60 gallon starfire cube.

[Aysha]

An introduction

So the second times a charm right!
I've never been much for journalism or writing a diary but I really like the idea of a tank journal. I love looking back the last 7 months of owning my biocube 29 at my progress,trials,mistakes and things I have learned. So I decided with a new tank comes a new Journey and with it a new Journal!

I have no idea how many of you actually read these things but I find them a great resource to have all my questions,comments, parameters,livestock,and throw a rock through a window moments all in one place.

It also helps you because when I inevitably do something silly either I or you guys can look back at the pages good and bad and figure out what I am doing right and what I am doing er not so right.
I'd also like to take the time to thank the members of canreef and my favorite LFS for all your help and support.

Always learning ,
~Aysha
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New tank:
60 gallon starfire cube and stand
metal halide lighting
30 gallon sump with herbie style valves and fittings
internal overflow

So this is a big step for me after a 12 degree heat spike nuked my corals one day I decided I needed one of 2 things a fancy chiller or a bigger tank.
2 weeks later after walking into my favorite fish store something in the corner caught my eye. A friend of Steve's had left a large cube tank in the corner of his shop and I knew I had my answer.

It wasn't that much of a stretch as I had wanted a ( pretty much mythical) solana xl as a second tank and this one was dang close. The fact that it's starfire on 3 sides didn't hurt either.

I didn't pay a ton of cash for this beast but as a condition of sale I had to promise Steve that I'd come get a new skimmer (sorry canreef)and some nicknacks for the sump as soon as I could afford it lol.

Now begins the process of loading it into the house and the even more fun process of cycling it and buying more rock (my least favorite part lol)

Shopping list:
LED Lights
Skimmer
Aquarium controller
Bigger powerheads I doubt my korallia nanos are going to cut it

Photos to follow shortly.

can someone give me a rundown of the pros and cons of LEDS v.s Halide
no I can't afford radions I'm a stay at home contractor.
and the pros and cons of Arganite v.s Sugar sand?

yes google is my friend but sometimes it's easier to understand from people who've used both

[Aysha]

rare and exotic fish
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/405317_10150934977521736_722681719_n.jpg

[magikof7]

That fish is Stunning! it most have cost a fortune. ;)

Ill be following along!

[Nano]

Nice! But fyi catfish arent reef safe ;)

[MarkoD]

If you look really closely, you'll notice that's not even a fish...... It's a cat

[Leah]

A Siamese fighting fish?

[Aysha]

it is clearly a siamese fighting fish.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I think Marco needs his eyes checked. ;) Clearly a Siamese fighting [cat]fish.

[Ginu]

Grats on the purchase, the cube looks really good.

Aaah, the LED's vs MHI debate... I don't have LED's and I'm currently shopping for a Radion then will have to get a second as my new tank which is 48" in length... there are a few very good and viable options for LED's out there and I have a feeling ecotech will drop their prices in the next few months as they are coming up to a year since release and other companies are coming up and releasing their LED's (not as customizable though)

The reasons for LED's are:
- lower power consumption (way lower than a equivalent light output MHI)
- LEDs produce very little heat compared to a MHI
- in most cases a Chiller is not needed
- LED's are very customizable in terms of color/intensity depending on the fixture and the better companies will offer different upgrades as the technology evolves
- no need to replace bulbs as the leds are rated for 5+ years(some say it should last 10+ years)... in my opinion this is a big advantage as a good MHI bulb is 50-75$... On my 75 i have a fixture running 2*50w T12 atinics and 2*175 SE bulbs and to replace all bulbs a year I'm looking at about 200$ including taxes...
Now if I add the power consumption in the equation I think every few years I can purchase a new LED fixture

I did a small calculation to run a Radion for 10hours a day @121W is roughly $40/year
Vs. a MHI 250w + 2*50W atinics for the same amount of time @ $90/year + $100(cost of bulbs) + $30/year(chiller power usage) = approx $220

To run a Radion in BC costs $40/year vs $220 to run a MHI + two atinics

On a 60gallon cube, I think you might be able to get away by using one good LED fixture and save yourself some money down the road as you will not have to upgrade to LED's and get rid of the MHI+ Chiller and lets not forget the heat which those produce.

If you dont have a fixture, I vote to save a bit and get a LED coral capable fixture and honestly I'd opt for a higher end fixture over the Coralife and other cheaper LED's or if you already have a light, then run with that and save for a good LED fixture once again. Just cant beat the low maintenance cost, power cost and most important the customization... if setup right some fixtures can be controlled from a smartphone :)


Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-bnoLvdiYI)is an informative vid comparing the Radion VS MHI

[Aysha]

I've got a 250 watt halide sitting here.
I figure we'll rock the cycling and setup and if all goes well we will pick up a radion in the next few months.

