1st Time Nano Owner - Lots of Questions!

[prettyremarks]

Hello all!

I'm excited to say that my JBJ 28 Gallon aquarium was finally delivered today after I had to call the company for a replacement due to discovering a chip in the glass of the bottom that I somehow missed when I purchased it. This is my first time working with a Nano... and I'm going to say that it's really my first *true* venture into saltwater.

I've successfully kept a lot of freshwater tanks, and about a year ago became very serious in setting up a saltwater tank. I impulsively bought a 42 gallon aquarium and started a saltwater tank about a year ago, but I am fairly certain I made EVERY newbie mistake in the book. (And paid for those mistakes!) In the short time I had the aquarium, I did learn a lot about maintaining water quality, doing water changes, performing water tests, and the overall maintenance. I didn't get far with the tank - it mainly had sand, live rock, a few hitchhikers (I saw a couple of brittle starfish and crabs), LOTS of pests, and one fish, before I ended up breaking the aquarium down and selling it.

This time, I decided to go with a Nano (if you can consider 28 gallons a Nano?). Originally I liked the looks of the BioCubes, as I didn't think I was ready to start splicing-and-dicing and putting an entire aquarium together myself.. but upon reading more into the BioCube, it seemed like they tended to run a bit on the warm side. I saw more positive reviews on the JBJs, so I opted to purchase that aquarium instead.

Now, here is where allllllllll of my questions start:

With the last saltwater aquarium, I went to a fish store (admittedly, it wasn't a very nice one.. but I live out in the middle of nowhere and it was the closest one there was to me) and purchased live rock. With it came LOTS of pests and hitchhikers, which I know can sometimes be beneficial but can also be harmful. This time around, I'm considering purchasing rock (from an online source) that is more or less geared for nano tanks. I've heard a lot about MarcoRocks, so I'm fairly certain that's the source I'm going to go for.

But I'm wondering if I should start with dry rock an add in a piece of live rock in order to seed the dry rock with coralline algae? Or go with all live rock?

The gentleman I purchased the original aquarium from suggested that in the filter, I place chaeto in order to help with filtration and place a magnetic LED light on the back in order to aid in its growth... however, I'm a bit confused as to how I would do that, or even if it is necessary? The fish store I purchased the aquarium from set me up with Purigen and Chemi Pure Elite, so I'm not sure if that's all that I need or even if I *need* that. (Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!)

I know that obviously I can't put fish and various other critters in automatically, but what is the best way to cycle? I realize there are probably many different opinions on this. The last aquarium, I used a piece of shrimp after a few weeks of starting... and then when my levels were relatively close to "normal," I added a green chromis. Again, I realize that there are many different ways that people cycle their aquarium - I've heard about the shrimp, using a hardy fish, using just fish flakes... and I've even heard about some people adding (what I think is) bacteria that came from a bottle in order to cycle.

Those are the only ones that I can think of for now... but I know I'll have plenty of more questions about it as I go along and I'm glad that I've found Reef Central. I've already learned a lot!

If you have any suggestions regarding the tank, or just some overall tips/tricks regarding what type of corals or fish that are relatively easy for beginners to keep, I would be very grateful! I'm determined to learn from my past mistakes and at least try to do things right this time with this tank.

Thanks!
prettyremarks

 

[Fretfreak13]

Hello all!

I'm excited to say that my JBJ 28 Gallon aquarium was finally delivered today after I had to call the company for a replacement due to discovering a chip in the glass of the bottom that I somehow missed when I purchased it. This is my first time working with a Nano... and I'm going to say that it's really my first *true* venture into saltwater. YAY! Welcome to the club! =)

I've successfully kept a lot of freshwater tanks, and about a year ago became very serious in setting up a saltwater tank. I impulsively bought a 42 gallon aquarium and started a saltwater tank about a year ago, but I am fairly certain I made EVERY newbie mistake in the book. (And paid for those mistakes!) You bought tangs, didn't you? haha
In the short time I had the aquarium, I did learn a lot about maintaining water quality, doing water changes, performing water tests, and the overall maintenance. I didn't get far with the tank - it mainly had sand, live rock, a few hitchhikers (I saw a couple of brittle starfish and crabs), LOTS of pests, and one fish, before I ended up breaking the aquarium down and selling it.

