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View Full Version : My Oceanic 14 Gal BioCube Adventure


rainmaker2085
12/19/2007, 09:13 AM
Hi Folks,

First tank, first post.

I wanted to share some pictures and see what you think..

Leo

http://www.rizadesign.com/akvaryum/IMG_1079.jpg

http://www.rizadesign.com/akvaryum/IMG_1041.jpg

http://www.rizadesign.com/akvaryum/IMG_1054.jpg

http://www.rizadesign.com/akvaryum/IMG_1058.jpg

http://www.rizadesign.com/akvaryum/IMG_1059.jpg

http://www.rizadesign.com/akvaryum/IMG_1063.jpg

http://www.rizadesign.com/akvaryum/IMG_1080.jpg

scottydo
12/19/2007, 09:36 AM
That looks great.

mahalamata
12/19/2007, 09:52 AM
awesome man!great job!
are those sponges you have in there?i have been looking to get some are they easy to keep?what do you feed them?water current?
good work!

Kanthus
12/19/2007, 09:58 AM
Nice tank. Did you do any mods to it?

martinphillip03
12/19/2007, 10:06 AM
Nice very nice. How long has it been setup?

Marty

mokujin22
12/19/2007, 10:15 AM
Yeah.. very nice. Setting up a BC 8 myself.

As the other guys ask, can you give us more details? :)

rainmaker2085
12/19/2007, 10:54 AM
Thanks guys...

There are no modifications done to the tank at all. Same standard lighting and filtration. I was thinking of adding a chiller but because of the winter weather I think I will postpone.

The tank has been around for apprx. 14 months but I started the coral setup about 3-4 weeks ago.

The red, orange and yellow ones are all sponges and I gotto admit, they do give some color to the tank. They seem to be doing fine so far (knock on wood). I found the yellow branched one in a local store for $29.99 and snagged it right away. It was exactly what I was looking for. I should have taken more pictures of it. It has purple veins in it, I just wish I had a better camera. Maybe I can take some more tonight if you want.

I found a store in Ft. Myers which is an hour south of where I am. They seem to have reasonable prices. I think I will go shopping for more this weekend.

Leo

Kanthus
12/19/2007, 03:43 PM
Did you change the back chambers at all? Like LR rubble or skimmer in one of them? Pics if you have them.

ladi8t3r
12/19/2007, 04:32 PM
very nice. I like the layout of everything.

kingfisher62
12/19/2007, 09:00 PM
The yellow branching one is a Gorgonian actually you will probably want to feed it phytoplankton occasionally.

It is a beautiful piece but i heard they are hard to keep.Have you seen any polyps on it at night?

BTW, tank looks great!

Same size Biocube as mine.

rainmaker2085
12/19/2007, 11:41 PM
Hey Kingfisher,

Yes you are right it is a Yellow Gorgonian which does have quite a bit of white polyp and they are beautiful once open. I managed to take a picture of one open and below is a close-up. I did forget to mention that I feed them Phycopure. 1 1/2 tea spoon once every day. I am planning in getting some turkey baster to spot feed. Maybe it would do even better.

Kanthus,

I didnt change the backchambers at all. Same usual stuff. I tried to take a picture of it for you. Check it out.

I added some more detailed pictures of the tank.

Leo

http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/DSC_0204.jpg

http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/DSC_0087.jpg

http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/DSC_0089.jpg

http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/DSC_0166.jpg

http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/DSC_0005.jpg

http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/DSC_0067.jpg

pardalis
12/20/2007, 12:21 AM
The tank looks greta!

pardalis
12/20/2007, 12:22 AM
That should read GREAT!

rainmaker2085
12/20/2007, 06:37 AM
Well, I guess I forgot to post the tank with the lid open..

Leo


http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/DSC_0210.jpg

3fins
12/20/2007, 06:45 AM
do you have the bio balls in there?

rainmaker2085
12/20/2007, 08:51 AM
Hi 3Fins,

I actually do/did have the bio balls in there but was in the midst of switching to live rocks.

I heard that they work wonders compared to the balls. Has anyone used live rock in the refugium instead of the bios?

Oh and by the way below are some pictures I took right before I left for work. The polyps are wide open.

Leo

http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/DSC_0227.jpg

http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/DSC_0230.jpg

mathias999us
12/20/2007, 12:35 PM
Very nice, especially for your first tank... That Gorgonian is awesome too, I'd be interested to see how well it does in the long run. Nice job.

Kanthus
12/20/2007, 01:01 PM
Sorry for all the questions. I have just set mine up so am looking for all the input I can get. It has been set up for 5 1/2 weeks now. Here is my thread. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=11332873#post11332873

I was told that the bioballs create a lot of Nitrates so I took them out along with the spung between the 2ed and 3rd chamber. Moved the false bottom of the 2ed chamber to the top and put filter floss on it at the top and the heater under that. Put LR rubble in the first chamber. So far it seems to be working well, just looking for what others have done to make sure I am doing the right thing.

rainmaker2085
12/20/2007, 03:23 PM
Thanks Mathius... So far so good. Hopefully I can succeed in keeping it.

Kanthus... that is no problem... I have a bunch of questions myself.. and this forum is one of the best ways we can all learn...

I checked out your images and realized that you are doing something a bit different than what I have. Bare with me while I try to describe it as clearly as possible.

Below is an image of your tank. As far as I see, you have sand in chamber 2 (refuge) and you are doing your filtering there instead of chamber 1. Correct?

If so, shouldn't this be the other way around? As far as I know the rocks or BioBalls help with bacterial growth and the tank needs the bacteria created in this chamber. If we filter it then there is no use to it no?

Thanks in advance

Leo

http://rizadesign.com/akvaryum/refuge2.jpg

Zatko
12/20/2007, 03:34 PM
rainmaker2085 - Either way, I think bacteria will grow on the rocks.

There could be some crud at the base of all that rubble rock in the first chamber though.

Overall, the tank looks great. Keep it up.

Kanthus
12/20/2007, 03:36 PM
On your #2, that is actually filter floss, with a carbon filter floss under that one. It is just dirty. I put a new peice in there about once a week or so.

I have LR rubble in the top section of the first chamber, #1. There is a false bottom there and I just left it so the rubble would not go all the way to the bottom. I also have a little in the 2ed chamber with the heater under the filter floss.

tigereye37
12/20/2007, 05:41 PM
Bacteria will be able to flow through the sponge, the pores are not that absolute.........

kingfisher62
12/20/2007, 07:07 PM
rainmaker, be careful with that food. It can really screw up your tank. I would say twice a week or less.
I don't even feed my tank anymore(except my fish)But those gorgonians will need some nutrients.

also take your balls out gradually, as not to screw up your bioload . Maybe twelve every two days to allow the beneficial tank bacteria to adjust. If you pull them all at once your tank might spike. once the bioballs are gone add your LR rubble.
I have mine in the center chamber.I have a wad of filter floss above my rubble on the drip tray like kanthius. which i replace every few days.
Get rid of your cartridge , they are expensive and nitrate factories if not changed weekly.

jdpierce21
12/20/2007, 07:37 PM
Very nice tank. I love all the corals! :)