Colton’s Red Sea Cube

[Crawford_T]

05/24/24

Established 04/02/24

Red Sea Desktop Cube 18.5g
-Radion XR15 Pro G6
-Vortech MP10mQD
-Sicce 1.0
-Tunze Osmolator 3152
-75w Eheim Jager
-Finnex HC-810 Temp Controller

Livestock
-“Orange Storm” Ocellaris Clownfish
-“Black Ice” Ocellaris Clownfish
-Blood Red Fire Shrimp

-“Scrambled Eggs” Zoa
-“Pink Zipper” Zoa
-Duncan Coral
-Toadstool Leather

 

[Crawford_T]

Hello All,

I am new to this forum but not to saltwater. It’s been about 10 years since my last tank so I’m excited to have this one started. I’ll update here as I go along.

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome, glad you are here!

 

[Crawford_T]

Thank you! I just redid the aquascape with some extra BRS rock, tanks nice and cloudy again. Will post pictures after it settles out.

 

[Crawford_T]

Updated FTS with the added rock. Hard to do it justice without light and on a phone. More surface area for coral along the bottom plus a little pass through cave. MP10 and heater controller get here this week. Kessil next week.

Cycle is going well. The tank processes 2ppm ammonia to .25 in 24hr. Nitrites are still high but coming down. Slow and steady wins the race.

 

[Crawford_T]

Looks like the cycle is just about finished up, 0 ammonia, almost undetectable nitrite and a fair amount of nitrate.

Since the last time I posted, I purchased and installed a Kessil A160. I was immediately underwhelmed and over the first day grew to dislike the color regardless of the “color” adjustment. The wife came home and immediately commented that she “hated it” which sealed the deal in my head that it had to go. BRS was super pleasant to deal with and agreed to take my return.

I say all of that to say, I ordered a Radion XR15 pro during their free RMS mount sale. The tank is a bit small for such a light but looking around it seems people with similar tanks have used one with success. Love to hear people’s input on the Radion as I’ve always wanted one but have never had one.

 

[scubatan]

Can I ask you what your cycle steps were? I’m starting my first tank and was thinking of using fish food or ammonia (dr Tim’s) along with Fritz 9, then just waiting.

 

[Crawford_T]

I went the Dr. Tim’s w/ammonia route this time around. I just followed the directions on the site, essentially you dose ammonia to 2ppm then test, then dose and test. Super simple, I’m on day 23 and the tank is cycled. I’ve been out of the hobby for a while so I’m used to letting the tank cycle for a month or so. It seems now a days people are adding fish essentially right away with the Fritz (never used nor did I look into it).

 

[Crawford_T]

We have life! Picked up 2 clowns today at my LFS, one “black snowflake” and one “orange storm”. Everyone seems happy and healthy.

 

[Crux]

We have life! Picked up 2 clowns today at my LFS, one “black snowflake” and one “orange storm”. Everyone seems happy and healthy.

Awesome looking clowns. Plan on adding corals any time soon?

 

[Crawford_T]

Awesome looking clowns. Plan on adding corals any time soon?

Thanks! Yes, as soon as my light fixture is delivered I can start doing coral. Hoping for Wed/Thurs.

 

[Crawford_T]

24hr update. Both clowns are doing very well, exploring and eating when fed. I added the MP10 foam cover as the storm is quite small and I don’t want to risk it. I’ve also added a diy mesh lid (BRS with Neat Aquatics rimless corners) and a VCA return extension for better surface agitation. I’ve also started dosing Microbacter7. No light yet means no algae, Radion should be here Wednesday.

Cheers

NH3/NH4-0
No2-0
No3-5/10ppm
Temp-78F
Salinity-35

 

[Gumbies R Us]

24hr update. Both clowns are doing very well, exploring and eating when fed. I added the MP10 foam cover as the storm is quite small and I don’t want to risk it. I’ve also added a diy mesh lid (BRS with Neat Aquatics rimless corners) and a VCA return extension for better surface agitation. I’ve also started dosing Microbacter7. No light yet means no algae, Radion should be here Wednesday.

Cheers

NH3/NH4-0
No2-0
No3-5/10ppm
Temp-78F
Salinity-35

Glad to see the clowns are doing well!

 

[Crawford_T]

Update!

Radion has been installed and has been awesome. I am currently running all channels at 100% with the exception of red/green at 24%, schedule intensity is set at 35%.

I currently have 4 frags in the tank, “pink zipper” zoa, “scrambled egg” zoa, Duncan coral and toadstool leather. Hoping to get out today and pick out a few more frags.

I am feeding Reef Roids 1x/week and Reef Energy AB+ every other day. Fish are fed daily with NLS pellets. Hannah Checkers are used for nutrient testing, currently 19.5ppm Nitrate and .08ppm Phosphate.

I’ve added an upgraded weir so that I can run the pump higher and not have the overflow issue. Red Sea “siliconed” bulkhead has been leaking since day one, I cut it out, cleaned it up and replaced it with a standard bulkhead. No leaks, great flow I’m happy.

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Your off to a good start. Watch out with the Reef Roids especially if you are seeing Nitrate and Phosphates levels out of balance. Switched to Reef Blizzard-S which has kept my levels in check.

 

[Crawford_T]

Your off to a good start. Watch out with the Reef Roids especially if you are seeing Nitrate and Phosphates levels out of balance. Switched to Reef Blizzard-S which has kept my levels in check.

I appreciate it. I’m keeping it to once a week and a super low amount as I have very few corals at the moment otherwise, yeah I can see this stuff causing issues.