brianspider
New member
Thought it was about time I start a thread for my tank, going to repost some info from my introduction so it's all in one place!
My name is Brian and I am from Sacramento, California. I attended the University of Southern California, and am now brought to Chicago in pursuit of my medical career at Loyola. I grew up in a big time surfing family, but always had more of an affinity for diving. While my brother and my father paddled out into the waves, I would usually put on my suit to free dive for lobster or spear some kelp bass. I love the water, the ocean, and everything in it.
Growing up I kept many freshwater aquariums. Following my swordtails unexpectedly giving live birth during my sister's 8th grade graduation party, I garnered an interest in keeping and breeding Bettas. That lasted a few years, until I lost interest in the hobby.
After many years away from aquariums, I underwent a reawakening. I had always wanted a saltwater aquarium, and thanks to a heater at the blackjack tables, I had the funds to pursue it. That was 5 months ago. I did my research, and decided to pick up a biocube 29 (If I was equipped with the knowledge and experience I have now, I would've done this differently--would've been much more cost effective). Since, I have done a lot to my tank to save everyone time I'll just describe my current setup:
Rimless Coralife Biocube 29
Kessil a350 LED Pendant
34 lbs Live Rock
25 lbs Live Sand
1st Chamber: Eheim Jager 100w Heater
2nd Chamber: inTank Mediabasket (Filter Floss, Purigen, Chemipure Elite-6.5oz) and Tunze 9002 Skimmer
3rd Chamber: MJ 1200 Return Pump and JBJ ATO Float Switches
Two Koralia nano 425 gph powerheads
Current Water Parameters:
Salinity - 1.025
A/N/N - 0/0/2.5
pH - 8.1
Ca - 450
Alk - 8.3
Phos – 0.0(Currently have a minimal green algae issue)
Current Livestock:
2 Ocellaris Clowns (1 Snowflake)
Fire Shrimp
Red Fromia Starfish
SPS:
ORA Purple Stylophora
ORA Orange/Green Tip Birdsnest
German Blue Digitata
Red Monti Cap
Forest Fire Digita
LPS:
Teal Favites
Metallic Green Galaxea
Hammer Coral
Duncan (One mature polyp, currently sprouting three heads!)
Softies:
Green Nepthia
Ricordeas
Several Zoanthid Colonies and Frags
Neon green Toadstool Frag
Blue Sympodium
That's pretty much it. I have just started with SPS, selecting some hardy corals to test if my tank is ready. It’s going to be a learning process, but eventually I imagine my tank to be dominated mainly by SPS and Zoanthids.
Want List (This will be updated over time):
MP10
Flame Hawkfish
Blue Mandarin Dragonet
A ton more corals
Thanks so much and let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, or critiques.
On to the photos:
Freshly cycled and aquascaped. (These clowns came down with ick within two days of being in the tank, shitty LFS)
View attachment 10991
Side View.
View attachment 10992
2 months later. Listened to some poor advice on coral selection.
View attachment 10993
Converted the right arch to a spire, with some grew corals in there. There's my two new clowns. Whatup ALLEY and OOP(Snowflake)!
View attachment 10994
Sweet side view of the spire!!
View attachment 10995
This tank's lighting needs an upgrade. Let's go.
View attachment 10996
My name is Brian and I am from Sacramento, California. I attended the University of Southern California, and am now brought to Chicago in pursuit of my medical career at Loyola. I grew up in a big time surfing family, but always had more of an affinity for diving. While my brother and my father paddled out into the waves, I would usually put on my suit to free dive for lobster or spear some kelp bass. I love the water, the ocean, and everything in it.
Growing up I kept many freshwater aquariums. Following my swordtails unexpectedly giving live birth during my sister's 8th grade graduation party, I garnered an interest in keeping and breeding Bettas. That lasted a few years, until I lost interest in the hobby.
After many years away from aquariums, I underwent a reawakening. I had always wanted a saltwater aquarium, and thanks to a heater at the blackjack tables, I had the funds to pursue it. That was 5 months ago. I did my research, and decided to pick up a biocube 29 (If I was equipped with the knowledge and experience I have now, I would've done this differently--would've been much more cost effective). Since, I have done a lot to my tank to save everyone time I'll just describe my current setup:
Rimless Coralife Biocube 29
Kessil a350 LED Pendant
34 lbs Live Rock
25 lbs Live Sand
1st Chamber: Eheim Jager 100w Heater
2nd Chamber: inTank Mediabasket (Filter Floss, Purigen, Chemipure Elite-6.5oz) and Tunze 9002 Skimmer
3rd Chamber: MJ 1200 Return Pump and JBJ ATO Float Switches
Two Koralia nano 425 gph powerheads
Current Water Parameters:
Salinity - 1.025
A/N/N - 0/0/2.5
pH - 8.1
Ca - 450
Alk - 8.3
Phos – 0.0(Currently have a minimal green algae issue)
Current Livestock:
2 Ocellaris Clowns (1 Snowflake)
Fire Shrimp
Red Fromia Starfish
SPS:
ORA Purple Stylophora
ORA Orange/Green Tip Birdsnest
German Blue Digitata
Red Monti Cap
Forest Fire Digita
LPS:
Teal Favites
Metallic Green Galaxea
Hammer Coral
Duncan (One mature polyp, currently sprouting three heads!)
Softies:
Green Nepthia
Ricordeas
Several Zoanthid Colonies and Frags
Neon green Toadstool Frag
Blue Sympodium
That's pretty much it. I have just started with SPS, selecting some hardy corals to test if my tank is ready. It’s going to be a learning process, but eventually I imagine my tank to be dominated mainly by SPS and Zoanthids.
Want List (This will be updated over time):
MP10
Flame Hawkfish
Blue Mandarin Dragonet
A ton more corals
Thanks so much and let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, or critiques.
On to the photos:
Freshly cycled and aquascaped. (These clowns came down with ick within two days of being in the tank, shitty LFS)
View attachment 10991
Side View.
View attachment 10992
2 months later. Listened to some poor advice on coral selection.
View attachment 10993
Converted the right arch to a spire, with some grew corals in there. There's my two new clowns. Whatup ALLEY and OOP(Snowflake)!
View attachment 10994
Sweet side view of the spire!!
View attachment 10995
This tank's lighting needs an upgrade. Let's go.
View attachment 10996
