Beginner w/ Coralife Biocube 29

[smoltz]

Hello Everyone,

New to the hobby. Family had a reef aquarium when I was growing up a long time ago. Just setup tank today.

LFS set me up with a Biocube 29, Live Sand, Live Rock and some salt water.

I've done a bit of research on forums, and in the process of reading through a few books. Lots of info, but can be a bit overwhelming too.

My plan is to keep the Biocube stock for now and track levels to see how things are going. I am thinking lights off during the cycle process? What about temps? I didn't pick up a heater or protein skimmer, but was thinking I might grab both of those before I go to far.

 

[CafeReef]

You will want a heater. Also recommend a wave maker to keep things moving. I would run lights during your cycle but limit it to no more than 8 hours a day.

Sk8r has some fantastic threads on starting up a new tank and an especially good one on cycling. I would recommend checking it out.

 

[DavidGraves]

With live rock you can ditch the bioballs in the back as well as the filters. A heater is a must but you can get away without the skimmer for a while.

Throw a table shrimp in there and wait.

Get a test kit and refractometer with calibration fluid. If you are purchasing salt water you will want some distilled water for topping off.

Read the setting up sticky will clear a lot up. I would also urge to quarantine new fish.

 

[chefbill]

Depending on where you live, what temperature you keep your house at, and several other factors you may not need a heater, with the biocube being completely enclosed. Track your temperature for a while before you get a heater. Also skip the Coralife skimmer that's made for the biocube

 

[smoltz]

You will want a heater. Also recommend a wave maker to keep things moving. I would run lights during your cycle but limit it to no more than 8 hours a day.

Sk8r has some fantastic threads on starting up a new tank and an especially good one on cycling. I would recommend checking it out.

Thanks! I had seen a few of those. Will spend more time going through that info.

With live rock you can ditch the bioballs in the back as well as the filters. A heater is a must but you can get away without the skimmer for a while.

Throw a table shrimp in there and wait.

Get a test kit and refractometer with calibration fluid. If you are purchasing salt water you will want some distilled water for topping off.

Read the setting up sticky will clear a lot up. I would also urge to quarantine new fish.

Yeah, have ~20 lb LR, ~20lb LS. Anything I should replace bioballs with? I see people putting in racks in the second chamber with different media \ etc. Yeah, will be grabbing a test kit this week and will pickup a refractometer. Going through that material in the sticky now. Thanks.

Depending on where you live, what temperature you keep your house at, and several other factors you may not need a heater, with the biocube being completely enclosed. Track your temperature for a while before you get a heater. Also skip the Coralife skimmer that's made for the biocube

I am in New England. House is between 60-75 depending on time of day and time of year. Yeah, I haven't heard good things about the Coralife skimmer. Was focussed mostly on the Aquatic Mini 115.


In other news... found an Aptasia this morning on a LR. :-( Pulled out that LR, hit the Aptasia with boiling water, dug out around it and put LR back in. Fingers crossed that does it. Any other advice?

 

[vikinglord13]

That's the thing about LR, you don't really need to replace the bioballs. You could get some chemi-pure or purigen if you plan on getting one of those media towers. Personally, I kept that tray filter they provide, cut the pad out, dumped the charcoal out (this was after the filter got clogged - I'm cheap). Now I place a bag of chemipure on the tray with a filter pad over it. I run a refugium with a ball of chaeto in chamber 2 so I can have a pod population.

If you do plan on ditching the bioballs, just ignore the min-max lines in the pump chamber (those are for a wet-dry bioball system). Some people replace their bioballs with LR rubble, depending on your bioload you wouldn't need to. I have some LR rubble only because I don't run a skimmer.

In your set-up process just remember to have patience. Don't be an idiot like I was and refuse to do water changes, my nitrates skyrocketed after a couple months.