Setup:
32g Biocube AIO
Stock return pump
Hydros x4 Controller w/ temp probe and ph probe
Jebao SLW-10 wavemaker
Heaters: Cobalt and HiTuang 300w
Noo-psych Mini light
Avast Plank Autofeeder with cannonball
Approximately 30lbs of live rock
Livestock:
Snails (Nassarius, Margarita, and Turbo)
Scrambled Eggs Zoanthids
Saddleback clown female
Starry Blenny
Purple Zoanthids
Green Zoanthids
Bubble tip anemone
2 TINY red legged hermits
Current FTS:
I went with the 32g biocube and it’s slowly progressing!
And now back to the process:
Don’t get too excited now. This is going to take a while before I have any pretty pictures to share, but hopefully my patience will be worth it and I’d like to document my research and process.
I’m moving in June 2024 and I don’t want to have to move a tank with livestock, so until then I’ll be researching gear and stock lists so I’ll be ready once my boxes are mostly unpacked. I had a 12g biocube Nano back in 2008 and loved it, so I’m looking at AIO 15-20g tanks now.
For the tank, my current front runner is the IM 15g cube. I like the rimless look and the price is great. It also leaves me the freedom to pick my own lights, heater, skimmer, etc. I also like the Red Sea 20g cube because it pretty much comes with everything, but it is pricey even when I add up the cost of the components individually. I’d love to hear opinions from people with either tank!
For lights, if I go with the IM tank, I’m thinking going with AI for lights and holding off on a skimmer until later on. From my research it seems like lighting has the biggest changes of everything, with LEDs really getting good! I’d also like an ATO and would like to eventually play with other automation and monitoring. (I’m an engineer in my day job.)
My plan for this tank is beginner soft corals, 2 black and white clowns, and some kind of shrimp along with a cleanup crew. I’d like to stick with things that are easy to care for since I’m starting over and have forgotten quite a bit!
Last time around, I did a full reef pack from TBS with sand, live rock, and CUC. It was so cool seeing all the life and TBS was great! However, I did stress a ton during my tank’s cycle because I wanted to keep everything alive. I think I gained some gray hair from all that and I wasn’t even 30. I keep going back and forth between trying that again or getting dry rock and live sand and not having much to worry over during my cycle. That would also make aquascaping easier and reduce the bad hitchhikers, although I didn’t really have any of those last time around despite being neurotic about it.
I’m happy to hear opinions either way!
So that’s where I am right now along with getting to know the LFS’s where I live now and joining the local reef club. I want to take my time, plan things out and be more intentional with my reef this time around. Last time, I was much more flying by the seat of my pants and impulsive and my tank really looked better than I deserved and was more forgiving than I had any right to!
32g Biocube AIO
Stock return pump
Hydros x4 Controller w/ temp probe and ph probe
Jebao SLW-10 wavemaker
Heaters: Cobalt and HiTuang 300w
Noo-psych Mini light
Avast Plank Autofeeder with cannonball
Approximately 30lbs of live rock
Livestock:
Snails (Nassarius, Margarita, and Turbo)
Scrambled Eggs Zoanthids
Saddleback clown female
Starry Blenny
Purple Zoanthids
Green Zoanthids
Bubble tip anemone
2 TINY red legged hermits
Current FTS:
I went with the 32g biocube and it’s slowly progressing!
And now back to the process:
Don’t get too excited now. This is going to take a while before I have any pretty pictures to share, but hopefully my patience will be worth it and I’d like to document my research and process.
I’m moving in June 2024 and I don’t want to have to move a tank with livestock, so until then I’ll be researching gear and stock lists so I’ll be ready once my boxes are mostly unpacked. I had a 12g biocube Nano back in 2008 and loved it, so I’m looking at AIO 15-20g tanks now.
For the tank, my current front runner is the IM 15g cube. I like the rimless look and the price is great. It also leaves me the freedom to pick my own lights, heater, skimmer, etc. I also like the Red Sea 20g cube because it pretty much comes with everything, but it is pricey even when I add up the cost of the components individually. I’d love to hear opinions from people with either tank!
For lights, if I go with the IM tank, I’m thinking going with AI for lights and holding off on a skimmer until later on. From my research it seems like lighting has the biggest changes of everything, with LEDs really getting good! I’d also like an ATO and would like to eventually play with other automation and monitoring. (I’m an engineer in my day job.)
My plan for this tank is beginner soft corals, 2 black and white clowns, and some kind of shrimp along with a cleanup crew. I’d like to stick with things that are easy to care for since I’m starting over and have forgotten quite a bit!
Last time around, I did a full reef pack from TBS with sand, live rock, and CUC. It was so cool seeing all the life and TBS was great! However, I did stress a ton during my tank’s cycle because I wanted to keep everything alive. I think I gained some gray hair from all that and I wasn’t even 30. I keep going back and forth between trying that again or getting dry rock and live sand and not having much to worry over during my cycle. That would also make aquascaping easier and reduce the bad hitchhikers, although I didn’t really have any of those last time around despite being neurotic about it.
I’m happy to hear opinions either way!
So that’s where I am right now along with getting to know the LFS’s where I live now and joining the local reef club. I want to take my time, plan things out and be more intentional with my reef this time around. Last time, I was much more flying by the seat of my pants and impulsive and my tank really looked better than I deserved and was more forgiving than I had any right to!
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