Rabid's 45C

[Rabidgoose]

Well, after 2 years of sitting around the cube tank is being filled with water. The trip to MACNA revitalized me and I have been thinking saltwater since I came home. I used a lot of things I already had, but purchases were based on the probability of another upgrade. Tank is in the basement (dungeon) so functionality trumps appearance.....:big_grin:

45 cube

35# Marco rock
25# Special grade Seaflor sand
Ocean Runner 2500 (625 GPH @ 0 head) return pump
Apex controller
Finnex heater
Aqua C Remora Pro w/ Mag3 protein skimmer

Lighting

4 bulbs on 2 ballasts retrofit into a canopy... All ATI bulbs...

Blue+
Blue Special
Blue+
Blue+ (front of tank)

It will be mostly a zoa/paly tank w/ a frag tank attached at some point, probably sooner rather than later. Fish list....TBD

Still sorta undecided about flow, I have a Tunze 6045 I'll use for now. Would like to try a Vortech but I hear to many
stories about how great their warranty service is and how fast they ship out replacement parts....

Painted, drilled and eggcrate on the bottom to set the rock on....

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=21


Here's the rockscape I decided on...at least for now

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=16

Front view

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/Front.jpg

Left side view w/ some of the plumbing and sump

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/Leftside.jpg

Right side view

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/Rightside.jpg

[Rabidgoose]

4xT5's in canopy

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/4xT5.jpg

and lit....

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/FRONTLIT.jpg

Mesh top for those inhabitants with suicidal tendencies
(Mesh material from jimsflies)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/IMG_0643.jpg

[Sir Patrick]

Watching this one!! cant wait to see it grow!

[Rabidgoose]

Thanks guys, it's going to be a slow process but I will try and remember to keep it updated.

[iyachtuxivm]

Still sorta undecided about flow, I have a Tunze 6045 I'll use for now. Would like to try a Vortech but I hear to many
stories about how great their warranty service is and how fast they ship out replacement parts....

That has to be the best quote ever. That is always what you hear " oh they work great and the warranty service is #1" well if they worked great you wouldnt know about the warranty service. :stupidme:
So had the same thoughts on that and was glad to hear someone else speak it aloud:highfive3:
I love cube tanks, I was trying to decide if I wanted the hassle of setting something like this up kinda plugging it in to my system just a cube zoos and for a fish an angler. Feel free to use that idea. lol
Looks great so far will tag along and live my cube dreams through you.

[jimsflies]

What are you using for a sump? Is that custom?

[Rabidgoose]

Yeah, I made it out of 1/4 inch acrylic...


What are you using for a sump? Is that custom?

[igot2gats]

I'm always a sucker for the "lagoon" style 'scaping. Can't wait to see this grow out as well!

[Rabidgoose]

Well, its been up for a couple of days....SG @ 1.024....temp @ 78.9...so I thought I would be safe adding an invert....I'm not sure now though, he doesn't look so good....

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/TigerShrimp.jpg

:big_grin:

[MizTanks]

What is that?? :-0

[jimsflies]

maybe you should trying adding some cocktail sauce...I hear that helps them acclimate better.

[ReeferRob]

maybe you should trying adding some cocktail sauce...I hear that helps the acclimate better.

Not sure how they are raw, might want to cook it first!

[schminksbro]

That shrimp looks very under nourished! You may want to try some rich foods soaked in selcon asap!

Other than the apparent ill health of your shrimp the build looks great! I am excited to see another creation from the Rabidgoose!! Keep us posted Chuck.

[Rabidgoose]

What is that?? :-0

Tiger shrimp...(often seen hanging around a stemmed glass very close to cocktail sauce...:big_grin:)


That shrimp looks very under nourished! You may want to try some rich foods soaked in selcon asap!...

Thanks Andy, I will try some selcon.....I really like this shrimp. He doesn't move around very much and is easy to photograph.

:stupidme:

[MizTanks]

Ok so I can't tell a shrimp from a shrimp so it's a shrimp the kind of shrimp ya eat now thanks to you Rabid I'll no longer be eating shrimp but that's ok cause I didn't eat shrimp much anyways :-)

[schminksbro]

:jester:He looks very docile. I bet he won't mess with his tank mates at all even once you fatten him up.



Thanks Andy, I will try some selcon.....I really like this shrimp. He doesn't move around very much and is easy to photograph.

:stupidme:

[Sir Patrick]

Black tiger shrimp to be exact......sorry- had to go there......

[Rabidgoose]

Alas, the shrimp didn't make it (:)) turns out a head is sorta important to shrimp.

With a test though....Ammonia @ 3mg/L

I also put an MP10 in the tank for circulation....First impression is I like it, very unobtrusive.

For now and a while to come, I'm just waiting patiently....

[Rabidgoose]

Signs of life...well kinda.....yeah when I start taking pictures of algae for know real reason it means i'm getting a little antsy....nitrites at .5 ppm a couple days ago. Will fire up the skimmer probably tomorrow and check on nitrates.......still a ways to go

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=1003

[Rabidgoose]

Ammonia=0
nitrites=0

I ended up seeding the tank with a little bit of rock from my DT, still some time to go but I am starting to put together a tentative fish list.....

