Biocube29.....Kenya Killer......maybe?

[chunkymonkey]

For the pics police, I'll have some when I get off work.

Received my 29 from Gabes Fish. Currently, i have my 2 black percs and 2 cleaner shrimp occupying it. The tank is 100% stock with no mods. Only mod I'm really planning on is lights so I could possibly do something other than just lps corals.

I've taken down my 55 gallon and 100gal salts due to getting busy in life again and do my 180gal cichlid project. Yeah yeah, I'll let y'all rant about that one, lol.

With the liverock I have and listed stock, I'd like some suggestions on some further fish if applicable for more color or movement. If you think the stock in there is fine and have suggestions on coral capable with the stock lights, those are welcome too. I've seen some nice biocubes out there in stock form. My kids seem to really seem to enjoy this 29 also a little more I think.

Again........pics to come...lol.....

[hobogato]

cool! be sure to post some pics of that cichlid tank in the reef friends forum ;)

[Europhyllia]

I had a pair of ocellaris in a 29 for several years and that seemed to be a good stocking level for me.
One thing I really enjoy in my 215g tank now is a small group of masked gobies or noseeums as my husband calls them.
With most fish in the 3" range the tiny gobies hovering in their spot is really nice
I could see adding 4 masked gobies to complete the picture in a 30g

[chunkymonkey]

I like the way the barbershop gobie looked...or was it barberpole...idk, but was striped. I'll definitely post pics of the 180 when I move it from the garage to the front room. I have to plug the overflow holes first as it will be running on a couple fluval 405's until the wet/dry is done.

I stink at aquascaping when it comes to rocks, hopefully I'll be able to improve it and get some neat coals to make it a little more natural looking. I'm jealous of Karen's, although she has a couple gallons over me, lol.

[Europhyllia]

lol
my seahorse is only a 28 ;)

[chunkymonkey]

Yeah, I'm not referring to the seashore aquascaping and decor......but that beast tank you have, lol.

[Europhyllia]

I know. Trying to make you feel better about your downsizing ;)

[Kristy]

Another fun little choice that could fit in there...

We keep a tail-spot blenny in our 20g hex and he is the cutest guy ever, really fun to watch. He sleeps in the tube of a deserted coco worm and he comes out and grazes algae and swims all around. Adorable, functional, only get about an inch long, maybe closer to 2". You should check them out... (not my photo, obviously!)

http://liveaquaria.com/images/categories/thumbs/th-39334-tail-spot-blenny2.jpg (http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+23+2229&pcatid=2229)

[chunkymonkey]

I'll look onto that Kristy, thanks!
I'll be back to a bigger salt in a year Karen, it's okay. I was running my 100 on the two fluval 405's without incident, i really didn't put anyhing else in the tank because I didn't think it was a proper setup. But, I'll have two backpack skimmers for sale soon, lol.

I couldn't believe all the mods available for these things, nanotuner site was nuts.

[lakers10]

I want a 29 my 14 is so small lol. My barbershop goby is really cool and interesting little guy. On the lights go LED there awesome on such a small tank especially my tiny 1.

[chunkymonkey]

I definitely want led's so I can go with some harder coals......

[chunkymonkey]

Photos as promised....D50 battery is dead so this camera phone pic will have to do. Hopefully not too blurry. Got a couple starter corals from Gabe's Fish too that I'll get in shortly.

[chunkymonkey]

They started to opening after about 20 minutes. I bought one of those lab rat made rocks from gabe too so I can see how that goes.

[chunkymonkey]

Starting to open...

[chunkymonkey]

This tank is so cool. Never had a setup with enough lighting to do corals. Now I'm looking to upgrade to led's so I can do some others. Going to be getting a couple more cool things from Gabe's Fish beforw upgrade, just waiting for him to frag.

[ErikH]

Looks cool, once you get the coral itch better lock that wallet.

[chunkymonkey]

Lol...I have the itch, but Dr. gave me meds for that, j/k. I'm loving it. Just ask Gabe, I've been harassing him about "what about this, and that" lol. I went with frag instead of trying to buy bigger as I'm hoping to see growth and still reading about a lot of this. Hope to be a point someday when i can give away pieces to newcomers as others here have done. But, I also know that doesn't come overnight, lol.

[chunkymonkey]

So now I'm having heat issues. My tank was at 82 yesterday. I left both lids open all day today and dramatically reduced light cycle. As I type this with chubby fingers on my phone, temp is about 79/80. We had to keep our heater on longer and higher since my 3year old's room is typically colder than any other in the house. I also closed one of the two vents from ceiling that is almost directly over the cube. Some folks have mentioned buying the upgraded fans from nanotuners. As I'm still rather new to this equipment, could someone tell me exactly which fans are supposed to be the upgrade and a direct replacement without modding? I really do not want to leave these lids open all day for fear that my kiddos will it's a new game of basketball and start chunkin' stuff in, lol. Also trying to see about replacing stock return pump with something that may run a little cooler and efficiently.....my cube is not near a window or direct sunlight and all stock components in place.

[neogenix]

Dude, you need to get yourself some of those clowns, all will be well after that ;) Did you investigate a fan solution ? Do you have a heater running?