This time, I decided to go with a Nano (if you can consider 28 gallons a Nano?). Yup. lol Originally I liked the looks of the BioCubes, as I didn't think I was ready to start splicing-and-dicing and putting an entire aquarium together myself.. but upon reading more into the BioCube, it seemed like they tended to run a bit on the warm side. I saw more positive reviews on the JBJs, so I opted to purchase that aquarium instead.

Now, here is where allllllllll of my questions start:

With the last saltwater aquarium, I went to a fish store (admittedly, it wasn't a very nice one.. but I live out in the middle of nowhere and it was the closest one there was to me) and purchased live rock. With it came LOTS of pests and hitchhikers, which I know can sometimes be beneficial but can also be harmful. This time around, I'm considering purchasing rock (from an online source) that is more or less geared for nano tanks. I've heard a lot about MarcoRocks, so I'm fairly certain that's the source I'm going to go for.

But I'm wondering if I should start with dry rock an add in a piece of live rock in order to seed the dry rock with coralline algae? Or go with all live rock? Dry rock is nice, especially bulkreefsupplys mined rock. Its much cheaper than going all live rock as well. All in all it will wind up almost the same, though your cycling period will be longer if you choose this route. As well, you can carefully inspect the small piece of live rock for any baddies before you add it to the tank. I have never done this, but then again I have a great LFS and lots of choices. Lots of people DO do this, and I'm sure more will chime in to recommend this to you.

The gentleman I purchased the original aquarium from suggested that in the filter, I place chaeto in order to help with filtration and place a magnetic LED light on the back in order to aid in its growth... however, I'm a bit confused as to how I would do that, or even if it is necessary? The fish store I purchased the aquarium from set me up with Purigen and Chemi Pure Elite, so I'm not sure if that's all that I need or even if I *need* that. (Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!) Cheato is not nessisary for filtration as much as it is for creating a refugium. Fuges are often placed in the back compartments of biocubes to allow microfauna to grow away from the display inhabitants that would normally eat them. They are great food for your fish and help aid in breaking down uneaten food and waste. It is not needed, but is helpful. I run chemipure elite and its fantastic. IMO, in a biocube, chemipure, polyfilter/filter floss with a little fuge is the way to go.

I know that obviously I can't put fish and various other critters in automatically, but what is the best way to cycle? I realize there are probably many different opinions on this. The last aquarium, I used a piece of shrimp after a few weeks of starting... and then when my levels were relatively close to "normal," I added a green chromis. Again, I realize that there are many different ways that people cycle their aquarium - I've heard about the shrimp, using a hardy fish, using just fish flakes... and I've even heard about some people adding (what I think is) bacteria that came from a bottle in order to cycle.I have used the shrimp method in all of my tanks. Don't use a fish, its really cruel. Ammonia burns their gills and does permanent damage, even if it doesn't kill them. This is how it was done "back in the day", and through research and findings now we know it is not necessary. All of those other methods are good too, but I prefer the shrimp. I have also heard of people using PURE bottled ammonia to kickstart their cycle as well, but I have never done it. The shrimp method can smell bad, but apparently the ammonia doesn't. You can do a search on it, or maybe someone else can chime in.

Those are the only ones that I can think of for now... but I know I'll have plenty of more questions about it as I go along and I'm glad that I've found Reef Central. I've already learned a lot!

If you have any suggestions regarding the tank, or just some overall tips/tricks regarding what type of corals or fish that are relatively easy for beginners to keep, I would be very grateful! I'm determined to learn from my past mistakes and at least try to do things right this time with this tank.

Thanks!
prettyremarks

 

[bdevillier]

+1 to what FF13 said. i'd go with the rock from BRS to avoid hitch hikers, do the shrimp method or get a bacterial additive and cycle that way. take it very slow, nothing good comes from trying to rush a new tank. as for corals and fish, it all depends on what you want to do for lighting. clownfish are a popular choice due to the vast selection of morphs and the fact they are also pretty tough. if you stick with softies and lps you wont need such high powered lighting and wont need to worry as much about your calcium and alkalinity levels.