28g 105w nano cube noob

[delta5]

I haven't bought the nano cube yet, but am prob this weekend. Eventually I want to add coral that are good fits for this tank's lighting.

So i'm kind of in need of answers from actual people (you) and not from an article or sticky. (Feeling wary)

Aside from adding a heater, can I start cycling the tank with just sand and rocks?

Will adding a protein skimmer down the road hurt my cycled tank?


Assuming 20lbs of porous rock, <1" sand bed, and a deep sand bed in the back chamber. How many small fish can I keep with a clownfish?

With a lite bioload and 10% water changes each week, do I need a protein skimmer? Won't the corals do the job? Or whats the cheapest powerhead driven skimmer I can fit in with no mods to the tank?

 

[mcgyvr]

Aside from adding a heater, can I start cycling the tank with just sand and rocks?

well salt water might help
assuming you use live rock then yes thats all you really need..
even dry rock should have enough bacteria on it to get the process going but you might just throw in a pinch or 2 of flake food or something else to get the "rotting" going

Will adding a protein skimmer down the road hurt my cycled tank?

no

With a lite bioload and 10% water changes each week, do I need a protein skimmer?

maybe.. probably not.. many run tanks without skimmers.. many run with them. if you add one it can't hurt really.. but with sufficient water changes you may export enough "dirty water" to not need one at all.

 

[oscarinw]

Maybe obvious but you need water movement for the cycle to start. So a powerhead or a protein skimmer can do that

 

[delta5]

Maybe obvious but you need water movement for the cycle to start. So a powerhead or a protein skimmer can do that

Won't the 2 return powerheads do that?

 

[fredro]

You should have a little more movement in the tank than just the 2 stock alternating pumps. Grab a cheap small powerhead or save up for an ecotech MP10 can't go wrong with that!