I'll either dive in with both feet and spend lots or decide salt is not for me.
so we will see.

thanks for that imput Ginu it's very helpful esp the calculations.
PS the chiller debate again. I think that alone makes the answer clear.

[Ginu]

I've got a 250 watt halide sitting here.
I figure we'll rock the cycling and setup and if all goes well we will pick up a radion in the next few months.

I'll either dive in with both feet and spend lots or decide salt is not for me.
so we will see.

thanks for that imput Ginu it's very helpful esp the calculations.
PS the chiller debate again. I think that alone makes the answer clear.


You're set then, just use the MHI until upgrading to a led of some sort. I have a 34g cube running a single 150w MHI 20k bulb and I have to say its very nice, however I've supplemented it with two ecoxotic 453 stunner strips and that makes a huge difference in terms of color pop. I wish I was good enough with my slr to take good pics showing to color pop.

I'll take a pic of it today and post it for you to see the diff of just MHI and MHI and stunner strips.

Keep in mind that one radion fixture = 250w of power in a MHI.

[Aysha]

So now I need a new pump.
I was told when I bought the tank the pump would do what I needed. Well it doesn't it's currently moving 100gallons an hour (so nothing)
the pump has got to move the water up just over 4 ft.

the pump I have is a Mag Drive model 2
we are looking at a Marineland NJ-3000 submersible utility pump

It's obnoxious when we just bought the tank and filled it with salt after inspecting it for leaks.

*siiiigggggggggghhhhhhh

[Aysha]

So it's up and running and done cycling. i added a new pump and 50ish lbs of live rock in addition to the 30lbs I had. I added the rock from my old tank slowly over the course of a week and a half.
I moved everyone over today !
hope for no lossses but I noticed "urchie" my short spined urchin of 6 months was missing a lot of his spines. I'm guessing it was from the temp spike a few weeks back that knocked out a ton of my inverts. Because of that I lost a few shrimp,crabs,and SNAILS so the inverts weren't pleased with me. I also lost 2/3 of my coral which led me to get a BIGGER tank lol.
Photos to follow soon.
most of the rock work
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/530996_10150963019311736_2058615115_n.jpg

my darling urchie
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/560420_10150776997506736_1687730976_n.jpg

[Aysha]

this is urchie now
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546543_10150968784366736_231412579_n.jpg

updated photos of tank
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/533021_10150968785381736_211308262_n.jpg
I found a video I made of the biocube before all the coral died I'll have to add it to the other thread

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/419984_10150968784551736_1123060581_n.jpg

[Aysha]

on closer inspection the urchin didn't make it into the new tank the temp spike must have injured him.

the feather duster looked healthy until I moved his rock. he was wound all the way around it without a casing. I think the same spike and the tank move did him in as I found him an hour ago.....

The only invert to survive the spike officially seems to be the sexy shrimp. lets hope he was stable enough to switch tanks.

urf reef keeping can be SO ANNOYING.

[fishoholic]

I moved everyone over today !
hope for no lossses but I noticed "urchie" my short spined urchin of 6 months was missing a lot of his spines. I'm guessing it was from the temp spike a few weeks back that knocked out a ton of my inverts.

Urchins need really established tanks to survive, IMO they are more sensitive then even anemone's. Doug had his 260g running for 2 months (everything was cycled but still a new system) before putting adding his 2 urchins and both died. Odds are there wasn't enough food on the rocks (due to being out of water while moving, even if it was only for a short period of time) to sustain the urchin.

[Aysha]

He died in the old tank I just didn't clue in. He was only in the new tank for half an hour before I realized something was up. I had him for about 6 months in the old tank.

[fishoholic]

He died in the old tank I just didn't clue in. He was only in the new tank for half an hour before I realized something was up. I had him for about 6 months in the old tank.

Oh sorry I thought he died in the new tank.

Also thought I'd mention if you want led lights look into the 350 kessil http://www.ecocityhydroponics.com/kessil-a350-tuna-blue-reef-aquarium-led-light.html and the maxspect razor led lights http://www.saltysupply.com/Maxspect-Razor-160w-LED-Lighting-System-27-Inch-10-p/ms1149.htm. We have them at AI if you want to see them on display to get an idea of what they look like. Both are great led lights that will work well on a 60g and are about $300 cheaper then Radions, not that Radions aren't a great light, they are just really expensive. Prices are a bit different then in the links (kessil is $140 less and maxspect is $10 more) but it gives you an idea of their spectrum etc.

