy enough.

Thinking of adding a little more live rock (not quite enough yet) and doing some re-arranging maybe next week sometime. I might even take a stroll down to Allquatics for some LR. Need some for the wife's cube too (which is up and running with just live rock).

Pretty content with things thus far ;D

Next week more than likely I'll be removing the hood and swapping it with a 20" 150W Sunpod...if I can find a good deal on one. ((hint hint)) I'm hoping things explode from there

 

[reefitup]

WOO HOO! Thanks to a certain someone in NJRC I've got 150 watts Now, I'm not going to mention eric65's name, but I'll tell you this guy is a stand up guy and I appreciate the help this person gave me. Oh, crud. I guess I let the cat out of the bag ;D Thanks again!

Got the light yesterday actually, but didn't want to put it up until tonight, so I made the swap, put the stock BC hood on my wife's BC (F/O) and put the 150 up.

Things have been growing well...

But I'm kind of hoping things are going to explode with the new light. Oh, btw, speaking of explode. adesimone1 gave me a little Chaeto a while back. About a week ago, I realized that it had sunk down below where I scraped the back and had stopped. Yeah, I need to finish it off (70 hrs a week @ work) but I scraped it down all the way and the Chaeto went NUTS with the light I got on it. Time to prune! Hopefully I can get to it this weekend. I took Friday off, so if I don't end up getting called in : I can get some stuff done on the tank I've never used Chaeto before, so I'm guessing you just grab a pair of shears and start snipping...

As a reference... here are a couple BEFORE shots...you can see the amount of Chaeto...

Here, you can kind of see the light and the area in the upper right has no Chaeto...

Here's the Chaeto tonight ;D I'd say it loves that little light I grabbed at Wal-Mart

 

[eric65]

Awwww shucks Glad you are enjoying the light. Welcome to the world of metal halide ;D

 

[reefitup]

As an update....

I've added a few more corals and some more live rock this past weekend. I met up with Pete (real nice guy - enjoyed chatting even though it was 40mph winds) and got some of the rock with shrooms and just some extra rock.

Prior to that, I met up with adesimone1 and got some coral goodies. I've got to tell you about these people. They are world class! REALLY! If you've ever done business with them, you know what I mean. They personify everything this hobby should be about... really they do!

Anyway, on with the pics. Sorry, they're not overly fancy pics. I've got one of those point and shoot cameras... lol

I'm going to do some re-arranging of the tank hopefully if I get the time tonight after lights out, so I'll update with a FTS real soon, but here are some of the goodies.

Small piece of mushroom rock. They look more like a stripped mushroom than a watermelon shroom, but they still have some opening to do so we'll have to see. The striped ones are actually my favorite mushroom so hopefully they stay just like this, and get bigger

UPO's (unidentified Paly objects)

Several heads here Look REALLY nice!!

My first ever Blasto I really think I see a head on the side growing, but I'll have to keep an eye on it ;D

I've actually got one more frag, but I cant get to it right this second. It's a piece of rock with Pulsing Xenia on it and a few sun polyups. They are AWESOME looking too!

Anyway, I'll update sooner than later with a FTS Thanks for looking

 

[1320wrx]

Great cube, I just picked one up the other day and love it.

 

[reefitup]

tx

I just posted in your cube thread. If you have any questions about how to mod it, just let me know. I have a few more I'm thinking of doing to it...eventually

 

[CONSTANTNE]

Nice coral! I have two striped mushrooms like yours also. They have a cool pattern.

 

[reefitup]

Yeah, they are fast becoming one of my favorite shrooms I might try to re-arrange the tank some today and epoxy some stuff to it's final home... if work permits :

Maybe I'll have a FTS coming soon...

 

[1320wrx]

Your tank is lookin great. I think you have convinced me to get a Sunpod fixture. I've been lookin around at prices and found the 20" 70w on sale for $180.00. Since I am on a budget do you think i should get that. I want to be able to keep Zoos and Rics under it or does the 150w really make a huge difference. The stock biocube lighting is 36w so i will be doubling the light, will that be enough or should i just wait and get the 150w?

Steve