New 40 gallon cube build (5 years out of hobby)

[Chads_coral_collection]

Hey reefers! Thought I’d kick off my build thread for the 40 gallon Aquatop reef I’ve been putting together. The goal here is to keep things relatively simple while laying the foundation for a healthy mixed reef. Located in Murrieta

**Tank & Gear:**
- 40 gallon Aquatop all-glass rimless
- Lighting: NICREW over the top for SPS zones + Aquatop strip light for ambient fill
- No skimmer yet and no auto top-off—manual for now, and surprisingly meditative

**Rockwork & Cycling:**
- Scape is a combo of old-school Tonga and standard live rock that I’ve been cycling in a separate bucket for about a month
- Nitrites behaved, and the biome’s looking strong
- Mixed my own salt for now with RO from the local water store down the street
- Came with live sand for added diversity from another reefer with a very nice set up

**First Inhabitants:**
- Came with a little tang that’s been holding down the fort
- Seeded copepods early to boost diversity—hoping they get comfy before the future fish roll in

I’m taking a slow-and-steady approach, dialing in the basics before layering in automation or a full cleanup crew. Excited to see how this reef evolves—appreciate any feedback or ideas as it grows!
View attachment IMG_8383.jpeg

View attachment IMG_8410.jpeg View attachment IMG_8415.jpeg

 

[Dipan00]

Cubes are awesome. Looking forward to seeing this thing mature.

 

[joeoliver]

Nice. Looks like you're doing all the right things. I started with the exact same tank several years ago. it's a nice size to keep some cool stuff while making maintenance relatively easy.

it was a pretty successful tank and i upgraded when my fox face outgrew it. in fact, I still have the tank, empty and sitting in my living room.

keep us posted!

 

[Chads_coral_collection]

Found an orange lens

 

[bryanle87]

nice to see another Murrieta neighbor

 

[Chads_coral_collection]

Welp turns out I found an aptasia in the AIO chamber. Has anyone successfully used a laser to remove them?

 

[Chads_coral_collection]

Anyone know of a place to buy clean up crew cheap near Murrieta? I had to spend $25 for just 5 snails at a LFS near perris.

otherwise going to order on Reefcleaners site.
Reef cleaners $90 37 gallon cube combo pack
- 39 dwarf cerith
-12 Nassarius
-12 Florida cerith
-10 nerites
-9 hermits

 

[Chads_coral_collection]

Got my first coral in the tank. Doing well after 3 days. Nice and bushy with feeder tentacles at night. JF Burning Banana Stylo

 

[bryanle87]

ive been buying fish/inverts from dr reefs. There’s a 20% coupon as well free shipping with 500 and up. He hooked it up on snails at 3-5 extra per species.

 

[Research Monkey]

Welp turns out I found an aptasia in the AIO chamber. Has anyone successfully used a laser to remove them?

Jeez, already? Did you source the rock or start dry? Maybe it came in from the sand you used from another reefer?

 

[shootingstar_reef]

in the AIO i wouldn't bother

 

[Veinz]

I have the same tank and I love it. Almost more than the 250g lol easy maintenance and you can get creative with a mixed reef. I put a LED plant light strip in the back middle chamber for a refugium with Chaeto and it’s been working very well. Running no skimmer just doing weekly water changes.

 

[Chads_coral_collection]

Nice! Thought about doing the same thing with chaeto! So you took out all the media boxes?

what lights are you running? Looks like plenty of light. Gonna run SPS soon?

 

[Chads_coral_collection]

in the AIO i wouldn't bother

Won’t it spread to the display soon

 

[Veinz]

Nice! Thought about doing the same thing with chaeto! So you took out all the media boxes?

what lights are you running? Looks like plenty of light. Gonna run SPS soon?

Ya I took all that out. Honestly just preference and I had planned on putting chaeto in there instead. Are you planning on putting a UV in?

I put a 150w MH light on with some LEDs I had laying around rigged it all up. This is mainly an anemone clownfish tank but I’ve been looking for another cube just like this one for a SPS only tank.

 

[joseserrano]

I have the same tank and I love it. Almost more than the 250g lol easy maintenance and you can get creative with a mixed reef. I put a LED plant light strip in the back middle chamber for a refugium with Chaeto and it’s been working very well. Running no skimmer just doing weekly water changes.
View attachment 127117 View attachment 127118

That’s a lot of light

 

[Chads_coral_collection]

Added a space invader pectinia

crazy how affordable these have gotten. I remember 6 years ago these were top shelf

 

[Chads_coral_collection]

JF burning banana stylo

 

[Chads_coral_collection]

Got a 3 gallon tote as an ATO reservoir. Any ideas on keeping the tunze pump flat to get the most out of my reservoir volume
View attachment IMG_9045.jpeg