Ricks' Oceanic 14G Biocube - my first salt water tank

[reefsurf]

very very nice and inspiring!......i'm going to change my scape.....more back to front thing. it works well with our and at my LFS. by the way it wont be long before i start either a cornerbow or a 50-60 gal. cube....stay tuned

[Craig Manoukian]

Fabulous growth and awesome photos Rick!

[reefsmoker]

Thats a sick looking tank! gj rick!

[djbacon]

Hi everyone, been a while since I posted, been busy with life and nothing too exciting going on, HOWEVER - the other day MY POM POM crab came out of hiding !!! He is alivce and well and twice the size as when I put him in there !!!!

Sadly I could not get a good picture - If I get the chance I will post one of him. He's a shy little fella.

[Tru2nr]

sounds awesome and looks amazing glad u found the crab heh

[djbacon]

Hi everyone, been a while since the latest post here - not much to tell recently as I have stopped adding stuff due toa lack of room - today I picked up a small red scooter blenny. I have lots of small worms and pods running amock in the tank so i think the addition of this littlwe bottom dweller ought to be a good one -

[AndtheBonus]

Great looking addition!

[astiesi]

Great pic!

[djbacon]

Guys its been a long time since I have posted. I am on the road for work about 5 days a week right now and go home pretty much to change water. my wife is taking care of the rest. I think shes having a little troubloe with my gorgonian which has a short 1 inch spot which seems to not bloom with feeders anymore -

Will post pics this weekend when i get home- all elese is well aside from my bastard clown fish that nips at my coco worm everytime it pokes its head out.

Im a little afraid he is not feeding enough either as the territorial clown wont leave it alone.

Hope you are all well - Ill try to get some new shots up soon. Its going to be about 6 weeks o the road and I miss checking in on RS.

considering giving the clown cak to the LFS as my plans for the 35g have been delayed dye to work. i can barely maintain my 14 !!!

[prow]

very nice djbacon. your tank has come a long way, great job.

i think taking the clown back is a good idea if you want to put anything else in there, otherwise it will bully all new addition. if they dont starve its likely the clown will keep them in the corner of the tank hiding.

[djbacon]

Thanks Prow ! -

I moved the coco worm to the sand bed and further away form the hammer coral rhe clown kinda lives in - it fully extends and feed normally again there so crisis averted.

REALLy cant wait to get a bigger tank !!!!!

[lcstorc]

Glad you stopped in and things are going well. Clowns can be very territorial so that part makes total sense.

[bskinn77]

just finished reading this chronicle at work your tank has come such along way makes me very excited to begin my first sw tank. I just finished my 2nd book and after spending many hours online researching I think I am about ready to start I can only hope my first sw tank comes out as nice as yours!

[djbacon]

Thanks and good luck !!

[djbacon]

MAN has it been a long time since I have posted - I have been travelling for work and things in my tank are challenging when Im only home once a week, between my wife and the sitter that helps when she is gone Im sure the tank is not getting the proper care.

Let's start with the good news - the coco worm is doing great !! AFter moving him a bit away from the damn terrirtorial clown fish - he is out all the time and looking better than ever.



My zoas continue to flourish



The Xenia are OUT OF CONTROL and taking over the right side of the tank



And all my fish are in good shape and good health, including my latest addition - the scooter blenny

The bad news is every time I get home after days on the road, the tank has a reen slime on the walls from over feeding of phyto (for the worm and gorgonian) and there is a new growth of green hair algae popping up which is most certainly due to the added nutrients in the water.

I am doing a 50% Water change every week to try to combat this but it aint helping much. Ive also found a couple aipstasia that I dispatched with joe's juice.



Any tips on this woud be great -

Worse yet is the health of my gorgonian - when I am home I target feed him mysis and kent marine or phytofeast daily when the octocorals are extended. I also blast it gently with the turkey baster to remove any accumulated secretions or detritus. In my absence parts have stopped opening up and are showing a little discoloration. No skelleton showing yet, but I can tell it is not as happy. I have 3 more weeks of travelling before I can care full time for it again. Any advice on things to do to help him would be greatly appreciated.



Im afraid I know the answer already though - unless I hire a professional to come and care for it in my absence it will likely get worse. I have tried to teach my wifee to the best of my ability how to care fo rit but I hink she gets freaked out about putting her hands in the tank still.

Anyway - miss you guys - hope everyone's tanks are doing great !!
thats all for now.