Manic's Starfire Cube

Manic

Manic

Retired Moderator
Joined
12 Mar 2009
Posts
3,311
Reaction score
58
Location
Johannesburg, Edenvale
Hey everyone,

So I had a mishap with my last tank where an Eskom power surge made my return pump run in reverse, because the return was low in the tank it emptied my whole tank onto the floor at 4 in the morning. The siphon break couldn't stop the flow.

Anyway I decided to pack up the tank as I was writing exams at the time. Exams are over now and I have already started planning a new tank. So here goes my next adventure:

Tank: 600mm x 600mm x 400mm (High) Rimless
10mm starfire glass with polished edges.

Sump: 550mm x 550mm

Filtration: keeping it simple here with skimmer and sump filled with live rock.

Flow: Vortech MP10W ES

Lighting: DIY 3W Led Fixture (probably 20-30 LEDs)

So now onto the stocking for the tank. This is where I am stuck. I'm bored with standard fish and corals. Want to do something different. Was either thinking pipe fish and sea horses or a predator tank with dwarf lions and leaf fish. Any other ideas? Still wanna go sps + Zoas + clams. Just not sure about the fish.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like a nice build. Lookin forward to seeing it set up.

The fish is a tough one as I guess what fish people like and keep is very subjective and varies from reefer to reefer. What I can say is though it may be tough to keep either of those options in a sps tank with all the constant feeding of live and frozen foods...just think this can lead to nutrient issues. If you do go the route of fish that need feeding why not go with a deep sand bed in tank and get a couple garden eels these would look awesome and then just some schooling fish above for movement? Just an idea. :)
Posted via Mobile Device
 
Kunhardt said:
Sounds like a nice build. Lookin forward to seeing it set up.

The fish is a tough one as I guess what fish people like and keep is very subjective and varies from reefer to reefer. What I can say is though it may be tough to keep either of those options in a sps tank with all the constant feeding of live and frozen foods...just think this can lead to nutrient issues. If you do go the route of fish that need feeding why not go with a deep sand bed in tank and get a couple garden eels these would look awesome and then just some schooling fish above for movement? Just an idea. :)
Posted via Mobile Device
Click to expand...

Sounds like an awesome idea. Few problems though. Tank is very shallow as it is and an in tank dsb wont leave much room for anything else. Secondly where do you get garden eels from. Only seen them in aquariums and whilst diving. Never seem them for sale.
 
I'm thinking of using sugar fine aragonite in this tank but am worried that it is going to get blown all over the place. Anyone have experience with sugar fine aragonite and a vortech MP10 in a similar sized tank?
 
Last edited:
and the pics my good man?
 
Looking forward to this one.
I saw those garden eels at exotic pets in boksburg a few weeks back maybe ask them.
Is that controller you build coming on this tank?
 
Hey. Might have a leaf fish for you if u going that way... Pm me when u get there or speak to @dallasg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Manic said:
I'm thinking of using sugar fine aragonite in this tank but am worried that it is going to get blown all over the place. Anyone have experience with sugar fine aragonite and a vortech MP10 in a similar sized tank?
Click to expand...


Manic,
I have always said, the only thing I would have changed after my tank was set up was the Sugar fine aragonite. If it was not for the hassle of changing it, I would have done it defenitely.

Sandsifting Goby that even when just moving over the sand kicks up a fine dust/sand into the water colum. It is so fine that any sudden movement close to the sand of the bigger fish sends up a cloud of fine sand into the water column. I permanently have the foam guards on my Vortech pumps to avoid sandstorms. :(

Maybe if youre not going to add sandsifting/sand dwelling and active fish, and you use the foam guards on the Vortech, it might work for you
 
BarryG said:
Glad to hearthe guy is feeling well enough to be giving away my fish... Hahaha
Click to expand...

You wanted to give it back and manic needed one :) and we know what happened to my tank
 
Helga said:
Manic,
I have always said, the only thing I would have changed after my tank was set up was the Sugar fine aragonite. If it was not for the hassle of changing it, I would have done it defenitely.

Sandsifting Goby that even when just moving over the sand kicks up a fine dust/sand into the water colum. It is so fine that any sudden movement close to the sand of the bigger fish sends up a cloud of fine sand into the water column. I permanently have the foam guards on my Vortech pumps to avoid sandstorms. :(

Maybe if youre not going to add sandsifting/sand dwelling and active fish, and you use the foam guards on the Vortech, it might work for you
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. In my 900mm cube I had sugar fine mixed with fiji pink. I had a vortech MP40 and 4 Sun Sun 5000Lph. It didn't stir up the sand too much but I always ran the vortech on short pulse mode to get a wave.

Think I will go with Fiji Pink on this tank.
 
Manic said:
I'm thinking of using sugar fine aragonite in this tank but am worried that it is going to get blown all over the place. Anyone have experience with sugar fine aragonite and a vortech MP10 in a similar sized tank?
Click to expand...

Hi manic, glad to hear your also heading into the cubes...
Ive got a DSB with sugar fine aragonite in my refugium, the flow is on the low side & i can honestly say that i wouldnt recommend sugar fine to anyone except if your going for a course top substrate & very fine underneath.
It gets blown over everything with even the slightest current, & if you dont stirr it, (which is the case in a dsb) it clumps together in a rock solid block...
I would much rather suggest the slightly courser aragonite bed (have that in my new cube), & so far it has been working very well.
P.s. its the caribsea bahamas oolite 0.5-1mm. The fiji pink 0.5 - 1.5mm is also a great sized substrate, & doesnt clump together as easily.

Will be watching this thread closely, good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom