I would also be starting a bc29 as first tank and would do like 20lbs of dry Rock and seed it with 10lbs of uncured live rock. So it would be better and a safer bet to just let the tank cycle without a fish so not to put to much stress on the fish and run the chance of it dieing off?
\Clownfish/ 29 Gallon BioCube Tank
- Thread starter \Clownfish/
- Start date
cherubfish pair
New member
One thing a lot of people do right after their initial cycle is to get a clean up crew. I would refrain from doing this until they have something to eat like turf algae and/or fish poo or you will have to feed them something. Fish food is good enough but make sure to turn off the return pump so the food eventually sinks to the bottom instead of going into the back chambers and rotting in their, turning into unwanted nutrients.
cherubfish pair
New member
One thing a lot of people do after going through their initial cycle is to get a clean up crew before there is nuisance algae or fish poo for them to eat. The algae has to be significant or you will have to feed you cuc fish food. Make sure to shut off your return pump until the food sinks to the bottom so that it doesn't overflow into your back chambers. Once there it will won't have a chance to be eaten and will rot turning into unwanted nutrients.
Yeah, that is always a good idea. As in ensuring the tank is fully ready before adding live stock. Once it is ready though, then you are all set to do whatever. Case in point, my first aquarium after the cycle was completed I fully stocked it with five fish and corals, and it was/is a nano. I did have to tear it down as I went on holidays. Just finished re-cycling it within 9 days and stocked it with four fish again, the same residents as before the move (I did buy and sell a few before ending up with these four).
My phosphates is high so I am avoiding corals for now, once I figure out what to do, corals will be back in.
In cases where you have dry rock + uncured live rock which means a lot of die-off, you may not need to initially add any sort of organics. But I tend to bombard my aquariums initially with plenty of food anyways, promotes the growth of beneficial microbes.
Case in point (again), I feed my fish heavily, but ANN is unnoticeable.
[EDIT]
Though, I do have Marine Pure. If you want to not worry so much about ANN, it is good to have a block or the likes that will handle most of the filtration required. Live rock would only then be decorative, and you can use as much (or as little) as you like. In fact, my aquarium is live-rock-less lol. Except for whatever is attached to corals I guess, but otherwise.
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Ok awesome advice thanks. The only other thing I am worrying about is to run a skimmer or not. With the bc29 I have heard plenty of guys and even the owner of my lfs say that I shouldn't run one with the bc29. Suggestions and opinions on this please
My tank is 3 1/2 weeks old and cycled fast, put 45lbs of coralline live rock, live sand, and nutrisea water in my 29 biocube. Parameter is so stable with no ammonia or nitrite spike. I did not put any table shrimp to produce ammonia. The amount of bacteria is sufficient to kill the ammonia and nitrite. Corals and my pair of clowns are happy.
You do not worry about protein skimmer when your just starting your tank because there is nothing to skim yet. In regards to 29 biocube it still a good idea to run a protein skimmer just to have some skimming at the back to remove some of the bad stuff from water. It doesn't hurt to run a protein skimmer.
Correct I wouldn't use it at the beginning or anything while cycling but later on when I add fish and cuc and everything. Just was asking because at lfs the owner told me I shouldn't run one with only a 29gallon but my gut instink and from Wat i have read on here and everywhere it says it doesn't hurt to run one at all. And more benefits from running one instead of not
\Clownfish/
Saltwater Beginner
Day #6
Now back on track
I noticed I was calculating my nitrates wrong on my app so here are the correct results. Will be posting test results in a few minutes :fun4: and I finally have life moving on my glass Yay!!!
Now back on track
I noticed I was calculating my nitrates wrong on my app so here are the correct results. Will be posting test results in a few minutes :fun4: and I finally have life moving on my glass Yay!!!
\Clownfish/
Saltwater Beginner
Parameters Today
Ammonia - 0.75 ppm (its going up the scale :celeb2
Nitrite - 3.0 ppm (still low)
Nitrate - 40 ppm (same as yesterday)
Phosphate - 1.0 ppm (same as yesterday)
Loads of these swimming around and on the glass, best picture I could get(Good or Bad?)
Tank Today (clear )
Ammonia - 0.75 ppm (its going up the scale :celeb2
Nitrite - 3.0 ppm (still low)
Nitrate - 40 ppm (same as yesterday)
Phosphate - 1.0 ppm (same as yesterday)
Loads of these swimming around and on the glass, best picture I could get(Good or Bad?)
Tank Today (clear
)
cherubfish pair
New member
That's a copepod (not to be confused with amphipods which are much bigger) and it's a really good sign especially at this point in the game.
Just a quick note about some semantics.Parameters Today
Ammonia - 0.75 ppm (its going up the scale :celeb2
Nitrite - 3.0 ppm (still low)
Your ammonia is not going up, but rather down and it should get to 0. Same with nitrites, they are not "low" and will be going lower, but you should be happy about it.
\Clownfish/
Saltwater Beginner
How are they good? And will they survive my second ammonia spike?
cherubfish pair
New member
Well it's good that something's alive in your tank and it's good to have them in your tank at all times. They provide a food source for your fish, corals, and they are good scavengers getting into some pretty tight places to eat that crud that the other CUC can't get to.
I have a motto, 'use the bare minimal for a tank to thrive'. Once you have what it takes for a tank to thrive, any extra would just be more things to worry about.
I work at a LFS and did set plenty of tanks up, with and without skimmer. We ended up tossing a skimmer in the trash once just because it ****ed us off so much. In a nano water levels fluctuate greatly and just, well, argh. The skimmer was horrible at being consistent and finally one time it overflowed. Water got into the socket and er, nothing good came out of that.
Ever since any nano is ran skimmer-less, and it's just so much easier. That's why I refuse to get a skimmer for my nanos. Will be more pain than it is worth.
[EDIT]
For clarification's sake, we tried basically all brands of skimmer available. Just sort of gave up eventually.
Champs to those who could stand messing around with one all the time, I'd just go nuts.
\Clownfish/
Saltwater Beginner
How are they good? And will they survive my second ammonia spike?
Copepods are a good source of food and stuff like that.
Whether they survive or not... who knows. :3 Maybe, maybe not.
Hello everyone
Today I finally set up my tank and I am beyond excited to finally start. I currently have 27 pounds of cured live rock, now sure how much sand (2 bags), and 20 gallons of saltwater. I used instant ocean reef crystals for my salt mix and RO water as well. I am planning on taking my first test tomorrow to see what my parameters are, and will wait a about two weeks to make sure nothing spikes. Below I will attach a few pictures from this morning. :dance:
If i were you, i would put a little more live rock. Its so worth it, helps my parameter big time. Also, don't add too much fish if your planning to have corals. There are so many stuff out there that people talk about to waste your money on. I have 29 biocube but definitely plan to upgrade your lighting if your keeping corals. Biocube light sucks so bad for corals, I upgraded my lights to LED, corals love it and open up like there is no tomorrow.
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\Clownfish/
Saltwater Beginner
I was actually thinking about adding more rock yesterday :lol2: hopefully this coming week I can get a large piece, break it, and do more rock work.
\Clownfish/
Saltwater Beginner
Day #7
Parameters Today
Salinity - 1.026 (Lowered to 1.025 with distilled water)
Ammonia - 0 ppmD)
Nitrite - 3.0 ppm (Same as yesterday)
Nitrate - 40 ppm (Same as yesterday)
Phosphate - 1.0 ppm (Same as yesterday)
I'm glad ammonia is finally up to 0. I now have to wait for Nitrite to 0 out and will then spike ammonia again and wait for it to clear out. After the second ammonia spike I plan to do my water change. Any comments on my plan? Or do I need to change something about it? :uhoh2:
Tank Today (Clear)
Parameters Today
Salinity - 1.026 (Lowered to 1.025 with distilled water)
Ammonia - 0 ppm
D)Nitrite - 3.0 ppm (Same as yesterday)
Nitrate - 40 ppm (Same as yesterday)
Phosphate - 1.0 ppm (Same as yesterday)
I'm glad ammonia is finally up to 0. I now have to wait for Nitrite to 0 out and will then spike ammonia again and wait for it to clear out. After the second ammonia spike I plan to do my water change. Any comments on my plan? Or do I need to change something about it? :uhoh2:
Tank Today (Clear)