1) Pink Streaked Wrasse
2) ????
3) Royal Gramma Basslet
4) Filamented Flasher Wrasse
5) Longnose Hawkfish

#5 can be a little iffy but I will add him last and pamper him to hopefully stem any aggression

[Rabidgoose]

I picked up a few cleaners....some trochus snails and blue leg hermits. I picked up this guy too....

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1109
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1110
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1111

Thanks Mike @ Reef Paradise, that's a sweet deal giving the peeps the chance to request fish before RP places there order. Even though the one I requested didn't make the shipment their was another one from my list available...:)

thanks.......chuck

[MizTanks]

Beautiful fish Rabid! The name escapes me though. How big will it get?

[Rabidgoose]

It's a Royal Gramma Basslet (Gramma Loreto)....it will get about 3"

thanks.......chuck


Beautiful fish Rabid! The name escapes me though. How big will it get?

[Wy Renegade]

Nice, looking forward to following this build, any thoughts on corals yet?

[Rabidgoose]

Thanks, it will be mostly zoa/paly with some LPS. A lot of it will just be transferred from the tank upstairs and that will be predominantly SPS.


Nice, looking forward to following this build, any thoughts on corals yet?

[Wy Renegade]

Thanks, it will be mostly zoa/paly with some LPS. A lot of it will just be transferred from the tank upstairs and that will be predominantly SPS.

That should look nice. You got a nice big LPS for the middle of that lagoon or you gonna fill it with a variety?

[Rabidgoose]

I am considering an elegance in the middle, but I need to do some investigating and see if the problems are behind them or if they're still having trouble keeping them alive.


That should look nice. You got a nice big LPS for the middle of that lagoon or you gonna fill it with a variety?

[Wy Renegade]

That would look nice! I know somebody on another forum who had pretty good luck keeping one alive, but it was in a really big tank.

[ReeferRob]

I've heard people having great success with the Aussie elegance where as the Indo elegance not so much.

I never new you had a bigger display tank, is there a thread around here to check the eye candy?

[Rabidgoose]

As I remember it was thought their was some problems with cross contamination either in shipping or destination. They are starting to show up more with vendors now though so I am hoping they have a handle on the problem and we can ensure them a long life in captivity. Time will tell....and I can wait a while to decide.


I've heard people having great success with the Aussie elegance where as the Indo elegance not so much.

I never new you had a bigger display tank, is there a thread around here to check the eye candy?

LOL, yeah I have one in here somewhere. I don't update it much so it's buried back somewhere in the archives...:)

[Sir Patrick]

Royal grammas are cool fish!

I like the aussi elegance idea for the void in the center!

[John]

Do you have specific Zs and Ps in mind for this?

[Rabidgoose]

Yes, I have some favorites that will definitely be going in and some others I will decide on as the tank matures. It won't be heavily stocked with a lot of different ones as i prefer to let them grow in. I really like to see them in mass. Their will also be a couple must have (to me anyway) chalices and favia.


Do you have specific Zs and Ps in mind for this?

[Sir Patrick]

^ That post got me drooling!! Cant wait to watch a nice zoa tank fill in, with some chalice/favias in the mix!

This tank is going to be sweet!

[Rabidgoose]

lol.......not really much to see yet. Still dealing with some algae but it's getting better, so besides the RG their is only a couple small frags of z/p in their and a CUC. I will be doing some fragging here soon and get some pics then........heres one pic I took though....

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=1126


I think I speak for everyone when I say... :pics:! :)

[Rabidgoose]

You say not much to look at I say those are darn nice to look at. Great little frag to get the color spree rolling, keep em comin :)

Thanks, I have some plans in mind...just taking it slowly

Now for a couple questions....

how do you like the cube so far?

I really like the cube so far. I went with the 45c instead of the 60c because I wasn't sure how I would like reaching into the back corners. Lighting is nice and straight forward with a 2 foot square tank, whichever lighting scheme one desires. I really like the footprint.

Do you find you have any trouble areas with flow/ are you having flow issues because of the dimensions of this tank?

Flow has been very good. I have about 300 gph from the return on the top left and an MP10 on the middle/top right of the tank. No dead spot that I have noticed, the vortech is in the reef crest mode (not sure, haven't played with it that much) so it ramps up and down to keep things stirred up. From what i've seen so far.....IMO cubes were made for the vortechs....or vice versa

I'm not sold on my overflow tube/pipe, but I've set it up so I can drain enough water to install a box or slotted PVC pipe if I decide to.....

[Rabidgoose]

I've added a few more frags to the tank....

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1180
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1179
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1178
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1177
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1176
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1175
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1174
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1173
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1172
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1171

[demonclownfish]

dang, nice pics man. everything looks great! ;)

[MizTanks]

Beautiful!! I love the Duncan!


