Help Starting my 29g BC Build Thread

[Harley20]

I have just started to set up my new 29g BC and have read so many posts I dont know what to do. There seems to be so many opinions that I am not really sure what to do or not to do...so I figured I would ask first hand.

To start off here is what I have: I have completely opened chamber 1 by taking out the floor. I plan to put in the stock filter and I purchased the oceanic skimmer for chamber 1. Took out the floor in 2 and most bio balls with the intent of taking them all out once the tank cycles. Chamber 3 has the pump and heater. I also Hydor Koralia Evolution Circulation Pump/Powerhead 750 gph. I hope that is not to powerful.

Right now the tank is about half full with 30lbs of base and about 6lbs of live rock. I could not fit all the rest of the water and rock from my lfs so I will complete that tomorrow.

Here are a few questions:

I have read to keep the back chambers clear during cycling excpet maybe the bio balls. Is this true or should i put in the skimmer and filter?

I have 3 lights that are in the tank. Should I keep them on or off during the cycling? Also can anyone tell me when and how long to use each light?

I am not very handy at all so I want to keep the modifications to a minimum. Are they any must do's or haves for the tank?

My plan to start is to try to stay as basic as possible with what works for this system and my lights. I know that means I cannot keep certain corals and cant keep clams and anenomes but I am ok with that for now. If I can get this system to work well I may use it as a stepping stone to a bigger tanke in a few years. There is so much to learn that I want to be patient with everything and get to know the basics.

Thanks for the help getting me this thing going and thanks for the many questions I will have to come. I have read many threads on there and have learned a lot but its hard to bounce from post to post so I figured I would start my own thread. I will also take pictures as much as possible.

 

[Db366]

- Don't waste your money on the biocube skimmer.
- You can run a skimmer while cycling but it wont be nessisary.
- Lights aren't needed during the cycle, usually people run the lights for 6-12 hours, really up to you and what your tank needs.
- Upgrade the return pump.

Save your money on the biocube skimmer and pick up either a aquatic life, hydor slim, tunze 9002 skimmer.

 

[Harley20]

Thanks Db. Is there a certain pump I should upgrade too? I prefer something that fits in the space so I dont need to make mods if possible.

On the lights...I have 3 lights that can be on all at once or seperate. Not sure what to use each one for or when. The Bio didnt explain what to use and when.

 

[Db366]

Maxijet 1200 or equivalent. As for the lights I would run your actinic (blue) for about 1 hour then have your 10k (white) cut on for 6 hours, then white goes off and blue stays on for another hour. Then your moonlight cuts on as soon as the blue goes off and stays on till your blue cuts back on in the morning.

You adjust the time based on algae growth in your tank, so if you start seeing lots of brown on your sand or slime algae on rocks and such then cut back the amount of time your white stays on. Basically you will be simulating dawn/dusk with just using the blue, white and blue on will be like noon or mid-day.

 

[Db366]

Maxijet 1200 or equivalent. As for the lights I would run your actinic (blue) for about 1 hour then have your 10k (white) cut on for 6 hours, then white goes off and blue stays on for another hour. Then your moonlight cuts on as soon as the blue goes off and stays on till your blue cuts back on in the morning.

You adjust the time based on algae growth in your tank, so if you start seeing lots of brown on your sand or slime algae on rocks and such then cut back the amount of time your white stays on. Basically you will be simulating dawn/dusk with just using the blue, white and blue on will be like noon or mid-day.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=180788

 

[Harley20]

Maxijet 1200 or equivalent. As for the lights I would run your actinic (blue) for about 1 hour then have your 10k (white) cut on for 6 hours, then white goes off and blue stays on for another hour. Then your moonlight cuts on as soon as the blue goes off and stays on till your blue cuts back on in the morning.

You adjust the time based on algae growth in your tank, so if you start seeing lots of brown on your sand or slime algae on rocks and such then cut back the amount of time your white stays on. Basically you will be simulating dawn/dusk with just using the blue, white and blue on will be like noon or mid-day.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=180788

Thanks Db. I was just reading that thread this afternoon. Very helpful. Thanks on the tip for the maxijet also. I will be heading to my lfs tomorrow to pick some stuff up and will add that to my list.

 

[kingfisher62]

I have had a 29g biocbe for a year now and I decided to go with a JBJ nano glo on the back of the tank and chaeto in the middle chamber . It has worked extremely well. the chaeto doubles in size every two weeks. I also created a media tray out of eggcrate, basically it is a a capital "H" that fits into the middle chamber under the drip tray.The center tray of the H should be right above the the rear window the chaeto goes underneath and you can put a poly bag of carbon or what ever you want above the chaeto on the shelf. This media media tray took all of 10 minutes to make and it if you cut the pieces right you can just snap them together no glue or ties needed.