[Europhyllia]

I have a JBJ C-Breeze on my Seahorse Tank, controlled by my RKL. Kicks on whenever temps hit 74 (seahorses need it cooler) and it's been very good at keeping it at that temperature for me.
You can hear it when it's on but it definitely blows well. Not sure if the noise would be a factor for your little guy (it's not horrid but I don't know how soundly he sleeps)

[txg8gxp]

The nanotuners silent x fans are great fans. A maxijet 900 would be a good pump replacement, lower wattage but not more flow. The maxijet1200 has good flow, but higher wattage. I would install some silent x fans in the stock hood (that would help quiet a bit), nanotuners heat shield (they clam that helps alot) or just go leds :)

[txg8gxp]

These are nice complete retro kits
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-65/14-Ultra-Premium-LED/Detail
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-71/20-Ultra-Premium-LED/Detail

[chunkymonkey]

Thanks as usual man! I had a feeling you jump in and of course pitch me the led's, lol. Thanks for the pump recommendation too. I definitely am going to do the led set, but am going to have to wait a couple months as I recover from Christmas and buying another golden retriever. I'll probably buy those fans first along with the pump. I figured there would be a pump out that may run a little cooler. This morning the tank was at 79 with lid closed, but of course lights off except the moon lights.

[chunkymonkey]

Okay, back with another goofy question, sorry. I found the silent x fan kit for 52 dollars but includes a separate plug. Do y'all leave those fans on 24/7 or have them plugged into the same light timer to be on only when lights are on?

[Big_Pun]

same time lights are on, maybe a lil after like 30min.

[Europhyllia]

My fan comes on only when the temp exceeds a certain setting as determined byt the Reef Keepers Temp probe (it's just the RKL 1 version -bought it for $84 new and it includes timing the lights etc.). Temp goes down to acceptable levels and the fan shuts off even if the lights are on.

[chunkymonkey]

Thanks guys!

[FireWater]

Are you running a heater? It seems weird that your temps are that high - my old BC29 was never that bad. Wondering if you are having issues or a wrong seetting with the heater if you are running one.

I agree with Stephen on the fans and upgrade in the pump to help out for now.

[chunkymonkey]

No heater, sorry was referring to the heater/ac.......nothing in tank.

[txg8gxp]

With the style of lighting in the biocube I wouldn't let the fan turn off when the tank is at a ok temp. That would allow the bulbs to heat up more and shorten the life span of them. I would leave the fans on all day, then turn them off when lights go out or 30 minutes after like chris said. Then if that drops the temp more then you want then add a heater.

[chunkymonkey]

Great, thanks!

[w_angerstein]

I am kinda late to the party on this thread and a newbie, but thought I would share what I did. I talked to nanotuners and the fans they sell are not a direct replacement if I understood correctly. I am sure they are far superior to what it comes with, but I wanted plug and play as I am not overly electrically inclined. I purchased a set of fans off ebay that were direct replacements and work great.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130396969952

[chunkymonkey]

Just saw this post..thanks for the link!

[chunkymonkey]

So....I had been feeling bad lately because I killed a Kenya tree, as StangChris was so kind to point out they are nearly impossible to do so, lol. Then reminded me again, then again, lol.
My name is Chad, I'm a Kenya tree killer.

All the branches fell to the floor of the cube. The next day I went to pick them up only to see they were gone. Figured my wife got them as she had just done a water change. That had to have been two weeks ago maybe. Last night as I looked in to see the Duncan(sp?) and Green Star polyps, I saw something by one of my zoa frags. One of the Kenya branches was growing. Then I noticed 5 more different locations in the tank where kenyas were now growing, including the original base sprouting all new growth. It was a happy day, I'm no longer the only person to kill one, lol.

Now, if only my zoas would come out. Been keeping my eye out in case there was one of those nasty snails or something, but none yet.

[chunkymonkey]

Nudi? Just saw this guy hotrodding across the glass. Seems pretty nimble, snail-like movement. Kind of camouflaged on the rock. Bad?

[neogenix]

if in doubt pull it out....

[chunkymonkey]

Yeah, soon as I popped the pic, sucker was gone...I'll see him again.

[txg8gxp]

looks like it might be a stomatella snail. I have tons of them in my biocube.

[Regric25]

Yup thats a stomatella snail! Not bad at all. Good to have in tank. Consider it part of your CUC.

[lakers10]

what did you decide to do for your stocking list?

[chunkymonkey]

Thanks for the input guys. lakers, I just have two black percs, 2 emerald crabs, 7 hermits, and a cleaner shrimp. I would like one or two more fish with good coloring if possible.

[lakers10]

you should go with a pistol goby pair. Like a barbershop like mine ; ). Can't wait to get another cube my is stocked.

[chunkymonkey]

I definitely want a barbershop.....tank funds are low right now....but in the future for sure.

[lakers10]

yea there awesome. Do you have any astrea snails with your hermits mine always attack them?

[chunkymonkey]

No snails....except for this surprise guest.

[profntbtr]

might get too big but check out the metallic shrimp goby, amblyeleotris latifasciata. i included the scientific name because it goes by many different names, but here is a pic. gets about as big as a yellow watchman.http://www.sergeyphoto.com/underwater/tioman/Amblyeleotris-latifasciata1.jpg

[markgsa]

Maybe a yasha hashe goby and a pistol shrimp pair. I want these 2 guys in my 28g nanocube.