• Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.

130.4 waterbox

john90009

NJRC Member
I never realized I could edit the title. Was originally my biocube and now that I had my tank finally moved it’s time to get it back on track. Thanks Mnat for helping take it down and load it up. Apparently since I wasn’t able to take care of my tank as much as it should, the 130 mls of two part raised my salinity to 1.030 lol. If your corals can survive the swings it really helps them through life lol. I had my rainbow splice survive it along with a lot of my LPS and chalices which seemed to enjoy it. I threw a few sps in there like vivids confetti which will tell me if there’s something off with the water. I was able to get my massive yellow submarine off the rock and made a few small frags of it that I will sell when they heal. Xxx gonipora and dnov99 firegarden goni which has grown wel for me are able to frag as well. I had this og mummy eye in my tanks since 2012 when I started my biocube and after all the years it started to graft purple in it. I have two big pieces of it that I need to frag.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0161.jpeg
    IMG_0161.jpeg
    881 KB · Views: 3
  • IMG_0163.jpeg
    IMG_0163.jpeg
    1.6 MB · Views: 3
  • IMG_0164.jpeg
    IMG_0164.jpeg
    1.4 MB · Views: 1
  • IMG_0165.jpeg
    IMG_0165.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 1
  • IMG_0176.jpeg
    IMG_0176.jpeg
    1.1 MB · Views: 1
  • IMG_0175.jpeg
    IMG_0175.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 1
  • IMG_0155.jpeg
    IMG_0155.jpeg
    2.1 MB · Views: 1
  • IMG_0153.jpeg
    IMG_0153.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 1
  • IMG_0159.jpeg
    IMG_0159.jpeg
    2.2 MB · Views: 1
  • IMG_0154.jpeg
    IMG_0154.jpeg
    2.2 MB · Views: 1
  • IMG_0179.jpeg
    IMG_0179.jpeg
    1.5 MB · Views: 3
Wow just wow I’m at a loss for words, stunning vibrant colors and gorgeous poly extension. I’m 14 and I got into the hobby when I was 13 and went to Frag fest expecting to just see some cool salt water fish turns out Frags are a whole different experience. I now have my 10 gallon at home with corals and some fish for now going one 10 months (took awhile to get all the stuff needed). Do you have any tips or tricks to getting the best looking corals? I know all the good stuff like stability and consistency but any more detailed advice that you only learn from years of experience?
 

john90009

NJRC Member
My best advice is set yourself up for success. If you plan to have a reef with sps then you have to keep that in mind with fish and waterchanges. Your fish are gonna drive the nutrients in the tank, only get what your output can handle. Good waterchanges consistently with quality clean rodi water will always put things back in line for a small tank. I had a biocube 32 gallon and I would do weekly 5 gallon waterchanges that would always keep stuff back in line. Corals tend to look like crap when you get them in your tank, it’s just the way they adjust to new parameters so it takes time for them to recolor back up. If you have a decent amount of rock and sand the rest will take care of itself as long as you start consistent with quality waterchanges. Lights are also important down the road, a lot of Chinese and lower priced ones have come into the market that do just as well as the high end.
 
My best advice is set yourself up for success. If you plan to have a reef with sps then you have to keep that in mind with fish and waterchanges. Your fish are gonna drive the nutrients in the tank, only get what your output can handle. Good waterchanges consistently with quality clean rodi water will always put things back in line for a small tank. I had a biocube 32 gallon and I would do weekly 5 gallon waterchanges that would always keep stuff back in line. Corals tend to look like crap when you get them in your tank, it’s just the way they adjust to new parameters so it takes time for them to recolor back up. If you have a decent amount of rock and sand the rest will take care of itself as long as you start consistent with quality waterchanges. Lights are also important down the road, a lot of Chinese and lower priced ones have come into the market that do just as well as the high end.
Right now my schedule is 10% (1 gallon) water changes weekly with 2 gallons monthly so I can clean the rear chambers. With 2-3 doses of All for Reef throughout the week to keep parameters more stable. Speaking of Chinese lights I got the nicrew 65 watt nava reef and the thing is a dream I got it on discount for like 80 bucks and it’s as good as some of the higher price main brand ones, bit you do need to get the controller or else it’s just presets. One last question I’m currently using Red Sea blue bucket salt and I need to order more do you think it would be better to switch to the black bucket that’s higher alkalinity and stuff? Or do you have a different opinion on salt brands? Here’s my stocking.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3935.png
    IMG_3935.png
    155 KB · Views: 1
  • IMG_3934.png
    IMG_3934.png
    211.5 KB · Views: 1

john90009

NJRC Member
With salt it really is preference. If you are dialed in with your dosing I would keep the same salt. Everyone has their preference. You don’t have any heavy demanding corals so the extra alk isn’t really needed.
 
Top