[Aysha]

Yeah We were looking at ecorays.
I may hold out for a bit longer and see what's coming out.
My biocube is pending sale to a friend and I'm going to be purchasing a skimmer and a reef keeper with what comes out of it.

I figure I want the best hardwear I can afford in order to make my fishes happy.
The fancy corals can be on the back burner if I don't have a pristine set up.
also I have discovered a few things:

BAYU magnet cleaners (cheapo off brand) work wonders on half inch glass. both the mag floats and the aquion would disconnect.(the next choice was the hammerhead)

FILTER SOCKS ARE EVIL that is all.:mrgreen:

My glass is too thick for my maxijet 1200 back to the koralia drawing board.

I've got a sink trap on my emergency drain! amazing!
http://www.yinshan.com.sg/Products/Molding/Kim%20Kim/Basin%20Filter_files/image002.jpg

[fishoholic]

The ecorays are nice too. A 60DX would be good for your 60g. Get the DX because those ones are dimmable. I have the 112DX ecorays over my 230g reef tank and I like them :biggrin:

[fishoholic]

I just noticed you never posted a full length pic of the beautiful stand and canopy! Me thinks you should :wink:

[Aysha]

You are correct!!! the door to the sump came off moving it so I wanted to finish installing the insides and putting the door back on before I posted photos!
Good lookin' tank for sure.

[Aysha]

Side view
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546652_10151000382291736_1170650556_n.jpg

Pygmy angel
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/199703_10151000382541736_503584072_n.jpg
Front
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/543708_10151000380981736_1006330795_n.jpg

New stuff
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/399767_10151000380391736_54685127_n.jpg

photo bomber aka my attack fish.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/526213_10151000381841736_69724899_n.jpg

[Aysha]

the fishgods were in my favor today and my lovely friend brought me a AquaC Urchin Pro-S protein skimmer. Fragfest is tomorrow so we shall see if I come home with anything.
Discovered my odd looking coral thing was actually a manjano it and 3 of it's aiptasia friend took a bath in some hot water.
"excuse me I have a date with Aiptasia, PEW PEW PEW DIE! PEW PEW PEW!!!!!!"

[Aysha]

I sold my biocube last night :)
I'm pretty happy! I managed to replace EVERYTHING that melted in my biocube!!!
for a whopping 50.00 that should make a dent in the big empty ;)

2.50 a head for frogspawns 1.75 a head for candycanes
rocks with zoas for 10.00
lots of random frags for 5.00 each!
I LOVEEEEEEEEEE FRAGFEST!

I wanted some monty or acans but I couldnt find any through all the crowds.
Smokin' deals. It was like a grarage sale for coral people.

[Aysha]

I've got photoupdates including stand for fishaholic
but a more obnoxious matter is at hand,
Little fish as he is affectionalty known (the small occ clown)
missed rolecall this morning (yes I count my animals every morning)
I found him swimming happily in the overflow.
HOW THE @$%@%}@ do I get him out of there, I've got egg crate that slats in overtop to keep it from happening again.
On a side note I realize that he's actually quite safe in there and I may use it in the future if I have a fish being bullied, (my sump is NOT fish friendly too many baffles and pipes.

P.S this urchin pro skimmer is AMAZING I LOVE IT!

[fishoholic]

I've got photoupdates including stand for fishoholic


:cheer2:

[Aysha]

GAAA I never did post the full setup did I?
Bad news the door fell off again oh and my clownfish beat the stuffing out of the pygmy angel.
Good news all my coral looks awesome and my husband surprised me with an osmolator! Such a nice boy I married.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/480139_10151102264391736_1957099828_n.jpg

I should take more photos now that stuff has grown in.

[Aysha]

New fish new fish neeewww fish!!!
da da da da da da!!!!!
I got them from Neal at Marine Experience The colours here do them no justice.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/484936_10151104257006736_335800480_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/395119_10151104256301736_1492152388_n.jpg
Not new fish but it shows how much my baby clown has grown!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/20408_10151104256431736_1015167540_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/574504_10151104256766736_1454611476_n.jpg

[Aysha]

This beast is being SHUT DOWN!
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=790776#post790776

[Ginu]

Sorry to hear and good luck with the sale... it was starting to look really nice as well.

[Parker]

Always sad to see someone shut down and get out of the hobby. Maybe keep all your equipment and take a break?

[lastlight]

Always sad to see someone shut down and get out of the hobby. Maybe keep all your equipment and take a break?

+ ~1000