ADDboy's 29gal MUSCLE CUBE!!!

[addboy]

So...Here it is: When I was getting rid of my 210 gal......Steve at Horizon hooked me up with this 29 Oceanic...I immediately started upgrading it to accomodate my prized acro.s, monti.s and Zoas.

I ripped the hood off and stuck a 150 watt HQI Sunpaq (Current) on top...The ballast that comes with it doesn't push the colors out of the bulb like other 150 hqi's, so I am running XM 20k (always blue). That still wasn't enough...I found that standard 10gal. light hoods (20") fit perfectly on the tank and complimented the Sunpaq nicely...so I got 2 black ones....dismantled the PCs from the original hood, ordered some reflectors and Vwolla!! I had 2 36 watt actinic suplements on each side....that was good enough for me. I then procured a 3gal. refugium which fit perfectly on the back. This brings me to the skimmer...the Oceanic (airstone) skimmer works great,,....If you rip the pump off and throw a Whisper 100 gal. on and run both pipes up to the air wood...I only run about 1/4 of the way in the water and still get a wet skim....and if your still reading....I put a JBJ 1/15 hp chiller on a closed loop with a sterilizer in the middle...that worked great for about 3 weeks, then the JBJ chiller broke my heart....and almost dislocated my shoulder taking it back to Bruce at Aquatek....he hooked me up with a TECO 1/4 hp and I have been very happy...I did not want to replace another sm. junkie chiller. The sterilizer has really helped with the initial algae but the 20k really hasn't slowed the parisitic algae as much as I thought it would....I keep my Kh and Ph very high at all times and run vast amounts of Phosban and Rowa in the middle back chamber (My Phosphate Reactor)...I also managed to get my Dremel back there and stuck a sm. float valve in one of the separators. It runs out to my garage where I still have my RODI and 35 gal. reserve T.O. water. Questions???? Comments???? I am looking forward to hanging out with the Nano crowd.
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb271/garrettblanton_2007/100_5072.jpg
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http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb271/garrettblanton_2007/IMG_0067.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb271/garrettblanton_2007/IMG_0185.jpg

[ErikH]

Put some more corals in there why don't 'cha?

Looks rockin' Garrett. :)

[RayAllen]

Pretty cool, Id say the only down fall is that there is no way you will be able to really grow out all the SPS with the limited space. Id prefer 1 or 2 decent sized SPS over many small, but it is a matter of prefernce. Cool little tank though.

[addboy]

Thanks. My philosophy is: "If you don't have any corals in there....well you're just wasting electricity."

[addboy]

Ray: Yeah...I figure between RTN,STN, and unexplained death...my selection might get narrowed down a bit....If I start having a space problem though...I figure that will be one of the best problems I've ever had. Hehe* but seriously,..that is another good reason for the 20k....controlable growth....I don't know how long I will be able to stay with this little thing anyway....I'm always thinking about new tanks.....Is that healthy???

[addboy]

OOoopps...Forgot my livestock hook-ups. Special THANKS to : Dale, Apedroza, Andysgr, and MissT...the only one left at River City who still takes me seriously...but seriously...I've been going to RCA a lot for the "Good Stuff" that keeps the tank looking good.

[apedroza]

I recognize a few of those pieces!!! Those Purple hearted zoas look great!!!

[longhorna95]

thats a great looking tank! sometimes I wonder why do i fool around with a 75? ( bc you can fit more coral in it!! 8)

[JimD]

Whats all that ugly white goop at the bottom of the acro frags? :bigsmile:

[zcatzmeow]

Totally awesome! I couldn't figure out how to mod my 29 without either a) paying crazy amounts of money or b) creating an uncovered fishing pond for my cats :lauging:

[envy]

b) creating an uncovered fishing pond for my cats :lauging:
lol :lauging:

[addboy]

JD: Superius Gluem Gelatinae...I believe is the exact species of that white stuff....actually, there is no rock in the tank at all....the base was sculpted completely out of Super Glue Gel....I think it will replace live rock in the next 5 yrs.

Z: Yeah...its hard to make a canopy for those cubes with the bowed front...I have the complete plastic part of the hood still, if you think you could use it....I was thinking about trying to mold or bend black plastic around it to make a 2"-3" suspended canopy, but I don't know how to manipulate plastic very well.

[longhorna95]

so can we get any picture updates?

[addboy]

Um???....Hmmm....Hasn't changed much....Will try....Still trying to figure out my new little
8.1 MP camera.....Can't go wrong with Cannon.

[crabman]

man thats a sweet setup!

[addboy]

THANKS.....It is just as much fun as my 210 and now I can spend time with my family too.
You really have to know what your doing on these small tanks though....One wrong move,...and its "Crash City"...either that, or you've got an algae farm. I have spent a lot of money on this little dude,...Mainly in Rowaphos and Phosban, and Filtration...Not to mention chilling and UV sterilization. I've also been doing 2-4 gallon water changes about every 3 days and buffering constantly.

