Michael's 45 AIO Sandy Cube

[H2OPlayar]

This was the first aquarium I purchased in Las Vegas to get something for my coral that I drove out from the Bay two years ago. It has enough life in it and deserves its own journal now.

I found an all in one Red Sea 45 gallon cube locally used. I am watching the seams and they all look good. I have a few goals for the tank. It is an aiptasia growing tank for locals here who are farming berghia nudibranchs. I can use it to hold fish before I put them in my main system. I have a sand bed so I can keep some animals that I can't keep in my other two tanks that have crushed coral.

For equipment, the tank is running an AI Hydra 32 light, a Tunze 9004 (I think) skimmer, maybe a sicce pump for sump turnover, an AI Nero 3 for circulation, one of my many Tunze ATO's and the Eheim autofeeder. It came with a filter rack which I use to hold a bag of carbon. I should do a water change, but with all softies it is hard to get motivated to change water when nothing is wrong.

I got some long finned clownfish which I really like. Once My red haddoni carpet nem in the 300 stabilizes, I was thinking of moving them over so they can host it.

Sand sifting starfish and a conch

Decorator crab, Walking Dendros, and another Sand Sifting Starfish

 

[tribbitt]

Very sandy. Very cubic

Looks great and the clam poster is awesome

 

[Mr. Seahorse]

What's your experience with decorater crabs? I want to get one but i'm unsure.

 

[H2OPlayar]

What's your experience with decorater crabs? I want to get one but i'm unsure.

They grab stuff and look cool. Mine has sponge on it from when it first arrived. Make sure your frags are glued down well and things are fine with them.

 

[Mr. Seahorse]

They grab stuff and look cool. Mine has sponge on it from when it first arrived. Make sure your frags are glued down well and things are fine with them.

Awesome! I'm definitely going to get one! Thanks for the reply!

 

[Kensington Reefer]

Fine crop of aiptasia

 

[Mr. Seahorse]

@H20Player you should get some bergia or peppermint shrimp to eat that

Fine crop of aiptasia

 

[H2OPlayar]

@H20Player you should get some bergia or peppermint shrimp to eat that

The rocks are going to a friend who is farming berghia. I can put them in my 300 with the peppermint shrimp for a week when I want to clear a rock.

 

[Alexander1312]

Is this not a Reefer 170?

 

[H2OPlayar]

Is this not a Reefer 170?

Might be, probably. 170l is about 45 gal.

Its about a 24" cube. It looks more like the Max E-170 with the AIO than the Reefer from my googling of the two. I don't know for sure since I bought it used.

 

[Alexander1312]

Might be, probably. 170l is about 45 gal.

Its about a 24" cube. It looks more like the Max E-170 with the AIO than the Reefer from my googling of the two. I don't know for sure since I bought it used.

Ah yes, the reefer is not AIO.

 

[Darkxerox]

Budget tank entry? Seems like a good entry!

 

[Turkeysammich]

Dang. It’s already been 2 years. Time flys.

 

[H2OPlayar]

Dang. It’s already been 2 years. Time flys.

Yeah, my daughter turns one next month. It's crazy.

 

[H2OPlayar]

Always looking for more unique/fun leathers for this tank. The walking dendro's are still happy and walking around.

I have never seen a decorator crab with sponges on it before, I dig it.

 

[H2OPlayar]

I've added a few leathers and a gorgonian, but here is my favorite picture of the tank I have so far.

Madeleine absolutely loves running to my office, climbing my ladder, and pointing at different things going "huh?" She will learn so much marine biology before preschool.

 

[H2OPlayar]

In preparation for a nem shipment from @derek_SR , I swapped the AI 45 light out with a Kessil 360x. The AI 45 only put out a max of 100 par at the surface and the Kessil is much stronger. I am a fan of the reflectors to keep the light pointed down and not into my eyes.

Debating on moving the yellow coris wrasse to the 300 in order to help with the bristle worm population.

I got a tiny frag of what is supposed to be a weeping willow. It does have very long tentacles, and I am glad it didn't get lost in the tank.

I like the variety of leathers I have found for this tank over the year.

The blue haddoni carpet has found a happy spot in the corner here, away from my pesky powerheads. It seems to be healing well after the incident in the 300 where it decided to walk and find a powerhead with a very small side inlet.

 

[Darkxerox]

My yellow wrasse had zero interest in bristleworms. Copperbands however seemed to love to murder them.

 

[H2OPlayar]

My yellow wrasse had zero interest in bristleworms. Copperbands however seemed to love to murder them.

I have had a hard time getting one to thrive from the store here, but might be worth a try in a different tank to get it strong, then put it in the 300.

 

[Darkxerox]

I have had a hard time getting one to thrive from the store here, but might be worth a try in a different tank to get it strong, then put it in the 300.

Message @Kensington Reefer he might have one he's cooking up to eat regular foods