Also do not waste your money on the oceanic filter cartridges. just buy a bag of poly filter floss and put a pingpong size wad of it on top of the drip tray right where the water flows into the second chamber. Toss and replace every 5 days.

 

[Harley20]

I have had a 29g biocbe for a year now and I decided to go with a JBJ nano glo on the back of the tank and chaeto in the middle chamber . It has worked extremely well. the chaeto doubles in size every two weeks. I also created a media tray out of eggcrate, basically it is a a capital "H" that fits into the middle chamber under the drip tray.The center tray of the H should be right above the the rear window the chaeto goes underneath and you can put a poly bag of carbon or what ever you want above the chaeto on the shelf. This media media tray took all of 10 minutes to make and it if you cut the pieces right you can just snap them together no glue or ties needed.

Also do not waste your money on the oceanic filter cartridges. just buy a bag of poly filter floss and put a pingpong size wad of it on top of the drip tray right where the water flows into the second chamber. Toss and replace every 5 days.

Thanks for the tips King. I am so new to this that you lost me with the H media tray system you made. Right now all I have in the center is a low amount of the bio balls and the stock drip tray. I pulled out the floor because I read it helps flow so I hope that wasnt a mistake. Am I assuming correct that the H runs horizontal and not vertical? I assume that becasue you said you have shelves but not really sure. Again I am so new to this that I dont know all the terms. I like the fact that no glue or ties are needed.

Can you tell me what you have in chamber 1 and 3 also?

I saw the nano glo and thought about that so thanks for confirming that also.

 

[kingfisher62]

Nope, the H is standing upright just like in this sentence. Chaeto in the bottom half and the media bag resting on the shelf on the upper half of the H. Does that help?

 

[kingfisher62]

I have always been confused to where the first and third chambers are. I consider the first chamber to be the chamber where the water first flows into the back. So if you are looking at the tank from the front it would be on the right. That is where I keep my heater. I do not thing you would want to put any thing in the third (Left) chamber because the water can get very low on occasion. Another thing to keep in mind is to not pay any attention to the fill line on the left side in chamber 3. That is only if you are running a wet dry filter with the bioballs which you are not. I like to keep the water level about 5 inches above the pump.

 

[Harley20]

I have always been confused to where the first and third chambers are. I consider the first chamber to be the chamber where the water first flows into the back. So if you are looking at the tank from the front it would be on the right. That is where I keep my heater. I do not thing you would want to put any thing in the third (Left) chamber because the water can get very low on occasion. Another thing to keep in mind is to not pay any attention to the fill line on the left side in chamber 3. That is only if you are running a wet dry filter with the bioballs which you are not. I like to keep the water level about 5 inches above the pump.

I think of the chambers the same way so we are in agreement there. I had heater ready for three but will move vits to one because of he water level. I have read that people have blocked off the botton intake to chamber one. Did you do that?

I think I understand the H so I will see if I can put something togethe that resembles that. I forgot...did you say you use a skimmer?

 

[kingfisher62]

I am sure you will figure it out just make sure the self is above the window as to not block the light.
I am skimmerless. I just try to keep up with my water changes .

 

[kingfisher62]

Here is a fairly current picture of my tank if your interested.

 

[Harley20]

Here is a fairly current picture of my tank if your interested.

That is unbelievable. Maybe someday I will be there. What is your lighting?

 

[kingfisher62]

Thanks . You will get there before you know it.
The stock lighting that came with the tank 2 - 36w PC.

 

[Harley20]

I just got finished filling up the tank with the rest of the live rock and water I got from the lfs. Everything seems to be running as it should be. My lfs said that I should just let everything run now for about 4 weeks. Dont and or change anything in the tank. He said I dont even need to test the water because it will be continuously changing over the next couple of weeks. He said just bring in the sample in about 3-4 weeks and they will take a look at it then.

Does this sound right?

I also took some pictures of my scape I will post once I am able to load them to see what you think or to see if anyone thinks I need to change things. I have about 25lbs of rock in there now.

 

[Harley20]

 

[kingfisher62]

Looks nice ! Just make sure you have enough space between the rock and glass so you can clean the glass easily.
Sounds like sound advice. Takes about that long for a cycle.
Is that crushed coral for substrate?

 

[Harley20]

Looks nice ! Just make sure you have enough space between the rock and glass so you can clean the glass easily.
Sounds like sound advice. Takes about that long for a cycle.
Is that crushed coral for substrate?

I am not entirely sure about the difference but it came in a back and was suppose to be alive. I believe its substrate though. I can look up the name that was on the bag. Which is better to use?

 

[kingfisher62]

I had crushed coral in my first saltwater tank it is much coarser than sand and allows sediment to fall into it as apposed to sand which does not. Crushed coral can eventually become a nitrate factory. In any case, nothing to worry about now.