Sent from my iPhone while chasing Forest Gump!

[Sir Patrick]

Full tank shot!!!!

[Rabidgoose]

Thanks....not much going on at the moment. Been sidetracked by RL for a while but will try and get some pics up in the near future. The algae has cleared up, and I have put in a couple more frags but it still looks pretty bare. Looking to score some stuff at the swap......:big_grin:

On a side note....the more I look at those T-5's the less I like them. I might throw a 14k Phoenix on just to look at it....

[Rabidgoose]

Alas....my RG is MIA. He looked and ate fine the night before but has been absent for a couple of days now. He did seem to scratch some, though I never noticed any signs of ich or the like. I will likely leave the tank fallow for a couple of months in case their was a parasite problem....

chuck

[MizTanks]

Sorry to here (read) this Rabid :( having lost 4 fish to the dreaded ICH I also went without fish for 2 months. It was hard to do but so well worth it. No problems since :)



There is nothing like being a REEFER!

[Rabidgoose]

Thanks Miz....I did get a couple new corals of late though, it seems like the Maxi-Mini bug has bit me. I picked up a couple of them from ReefGardener (thanks Morgan). I also took a couple more pics while I was at it......

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1438

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1437

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1440

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=1439

[Sir Patrick]

Sweet maxis!!!

[MizTanks]

Very sweet Maxi's-seems that Maxi bug sure is getting around-glad I'm up on my flu shots :)

[Sir Patrick]

^ Thats what I was thinking!!!

FTS!!!

[jimsflies]

Yeah, those maxi minis look nice. Good pickups!

[Rabidgoose]

I picked up some more MM's and a frag of zoas. Not the best pics, but you get the idea. They don't always settle in a good spot for pictures......

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1454-best-big-back.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1455-best-little-back.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1456-best-big-front.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1457-best-little-front.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1458-supernova-zoas.jpg

[jimsflies]

Looking great Chuck!

[MizTanks]

Wow I love that last maximini~and those zoa's are to upgrade for~lol~lemme know when your ready to frag em~I be da first in line :thumbsup:

[Rabidgoose]

Looking great Chuck!

Thanks Jim


Wow I love that last maximini~and those zoa's are to upgrade for~lol~lemme know when your ready to frag em~I be da first in line :thumbsup:

Thanks Miz.....yeah, I like that one too.

[schminksbro]

Looking good Chuck! I think we would all love to see a FTS!

[Rabidgoose]

Couple new pictures, it's been a while.........

FTS
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1525-fts.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1530-ce.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1529-rr.jpg

Colors are still improving on the MM's
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1528-mm-trifecta.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1526-duo.jpg

One did go for a walk and seems to like it over in the corner
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1527-mm-corner.jpg2330

2331

[MizTanks]

Are those carpet nems? If so they sure are beautiful!! I'm not familiar with them but these pic are getting me there. :) love your rock scape too.

[Rabidgoose]

Thanks Miz, yeah, their the Maxi Minis.....small carpet nems that only get about 6" or so i'm told.


Are those carpet nems? If so they sure are beautiful!! I'm not familiar with them but these pic are getting me there. :) love your rock scape too.

[Manoj's Reef]

Sweet maxi's....I love the colors they come in..Nice collection.

[Rabidgoose]

Sweet maxi's....I love the colors they come in..Nice collection.

Thanks........I am on the look out for a couple more, I have a couple spots reserved for them....:)

[MizTanks]

Nanner nanner nanner I have a whole tank reserved for them! lol j/k

[Sir Patrick]

Those minis colors are really looking nice!

[Rabidgoose]

A few more pics...............

LTS
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1585-lts.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1594-metallic-gold-favia.jpghttp://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1595-ope.jpghttp://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1593-jokers.jpghttp://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1592-gobstoppers.jpghttp://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1591-eye-rah.jpghttp://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1590-candy-apple-reds.jpghttp://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1589-cae.jpghttp://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/rabidgoose/albums/45-cube-build-thread/1588-aog.jpg

[Rabidgoose]

A few new ones and some updates......

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0833.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0834.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0837.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0838.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0840.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0843.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0844.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0846.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0848.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/IMG_0849.jpg

[Heidi]

Beautiful coral collection you are hooking up here dude, love it!

[MizTanks]

Beautiful collection you have going on there Rabid. Nice pix of them too :) I'm first in line for frags LOL.

[Sir Patrick]

Nice polyps!

[Rabidgoose]

Picked up a few things for the cube at the FRAG swap......

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/OCCYCLOWNS81411-1.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/BLUEPINKEYECHALICE.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/HAPPYPALY.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/chaz128/45C/TYREEWARCORALII.jpg

Thanks to....
FlynnFish
MyNemesis
PAZAZZ

[steve&mari]

Very nice Chuck good to see you again n thank you:)

Big Steve

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

[Sir Patrick]

Awesome additions Chuck!!!

[MizTanks]

Very nice!

[larryandlaura]

Very nice additions!