I've also been manicuring it with a toothbrush and K-BOB scewers and long tweezers....Ive also got a Korallia Nano that is a permanent fixture...(and on the "blink") ARGGGGGgggg....

[crabman]

man you're nonstop! you're obviously doing it right though, because it looks awesome. i have a 37g which i think is a decent size for me and my girlfriend, not too small, but not big! i think its a good size for beginners (which we very much are).

[VoodooMach]

man you're nonstop! you're obviously doing it right though, because it looks awesome. i have a 37g which i think is a decent size for me and my girlfriend, not too small, but not big! i think its a good size for beginners (which we very much are).

how's the crab? is he mopping up all the excess food like he should?

I ended up cancelling my order for that eel because he sent me pics of it and it looked like crap i.e. not very yellow... needless to say, aquadome made me really happy with a pair of yashias and pistol shrimp. haha.

[VoodooMach]

THANKS.....It is just as much fun as my 210 and now I can spend time with my family too.
You really have to know what your doing on these small tanks though....One wrong move,...and its "Crash City"...either that, or you've got an algae farm. I have spent a lot of money on this little dude,...Mainly in Rowaphos and Phosban, and Filtration...Not to mention chilling and UV sterilization. I've also been doing 2-4 gallon water changes about every 3 days and buffering constantly.

I've also been manicuring it with a toothbrush and K-BOB scewers and long tweezers....Ive also got a Korallia Nano that is a permanent fixture...(and on the "blink") ARGGGGGgggg....

I did a red sea aquavase (roughly 1/2 gallon) 2 years ago and I remember using a toothbrush to scrub the walls because a magnet cleaner was too big for it hahaha. I had that thing running for a year before I put it all into a bigger tank and that was my first saltwater experience.

[BioCube14]

what are you doing to keep those sps alive! Are they growing and holding color? Im saying this because i cant seem to keep sps alive in my small tank

[crabman]

how's the crab? is he mopping up all the excess food like he should?

he's actually doing really really good! he stays in full view most of the time because he chose a hiding spot that was in a little shaded spot facing the front of the tank. he had his anemone's just fine, and then added a bunch of live rock and rearranged everything (i put everything in a safe spot while moving) and i think he kinda got freaked out and dropped them along the process. no biggie though, i hear they get them back fairly quick! he's healthy though and i love having him! thanks again for the great deal and getting him to me! :applause:

[addboy]

I am doing everything from light upgrades to 3gal. water changes every 3-4 days....a hang on fuge...vast amounts of Phosban and Rowa in the rear chambers...cleaning and replacing the factory filter...2 Koralia Nanos...and really expensive micro foods and Prodibio program has really enhanced the color. I think that until you have an aged tank, SPS will not show all the color that they should...something to do with the bacteria that they need to thrive....so I supplement (Prodibio and DTs and Arctipods and Seachem amino drenched rotifers,cyclops and Arctipods).

BTW...anyone know the best return pump to replace the factory 29 gal. Oceanic ??...someone was talking about a Maxi, but those seem so small compared to the return I have on it. I might just clean it and see how I feel about it then *Ha

[VoodooMach]

I am doing everything from light upgrades to 3gal. water changes every 3-4 days....a hang on fuge...vast amounts of Phosban and Rowa in the rear chambers...cleaning and replacing the factory filter...2 Koralia Nanos...and really expensive micro foods and Prodibio program has really enhanced the color. I think that until you have an aged tank, SPS will not show all the color that they should...something to do with the bacteria that they need to thrive....so I supplement (Prodibio and DTs and Arctipods and Seachem amino drenched rotifers,cyclops and Arctipods).

BTW...anyone know the best return pump to replace the factory 29 gal. Oceanic ??...someone was talking about a Maxi, but those seem so small compared to the return I have on it. I might just clean it and see how I feel about it then *Ha
I think some sort of rio is a good replacement for the stocker, but I heard that its loud.

[fjr_wertheimber]

I replaced mine with a MaxiJet 1200 and it makes a LOT more flow in the tank...

[addboy]

Just got a brand new MJ1200 from River City. Thanks.

[Mr Cob]

Nice tank. I know all about those rubber bands on the stand.:bigsmile: We have them on our entertainment center and a couple other places.

[sly fox]

got to see the tank yesterday, must say it looks awesome :)

[barderer]

you can throw 2 more 36w PCs on the biocube 29 for a mer 70 bucks. The nano tuners kit is a rip

[addboy]

I got the 2 x 36 watts from Hellolights and used the orig. hood ballasts and came out under $40...I have a `150 watt HQI that they both attach to so I think thats about all the light I can squeeze on top of it right now...It's all homemade and component based....not a solid canopy..but it fits very nicely.

[clamgal]

nice tank!

[drgnbttrfly]

dont the eyes play tricks on you? i was like Musical cube? they play music now?:clown: