Biocube 14 - 3 Weeks Old

[BinaryReef]

Hi folks. I thought I would post a video of a recent BC14 tank. A couple of caveats on this video:

1. This is not a professional video with editing and dialogue. Just an unedited video of the tank. Sorry for the focus issues throughout. I wish I had time to edit.

2. I cheated. I started with live sand/rock and Nutrisea, so my cycle was really quick.

3. I have not found a whole lot of video on Youtube or elsewhere that is good unedited footage without a lot of rambling dialogue and advertising.


The center of the tank when facing from the front, is comprised of two different "mystery rocks" from the LFS, sitting on top of the already established live rock. On the right side you see three other frags, also purchased from LFS. Ultimately I plan for the right side to have a rose tip bubble anemone (hopefully hosted by the clown pair). To the left will be a large hammer or torch.

The grotto/cave in the center has largely been shaped by a pistol shrimp and goby pair that did not want to come out for the video. The pistol has steadily excavated the sand there.

Here is the vid: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5R2PB9e9dkuLVRJNjFUa2RMb1E/view?usp=sharing

Here are the basics of the tank posted to another thread on this forum:

Tank: Biocube 14, 8 lbs Live Rock, 15 lbs Live Sand, NutriSea Water
Filtration: Swapped BC14 bioballs out for an InTank media basket with floss/purigen/chemipure.
Lights: Stock, but added a Moon LED to the open slot.
Automation: Tied an Apex Jr in to manage light cycles and heater. Also added an ATO tied into 5 gallon container of RO/DI from LFS.
Livestock: Two juvenile clowns. One Wrasse. Goby/Pistol pair. Emerald Crab. 4 hermits. 4 snails. All from LFS.
Coral: Mature Zoanthids (various) / Mushrooms (various) / Devils Hand Leather / GPS purchased on two "mystery garden" rocks from LFS. Pulsating Zennia - two heads. A couple other LPS frags.

Water cycled very quickly, due to live rock/sand and Nutrisea. In the three weeks since I started the tank, parameters have stayed very stable (Red Sea Test Kit), even as I added livestock. One 30% water change a week ago. Outside of the leather shedding for a few days (normal I have heard) everything is very active and healthy.

Very light feeding. 1/5th of a cube of Mysis every other day and 4-5 pellets of fish food daily.

All opinion, criticism and advice is welcome! I have been out for the hobby for twenty years.

BinaryReef

[BinaryReef]

60 Days later. No water changes. Same light schedule and feeding. Added a few corals from WWC. Lost the goby and returned the pistol shrimp to LFS (wrecking tank from the digging). Replaced with a tail spot blenny. Re-scaped rock and coral about 45 days ago. No changes to tank in the last 45 days.

So very doable without a huge amount of effort for those interested in breaking into the hobby, and having a small footprint to start with. I am using a controller for lights, heat and top off. But have not really had to pay attention too much in the last 60 days. Very happy fish and corals. No dosing and I feed a small amount of pellet and shrimp daily.

Video link (sorry for the bad camera work):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5R2PB9e9dkuckhDcVN3b0pxRnc/view?usp=sharing

BR

[alton]

Looking great, my only question would be the wrasse, she looks a little cramped?

[BinaryReef]

She seems to be doing fine. Eating well, very active. Oddly seems to have bonded with the clown pair. I notice she does surf the strong current, mid column, a lot. But showing no signs of stress or agitation. Will keep an eye on that.