What to do with a cube tank??

[Drewl117]

So I just did some trading and ended up with a 24 X 24 x 19 ( I believe it's around 42 gallons)cube tank that is drilled on the bottom on a corner and it came with a stand. I have some spare equipment that will actually work nice for it. What I'm not sure about is what to do with it... I already have a reef tank so I was thinking maybe seahorses or a mantis shrimp, I want to do something a little different so any and all input would be appreciated.

[farfromsea]

Planted tank with pipefish

[Half Vaped]

If you want something different, I also suggest something along the lines of a macroalgae tank with Seahorses and Pipefish.

[HippieSmell]

I think seahorses like taller tanks, but some sort of focused biotope is what I'd do. A cold water, nonphotosynthetic tank would be amazing.

[Maxi]

Get a bunch of different clowns such as skunk clowns, and ocellaris. Make it an anemone only tank. I've seen LFS do this in mixed reefs and it was an awesome sight.

Do your research well though, I know there is a certain way that you have to add the clowns. I've seen a tank with a bunch of clowns a small school of Chromis that looked great.

[75mixedreef]

Mangrove tank. Macro algae with lots of snails, and lots of little fish. Would a clam do well in a macro algae tank? Something like a tide pool would be sweet too.

Personally, I would love to have a tank where there were a ton of filter feeders and macro algae to take in the excess nutrients. Clams, NPS corals, feather dusters, and lots of other things to add diversity. Keep lots of food in the water, no skimmer or running very dry, no need for corals except some NPS (maybe).

[Jah2707]

You say you have a reef tank. But do you have a favorite type of coral? You could load that little tank up with those and run it on opposite light cycle so then you could always enjoy a tank with its lights on:)

For me I would like to try a bunch of clowns and some anemones! I believe MELEV has a 60 gallon like that.

By the way I have a similar tank. 24x24x18 and so far feel like it is a great size to work on.

Here is what mine looks like -

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/tank2707/DSC_0532_zpswouuplnn.jpg

[reef thief]

Mangrove tank. Macro algae with lots of snails, and lots of little fish. Would a clam do well in a macro algae tank? Something like a tide pool would be sweet too.



I like this idea. Personally I would go a similar route and make it a Thunderdome tank. I had one a few years ago and loved to watch the action in a real tide pool play out right in front of me.

[Drewl117]

Thanks for all the input and keep them coming. I'm still undecided but I am digging the mangrove setup. I just scored a nw110 skimmer for it and some dry rock, probably to much rock but now I can pick and choose a scape. I still need a sump but I will most likely build 1 out of a tank. I would like to keep it easy for maintenance seeing that this is going to be a second tank.

[Drewl117]

I like this idea. Personally I would go a similar route and make it a Thunderdome tank. I had one a few years ago and loved to watch the action in a real tide pool play out right in front of me.

What is a thunder dome tank?

[Devaji108]

I also vote macro algae with gorgs and a pair or 2 of seahorses.

the nem tank is cool too.

could always venture in to the planted fresh water tank too. not as cool as SW but its an idea...

[Drewl117]

Are seahorses that difficult to keep? I have started doing a little reading and research

[ali1]

Options are endless.

[ali1]

Are seahorses that difficult to keep? I have started doing a little reading and research

Requires lower water temps and sensitive to changes in chemistry

[Drewl117]

Options are endless.

That's the problem! Hahaha

[Half Vaped]

Are seahorses that difficult to keep? I have started doing a little reading and research

Captive bred Seahorses are much, much easier since they're already trained to eat frozen and are less likely to come with parasites. Make sure to buy from reputable sources, though, because some Seahorses advertised as "captive bred" are actually "tank raised" or "maricultured" and are more like wild specimens.

They do need lower temps, target feeding, stable water and peaceful tankmates if you want to keep them long term. They also appreciate a lot of vertical space, but 16 inches is the minimum recommended, so you should be fine.

[75mixedreef]

If you go with a mangrove tank, do you really need a skimmer and a sump? You could attach a second tank to it if you wanted to hide equipment or make it into a frag tank, but for nutrients, I don't think you would need a skimmer. Depends on if you have macro algae though. If you don't have any macro then the mangrove will not be likely to keep up with the system by itself.

Seahorses are cool and all, but I just don't see the point of keeping them. When I take my kid to the zoo and we see the seahorse tank, we usually spend about 30 sec there before moving on, compared to the 5 min each at the shark and reef tanks. If you find them interesting then go for it, but I can't see them being that worth while. I'd rather go with a lobster, big hermits, starfish, macro algae, and lots of little fish that school and dart around. In my 75 I am setting up I think I am going to try some small antheas. They school and some do well in a 75. Maybe some filefish would work in the cube, not sure what else stays really small.

[Drewl117]

So I'm thinking planted tank with a mantis shrimp. I picked up 45 lbs of dry rock and a skimmer the other day, sand is on the way. All I need is a small sump and I can get this tank wet and cycling, I went through all my old stuff and found a heater and I'm going to use my backup return pump. I have a spare mp40 that I can use too.. I'll just turn it way down. Does anyone have a good source for a mantis and some mangroves? I already have some other macro I can use.

[Drewl117]

The tank got filled this past Friday and is clearing up nicely. I used water from my reef tank to fill it and a few pieces of rock that were in my sump. So here are some pics
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161120/0df0f19b4a03244766cfa6719314a215.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161120/f52c358e84df262969d384b47a5d3604.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161120/1a8db1c06a45b4700f5d604441cdaf3c.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161120/86adf17d263390736eeec58f3b3e15a1.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161120/98cddda3053139fe99f87985afcaeb87.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161120/229422dede4e18770367a6c16461e33c.jpg


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[ClownReef®]

A frogfish tank would be really cool. A pictus or maculatus..